58-661: The Bengal–Jaunpur confrontation was an early 15th-century conflict that stemmed from the Jaunpur Sultanate 's opposition to the overthrowing of the Bengal Sultanate 's founding dynasty, the Ilyas Shahi , by Raja Ganesha . After diplomatic pressure from the Timurid and Ming empires and direct combat support of Shivasimha , the King of Mithila. Jaunpur's sultan Ibrahim Shah Sharqi
116-596: A fountain and water channel located halfway from the Dakhil Darwaza gate. The gate still stands today. According to the Portuguese and medieval Bengali poet Krittibas Ojha , the road from the Dakhil Darwaza to the durbar had nine well-guarded gates, of which two can still be identified today. The second compartment was the living quarter of the Sultan which was adorned with glazed tiles of various colours. The third compartment
174-652: A Muslim holy man named Nur Qutb Alam , he threatened the Sultanate of Bengal under Raja Ganesha . Ibrahim Shah was a patron of Islamic learning and established several colleges for this purpose. A large number of scholarly works on Islamic theology and law were produced during his reign, which include the Hashiah-i-Hindi , the Bahar-ul-Mawwaj and the Fatwa-i-Ibrahim Shahi . He constructed several monuments in
232-586: A new regional style of architecture known as the Sharqi . During his reign, Sultan Nasiruddin Mahmud Shah II Tughluq took refuge in Jaunpur to get rid of the control of Mallu Iqbal over him. But he did not treat Sultan Mahmud Shah well. As a result, his relations with the Sultan became bitter and Mahmud Shah occupied Kanauj. In 1407, he tried to recover Kanauj but failed. His attempt to conquer Bengal also failed. He
290-504: A quarrel with his nobles. In 1458, after his brother Hasan was executed on his order, his other brother Hussain revolted and proclaimed himself as the sultan of Jaunpur, under the title of Hussain Shah. Muhammed Shah was soon killed by Hussain's army in Kanauj. The last ruler Hussain Shah signed a four years' peace treaty with Bahlul Lodi in 1458. Later, in order to invade Delhi reached the banks of
348-670: A result of the Sharqi's being pushed back by Bahlul Lodi's advance, the last Sharqi-dated inscriptions in the region of Uttar Pradesh are from 1476 and 1479 in Kannauj and Jaunpur respectively while Sharqi inscriptions in Bihar continued until 1505. He fled to Kahalgaon in modern-day Bihar , where he was granted asylum by sultan Alauddin Husain Shah and spent his last days there. In 1486, Bahlul Lodi placed his eldest surviving son Barbak Shah Lodi on
406-411: A treaty which accepted the right of Bahlul Lodi over Shamsabad. But when Bahlul tried to take possession of Shamsabad, he was opposed by the forces of Jaunpur. At this juncture, Mahmud Shah Sharqi died and he was succeeded by his son Bhikhan, who assumed the title of Muhammad Shah . On assuming power in 1457, Muhammad Shah made peace with Bahlul Lodi and recognised his right over Shamsabad. He picked up
464-518: Is a historic city of Bengal in the eastern part of the Indian subcontinent , and one of the most prominent capitals of classical and medieval India , being the capital city of Bengal under several kingdoms. The Gauḍa region was also a province of several pan-Indian empires. During the seventh century, the Gauda Kingdom was founded by King Shashanka , whose reign corresponds with the beginning of
522-734: Is located at 24°52′N 88°08′E / 24.867°N 88.133°E / 24.867; 88.133 . It straddles the Bangladesh-India border , with most of its ruins on the Indian side and a few structures on the Bangladeshi side, it was once one of the most populous cities in the world. The ruins of this former city now straddle the international border and are divided between the Malda district of West Bengal and Chapai Nawabganj District of Rajshahi Division . The Kotwali Gate, formerly part of
580-501: Is stated in both Arakanese accounts and Mithila accounts. Jaunpur Sultanate The Jaunpur Sultanate ( Persian : سلطنت جونپور ) was a late medieval Indian Muslim state which ruled over much of what is now the states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar between 1394 and 1494. It was founded in 1394 by Khwajah-i-Jahan Malik Sarwar , an eunuch slave and former wazir of Sultan Nasiruddin Muhammad Shah IV Tughluq , amidst
