[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Dark Ages](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages) › [Bengal, Orissa and the North-East](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.east) › [Riyāẓ al-salāṭīn](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.east.riyaz-al-salatin) › [The Riyazu-s-salatin (Abdus Salam)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.east.riyaz-al-salatin~en-abdus-salam) › 48 # Riyaz al-salatin 48: REIGN OF HAJI ILYAS STYLED SULTAN SHAMSU-D-DIN. The Riyazu-s-salatin (Abdus Salam) 48 - **Language:** English ### REIGN OF HAJI ILYAS STYLED SULTAN SHAMSU-D-DIN. ### [48.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.east.riyaz-al-salatin~en-abdus-salam.48.1) When Sultan 'Alau-d-din was killed, and the sovereignty of Bengal passed to Haji Ilyas 'Alai, proclaiming himself Sultan Shamsu-d-din he mounted the throne in the holy city of Panduah. As he took much bhang, he was called Shamsu-d-din Bhangrah. In conciliating the people, and winning the heart of the army, he put forth noble efforts. After a while, mustering an army, he went to Jajnagar, and from there obtaining many valuables and presents and large elephants, returned to his capital. And owing to the decay which had set in in the Empire of Delhi from the time of Sultan Muhammad Shah, for thirteen years the Emperors of Delhi did not turn their attention to Bengal. Sultan Shamsu-d-din \[ with absolute independence devoted himself to the administrative affairs of Bengal, subjugated gradually all the tracts up to the limits of Banaras, and enhanced more than before his pomp and power, until the throne of Delhi passed to Firuz Shah, son of Rajab, who attempted to re-conquer Bengal. It is said that at that time Sultan Shamsu-d-din built a bath, similar to the Shamsi bath of Delhi. Sultan Firuz Shah who was furious with anger against Shamsu-d-din, in the year 754 A.H., set out for Lakhnauti, and after forced marches reached close to the city of Panduah, which was then the metropolis of Bengal. The Emperor encamped at a place which is still called Firuzpurabad, and riding from that place besieged the Fort of Panduah. ### [48.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.east.riyaz-al-salatin~en-abdus-salam.48.2) Sultan Shamsu-d-din leaving his son with an army in the fort of Panduah, entrenched himself in the fort of Ekdalah which was very impregnable. Firuz Shah, not oppressing the people of Panduah, captured in battle the son of Sultan Shamsu-d-din, and marched towards the fort of Ekdalah. (End of Fasc. I.) (Fasc. II.) On the first day, a bloody engagement took place. After that, for twenty-two days, he besieged the Fort. Not succeeding, Firuz Shah resolved to transfer his camp to the bank of the Ganges. Then, alone, he searched for a proper camping ground. Sultan Shamsu-d-din thinking that Firuz Shah closes his history with a narrative of this expedition and of the events up to the sixth year of Firuz Shah's reign. The object of the expedition was to punish Sultan Shamsu-d-din Haji Ilyas who had invaded and ravaged Tirhut and harried the frontier (then the Sro river) between the Bengal Kingdom and the Delhi Empire. The Emperor set out from Delhi on 10th Shawal 754 A.H., reached Oudh, crossed the Sro river, when Ilyas Shah withdrew to Tirhut. The Emperor crossing the Sro, marched through Arsa-i-Kharosah (not identified) and Gorakpur, the Rajahs whereof paid him homage and enlisted themselves on his side. Ilyas Shah then returned from Tirhut to Panduah, the Emperor following him towards Lakhnauti and Panduah, after traversing Jagat or Jalat (not identified) and Tirhut (the Rajahs whereof also paid homage to the Emperor). ### [48.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.east.riyaz-al-salatin~en-abdus-salam.48.3) Ilyas Shah, on approach of the Emperor to Panduah, retired to Fort Ekdalah, where he entrenched himself. The Emperor did not plunder Panduah, but left its population unmolested, crossed the river in front of the fort Ekdalah, and laid siege to it for several days. He had scruples about destroying promiscuously the garrison of the Fort, so he made a feint retreating movement back across the river, which resulted in drawing out Ilyas Shah from the Fort. A battle was fought, the Bengal army in which elephants formed a prominent feature was defeated, and the Imperialists captured forty-four Bengal elephants, &c., &c. On finding that the rainy season was approaching, the Emperor by forced marches (after appointing Collectors in Tirhut district) returned to Delhi, which was reached on 12th Shaban 755 A.H. or 1354 A.C. This first expedition is also narrated by Shams Siraj Afif, another nearly contemporary historian, who continued Barni's Tarikh-i-Firuz Shahi. From this account, the following additional interesting facts are gleaned:— 1. That Firuz Shah sailed to Bengal in one thousand flotilla of war-vessels, and his route lay across the Sro, the Ganges and the Kosi rivers, that his expeditionary force consisted of 70,000 Khans and Maliks, two laks infantry, 60,000 cavalry, besides an elephant-corps. 