Ghurid conquest of Bengal

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Template:Infobox military conflict

The Ghurid conquest of Bengal, commonly known as Muhammad Bakhtiyar Khalji's conquest of Bengal, in 1202/3 or 1204/5,Template:Efn was a military campaign of Ghurid dynasty led by Muhammad Bakhtiyar Khalji against the Sena dynasty. Muhammad Bakhtiyar Khalji emerged victorious in his campaign at the Sena capital, Nabadwip.[1]Template:Sfn[2] He established his kingdom at Lakhnauti which included a small part of Varendra.[3] Following their defeat, Lakshmana Sena, the eighty years old ruler of the Sena dynasty, retreated to the southeastern region of Bengal.[4][1][5]

Background

Bakhtiyar Khalji, after the successful annexation of Bihar to the Ghurid dynasty, learned about the Sena Dynasty and its illustrious ruler, Lakshmana Sena. Despite Sena's advanced age and reputation, Khalji was determined to extend his conquests further into Bengal. Upon hearing of Khalji's intent to invade Bengal, many Brahmins and traders decided to leave the Sena capital in search of safer locations. However, in a display of resilience, Lakshmana Sena chose to remain in Nadiya, ready to defend his realm.[6][7]

The siege

Bakhtiyar, leading his forces from Bihar, strategically positioned the majority of his army within a forest near the city of NadiaTemplate:Efn (in Rajshahi). It was said that he advanced so rapidly that only 18 horsemen from his army could keep up. Posing as horse traders, the small horde entered the city unchallenged and cautiously towards the palace. Upon reaching the palace, Bakhtiyar initiated an attack on the guards, causing a significant commotion. Then Lakshmana Sena was taking his mid day meal.[8][9] He took the emperor and his army by shock. Before Lakshmana Sena could react, Bakhtiyar entered the palace, killed some of the guards causing Lakshmana Sena to flee with his retainers to East Bengal leaving his wives and servants on the hand of Bakhtiyar's army.[10][11] As Bakhtiyar took the possession of the city, his men seized several horses and elephants along with enormous wealth. In the meantime, the main army had entered Bengal. However, Bakhtiyar didn't subjugate the whole of Bengal.[12] He then moved on to Lakhnauti, which he planned to make his capital.[6][2][13]

Aftermath

Bakhtiyar Khilji left Nadia in ruins and established his capital at Lakhnauti.[14] Lakshmana Sena continued to rule in Eastern Bengal approximately for three or four years after the raid on Nadia and died some time after 1205 A.D.[8][15] According to the historical work Tabaqat-i Nasiri, Bang (Vanga or Eastern and Southern Bengal) was ruled by the descendants of Lakshmana Sena at least up to 1245 A.D. or 1260 A.D.[8][16]

In the year 1204-5 (601 A.H.), Bakhtiyar Khalji struck a gold coin in the name of his overlord in Delhi, sultan Muhammad of Ghor, with one side depicting a cavalryman charging at full gallop and holding a mace in hand. The coin bears the conquest of Gaur. In 1205, Bakhtiyar Khalji was killed by one of his nobles, Ali Mardan Khalji.[6][17] During the reign of Ali Mardan Khalji, who declared his independence from Delhi Sultanate, silver coins were struck, commemorating the conquest of Bengal in Ramzan 600 A.H. (May 1204 A.D.)[18]

File:Delhi Sultanate Coin from Gaur, Bengal in the British Museum.jpg
Coin issued by Bakhtiyar Khalji reads "Gauda vijaye", "On the conquest of Gaur" inscribed in Sanskrit.Template:Sfn

Further reading

The detailed account of this conquest or the expedition of Muhammad Bakhtiyar Khalji to Nadia is given in Tabaqat-i Nasiri, a historical work, authored by Maulana Minahj-ud-din Abu Umar-i-Usman who held various high offices under the Sultans of Delhi. In 639 A.H. (1243 A.D.) he was appointed chief Qazi of the Delhi Sultanate and of the capital. Next year he proceeded to Lakhnauti and stayed for two years there to get the information about the history of Bengal narrated by him.[19]

