Isa Khan of Bengal: Difference between revisions
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On 15th September 1992, Bangladesh Government issued a commemorative stamp in honor of Isa Khan.<ref name=bdstamp>[http://www.bdstamps.com/Commemorative/1992/1992_Isa_Khan.htm Commemorative BD stamps]</ref> |
On 15th September 1992, Bangladesh Government issued a commemorative stamp in honor of Isa Khan.<ref name=bdstamp>[http://www.bdstamps.com/Commemorative/1992/1992_Isa_Khan.htm Commemorative BD stamps]</ref> |
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As of 2005, Dewan Amin Dau Khan, the 14th descendant of Isa Khan is living in Jangalbari Fort in [[Kishoreganj]].<ref>[http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2005/04/03/heritage.htm Star Weekend Magazine, The Daily Star, 3 March 2005]</ref> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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Revision as of 10:32, 4 March 2012
| Isa Khan ঈসা খাঁ | |
|---|---|
| Masnad-E-Ala | |
| Leader of Bara-Bhuiyans of Bengal | |
| Reign | 1576–1599 |
| Successor | Musa Khan |
| Born | c. 1529 |
| Died | September 1599 (age 70) |
| Spouse | Fatema Khan Sona Bibi |
| Issue | Daud Khan[1] Musa Khan |
| House | Jangalbari Fort |
| Father | Sulaiman Khan |
| Religion | Sunni Islam |
Isa Khan (Template:Lang-bn; 1529 – September 1599) was the leader of the Baro Bhuiyans (twelve landlords) of medieval Bengal. He was the ruler of the Bhati region. Throughout his reign he put resistance against Mughal invasion. It was only after his death, when the region went totally under Mughals.
Early life
According to Abul Fazl, the author of Akbarnama, Isa Khan's father was born in Rajput clan. He revolted and later killed in a battle against a Islam Shah Suri. Isa and his brother Ismail were sold as slaves. After the death of Islam Shah Suri, Taj Khan Karrani came to rule Bengal. Qutubuddin, the paternal uncle of Isa Khan, consolidated his position under Taj Khan. Qutubuddin then brought the two brothers from Turan region. Isa Khan gradually solidified his position under the Karrani rulers.[2]
The name of Isa Khan's father is not mentioned in Akbarnama. But according to the late descendants living in Jangalbari, his name was originally Kalidas Gazdani. After conversion to Islam, he was named Sulaiman Khan.[3] The year he was killed in the battle was 1548.[4]
Rise to power
In 1564 Isa Khan earned a property in Sonargaon and Maheswari Pargana during the reign of Taj Khan Karrani, the Karrani Afghan ruler of Bengal.[4]
Reign
Battle against Khan Jahan
In 1578 Mughal Subahdar of Bengal, Subahdar Khan Jahan led an expedition towards the Bhati region.[4] With the assistance of the allies, Majlis Dilawar and Maharaja Pratap, Isa Khan engaged in a naval battle against the Mughals in Kastul. He comprehensively defeated Khan Jahan's army.[4]
Battle against Shahbaz Khan
In September 1584[5], another Bengal Subahdar Shahbaz Khan Kamboh crossed Ganges near Khizirpur and attacked Sonargaon, Katrabo and Egarasindhur.[4] But he finally suffered a defeat in the battle of Egarasindur and Bhawal against Isa khan and Masum Khan Kabuli, the defected Mughal General. Shahbaz Khan retreated to Tandah. With the help of reinforcements by Emperor Akbar, Shahbaz Khan led another military expedition towards Bhati in 1586. Isa Khan attacked him at Bhawal (north of Dhaka) but forces of Shahbaz Khan were well fortified near Brahmaputra. Isa Khan pretended his allegiance towards Akbar and prevented an imminent invasion of Bengal by the Mughals.
In 1586 Ralph Fitch, an English traveler and merchant, came to Bengal’s eastern districts and stated,
They be all hereabout Rebels against the King Zebaldin Echebar [ Jalaluddin Akbar ]: for here are so many Rivers and Ilands, that they flee from one to another, whereby his Horsemen cannot prevaile against them. The chiefe King of all these Countries is called Isacan [Isa Khan], and he is chiefe of all the other Kings, and is a great friend to all Christians.[6]
Battle against Durjan Singh
On 17 March 1594 Man Singh was appointed the Subahdar of Bengal by Emperor Akbar.[6] After establishing Rajmahal as the capital of Bengal, Man Singh sent his own son, Durjan Singh, to Isa Khan's Bhati region with vast army on 7 December 1595.[7] In August 1597, Isa Khan with the assistance of Masum Khan Kabuli, engaged in a battle against Mughal naval forces.[6] Durjan Singh was killed and Mughal forces faced another defeat.[4]
Marriage
Isa Khan first married Fatema Khan, a descendant from Hossain Shah dynasty. Later he married Sarna Moi, the daughter of Chad Rai of Sripur. After conversion to Islam, Sarna Moi took the name Sona Bibi.[8]
Legacy
Isa Khan died of natural causes[6] in September 1599[9]. His son, Musa Khan then took control of Sonargaon.[10] On 10 July 1610 Musa was dethroned by Mughal General Islam Khan Chisti. Masum Khan was the eldest son of Musa Khan. He was the Mughal army General during the Hughly invasion in 1632.[11] His eldest son was Monwar Khan. A place called Monwarbagh, 7 mile to the east of Narayanganj, was named after him.
In 12 February 1909, a farmer unearthed seven canons in Monwarbagh.[11] They were partly made of brass. They had labels mentioning "Isa Khan" and "1002" (Hijri 1002 year is 1593 CE in Gregorian Calendar).
On 15th September 1992, Bangladesh Government issued a commemorative stamp in honor of Isa Khan.[9]
As of 2005, Dewan Amin Dau Khan, the 14th descendant of Isa Khan is living in Jangalbari Fort in Kishoreganj.[12]
References
- ^ Bangladesh: Past and Present by Salahuddin Ahmed
- ^ Akbarnama, Volume III, Page 647
- ^ Chowdhury, Kamal (2005). Banglar Baro Bhuiyan and Maharaj Pratapaditya. p. 163.
- ^ a b c d e f AA Sheikh Md Asrarul Hoque Chisti, Isa Khan, Banglapedia: The National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, Dhaka, Retrieved: 2012-03-01
- ^ Bangladesh:Past and Present
- ^ a b c d Eaton, Richard (1993). The Rise of Islam and the Bengal Frontier, 1204–1760.
{{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|1=(help) - ^ Sinh, Raghubir. A history of Jaipur. p. 81.
{{cite book}}: Text "year-1984" ignored (help) - ^ Chowdhury, Kamal (2005). Banglar Baro Bhuiyan and Maharaj Pratapaditya. p. 143.
- ^ a b Commemorative BD stamps
- ^ Muazzam Hussain Khan, Musa Khan, Banglapedia: The National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, Dhaka, Retrieved: 2012-03-01
- ^ a b Chowdhury, Kamal (2005). Banglar Baro Bhuiyan and Maharaj Pratapaditya. p. 398.
- ^ Star Weekend Magazine, The Daily Star, 3 March 2005
Further reading
- NK Bhattasali, 'Bengal Chiefs' Struggle for Independence in the Reign of Akbar and Jahangir', Bengal Past and Present, 38, 1929;
- MA Rahim, The History of the Afghans in India, Karachi, 1961;
- JN Sarkar, ed, The History of Bengal, II, Third Impression, 1976;
- Abdul Karim, History of Bengal (Mughal Period), I, Rajshahi, 1992.