Reference
Medieval India: From Sultanat to the Mughals (2 vols)
The detailed two-volume treatment for readers who want more than the single-volume textbook.
Sur Empire
Empire
Level 2
★ Major power
1540 – 1556
Sher Shah Suri's empire: the rupiya, the Grand Trunk Road and revenue reforms.
- Capital
- Delhi / Sasaram
- Region
- North
- Duration
- 16 years
- Main period
- Sur Empire
Changing extent
- 1540 — ≈ 1,150,000 km²: Sher Shah: the Punjab to Bengal, Malwa and much of Rajputana
Approximate extent.
At a glance
Move along the chart to read any year; click a ruler or event to open the map there.
Rulers
- Sher Shah Suri Sultan1540 – 1545Rupiya coin; Grand Trunk Road; defeated Humayun at Chausa and Kannauj.
- Islam Shah Suri Sultan1545 – 1554
- Adil Shah Suri Sultan1554 – 1556General Hemu held real power.
Selected rulers; gaps in the list are not gaps in the dynasty.
Key events
| Year | Event | Place |
|---|---|---|
| 1539 | Battle of Chausa Sher Shah defeats Humayun. Humayun was defeated and escaped by swimming the Ganga. |
Chausa |
| 1540 | Battle of Kannauj Sher Shah Suri defeats Humayun, who goes into exile. Humayun fled into exile and Sher Shah founded the Sur Empire. |
Kannauj |
| 1541 | Rohtas Fort begun by Sher Shah | Rohtas |
| 1545 | Death of Sher Shah at Kalinjar | Kalinjar |
Sites & monuments
Rohtas Fort
Capital / fort · 1541
Personalities
📚 Recommended reading on the Sur Empire
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 Sur Empire for a significant part of its history. The bar shows when, within its own span.
Sultanate of the Maldives ★
Islands · c. 1153 – 1968
Overlap: 16 years
Malla Dynasty of Nepal ★
Himalaya · 1201 – 1769
Overlap: 16 years
Ahom Kingdom ★
Northeast · 1228 – 1826
Overlap: 16 years
Mewar (Sisodia) ★
West · 1326 – 1949
Overlap: 16 years
Vijayanagara Empire ★
South · 1336 – 1646
Overlap: 16 years
Kingdom of Mysore ★
South · 1399 – 1950
Overlap: 16 years
Kingdom of Kandy ★
Sri Lanka · c. 1469 – 1815
Overlap: 16 years
Portuguese Estado da Índia ★
Coastal · 1505 – 1961
Overlap: 16 years
Mughal Empire ★
North · 1526 – 1857
Overlap: 16 years
Zamorins of Calicut
South · c. 1124 – 1766
Overlap: 16 years
Kachwahas of Amber (Jaipur)
West · c. 1128 – 1949
Overlap: 16 years
Jaffna Kingdom
Sri Lanka · c. 1215 – 1619
Overlap: 16 years
Marwar (Rathore)
West · c. 1226 – 1949
Overlap: 16 years
Kashmir Sultanate
North · 1339 – 1586
Overlap: 16 years
Bengal Sultanate
East · 1352 – 1576
Overlap: 16 years
Malwa Sultanate
Central · 1392 – 1562
Overlap: 16 years
Gujarat Sultanate
West · 1407 – 1573
Overlap: 16 years
Kingdom of Kotte
Sri Lanka · 1412 – 1597
Overlap: 16 years
Ahmadnagar Sultanate (Nizam Shahi)
Deccan · 1490 – 1636
Overlap: 16 years
Bijapur Sultanate (Adil Shahi)
Deccan · 1490 – 1686
Overlap: 16 years
Berar Sultanate (Imad Shahi)
Deccan · 1490 – 1574
Overlap: 16 years
Bidar Sultanate (Barid Shahi)
Deccan · 1492 – 1619
Overlap: 16 years
Portuguese Cochin
Coastal · 1503 – 1663
Overlap: 16 years
Koch Kingdom (Kamata / Cooch Behar)
Northeast · 1515 – 1949
Overlap: 16 years
Golconda Sultanate (Qutb Shahi)
Deccan · 1518 – 1687
Overlap: 16 years
Madurai Nayaks
South · 1529 – 1736
Overlap: 16 years
Portuguese Bassein & Bombay
Coastal · 1534 – 1739
Overlap: 16 years
Portuguese Diu
Coastal · 1535 – 1961
Overlap: 16 years