638-700: The Atala Masjid , the Lal Darwaza Masjid and the Jama Masjid . Though the foundation of the Atala Masjid was laid by Firuz Shah Tughluq in 1376, it was completed only during the rule of Ibrahim Shah in 1408. Another mosque, the Jhanjhari Masjid was also built by Ibrahim Shah in 1430. The Lal Darwaja Masjid (1450) was built during the reign of the next ruler Mahmud Shah. The Jama Masjid was built in 1470, during
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#1732868582633696-564: The Baghirhati-Hooghly river, but after the late 16th century the river linked up with Padma as its primary channel and abandoned its channels in the south-western portion of the Bengal Delta . Venetian traveller Cesare Federici observed that ships were unable to sail north of Saptagram for this very reason. Around the same time the Ganges silted up and abandoned its channels above Gauda,
754-565: The Battle of Rajmahal in 1576. The Mughals built several structures in Gaur. The two-storeyed Mughal Tahakhana complex was a resting place for viceroys. The tahkhana in Persian means a building with a cool environment. The name indicates that the complex had an indoor ventilation system to moderate humid temperatures. The complex was also used as a Sufi khanqah . The Lukochori Darwaza (hide and seek gate)
812-532: The Bengali calendar . Gour gradually became synonymous with Bengal and Bengalis. It was conquered by Bakhtiyar Khalji , a lieutenant of the Ghurid ruler Muhammad of Ghori in 1203. For a period of 112 years, between 1453 and 1565, Gauda was the capital of the Bengal Sultanate . In 1500, Gauda was the fifth-most populous city in the world, with a population of 200,000, as well as one of the most densely populated cities in
870-843: The Conquest of Sylhet against the Gour Kingdom . Sylhet was successfully incorporated into Firuz's Lakhnauti kingdom. His successor, Ghiyasuddin Bahadur Shah would lose independence to the Delhi Sultanate once again. Gauda was widely known as Gaur during the Bengal Sultanate . The founder of the sultanate, Shamsuddin Ilyas Shah , was Delhi's governor in Satgaon. Ilyas Shah rebelled and overthrew Gaur's governor Alauddin Ali Shah in 1342. Ilyas Shah united
928-546: The Lodi dynasty of the Delhi Sultanate at Benares at which point Hussain fled to Kahalgaon in modern-day Bihar where the Sultan of Bengal assigned him a pargana . Here he was allowed to mint his own coins and was promised help from Bengal in recovering his kingdom. He died in 1505. The Sharqi dynasty was founded by Malik Sarwar, a eunuch slave of probably African origin. He was succeeded by his adopted son, Malik Qaranfal, who
986-581: The Reconquest of Arakan . The Portuguese historian Castenhada de Lopez described the houses of Gaur. Most buildings were one-storeyed with ornamental floor tiles, courtyards and gardens. There were canals and bridges. Bengal attracted many Eurasian merchants during the Sultanate period and Gaur was a centre of the trade like other erstwhile Bengali cities, including Pandua, Chittagong , Sonargaon and Satgaon . Bengal also attracted immigrants from North India,
1044-632: The Sultans of Delhi . One contemporary source, which may have exaggerated, advises of Juga, the chief of the Bachgoti clan of Rajputs, who is said to have assembled a huge band of army consisting of 200,000 infantry and 15,000 cavalry to support the Sultan. The Sharqi rulers of Jaunpur were known for their patronage of learning and architecture. Jaunpur was known as the Shiraz of India during this period. Most notable examples of Sharqi style of architecture in Jaunpur are
1102-568: The Yamuna with a very large army in 1478. Sultan Bahlul Lodi tried to secure peace by offering to retain only Delhi and govern it as a vassal of Hussain Shah but he rejected the offer. As a result, Sultan Bahlul crossed the Yamuna and defeated him. Hussain Shah agreed for truce but again captured Etawah and marched towards Delhi with a huge army and he was again defeated by Bahlul Lodi. He was able to make peace this time also. In March 1479, he again arrived at
1160-569: The citadel , now marks the border checkpoint between the two countries. After the fall of the Gupta Empire , western Bengal was ruled by the Gauda Kingdom and eastern Bengal by the Samatata Kingdom. Gauda was founded by Shashanka , one of the pioneering Bengal kings in history. Shashanka's reign falls approximately between 590 and 625. The Pala Empire was founded in the Gauda region during
