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.
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.
Sultanate of the Maldives ★
Islands · c. 1153 – 1968
Malla Dynasty of Nepal ★
Himalaya · 1201 – 1769
Delhi Sultanate ★
North · 1206 – 1526
Ahom Kingdom ★
Northeast · 1228 – 1826
Mewar (Sisodia) ★
West · 1326 – 1949
Vijayanagara Empire ★
South · 1336 – 1646
Bahmani Sultanate ★
Deccan · 1347 – 1527
Kingdom of Mysore ★
South · 1399 – 1950
Kingdom of Kandy ★
Sri Lanka · c. 1469 – 1815
Portuguese Estado da Índia ★
Coastal · 1505 – 1961
Mughal Empire ★
North · 1526 – 1857
Eastern Ganga Dynasty
East · c. 1078 – 1434
Khasa Malla Kingdom
Himalaya · c. 1100 – c. 1400
Zamorins of Calicut
South · c. 1124 – 1766
Kachwahas of Amber (Jaipur)
West · c. 1128 – 1949
Jaffna Kingdom
Sri Lanka · c. 1215 – 1619
Marwar (Rathore)
West · c. 1226 – 1949
Madurai Sultanate
South · 1335 – 1378
Kashmir Sultanate
North · 1339 – 1586
Samma Dynasty
Northwest · 1351 – 1524
Timurid Empire (Herat)
Northwest · 1370 – 1507
Malwa Sultanate
Central · 1392 – 1562
Jaunpur (Sharqi) Sultanate
Gangetic Plain · 1394 – 1479
Gujarat Sultanate
West · 1407 – 1573
Kingdom of Kotte
Sri Lanka · 1412 – 1597
Gajapati Kingdom
East · 1434 – 1541
Ahmadnagar Sultanate (Nizam Shahi)
Deccan · 1490 – 1636
Bijapur Sultanate (Adil Shahi)
Deccan · 1490 – 1686
Berar Sultanate (Imad Shahi)
Deccan · 1490 – 1574
Bidar Sultanate (Barid Shahi)
Deccan · 1492 – 1619
Portuguese Cochin
Coastal · 1503 – 1663
Koch Kingdom (Kamata / Cooch Behar)
Northeast · 1515 – 1949
Golconda Sultanate (Qutb Shahi)
Deccan · 1518 – 1687
Madurai Nayaks
South · 1529 – 1736
Portuguese Bassein & Bombay
Coastal · 1534 – 1739
Portuguese Diu
Coastal · 1535 – 1961