Rukunuddin Barbak Shah
Encyclopedia
Rukunuddin Barbak Shah was the son and successor of Sultan Nasiruddin Mahmud Shah
. Barbak Shah was appointed the governor of the Satgaon region during the reign of his father. He ascended to the throne in 1459 after the death of Mahmud Shah
.
of Kalinga
(present-day Orissa
) invaded southern Bengal and captured the fort of Mandaran. Barbak sent his general, Shah Ismail Ghazi, against the Oriyas. Ismail Ghazi defeated the Kalinga
army and recaptured Fort Mandaran.
), invaded northern Bengal and once again Shah Ismail Ghazi was sent against Kamarupa. In the battlefield of Santosha, Barbak's army was destroyed. But Ismail Ghazi won the heart of Kameshwar by his virtues. And the Kamarupa king accepted Islam and acknowledged the overlordship of Barbak Shah. But Ismail Ghazi's glory did not last long. Soon, the rumour broke out that he was trying to carve out an independent kingdom for himself in Kamarupa and conspiring with Kameshwar. Ismail Ghazi was killed and his head and body were buried at two different places.
(present-day Janakpur) and conquered the region. He appointed Kedar Rai as the governor of that region.
and surroundings at Tirhut
in 1468. This acquisition helped his kingdom extended to Buriganga river in north. According to the Hatkhola inscription, Sylhet
continued to be under Barbak Shah's jurisdiction. Again according to the Mirzaganj inscription, the Bakerganj
area was also included in his sultanate. He also re-established his authority in Chittagong
.
and Hindu
scholars. During his time Jainuddin wrote his Rasul Vijaya and Ibrahim Qawam Faruqi composed a Persian lexicon Farhang-i-Ibrahim (known as Sharafnamah). Raimukuta Brhaspati Mishra, Maladhar Basu, Krttivas and Kuladhar were the most noted Hindu scholars that time.
Rukunuddin Barbak Shah died in 1474 after ruling Bengal
for 15 years.
Mahmud Shah (Sultan of Bengal)
Nasiruddin Mahmud Shah was a Sultan of Bengal. He was a descendant of Sultan Shamsuddin Ilyas Shah of Bengal. Nasiruddin took the title of Nasiruddin Abul Muzaffar Mahmud Shah when he ascended the power in 1435 AD...
. Barbak Shah was appointed the governor of the Satgaon region during the reign of his father. He ascended to the throne in 1459 after the death of Mahmud Shah
Mahmud Shah (Sultan of Bengal)
Nasiruddin Mahmud Shah was a Sultan of Bengal. He was a descendant of Sultan Shamsuddin Ilyas Shah of Bengal. Nasiruddin took the title of Nasiruddin Abul Muzaffar Mahmud Shah when he ascended the power in 1435 AD...
.
Conflict with Kalinga
According to the Risalat-us-Shuhada, during the reign of Barbak Shah, the king of Gajapati KingdomGajapati Kingdom
The Gajapatis were a medieval Hindu dynasty that ruled over Kalinga , large parts of Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal, and the eastern and central parts of Madhya Pradesh and the southern parts of Bihar from 1434-1541. Gajapati dynasty was established by Kapilendra Deva in 1434...
of Kalinga
Kalinga (India)
Kalinga was an early state in central-eastern India, which comprised most of the modern state of Orissa/Utkal , as well as the Andhra region of the bordering state of Andhra Pradesh. It was a rich and fertile land that extended from the river Damodar/Ganges to Godavari and from Bay of Bengal to...
(present-day Orissa
Orissa
Orissa , officially Odisha since Nov 2011, is a state of India, located on the east coast of India, by the Bay of Bengal. It is the modern name of the ancient nation of Kalinga, which was invaded by the Maurya Emperor Ashoka in 261 BC. The modern state of Orissa was established on 1 April...
