Ghiyasuddin Azam Shah
Encyclopedia
Ghiyasuddin Azam Shah (1390-1411 CE) was the third Sultan
of the first Iliyas Shahi dynasty of Bengal
and one of the more widely known of medieval Sultans of Bengal. His tomb is situated in Narayanganj
of current day Bangladesh
.
. He was also in good relationship with Young-Ie
, the contemporary emperor of China
. Ghiyasuddin sent ambassadors to China
in 1405, 1408 and 1409 CE. Young-Ie
also exchanged envoys and valuable gifts for him. Ghiyasuddin also sent envoys to Mecca
and Medina
. He financially helped building two Madrasas, known as Ghiyasia Madrasa, in these two places. During his time Raja Ganesha
, the Hindu Zamindar of Bhaturiya (present-day Dinajpur District, Bangladesh
), rose to power.
, a Muslim Bengali poet, wrote his famous work, Yusuf-Zulekha, during Ghiyasuddin's reign. Also during his time Krittivasi Ramayan
, a translation of the Ramayana
into Bengali
, was written by a Hindu poet, Krittibas Ojha
.
Ghiyasuddin's ruling ended by his death in 1411 CE.
Sultan
Sultan is a title with several historical meanings. Originally, it was an Arabic language abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", "rulership", and "dictatorship", derived from the masdar سلطة , meaning "authority" or "power". Later, it came to be used as the title of certain rulers who...
of the first Iliyas Shahi dynasty of 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...
and one of the more widely known of medieval Sultans of Bengal. His tomb is situated in Narayanganj
Narayanganj
Narayanganj is a city in central Bangladesh. It is located in the Narayanganj District, near the capital city of Dhaka and has a population of 220,000. The city is on the bank of the Shitalakshya River. The river port of Narayanganj is one of the oldest in Bangladesh...
of current day Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
.
Foreign relation
In the initial period of his reign, he led a military expedition and successfully conquered Kamarupa. But he mostly consolidated his power rather than annexation of territory during his reign. He sent envoys and gifts to Khwaja Jahan of JaunpurJaunpur, Uttar Pradesh
Jaunpur is a city and a municipal board in Jaunpur district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.Jaunpur district is located to the northwest of the district of Varanasi in the eastern part of the North Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. According to the 2001 census, Jaunpur district had a population...
. He was also in good relationship with Young-Ie
Yongle Emperor
The Yongle Emperor , born Zhu Di , was the third emperor of the Ming Dynasty of China from 1402 to 1424. His Chinese era name Yongle means "Perpetual Happiness".He was the Prince of Yan , possessing a heavy military base in Beiping...
, the contemporary emperor of China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. Ghiyasuddin sent ambassadors to China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
in 1405, 1408 and 1409 CE. Young-Ie
Yongle Emperor
The Yongle Emperor , born Zhu Di , was the third emperor of the Ming Dynasty of China from 1402 to 1424. His Chinese era name Yongle means "Perpetual Happiness".He was the Prince of Yan , possessing a heavy military base in Beiping...
also exchanged envoys and valuable gifts for him. Ghiyasuddin also sent envoys to Mecca
Mecca
Mecca is a city in the Hijaz and the capital of Makkah province in Saudi Arabia. The city is located inland from Jeddah in a narrow valley at a height of above sea level...
and Medina
Medina
Medina , or ; also transliterated as Madinah, or madinat al-nabi "the city of the prophet") is a city in the Hejaz region of western Saudi Arabia, and serves as the capital of the Al Madinah Province. It is the second holiest city in Islam, and the burial place of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad, and...
. He financially helped building two Madrasas, known as Ghiyasia Madrasa, in these two places. During his time Raja Ganesha
Raja Ganesha
Raja Ganesha was a Hindu ruler of Bengal, who overthrew the Ilyas dynasty rule from Bengal. The Indo-Persian historians of the medieval period considered him as an infidel usurper. The dynasty founded by him ruled over Bengal from 1415-1435. His name mentioned in the coins of his son, sultan...
, the Hindu Zamindar of Bhaturiya (present-day Dinajpur District, Bangladesh
Dinajpur District, Bangladesh
Dinajpur is a district in Northern Bangladesh. It is a part of the Rangpur Division.- Geography :Dinajpur is bounded by Thakurgaon and Panchagarh districts in the north, Gaibandha and Joypurhat districts in the south, Nilphamari and Rangpurdistricts in the east, and the state of West Bengal, India...
), rose to power.
Interest in literature
Ghiyasuddin was a patron of scholars and poets. Persian poet Hafiz was in correspondence with him. Shah Muhammad SagirShah Muhammad Sagir
Shah Muhammad Sagir & Co. Ltd. was an ancient Muslim Bengali poet.-Life:Sagir was a poet of fourteenth or fifteenth century, in the time of Goura. He was possibly born to a Fakir family, in Chittagong.-External links:...
, a Muslim Bengali poet, wrote his famous work, Yusuf-Zulekha, during Ghiyasuddin's reign. Also during his time Krittivasi Ramayan
Krittivasi Ramayan
Krittivasi Ramayan or Krittibasi Ramayan or Sri Ram Panchali , composed by 15th century Bengali poet Krittibas Ojha, is a translation of the Ramayana into Bengali, which represents the first translation of the Ramayana into any North Indian language other than Sanskrit...
, a translation of the Ramayana
Ramayana
The Ramayana is an ancient Sanskrit epic. It is ascribed to the Hindu sage Valmiki and forms an important part of the Hindu canon , considered to be itihāsa. The Ramayana is one of the two great epics of India and Nepal, the other being the Mahabharata...
into Bengali
Bengali language
Bengali or Bangla is an eastern Indo-Aryan language. It is native to the region of eastern South Asia known as Bengal, which comprises present day Bangladesh, the Indian state of West Bengal, and parts of the Indian states of Tripura and Assam. It is written with the Bengali script...
, was written by a Hindu poet, Krittibas Ojha
Krittibas Ojha
Krittibas Ojha or Kirttibas Ojha was a medieval Bengali poet. His major contribution to Bangla literature and culture was the translation of the great Indian epic Ramayana to Bangla. His work, the Sri Ram Panchali, is popularly known as the Krittivasi Ramayan...
.
Ghiyasuddin's ruling ended by his death in 1411 CE.
See also
- Ilyas Shahi dynastyIlyas Shahi dynastyIlyas dynasty or Iliyas dynasty or Iliyas Shahi dynasty was the first independent ruling dynasty in late medieval Bengal, which ruled from the 14th century to the 15th century. The dynasty was founded by Ilyas Shah , who succeeded to achieve the political unity of Bengal...
- List of rulers of Bengal
- History of BengalHistory of BengalThe history of Bengal includes modern day Bangladesh and West Bengal, dates back four millennia. To some extent, the Ganges and the Brahmaputra rivers separated it from the mainland of India, though at times, Bengal has played an important role in the history of India.- Etymology :The exact origin...
- History of BangladeshHistory of BangladeshThe history of Bangladesh as a nation state began in 1971, when it seceded from Pakistan. Prior to the creation of Pakistan in 1947, modern-day Bangladesh was part of ancient, classical, medieval and colonial India....
- History of IndiaHistory of IndiaThe history of India begins with evidence of human activity of Homo sapiens as long as 75,000 years ago, or with earlier hominids including Homo erectus from about 500,000 years ago. The Indus Valley Civilization, which spread and flourished in the northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent from...