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{{Short description|Conquest of Odisha by Bengal Sultanate}}
{{Infobox military conflict
| conflict = Bengal Sultanate conquest of Orissa
| place = [[Odisha]]
| date = 1568
| territory = Orissa annexed to bengal sultanate

| result = [[Bengal Sultanate]] victory
| coordinates = {{coord|20|31|25|N|85|47|17|E|display=inline,title}}
| map_type = Odisha#India
| combatant1 = [[Bengal Sultanate]]
| combatant2 = [[Chalukya dynasty| Chalukya-Harichandana dynasty]]
| commander1 = [[Sulaiman Khan Karrani]]<br>[[Bayazid Khan Karrani]]<br>[[Kalapahar]]<br>
| commander2 = [[Mukunda Deva]]{{Assassinated}}<br />
| map_caption = Map of Cuttack, the capital of Mukunda Deva
| partof = [[List of wars involving Bangladesh|Wars involving Bengal Sultanate]]
}}
The '''Bengal sultanate conquest of Orissa''' in 1568 was a military campaign led by the [[Karrani dynasty]] of the [[Bengal Sultanate]] under [[Sulaiman Khan Karrani]]. The objective was to overthrow the [[Chalukya dynasty|Chalukyan]] rule of Orissa (now [[Odisha]]) under [[Mukunda Deva]] and the rebellion led by Sarangagarh feudatory Ramachandra Bhanja. The Bengal forces achieved victory, resulting in the annexation of Odisha into the Sultanate. Odisha remained part of the Bengal Sultanate until its eventual annexation by the [[Mughal Empire]] in 1592.<ref name="gazetteer"/>

== Background ==
=== Prelude ===
[[Ibrahim Shah Suri]], defeated by [[Adil Shah Suri]] due to his rebellion against the [[Sur Empire|Sur dynasty]], sought refuge in [[Bengal]]. However, [[Sulaiman Khan Karrani|Sulaiman Karrani]], the [[Karrani dynasty|Karrani]] ruler of Bengal, attempted to detain Ibrahim Khan Suri. Recognizing the danger, Ibrahim Khan Suri appealed to [[Mukunda Deva]], the ruler of Odisha, for shelter and assistance<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Mishra |first=Baba |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0ipuAAAAMAAJ |title=Medieval Orissa and Cult of Jagannatha |date=1995 |publisher=Navrang |isbn=978-81-7013-128-1 |pages=30–50 |language=en}}</ref> in 1559 AD.<ref name=":4">{{Harvard citation no brackets|Sarkar|1943|p=183}}</ref> Mukunda Deva, of [[Chalukya dynasty|Chalukya]] descent, ascended to the throne by ousting Raghuram Raya Chotaraya, the [[Bhoi dynasty|Bhoi]] ruler of [[Odisha]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Das |first=H. C. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=w80dAAAAMAAJ |title=Cultural Development in Orissa |date=1985 |publisher=Punthi Pustak |pages=75 |language=en}}</ref>

Responding to Ibrahim's plea, Mukunda Deva not only offered refuge but also granted him land as a mark of honour. Mukunda Deva firmly rejected surrendering Ibrahim to the Karranis, sparking animosity from Sulaiman, the ruler of Bengal.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Paṭṭanāẏaka |first=Praphulla Kumāra |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=M9YBAAAAMAAJ |title=A Forgotten Chapter of Orissan History: With Special Reference to the Rajas of Khurda and Puri, 1568-1828 |date=1979 |publisher=Punthi Pustak |pages=7 |language=en}}</ref>

=== Involvement of the Mughals ===
By this time, the Mughal Empire, led by [[Humayun]], achieved victory over [[Sikandar Shah Suri|Sikander Shah Suri]] at the [[Siege of Sirhind|Battle of Sirhind]], successfully reinstating [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] rule over India. This triumph marked the recovery of territories that had previously been lost to [[Sher Shah Suri]]. One year following the Battle of Sirhind, Humayun died, leading to [[Akbar]] ascending to the throne of the Mughal Empire.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Mehta |first=Jl |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-TsMl0vSc0gC |title=Advanced Study in the History of Medieval India |publisher=Sterling Publishers Pvt. Ltd |isbn=978-81-207-1015-3 |pages=189 |language=en}}</ref>

In 1665 Mukunda Dev received embassy from Akbar.<ref name=":4" /> Recognizing tensions between the Bengalis and the Odias, Akbar, with the aim of annexing Bengal into the Mughal Empire, chose to support the Odias. Establishing diplomatic ties with Mukunda Deva, he forged an alliance. Akbar dispatched Hasan Khan Khajanchi and Bhatta Mahapatra, an [[Odia language|Odiya]] musician from the Mughal Court, as envoys to Mukunda Deva's court. Their mission was to secure support in case of a conflict with the Sultan of Bengal.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Patnaik |first=Nihar Ranjan |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mIzXAAAAMAAJ |title=Religious History of Orissa |date=2004 |publisher=Indian Publishers' Distributors |isbn=978-81-7341-339-1 |pages=271 |language=en}}</ref> He sworn allegiance to Akbar and promised to send Ibrahim to invade Bengal if Sulaiman Karrani revolts against the Mughals.<ref name=":4" />

The envoys spent four months at Mukunda Deva's court and returned with valuable gifts and elephants. Simultaneously, Mukunda Deva's ambassador, Parmanand, accompanied them to the Imperial Court. This diplomatic manoeuvring marked the beginning of an alliance between Akbar and Mukunda Deva.<ref name=":0" />

