Riyaz al-salatin 32.2

32.2

Seeing the feebleness of Qutbuddin's successor, Aram Shah, Hussamu-d-din assumed independence, made Lakhnauti his capital, and assumed the title of Sultan Ghiasu-d-din about 612 A.H., and minted coins in his own name. Mr. Thomas in his "Initial Coinage of Bengal" notices several coins of Sultan Ghiasu-d-din struck at Gaur or Lakhnauti between 614 and 620 A.H. An examination of these coins indicates the interesting and curious fact that Ghiasu-d-din had put himself in communication with the Khalifa of Baghdad so far back as 620 A.H. (that is, earlier than Emperor Altamsh of Delhi who obtained similar honour in 626 A.H.) and obtained a pontifical patent, recognizing the sovereign of Bengal amongst the Moslem hierarchy of the world. This circumstance, as suggested by Mr. Thomas, would also indicate that in those days there was freer sea and ocean-intercourse between the Musalmans along the shores of Bengal and the Arabs of the sea-ports of Basrah and Baghdad, than between Musalmans of more inland places in India and the Arabs of the aforesaid sea-ports. In 622 A.H., Emperor Altamsh from Delhi invaded Bengal, and on Sultan Ghiasuddin paying him tribute, peace was concluded. In 624 A.H.