Medieval History of Bihar | BPSC Preparation: All subjects - BPSC (Bihar) PDF Download

Overview

Bihar was ruled directly or indirectly by the Slave Dynasty, Khilji Dynasty, Tughlaq Dynasty, Noohani Dynasty, Cher Dynasty, Bhojpur’s Ujjaini Dynasty, Sur Dynasty, and Mughal Dynasty. Check below the important events that occurred during the Medival period.

Medieval History of Bihar

Medieval History of Bihar is commemorated by the foreign invasion and dynasty that ruined the glory of Bihar. The invasion and war of succession made the darkest age of all times because the invasion famed and defamed the great school of education in Bihar which could teach the students about the greatness of their culture and people laden with high taxes.

Early Medieval Period in Bihar

During the early medieval period, Bihar saw the rise of the Pala dynasty, which ruled from the mid-7th century to the early 11th century. Following the Pala dynasty, the Sena and Karnata dynasties also emerged.

Pala Dynasty

The Pala dynasty (AD 750-1150) came to power after the death of Shashanka, during a time of chaos in Bengal and Bihar. The Palas were followers of Mahayana and Tantric Buddhism. Gopala (AD 750-770) was the first ruler and founder of the Pala dynasty.
Important Rulers of the Pala Dynasty

Gopala

• Gopala became the first king of the Pala dynasty to prevent the chaos known as ‘matsya-nyay’ after the fall of earlier powers in Eastern India.
• In AD 750, the Khalimpur copper plate inscription indicates that the people chose him as king, considered one of the first democratic elections in South Asia since the time of Mahajanapadas.
• During his reign, Gopala consolidated his power over Bengal and parts of Bihar. He established a Buddhist monastery and university in Odantpuri (now Bihar Sharif).

Dharampala

• After Gopala, his son Dharampala (AD 770-810) succeeded the throne.
• The empire reached its peak under Dharampala and Devapala.
• Dharampala extended the empire into the northern parts of the Indian subcontinent, triggering power struggles for control.
• After capturing Kannauj, he earned the title of Uttarapathswamini and organized a grand court in Kannauj.
• A devout Buddhist, Dharampala established Vikramshila University in modern Bhagalpur district and donated 200 villages for the maintenance of Nalanda University.

Devapala

• Devapala (AD 810-850), the successor of Dharampala, expanded the empire into South Asia and beyond, making Munger his capital.
• He conquered the Utkalas and Pragjyotisha (Assam), as noted in Pala copper plate inscriptions.
• Inscriptions from his reign have been found in Ghorawan, Hilsa, Nalanda, and Munger.
• During his time, Balaputradeva, ruler of Suvarnabhumi, founded a Buddhist monastery at Nalanda.
• The Pala kings also patronized Hinduism, funding the construction of temples and educational institutions like gurukuls.
• They maintained close trade relations with South-East Asia and China.

Later Palas

• The later rulers of the Pala dynasty included Vigrahapala (son of Devapala), Narayanpala, Rajyapala, Gopala II, and Mahipala I. 
• Among these, Mahipala I was the most prominent.

Mahipala I

• Mahipala I, who succeeded the throne in 988 AD, is also known as the second founder of the Pala dynasty.
• During his reign, Bihar and Bengal were invaded by Rajendra Chola I of the Chola dynasty.
• In 1023 AD, Mahipala I was defeated by Rajendra Chola, and he died in the same year, marking the end of the Pala dynasty.

Sena Dynasty

• After the fall of the Pala dynasty, the Sena Dynasty emerged in Bihar, founded by Sumantsena in the mid-11th century. Vijayasena succeeded Sumantsena, followed by his son Ballalsena, who maintained the territories inherited from his father.
• Ballalsena was a great scholar known for writing Danasagar and Advutsagar. He initiated a social movement called ‘Kulinism’, which aimed to protect the nobility of birth and purity of blood.

Medieval Period in Bihar

The Medieval period in Bihar was marked by the invasion of the Turks from West Asia.