1218-503: The Bengal region into a separate independent state from Delhi in 1352. Pandua became the first capital of the sultanate. In 1450, Sultan Mahmud Shah of Bengal announced the transfer of Bengal's capital from Pandua to Gaur. The transfer was completed by 1453. Gaur served as the Bengali sultanate's capital for over one hundred years until 1565. Gaur was one of the most densely populated cities in
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#17328685826331276-853: The Governor of Lakhnauti, declared independence from the Delhi Sultanate. He would be succeeded by his son, Rukunuddin Kaikaus who expanded the kingdom. During his rule, the Lakhnauti-based kingdom expanded into Satgaon in the south, Bihar in the west, Devkot in the north. His successor was Shamsuddin Firuz Shah , who played pivotal roles in completing Kaikaus' work in Satgaon before proceeding to take over Mymensingh and Sonargaon . In 1303, Firuz's nephew Sikandar Khan Ghazi and commander-in-chief Syed Nasiruddin teamed up with Shah Jalal and his forces in
1334-410: The Indian subcontinent, with a population rivalling that of Fatehpur Sikri . The city had a citadel , a royal palace and durbar , many mosques, residences for aristocrats and merchants, and bazaars. Portuguese travellers left detailed and extensive accounts of Gaur. The Portuguese compared the affluence of the city with Lisbon. The royal palace was divided into three compartments. A high wall enclosed
1392-616: The Indian subcontinent. The Portuguese left detailed accounts of the city. The Sultans built a citadel, many mosques, a royal palace, canals and bridges. Buildings featured glazed tiles. The city thrived until the collapse of the Bengal Sultanate in the 16th century, when the Mughal Empire took control of the region. When the Mughal Emperor Humayun invaded the region, he renamed the city Jannatabad ("heavenly city"). Most of
1450-510: The Jaunpur Sultan's have mainly been found in the territory of the modern states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar in India indicating the circulation of Sharqi coins in these regions. The first two rulers of the Sultanate, Malik Sarwar and Mubarak Shah did not declare their independence from the Delhi Sultanate hence neither struck coins in their own name. Ibrahim Shah of Jaunpur was the first of
1508-513: The Jaunpur ruler was obedient, and desisted from his attacks upon Bengal". Records from Ming China state that the Yongle Emperor also mediated between Jaunpur and Bengal after the Bengali ambassador in his Peking court complained of the conflict. He was also directly supported by the King of Mithila who was also his friend, Shiva Singh of Oiniwar Dynasty in his battle against Ibrahim Sharqi of Jaunpur Sultanate . The mention of this battle
1566-514: The Middle East, and Central Asia. In the 16th-century, Gaur was occupied by the Mughal emperor Humayun who sought to name it as Jannatabad (heavenly city). The city was looted and plundered during Sher Shah Suri 's invasion. After 1565, Sultan Sulaiman Khan Karrani shifted the capital to Tandah. In 1575, Gaur was conquered by a Mughal contingent led by Munim Khan . The Bengal Sultanate ended during
1624-521: The area. The Bangladeshi Archaeology Department has carried out several projects in both the Bangladeshi and Indian sides of Gauda. The Indian archaeological survey is also carrying out excavations of a mound about a kilometre from the Chikha building within the Baisgaji Wall where remains of a palace are turning up. A permanent artefact and photographic exhibition highlighting the major monuments of Gour and
1682-653: The banks of Yamuna. He was again defeated by Bahlul Lodi and lost the Parganas of Kampil, Patiali, Shamsabad, Suket, Koil, Marhara and Jalesar to the advancing army of the Delhi Sultan. After the successive defeats in the battles of Senha, Rapri and Raigaon Khaga, he was finally defeated on the banks of the Rahab, after which Bahlul Lodi appointed Mubarak Khan to Jaunpur. Hussain Shah re-assembled his forces, expelled Mubarak Khan and re-occupied Jaunpur, until Bahlul drove him out again. As