Notes

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References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Concise History of Islam{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. Vij Books India Pvt Ltd(2011-09-14). ISBN 978-93-82573-47-0
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 India in the World Economy: From Antiquity to the Present{{#if:Roy|, Roy}. Cambridge University Press(2012-06-18). ISBN 978-1-107-00910-3
  3. ↑ Template:Harvard citation no brackets "When the Turks attacked in 1204, Lakshmansena, along with his courtiers and several Brahmans, fled to the east, and Bakhtiyar established his kingdom of Lakhnawti, which in the early thirteenth century consisted only of a small area in Varendra"
  4. ↑ The Muslim Diaspora (Volume 1, 570-1500): A Comprehensive Chronology of the Spread of Islam in Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas{{#if:Jr|, Jr}. McFarland(2015-05-07). ISBN 978-1-4766-0888-4
  5. ↑ Template:Cite Banglapedia
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Template:Harvard citation no brackets
  7. ↑ Political History of Rajmahal{{#if:Pandey|, Pandey}. Capital Publishing House(1994). ISBN 978-81-85157-77-1
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Template:Harvard citation no brackets
  9. ↑ Template:Harvard citation no brackets
  10. ↑ Encyclopedia of the Peoples of Asia and Oceania{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. Facts On File, Incorporated(2010). ISBN 9781438119137
  11. ↑ Template:Harvard citation no brackets "Before the Raja could ascertain what had occurred Ikhtiyar-ud-din rushed into the palace and put a number of men before the sword. The Raja fled bare-footed by the back door of the palace and his whole treasure and all his wives, maid-servants attendants and women fell into the hands of the invader"
  12. ↑ Template:Harvard citation no brackets "Lakshman Sena took shelter in Eastern Bengal where he continued to rule for some time. No attempt was made by Ikhtiyar-ud-din to conquer the whole of Bengal "
  13. ↑ The Muslims of Manipur{{#if:Irene|, Irene}. Gyan Publishing House(2010). ISBN 978-81-7835-828-4
  14. ↑ Template:Harvard citation no brackets
  15. ↑ Template:Harvard citation no brackets
  16. ↑ Template:Harvard citation no brackets
  17. ↑ Template:Harvard citation no brackets
  18. ↑ Template:Harvard citation no brackets
  19. ↑ Template:Harvard citation no brackets

Bibliography

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  • The History of Bengal{{#if:Sarkar|, Sarkar}. University of Dacca(1943)
  • History of Ancient Bengal{{#if:Majumdar|, Majumdar}. G.Bharadwaj(1971)
  • The Rise of Islam and the Bengal Frontier, 1204-1760{{#if:Eaton|, Eaton}. University of California Press(1993). ISBN 978-0-520-20507-9
  • History of Medieval India{{#if:Mahajan|, Mahajan}. S. Chand Publishing(2007). ISBN 978-81-219-0364-6
  • Sultans and Mosques: The Early Muslim Architecture of Bangladesh{{#if:Hasan|, Hasan}. Bloomsbury Academic(2007). ISBN 978-1-84511-381-0
  • Epigraphy and Islamic Culture: Inscriptions of the Early Muslim Rulers of Bengal (1205-1494){{#if:Siddiq|, Siddiq}. Taylor & Francis(2015). ISBN 978-1-317-58745-3
  • A Comprehensive History of Modern Bengal, 1700-1950{{#if:Bhattacharya|, Bhattacharya}. Asiatic Society(2020). ISBN 978-93-89901-95-5
  • Ancient Indian History and Civilization{{#if:Sen|, Sen}. New Age International(1999). ISBN 978-81-224-1198-0
  • Land Of Two Rivers : A History of Bengal from the Mahabharata to Mujib{{#if:Sengupta|, Sengupta}. Penguin Books India(2011). ISBN 978-0-14-341678-4
  • Medieval India: From Sultanat to the Mughals-Delhi Sultanat (1206-1526) - Part One{{#if:Chandra|, Chandra}. Har-Anand Publications(2004). ISBN 978-81-241-1064-5
  • A Comprehensive History of Medieval India : Twelfth to the Mid-eighteenth Century{{#if:Salma|, Salma}. Pearson Education India(2011). ISBN 978-81-317-3202-1
  • Advanced Study in the History of Medieval India{{#if:Mehta|, Mehta}. Sterling Publishers Pvt. Ltd(1979). ISBN 978-81-207-0617-0
  • The Cambridge History of India: Turks and Afghans, edited by W. Haig{{#if:Haig|, Haig}. Cambridge University Press(1928)
  • The Muslim Heritage of Bengal: The Lives, Thoughts and Achievements of Great Muslim Scholars, Writers and Reformers of Bangladesh and West Bengal{{#if:Khan|, Khan}. Kube Publishing Limited(2013). ISBN 978-1-84774-052-6
  • Mosque Architecture in Bangladesh{{#if:Ahmed|, Ahmed}. UNESCO Dhaka(2006). ISBN 978-984-32-3469-8

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