) invaded southern Bengal and captured the fort of Mandaran. Barbak sent his general, Shah Ismail Ghazi, against the Oriyas. Ismail Ghazi defeated the Kalinga
Kalinga (India)
Kalinga was an early state in central-eastern India, which comprised most of the modern state of Orissa/Utkal , as well as the Andhra region of the bordering state of Andhra Pradesh. It was a rich and fertile land that extended from the river Damodar/Ganges to Godavari and from Bay of Bengal to...
army and recaptured Fort Mandaran.
Expedition of Kamarupa
Kameshwar, the king of Kamarupa (present-day AssamAssam
Assam , also, rarely, Assam Valley and formerly the Assam Province , is a northeastern state of India and is one of the most culturally and geographically distinct regions of the country...
), invaded northern Bengal and once again Shah Ismail Ghazi was sent against Kamarupa. In the battlefield of Santosha, Barbak's army was destroyed. But Ismail Ghazi won the heart of Kameshwar by his virtues. And the Kamarupa king accepted Islam and acknowledged the overlordship of Barbak Shah. But Ismail Ghazi's glory did not last long. Soon, the rumour broke out that he was trying to carve out an independent kingdom for himself in Kamarupa and conspiring with Kameshwar. Ismail Ghazi was killed and his head and body were buried at two different places.
Conquest of Mithila
Barbak Shah invaded MithilaMithila
Mithila was a city in Ancient India, the capital of the Videha Kingdom. The name Mithila is also commonly used to refer to the Videha Kingdom itself, as well as to the modern-day territories that fall within the ancient boundaries of Videha...
(present-day Janakpur) and conquered the region. He appointed Kedar Rai as the governor of that region.
Ruling area
From Kamarupa expedition, his ruling extended to Karatoya river in north-east. He also invaded Fort of HajiganjHajiganj Fort
Hajiganj Fort is a Mughal Fort. It was built on the bank of Shitalakshya River at present-day Hajiganj in Narayanganj, Bangladesh.Hajiganj Fort situated on the western bank of the Sitalakshya River at Hajiganj in Narayanganj...
and surroundings at Tirhut
Tirhut
Historically Tirhut refers to the Indo-Gangetic plains lying north of the Ganges River, in the Indian state of Bihar. The geographical area known as Tirhut corresponds to the ancient region of Mithila. Tirhut, a densely populated area of India, has alluvial plains and several rivers pass through...
in 1468. This acquisition helped his kingdom extended to Buriganga river in north. According to the Hatkhola inscription, Sylhet
Sylhet
Sylhet , is a major city in north-eastern Bangladesh. It is the main city of Sylhet Division and Sylhet District, and was granted metropolitan city status in March 2009. Sylhet is located on the banks of the Surma Valley and is surrounded by the Jaintia, Khasi and Tripura hills...
continued to be under Barbak Shah's jurisdiction. Again according to the Mirzaganj inscription, the Bakerganj
Bakerganj Upazila
Bakerganj is an Upazila of Barisal District in the Barisal Division, Bangladesh.-Geography:Bakerganj is located at . It has 63177 units of house hold and total area 417.2 km².-Demographics:...
area was also included in his sultanate. He also re-established his authority in Chittagong
Chittagong
Chittagong ) is a city in southeastern Bangladesh and the capital of an eponymous district and division. Built on the banks of the Karnaphuli River, the city is home to Bangladesh's busiest seaport and has a population of over 4.5 million, making it the second largest city in the country.A trading...
.
Patron of scholars
Barbak Shah was a patron of both MuslimMuslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
and Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
scholars. During his time Jainuddin wrote his Rasul Vijaya and Ibrahim Qawam Faruqi composed a Persian lexicon Farhang-i-Ibrahim (known as Sharafnamah). Raimukuta Brhaspati Mishra, Maladhar Basu, Krttivas and Kuladhar were the most noted Hindu scholars that time.
Rukunuddin Barbak Shah died in 1474 after ruling Bengal
Bengal
Bengal is a historical and geographical region in the northeast region of the Indian Subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal. Today, it is mainly divided between the sovereign land of People's Republic of Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal, although some regions of the previous...
for 15 years.