1740-511: The city only recently having been captured by Mughal forces suffered a devastating epidemic and was consequentially abandoned. The city in its prime measured 7 + 1 ⁄ 8 km (4.4 mi). from north to south, with a breadth of 1 to 2 km (0.62 to 1.24 mi). With suburbs it covered an area of 20 to 30 km (12 to 19 mi), and in the 16th century the Portuguese historian Faria y Sousa described it as containing 1,200,000 inhabitants. The ramparts of this walled city (which
1798-723: The city, and even more overgrown with jungle. A deep moat protects it on the outside. To the north of the outer embankment lies the Sagar Dighi, a great reservoir, 1600 yd. by 800 yd., dating from 1126. Fergusson in his History of Eastern Architecture thus describes the general architectural style of Gauḍa: It is neither like that of Delhi nor Jaunpur, nor any other style, but one purely local and not without considerable merit in itself; its principal characteristic being heavy short pillars of stone supporting pointed arches and vaults in brick whereas at Jaunpore, for instance, light pillars carried horizontal architraves and flat ceilings. Owing to
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1856-636: The disintegration of the Delhi Sultanate 's Tughlaq dynasty . Centred in Jaunpur , the Sultanate extended authority over a large part of the Ganges - Yamuna Doab . It reached its greatest height under the rule of Sultan Ibrahim Shah , who also vastly contributed to the development of Islamic education in the Sultanate. In 1494, Sultan Hussain Shah Sharqi was defeated by the forces of the Afghan ruler Bahlul Lodi , Sultan of
1914-455: The forests and resorted to guerrilla warfare. Malik Sarwar was succeeded by his adopted son Malik Qaranfal after his death, who assumed the title of Mubarak Shah , ruled for three years, and issued coins in his own name. After assuming power in 1399, Mubarak Shah struck coins in his own name and the Khutba was read in his name. During his reign, Mallu Iqbal tried to recover Jaunpur but failed. He
1972-548: The government. The finest ruin in Gauḍa is that of the Great Golden Mosque, also called Bara Darwaza, or twelve doored (1526). An arched corridor running along the whole front of the original building is the principal portion now standing. There are eleven arches on either side of the corridor and one at each end of it, from which the mosque probably obtained its name. These arches are surmounted by eleven domes in fair preservation;
2030-510: The governor of Jaunpur and received his title of Malik-us-Sharq from Sultan Nasir-ud-Din Mahmud Shah Tughluq (1394–1413). Soon, he established himself as an independent ruler and took the title of Atabak-i-Azam . He then suppressed the rebellions in Etawah, Koil and Kanauj . He was also able to bring under his control Kara, Awadh, Dalmau, Bahraich and South Bihar. The Rai of Jajnagar and
2088-437: The lightness of the small, thin bricks, which were chiefly used in the making of Gauḍa, its buildings have not well withstood the ravages of time and the weather; while much of its enamelled work has been removed for the ornamentation of the surrounding cities of more modern origin. Moreover, the ruins long served as a quarry for the builders of neighbouring towns and villages, till in 1900 steps were taken for their preservation by
2146-506: The mosque had originally thirty-three. According to Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition , "The Tantipar mosque (1475–1480) has beautiful moulding in brick, and the Lotan mosque of the same period is unique in retaining its glazed tiles . The citadel, of the Muslim period, was strongly fortified with a rampart and entered through a magnificent gateway called the Dakhil Darwaza (1459–1474). At
2204-516: The palace. A moat surrounded the palace on three sides and was connected to the Ganges, which guarded the western side of the citadel. According to a contemporary Vaishnava poet, Sultan Alauddin Hussain Shah once saw a procession led by Sri Chaitanya on the opposite bank of the river. The first compartment in the north included the durbar. An inscription of Sultan Rukunuddin Barbak Shah mentions
2262-509: The restoration work is undertaken by the ASI is being held at the Metcalfe Hall , Kolkata . Among the exhibits are also some fine specimens of brick moulding and glazed tiles from Gour. Bus and rail transport are available from Kolkata to Malda town. The nearest railway station is Gour Malda . Although, it is desirable to visit Gauda via Malda Town railway station. Gauda can be accessed through