2. That when Firuz Shah crossed the Kosi rivers Ilyas Shah, king of Bengal, retired from Panduah to Ekdalah, which is called here the "Isles of Ekdalah." ### [48.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.east.riyaz-al-salatin~en-abdus-salam.48.4) 3. That Firuz Shah laid siege to the fort of Ekdalah for several days, and nothing decisive occurring, made a feint retreating movement westward seven karoh or Kos from Ekdalah, when Ilyas Shah thinking Firuz Shah was retreating, came out of the fort Ekdalah, advanced, and attacked the Imperialists, who defeated and killed one lak of the Bengal army, and captured 50 Bengal elephants. 4. That then Ilyas Shah escaped again to the Fort of Ekdalah, which was about to be stormed by the Imperialists, when the females of the garrison uncovering their heads, exhibited themselves, and raised loud lamentations, had marched to retire, came out of the fort, and mustered his forces. Owing to the sword and the arrow and the spear and the gun, The market of fighting became warm on both sides. The bodies of heroes were emptied of their souls ; Like roses, on their faces, budded forth wounds. After much slaughter on both sides, a large number of people were killed and destroyed. At length, the breeze of victory wafted on the standard of Firuz Shah, and Shamsu-d-din being overpowered fled, and sought refuge in the Fort. Forty-four elephants which he had brought from Jajnagar, together with the Royal Umbrella and the standard and other regal chattels and paraphernalia, fell into the hands of the soldiers of Firuz Shah. It is said that at that time the Saint Shaikh Raja Biyabani in whom Sultan Shamsu-d-din had great faith, died. ### [48.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.east.riyaz-al-salatin~en-abdus-salam.48.5) Sultan Shamsu-d-din coming out of the Fort, in the guise of a mendicant, joined the Shaikh's funeral. After finishing the obsequies, he rode alone to see Firuz Shah, and without the latter recognizing him, returned to the Fort. When the Sultan came to know about it, he expressed regret. In short, when the period of siege was protracted, and the rainy season set in, in that in the rains, the country of Bengal becomes one sheet of water, and cause for anxiety arises, Sultan Firuz Shah made overtures for peace. Sultan Shamsu-d-din, who was hard-pressed by the siege, partially made his submission, and also sought for peace. Firuz Shah, releasing the son of Sultan Shamsu-d-din together with other prisoners of the kingdom of Lakhnauti, raised the standard of return. And in the year 755 A.H., Sultan Shamsu-d-din sent many presents and numerous rareties, in charge of wise envoys, to Sultan Firuz Shah. The latter also showing attentions to the envoys, sent them back. And since Sultan Shamsu-d-din had great anxiety from Firuz Shah, consequently in 757 A.H. the former sent to Delhi wise and sagacious envoys, and sought for peace. Firuz Shah agreeing, returned the envoys loaded with honours. From that time, the boundaries between the Kingdoms of Delhi and Bengal were delimitated; ### [48.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.east.riyaz-al-salatin~en-abdus-salam.48.6) and the Emperors of Delhi adhering to the terms of the treaty, never meddled with the Kings of Bengal, and by mutual exchange of presents on both sides, they maintained friendly relations between the two kingdoms. And in the year 758 A.H., Sultan Shamsu-d-din again sent from Bengal Malik Taju-d-din with some nobles, in the form of an embassy, with many presents and gifts to Delhi. Sultan Firuz Shah bestowing attentions on the envoys more than before, after some days, sent in return to Sultan Shamsu-d-din Arab and Turkish horses, together with other valuable presents, in charge of Malik Saifu-d-din Shahnafil. In the meantime, Sultan Shamsu-d-din had died in Bengal. Malik Taju-d-din and Malik Saifu-d-din had approached Behar, when they heard the news of the death of Sultan Shamsu-d-din. Malik Saifu-d-din communicated this intelligence to Delhi, and agreeably to the order of the Emperor, he gave away the horses and the presents in lieu of the pay due to the Imperial soldiers stationed in Behar. Malik Taju-d-din returned to Bengal. The reign of Shamsu-d-din lasted 16 years and some months. --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.east.riyaz-al-salatin~en-abdus-salam.48](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.east.riyaz-al-salatin~en-abdus-salam.48) · Pramāṇa