Mahmud Shah of Bengal
| Nasiruddin Mahmud Shah | |
|---|---|
| as-Sulṭān al-ʿAẓam al-Muʿaẓẓam Nāṣir ad-Dunyā wa ad-Dīn Abū al-Muẓaffar Maḥmūd Shāh | |
| House | Ilyas Shahi |
| Religion | Sunni Islam |
| Part of a series on the |
| Bengal Sultanate |
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Nāṣiruddīn Maḥmūd Shāh (
Early life and ascension
Mahmud was born in the 14th-century into an aristocratic
The last ruler of the Ganesha dynasty, Sultan Shamsuddin Ahmad Shah, died in 1435-36 CE, without leaving any heirs. Firishta mentions one of the late Sultan's attendant, "Nasir ad-Din Ghulam", to have seized the throne after Ahmad's death. 18th-century historian Ghulam Husain Salim claims that Ahmad himself was killed by two of his attendants, Shadi Khan and Nasir Khan, who fought amongst themselves with Nasir Khan eventually taking control.[4] Nevertheless, the nobles of Bengal deposed Khan within his short reign of either seven days, half a day or a few hours. After discovering Mahmud's royal ancestry, the nobles subsequently installed Mahmud to the throne.[5]
Reign
During his reign, the
Ruling area
During his reign,
Spreading Islam
With the help of Khan Jahan Ali, Nasirudddin Mahmud made progress on Muslim settlements in different parts of Bengal. They constructed mosques, khanqas, tombs, and bridges, and excavated tanks. The significant mosques of his reign were the following :
- Sixty Dome Mosque (Bengali: ষাট গম্বুজ মসজিদ) erected by Khan Jahan at Bagerhat.
- The two mosques built by Sarfaraz Khan at Jangipur in the district of Murshidabad in 1443 AD.
- The mosque built by Hilali at Gaur in 1455.
- The mosque built at Dhaka by a woman named Bakht Binat Bibi in 1455 known as Binat Bibi Mosque.
- The mosque built by Khurshid Khan at Bhagalpur in 1446 AD.[6]
The tomb of Khan Jahan Ali at Bagerhat and the tomb of an Allama at Hazrat Pandua were erected during his time. He himself laid the foundations of the citadel and palace at Gaur. Among them, a five-arched stone-bridge, part of the massive walls of the fort and the Kotwali Darwaza are still extant.[6]
References
- ^ The Philological Secretary, Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, Volume 43 (1874), p.294
- ^ Ahmad Hasan Dani. "Analysis of the Inscriptions". Asiatic Society of Pakistan Vol-ii. pp. 16–20.
- ^ OCLC 924890.
- ^ Salim, Gulam Hussain; tr. from Persian; Abdus Salam (1902). Riyazu-s-Salatin: History of Bengal. Asiatic Society, Baptist Mission Press. p. 119.
- ^ Ferishta, Mahomed Kasim. Briggs, John (ed.). History of the Rise of the Mahomedan Power in India, Till the Year AD 1612. Vol. 4. Oriental Books. p. 199.
- ^ a b c d e Ahmed, ABM Shamsuddin (2012). "Nasiruddin Mahmud Shah". In Islam, Sirajul; Jamal, Ahmed A. (eds.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.