Bihar and Turkish Invasion

• He also named Malik Ghazi Ikhtiyar 'l-Din Muhammad Bakhtiyar Khilji or Muhammad Bakhtiyar Khilji or Bakhtiyar Khilji,
• He sacked the universities of Nalanda, Vikramashila, and Odantapuri.
• He established a town called Bakhtiyarpur.
• He was assassinated by Ali Mardan and his mausoleum is in Bihar Sharif.

Medieval Dynasties in Bihar

Slave Dynasty

• Rule in Northern and Southern Bihar: Northern Bihar was largely under the rule of the Karnata rulers of Mithila, while Southern Bihar was governed by various small kingdoms. Bakhtiyar Khilji also invaded the territory of Karnata King Narsingh Deva in Mithila.
• Turkish Rule: The Turkish invasions led to the establishment of the Delhi Sultanate, with Bihar either ruled from Delhi or made into a separate province.
• Bihar under the Slave Dynasty: Limited evidence exists regarding the condition of Bihar during the time of Qutb-ud-din Aibak, the founder of the Slave Dynasty in Delhi. After Ali Mardan, Hasmuddin Iwaz Khilji established independent rule in Lakhnauti and collected taxes from Tirhut rulers.
• Iltutmish’s Campaign: In 1225 AD, Iltutmish captured Bihar Sharif, becoming the first sultan to organize a military campaign and bring Bihar under the Delhi Sultanate. He invaded Bihar Sharif and Barh, later moving to Lakhnauti, where Iwaz’s army was defeated near the Rajmahal hills. Iltutmish appointed Malik Allauddin Jani as his representative (Subedar), but Iwaz forced him to flee.

Khilji Dynasty

• In 1290 AD, Jalaluddin Khilji became Sultan of Delhi, marking the start of the Khilji Dynasty. Alauddin Khilji ascended the throne in 1296 AD, demanding half of the crops as revenue.
• Sheikh Mohammad Ismail was sent to Darbhanga by Alauddin Khilji but was defeated by Raja Sakra Singh.
• In 1301 AD, Shamsuddin Firozshah declared himself ruler of Bengal and appointed his son Firozshah as Governor of Bihar between 1309 to 1321. Coins from the Khilji Dynasty were found in Bhojpur and Lakhisarai, indicating limited control over Bihar.

Tughlaq Dynasty

• Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq invaded Bengal and Bihar in 1324 AD, with Lakhnauti King Nasiruddin surrendering and Sonargaon King Ghiyasuddin Bahadur revolting against the Sultan.
• Tughlaq coins were found in Tirhut. Darbhanga was known as Tughlaqpur during Muhammad bin Tughlaq’s reign, with the construction of a fort and Jama Masjid. Revolts began during his rule.
• Inscriptions from Firozshah Tughlaq were found in Bihar Sharif, with additional inscriptions and coins from Patna and Gaya.
• The invasion by Taimur in 1398-99 marked the end of the Tughlaq Dynasty in Bihar, leading to Sharqi rule from Jaunpur, extending to Buxar and Darbhanga. Sultan Ibrahim Shah Sharqi founded a mosque in Darbhanga.

Noohani Dynasty

• The Noohani Dynasty played a significant role in Bihar's history, emerging during the rule of Sikandar Lodhi.
• As Sikandar Lodhi gained power, the Governor of Jaunpur fled to Bihar, and the Zamindars of Tirhut and Saran opposed central rule. This led to Sikandar Lodhi's invasion of Bihar.
• Sikandar Lodi defeated Hussain Shah Sharqi and appointed Dariya Khan Noohani as the administrator of Bihar. Dariya Khan Noohani remained in this position until his death in 1523.
• After his father's death, Bahar Khan Noohani became the administrator of Bihar.
• Bahar Khan Noohani declared himself independent in 1523, taking the title of Sultan Mohammad.
• Sultan Mohammad faced challenges from Ibrahim Lodhi, and despite initial victories, he eventually expanded his empire from Bihar to Kannauj.
• Sultan Mohammad was defeated by Babur in the Battle of Ghaghar in 1529 and accepted Babur's authority.
• After Sultan Mohammad's death, his son Jalal Khan succeeded the throne, with Sher Shah Suri as his advisor.
• Following the fall of the Noohani rulers, Sher Shah Suri emerged as a powerful Afghan leader.