Mukunda Deva's alliance with the Mughals heightened the animosity between him and Sulaiman, prompting the latter to launch a campaign against the Chalukyas. Concurrently, Mukunda Deva seized a portion of Karrani territory, provoking swift retaliation.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last=Haque |first=Mohammed Anwarul |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Co8eAAAAMAAJ |title=Muslim Administration in Orissa, 1568-1751 A.D. |date=1980 |publisher=Punthi Pustak |pages=50–58 |language=en}}</ref>

== The conquest ==
In January 1567, Mukunda Deva launched an invasion of Bengal, having a victory over the Bengal forces and amassing significant wealth. Setting up camp along the banks of the [[Ganges]], he engaged in military exercises, including boat manoeuvres on the river. Remarkably, this marked the final instance when the Odisha army reached the banks of the Ganga.<ref name=":2" /> In the winter of 1567, as Akbar was [[Siege of Chittorgarh (1567–1568)|besieging the Chittor fort]], Sulaiman seized the opportunity to invade Odisha.<ref name=":1" />

The Karrani army operated in two divisions: one led by Sulaiman Karrani and the other by [[Bayazid Khan Karrani|Bayezid]], Sulaiman's son, assisted by [[Kalapahar]].<ref name=":3">{{Cite book |last=Pradhan |first=Atul Chandra |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MI4eAAAAMAAJ |title=A Study of History of Orissa: From the Earliest Times to Mukundadeva |date=1984 |publisher=Panchashila |pages=124 |language=en}}</ref> Bayezid was accompanied by a former Mughal general Sikandar Uzbak.<ref name=":4" /> Advancing towards Odisha, the Bengal forces reached the coastal area near Balasore. Realizing the absence of support from the Mughals, Mukunda dispatched an army led by his trusted officers, Chhota Rai and Raghubhanja. But these officers betrayed Mukunda and defected to the Bengal side against their own ruler.<ref name=":2" />

== Outcome ==
The records present two different accounts of the outcome of this campaign.

=== First version ===

According to [[Madala Panji|Mandala Panji]], the Bengal army, led by Sulaiman, engaged in a conflict with Mukunda's Chalukya forces. In this encounter, Mukunda's forces suffered defeat and sought refuge within the Kotsimul fort in the [[Hooghly district|Hoogly]] district of [[West Bengal]]. Simultaneously, another segment of the Bengal army, commanded by Bayezid and Kala Pahar, laid siege to Cuttack, the capital of Odisha, against Koni Samanta Simhara. In this confrontation, Simhara was defeated and killed.<ref name=":3" />

During this period, Ramachandra Bhanja, the commander of Sarangagarh, staged a revolt and proclaimed himself as the ruler. Ramachandra was the feudatory of the Bhoi Gajapatis, whom Mukunda Deva had assassinated. Acknowledging this development, Mukunda Deva made a treaty with the Karranis and moved to confront Ramachandra. However, in the ensuing battle, Mukunda Deva was defeated and killed by Ramachandra. Later, Ramachandra was killed by Sulaiman on the following day.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0B5uAAAAMAAJ&q=ramachandra+mahapatra |title=The Orissa Historical Research Journal |date=1982 |publisher=Superintendent, Research and Museum, Orissa |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Orissa General Knowledge|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hMCbjkhA_ncC&pg=PA27|access-date=2 December 2012|publisher=Bright Publications|isbn=978-81-7199-574-5|pages=27–}}</ref><ref name="gazetteer">{{cite book|author=L.S.S. O'malley|title=Bengal District Gazetteer : Puri|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pwD0-YV2LCYC&pg=PA30|date=1 January 2007|access-date=2 February 2021|publisher=Concept Publishing Company|isbn=978-81-7268-138-8|pages=30}}</ref> In the same manner, he forced Ibrahim Sur to surrender and killed.<ref name=":4" />

=== Second version ===
The alternate account of this event, as presented in the [[Akbarnama]], indicates that Mukunda Deva met his demise in the battle fought at [[Jajpur]]. According to this version, the Karranis emerged victorious, defeating the Chalukyas.<ref name=":2" />

The first version is widely regarded as the most accurate account.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ff8vAQAAIAAJ |title=Encyclopaedia Indica: Major Dynasties of Ancient Orissa & Ancient Bihar |date=2000 |publisher=Anmol Publications |isbn=978-81-7041-859-7 |pages=15–20 |language=en}}</ref> Kalapahar, the commander of the Karrani dynasty, inflicted a severe blow to the art and architecture of Odisha by destroying temples and images. This destructive episode is considered a significant tragedy in the cultural heritage of the region.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Patnaik |first=Durga Prasad |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=90_qAeMT1bwC |title=Palm Leaf Etchings of Orissa |date=1989 |publisher=Abhinav Publications |isbn=978-81-7017-248-2 |pages=4 |language=en}}</ref>

== Aftermath ==
Thus, in 1568, Orissa's medieval independence came to an end. Subsequently, Orissan prestige suffered, with local kings becoming mere puppets under Muslim governors. Orissa remained a part of the Bengal Sultanate until it was [[Mughal conquest of Orissa|annexed by the Mughal Empire]].<ref name=":2" />

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Bibliography ==
{{refbegin}}
* {{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.24396 |title=The History of Bengal |publisher=B.R. Publishing Corporation |year=1943 |isbn=81-7646-239-X |editor-last=Sarkar |editor-first=Jadunath |editor-link=Jadunath Sarkar |volume=II: Muslim Period |location=Delhi}}
{{refend}}

[[Category:Conflicts in 1568]]
[[Category:Wars involving the Bengal Sultanate]]
[[Category:History of Odisha]]

Bengal Sultanate conquest of Orissa - Revision history

JillianCogburn at 12:02, 5 March 2026