2320-502: The rise of Gopala as king with the approval of an assembly of chieftains. The Pala Emperors carried the title Lord of Gauda . The empire ruled for four centuries and its territory included large parts of northern India. According to historian D. C. Sicar , the term Gauda is an appropriate name for the Pala Empire itself. The Pala period saw the development of the Bengali language , script and other aspects of Bengali culture. Indeed,
2378-460: The rule of the last ruler Hussain Shah. The last ruler Hussain Shah assumed the title of Gandharva and contributed significantly in the development of Khayal , a genre of Hindustani classical music . He also composed several new ragas (melodies). Most notable among these are Malhār-śyāma , Gaur-śyāma , Bhopāl-śyāma , Hussaini- or Jaunpurī-āśāvari (presently known as Jaunpuri ) and Jaunpuri-basant . The coin hoards of
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2436-457: The ruler of Lakhnauti acknowledged his authority and sent him several elephants. During the reign of Malik Sarwar, Jaunpur became embroiled in a 100-year war with the neighbouring Ujjainiyas of Bhojpur in modern-day Bihar . The Ujjainiya chieftain, Raja Harraj was initially successful in the forces of Malik Sarwar however the Ujjainiyas were defeated in subsequent battles and retreated into
2494-523: The south-east corner was a palace, surrounded by a wall of brick 66 ft (20 m) high, of which a part is standing. Nearby were the royal tombs. Within the citadel is the Kadam Rasul mosque (1530), which is still used, and close outside is a tall tower called the Firoz Minar (perhaps signifying tower of victory). There are a number of Muslim buildings on the banks of the Sagar Dighi, including, notably,
2552-403: The space enclosed by these embankments and the river stood the city of Gauḍa proper, with the fort containing the palace in its south-west corner. Radiating north, south and east from the city, other embankments are to be traced running through the suburbs and extending in certain directions for 30 or 40 m. Surrounding the palace is an inner embankment of similar construction to that which surrounds
2610-633: The sultans to issue his own coins when he came to rule in 1402. The known coins were issued in gold , silver and copper . On the obverse of the coins is written: " Fi zaman al-Imam nai'b Amir al-mominin Abulfath khulidat Khilafatahu " English translation: " In the time of the Imam, the Deputy of the Commander of the faithful, the father of victory, may the caliphate perpetuate ". His successors, Mahmud Shah and Hussain Shah also continued to mint coins in their own names with billon and copper . Gaur, West Bengal Gauḍa (also known as Gaur , Gour , Lakhnauti , Lakshmanavati and Jannatabad )
2668-418: The sultans who paid tribute with levies of peasant war-bands. Among the contemporary Rajput clans who were situated in the territory or the peripheries of the Jaunpur Sultans, were the Baghelas of Rewa , the Bachgotis of Sultanpur in Uttar Pardesh, Ujjainiyas of Bhojpur as well as the Tomars of Gwalior. The support of these Rajput levies were what allowed the last sultan, Hussain Shah, to continue to challenge
2726-402: The surviving structures in Gauda are from the period of the Bengal Sultanate. The city was sacked by Sher Shah Suri . An outbreak of the plague contributed to the city's downfall. The course of the Ganges was once located near the city, but a change in the river's course caused Gauda to lose its strategic importance. A new Mughal capital developed later in Rajmahal and then in Dhaka . Gauda
2784-613: The term Gaudiya (of Gauda) became synonymous with Bengal and Bengalis . Gauda became known as Lakhnauti during the Sena dynasty . The name was in honour of the Sena ruler Lakhsman Sena. On a campaign towards Tibet in 1206, Bakhtiyar left Shiran Khalji to govern Bengal as a substitute. Bakhtiyar would die after the failure of this expedition, officially leaving Shiran as the next governor of Lakhnauti who would shortly be succeeded by Ali Mardan Khalji and Iwaz Khalji . The latter would declare independence from Delhi which would also lead to his death. In 1281, Nasiruddin Bughra Khan ,
