Bengal Sultanate–Kamata Kingdom War Explained

Conflict:Bengal Sultanate–Kamata Kingdom War
Date:1498[1]
Place:North Bengal and Western Assam
Result:Bengal Sultanate victory
Combatant1:Bengal Sultanate
Combatant2:Kamata Kingdom
Commander1:Hussain Shah
Shah Ismail Ghazi
Shahzada Danyal
Musundar Ghazi
Commander2:Nilambar
Strength1:24000
Strength2:20000 - 25000
Casualties1:400 killed 1700 wounded
Casualties2:15000 killed 4000 several captured
Notes:Bengal Sultanate take over the khen Dynasty

The Bengal Sultanate–Kamata Kingdom War was a late 15th century conflict between the Kamata Kingdom and the Bengal Sultanate.[2] As a result of the conflict the Khen dynasty was overthrown and the Bengal Sultanate extended its domain up to the Hajo in what is present day western Assam by 1502. Nevertheless, the Sultanate administration was removed in about ten years by the Assamese Bhuyans led by Harup Narayan.[3]

Invasion

The conquest was instigated by Sachipatra, a Brahmin whose son was executed by King Nilambar for his promiscuity with the queen.[4] In 1499, Sultan Alauddin Husain Shah dispatched an army under the command of Shah Ismail Ghazi to conquer Kamata.[5] Ghazi's forces besieged the Kamatapur fort and destroyed the city. Hussain Shah imprisoned Nilambar of Kamata and ended the reign of the Khen dynasty. Though Kamatapur fell in 1498, Hussain Shah was able to annex up to Hajo not before 1502.[6] [7]

Aftermath

The region was brought under the administration of Sultanate governors in Hajo. Hussain Shah minted coins with the proclamation "conqueror of Kāmrū, Kamata, Jajnagar and Urisa".[8] [9] He also publicly inscribed the victory at a stone in Malda.[10] The Sultan appointed his son, Shahzada Danyal,[11] as the governor of the newly conquered region; that reached up to Hajo and intended to expand to Central Assam. Daniyal later fell to the Assamese Bhuyans within Hussein Shah's lifetime and his rule ended.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Kamata-Kamatapura . Banglapedia.
  2. Book: Manilal Bose. Social History of Assam: Being a Study of the Origins of Ethnic Identity and Social Tension During the British Period, 1905-1947. 1989. Concept Publishing Company. 978-81-7022-224-8. 38.
  3. "But the rule of the Muslims was short. The Bhuyans made a united attack on Daniel's garrison and destroyed it to the last man."
  4. Book: Nath, D.. History of the Koch Kingdom, C. 1515-1615. Delhi. Mittal Publications. 1989. 8170991099. 70.
  5. Book: Majumdar . R. C. . R. C. Majumdar . The Delhi Sultanate . 1980 . First published 1960 . The History and Culture of the Indian People . VI . 3rd . Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan . Bombay . 664485 . 217.
  6. Web site: Husain Shah . Banglapedia.
  7. "The annexation of the Khen Kingdom up to Hajo was, however, not completed before Ramzan 907/10 March 1502..."
  8. Book: Sircar, D. C. . Studies in Indian Coins . 2008 . Motilal Banarsidass Publishers . 978-81-208-2973-2 . 21 . en . Alāuddin Husen Shah (1493-1518 A.D.), described himself as the conqueror of Kamru (i.e Kamarupa) and Kamta and of Urisa (Orissa) and Jajanagar on his issues.
  9. Kamata-Kamatapura.
  10. Book: Sircar, D. C. . Studies in Indian Coins . 2008 . Motilal Banarsidass Publishers . 978-81-208-2973-2 . en.
  11. Book: Desai, Ziyaud-Din A.. Z. A. Desai. Purā-prakāśa: Recent Researches in Epigraphy, Numismatics, Manuscriptology, Persian Literature, Art, Architecture, Archaeology, History and Conservation : Dr. Z.A. Desai Commemoration Volume. 2003. Bharatiya Kala Prakashan. 978-81-8090-007-5. 244.