Gujarat, Bengal, Kashmir, Malwa - Provincial Kingdoms | History for UPSC CSE PDF Download

Emergence of Provincial Kingdoms in Deccan and South India

With the decline of the Sultanate , new kingdoms began to emerge in the subcontinent. These kingdoms were initially part of the Sultanate but later gained independence. In western India, Gujarat and Malwa became prominent kingdoms. The establishment of Ahmedabad by Ahmed Shah significantly increased Gujarat's influence. In the north, Kashmir rose to prominence, especially under the rule of Zain-ul-Abidin , known as 'Bud Shah.' In eastern India, Jaunpur and Bengal were notable kingdoms that eventually broke away from the Delhi Sultanate. In the southern Deccan region, the Bahmani and Vijayanagar kingdoms played crucial roles.

Vijayanagara Kingdom (1336–1672 CE)

• Dynasties: Ruled by four dynasties: Sangama (c. 1336-1485 CE), Saluva (c. 1485-1503 CE), Tuluva (c. 1503-1570 CE), and Aravidu (until the end of the 17th century).
• Foundation: Established in 1336 by Harihara and Bukka of the Sangama dynasty, with support from Guru Vidyaranya. They declared independence and founded the city of Vijayanagar on the south bank of the Tungabhadra River .
• Religion: Initially followed Saivism , with Virupaksha as their family deity. Later influenced by Vaishnavism , but Shiva continued to be worshipped.
• Conflicts: Constantly in conflict with the Bahmani kingdom over regions like Raichur Doab , Tungabhadra Doab , and Marathwada . They also faced rivalry from the Bahmani Sultanate.
• Decline: The empire fell after the Battle of Talaikotta in 1565, where Rama Raya was defeated by the combined forces of Bijapur , Ahmednagar , Golkonda , and Bidar . Sri Ranga III was the last ruler.

Bahmani Kingdom (1347–1518 CE)

• Foundation: Founded by Alauddin Hasan Bahman Shah , who revolted against Muhammad bin Tughlaq of the Delhi Sultanate.
• Capital: Initially Ahsanabad (now Gulbarga ), later moved to Muhammadabad (now Bidar ).
• Peak: Reached its height under Mahmud Gawan (1461-1481), who expanded the kingdom and introduced administrative reforms.
• Conflicts: Frequently clashed with the Vijayanagara Empire in the south.
• Decline: Began to decline after the execution of Mahmud Gawan , leading to internal conflicts and fragmentation.

Provincial Kingdoms of North India

• Muzaffarid Dynasty in Gujarat (1391–1583 CE):
  • Foundation: Established by Zafar Khan, who was the governor of Gujarat under the Delhi Sultanate.
  • Rule: This dynasty, also known as the Ahmedabad dynasty, ruled Gujarat until 1583.
• Dynasty of Malwa (1392–1562 CE):
  • Foundation: Founded by Dilawar Khan Ghuri, the governor of Malwa, who declared independence from the Delhi Sultanate in 1392.
  • Subsequent Rule: It was later governed by other dynasties, including the Khalji dynasty, with Baz Bahadur being the last Sultan.
• Dynasty of Mewar:
  • Foundation: Established by Rana Hammira (c. 1314 – 1378 CE), who created the second Guhila dynasty of Chittor and was the ancestor of the Sisodia clan.
  • Title: Rana Hammira was the first to use the title "Rana" and built the Annapoorna Mata temple in Chittorgarh fort.

Kashmir

• 13th Century: Ruled by Jagadeva, an independent Hindu kingdom facing many challenges. His successors, including Rajadeva, Samgramdeva, and Ramdeva, struggled to maintain power.
• Simhadeva (1286–1301): He took over the throne, but his dynasty did not last long.
• Invasion: Kashmir underwent a significant change in control in 1320 when Dulacha invaded and ransacked the region.
• Rinchan: A Bhautta prince from Laddakh, who took the throne in 1320, converted to Islam, and became Sultan Sadruddin.

Shah Mir Dynasty (1339–1555 CE)

• Founded by Shah Mir, this dynasty firmly established Islam in Kashmir.

Chak Dynasty (1555–1586 CE)

• Succeeded the Shah Mir dynasty, with Ghazi Chak as the first ruler.

Jaunpur Dynasty (1394–1505 CE)

• Foundation: Malik Sarwar, the governor of Jaunpur, declared independence in 1394 during the decline of the Delhi Sultanate.
• Sharqi Dynasty: Founded by Malik Sarwar, this period saw the emergence of the Sharqi style of architecture.

Ilyas Shah Dynasty (1338–1538 CE)

• Foundation: The first independent dynasty of Bengal, established by Shamsuddin Ilyas Shah. Notably, other regional powers existed before this dynasty.
• The dynasty maintained friendly relations with China , aiding Bengal's trade.

Gajapati Dynasty (1434–1541 CE)

• Foundation: Founded by Kapilendra Deva, the dynasty expanded its empire from the lower Ganga to the Kaveri.
• Supported art, literature, and temple construction.

Conclusion

• The internal weaknesses of the Delhi Sultanate, along with the decline of the Mughal Empire, allowed for the rise of regional states such as Jaunpur, Kashmir, Gujarat, Bengal, Vijayanagar, and Bahmani.
• Cultural Exchange: Despite conflicts, these states shared ideas in art, architecture, and religion, enriching the region's cultural heritage.