2842-416: The throne of Jaunpur. It was during Hussain Shah' rule that a claimant to be the mahdi of all Muslims, Muhammad Jaunpuri , appeared and Hussain Shah was an admirer of him. Over the course of the fourteenth century, the Jaunpur Sultanate appeared to have been numerically superior to its neighbours when it came number of troops. It has been posited that this was because Jaunpur had many Rajput vassals under
2900-465: The tomb of the saint Makhdum Shaikh Akhi Siraj (died 1357), and in the neighbourhood is a burning ghat , traditionally the only one allowed to the use of the Hindus by their Muslim conquerors, and still greatly venerated and frequented by them. Many inscriptions of historical importance have been found in the ruins.." The Archaeological Survey of India and the Department of Archaeology in Bangladesh are responsible for preserving heritage structures in
2958-409: Was convinced to abstain from attacking Bengal. A diplomat in the court of Shahrukh Mirza recorded that the Timurid ruler of Herat intervened during the Bengal-Jaunpur conflict after a request from the Sultan of Bengal. The record speaks of Shahrukh Mirza "directing the ruler of Jaunpur to abstain from attacking the King of Bengal, or to take the consequence upon himself. To which the intimation of
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#17328685826333016-401: Was erected on the road that led to the complex. The construction of these structures can be traced to the reign of viceroy Shah Shuja . An outbreak of the plague and a change in the course of the Ganges caused the city to be abandoned. Since then the area has been a heap of ruins in the wilderness and almost overgrown with jungle. The great river of Ganges was conventionally linked with
3074-401: Was one of the most prominent capitals in the history of Bengal and the history of the Indian subcontinent , and a centre of stately medieval architecture. Gauda's ruins were depicted in the artwork of European painters during the 18th and 19th centuries. Colonial officials, such as Francis Buchanan-Hamilton and William Francklin , left detailed surveys of the former Bengali capital. Gauḍa
3132-406: Was previously a Hindu slave-boy and water-bearer of Firoz Shah Tughlaq . However, according to a contemporary writer, Yahya Sarhindi , Malik Qaranfal was a member of the Sayyid dynasty . Malik Qaranfal became the next sultan with the title of Mubarak Shah. He was succeeded by his brother, Ibrahim Shah . In 1389, Malik Sarwar received the title of Khwajah-i-Jahan . In 1394, he was appointed as
3190-506: Was succeeded by his eldest son Mahmud Shah after his death. Mahmud Shah Sharqi was successful in conquering Chunar, but failed to capture Kalpi. He also conducted campaigns against Bengal and Odisha . The monarch of Odisha at that time was the legendary Kapilendra Deva Gajapati. The Odia forces defeated the Jaunpur Sultanate comprehensively. In 1452, he invaded Delhi but was defeated by Bahlul Lodi . Later, he made another attempt to conquer Delhi and marched into Etawah. Finally, he agreed to
3248-404: Was succeeded by his younger brother Ibrahim after he died in 1402, who took the title of Shams-ud-Din Ibrahim Shah . The Jaunpur Sultanate attained its greatest height under the younger brother of Mubarak Shah, who ruled as Shams ud-din Ibrahim Shah (ruled 1402–1440). To the east, his kingdom extended to Bihar, and to the west, to Kanauj; he even marched on Delhi at one point. Under the aegis of
3306-415: Was surrounded by extensive suburbs) still exist; they were works of vast labour, and were on the average about 40 ft (12 m) high, and 180 to 200 ft (61 m) thick at the base. The facing of masonry and the buildings with which they were covered have now disappeared, and the embankments themselves are overgrown with dense jungle. The western side of the city was washed by the Ganges, and within
3364-432: Was the harem . Many artefacts have been recovered from the palace grounds, including enamelled bricks and Chinese porcelain . In 1521, a Portuguese visitor saw Sultan Nusrat Shah enjoying polo being played on the plains below the citadel. Gaur was the center of regional politics. The deposed Arakanese king Min Saw Mon was granted asylum in Gaur. The Sultan of Bengal dispatched a military expedition from Gaur to achieve
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