Reference
A History of Bangladesh
The land, people and politics of Bangladesh, from ancient Bengal to today.
Bengal Sultanate
Sultanate
Level 2
1352 – 1576
Independent sultanate of Bengal under the Ilyas Shahi and Hussain Shahi dynasties.
- Capital
- Pandua / Gaur
- Region
- East
- Duration
- 224 years
- Main period
- Delhi Sultanate & Regional Kingdoms
Approximate extent.
At a glance
Move along the chart to read any year; click a ruler or event to open the map there.
Rulers
- Shamsuddin Ilyas Shah Sultan1352 – 1358United Bengal.
- Alauddin Husain Shah Sultan1494 – 1519Patron of Bengali literature.
Selected rulers; gaps in the list are not gaps in the dynasty.
Key events
Sites & monuments
Sixty Dome Mosque, Bagerhat
Religious monument · c. 1450
Personalities
📚 Recommended reading on the Bengal Sultanate
Textbook
Our Pasts I, II & III (Classes 6–8)
The simplest possible start: short, illustrated and the base of countless exam questions.
Textbook
Themes in Indian History, Parts I–III (Class 12)
Source-based chapters on Harappa, Vijayanagara, the Mughal court and 1857 — essential for UPSC.
Textbook
An Introduction to Indian Art, Part I (Class 11)
The standard base for art and architecture questions — stupas, temples and sculpture.
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Contemporaries
Powers that coexisted with the Bengal Sultanate for a significant part of its history. The bar shows when, within its own span.
Sultanate of the Maldives ★
Islands · c. 1153 – 1968
Overlap: 224 years
Malla Dynasty of Nepal ★
Himalaya · 1201 – 1769
Overlap: 224 years
Delhi Sultanate ★
North · 1206 – 1526
Overlap: 174 years
Ahom Kingdom ★
Northeast · 1228 – 1826
Overlap: 224 years
Mewar (Sisodia) ★
West · 1326 – 1949
Overlap: 224 years
Vijayanagara Empire ★
South · 1336 – 1646
Overlap: 224 years
Bahmani Sultanate ★
Deccan · 1347 – 1527
Overlap: 175 years
Kingdom of Mysore ★
South · 1399 – 1950
Overlap: 177 years
Kingdom of Kandy ★
Sri Lanka · c. 1469 – 1815
Overlap: 107 years
Portuguese Estado da Índia ★
Coastal · 1505 – 1961
Overlap: 71 years
Mughal Empire ★
North · 1526 – 1857
Overlap: 50 years
Eastern Ganga Dynasty
East · c. 1078 – 1434
Overlap: 82 years
Khasa Malla Kingdom
Himalaya · c. 1100 – c. 1400
Overlap: 48 years
Zamorins of Calicut
South · c. 1124 – 1766
Overlap: 224 years
Kachwahas of Amber (Jaipur)
West · c. 1128 – 1949
Overlap: 224 years
Jaffna Kingdom
Sri Lanka · c. 1215 – 1619
Overlap: 224 years
Marwar (Rathore)
West · c. 1226 – 1949
Overlap: 224 years
Madurai Sultanate
South · 1335 – 1378
Overlap: 26 years
Kashmir Sultanate
North · 1339 – 1586
Overlap: 224 years
Samma Dynasty
Northwest · 1351 – 1524
Overlap: 172 years
Timurid Empire (Herat)
Northwest · 1370 – 1507
Overlap: 137 years
Malwa Sultanate
Central · 1392 – 1562
Overlap: 170 years
Jaunpur (Sharqi) Sultanate
Gangetic Plain · 1394 – 1479
Overlap: 85 years
Gujarat Sultanate
West · 1407 – 1573
Overlap: 166 years
Kingdom of Kotte
Sri Lanka · 1412 – 1597
Overlap: 164 years
Gajapati Kingdom
East · 1434 – 1541
Overlap: 107 years
Ahmadnagar Sultanate (Nizam Shahi)
Deccan · 1490 – 1636
Overlap: 86 years
Bijapur Sultanate (Adil Shahi)
Deccan · 1490 – 1686
Overlap: 86 years
Berar Sultanate (Imad Shahi)
Deccan · 1490 – 1574
Overlap: 84 years
Bidar Sultanate (Barid Shahi)
Deccan · 1492 – 1619
Overlap: 84 years
Portuguese Cochin
Coastal · 1503 – 1663
Overlap: 73 years
Koch Kingdom (Kamata / Cooch Behar)
Northeast · 1515 – 1949
Overlap: 61 years
Golconda Sultanate (Qutb Shahi)
Deccan · 1518 – 1687
Overlap: 58 years
Madurai Nayaks
South · 1529 – 1736
Overlap: 47 years
Portuguese Bassein & Bombay
Coastal · 1534 – 1739
Overlap: 42 years
Portuguese Diu
Coastal · 1535 – 1961
Overlap: 41 years