Cher Dynasty

• This dynasty was emerged after the decline of Pala dynasty and established a powerful state in Bhojpur, Saran, Champaran, Muzaffarpur and Palamu district.

Bhojpur’s Ujjaini Dynasty

• The Ujjaini is a Rajput clan that has settled in the state of Bihar. Their ancestors were Parmer Rajput kings who ruled Ujjain. After relocating to Bihar, they became known as the Ujjainiya.
  • The Ujjainiyas eventually rose to power as the rulers of the Bhojpur region in Bihar.
  • Bhojpur was founded by Devraj, the son of Bhojraj, after defeating Sahasbal of Chero. Devraj was referred to as Santan Singh in Bhojpur.
  • Numerous battles were fought between the Ujjainiyas and the Cheros.
  • Ujjainiya ruler Gajpat formed an alliance with Sher Shah Suri to defeat the Bengal Sultanate.
  • The Ujjainiyas were powerful in Buxar, Jagdishpur, and Dumraon until the arrival of the British.

Sur Dynasty

• During the Medieval period, Bihar experienced a brief period of glory under Sher Shah Suri, who became the protector of the minor ruler Jalal Khan and achieved several military victories.
• Sher Shah, originally named Farid Khan, was an Afghan ruler. He was given the title Sher Khan by Sultan Muhammad and later established the Suri Empire with its capital in Sasaram, Bihar.
• In 1534, Sher Shah defeated Mahmud Shah in the Battle of Surajgarh. He continued his victories against Humayun in the Battle of Chausa in 1539 and at Kannauj in 1540, forcing Humayun to flee India. After these victories, he took the title of Sher Shah Sultan-e-Adil.
• In 1541 AD, Sher Shah made Patna the capital of the Bihar province. He introduced silver coins, implemented various land and revenue reforms, and extended the Grand Trunk Road from Chittagong to Kabul.
• Although Sher Shah ruled for only five years (1540-1545), he expanded his empire to include Punjab, Malwa, Sind, Multan, and Bundelkhand, covering most of North India except for Assam, Nepal, Kashmir, and Gujarat.
• Sher Shah was killed on 13th May 1545 during the siege of Kalinjar fort, and his tomb is located in Sasaram.

• Sher Shah’s Administration

Bihar and the Karrani Dynasty

• After the decline of the Sur dynasty, Taj Khan Karrani established his rule in Bihar, making Bihar Sharif his capital. The dynasty included notable rulers like Sulaiman Karrani (1565-1572) and Dawood Khan Karrani.
• Sulaiman Karrani initially recognized the authority of Mughal Emperor Akbar, but his son Dawood eventually rebelled against Akbar.
• Akbar responded by capturing the fort of Hajipur and defeating Dawood in the Battle of Rajmahal in 1576 AD, solidifying Mughal rule in Bihar.

Bihar and the Mughal Dynasty

• The Mughals annexed Bihar, transforming it into one of their Subas with the administrative center in Patna.
• British travelers John Marshall and Bernier documented the prosperity of Patna, Bhagalpur, Munger, and Hazipur during their visits.

Ghulam Ali Azad Bihar and the Mughals

• The conflict to annex Bihar by the Mughals began with the Battle of Ghaghar in 1527 AD between Babur and Sultan Mohammad.
• The Noohani Dynasty ended in 1532 AD when Mughal emperor Humayun defeated the Afghans in Doha Sarai. He had previously attacked the Chunar Fort in 1531 AD.

Akbar and Bihar

• In 1574, the Mughals captured Patna from Daud Khan, the son of Afghan chief Sulaiman Khan. After the Battle of Tukaroi in 1575, Daud Khan was captured and executed.
• Recognizing Bihar's significance, Akbar made it a separate subah of his empire in 1576, appointing Munim Khan as its Governor.
• On March 17, 1587, Raja Man Singh was appointed Subedar of Bihar. He defeated Bhojpur, Giddhaur, and Kharagpur, establishing Rohtas as his capital and renovating the fortifications of Rohtasgarh Fort in Sasaram.
• Abul Fazl praised Man Singh's excellent administration and his ability to suppress rebellions.
• In 1577 AD, Akbar appointed Mahesh Thakur as the administrator of Mithila, with Rajnagar of Madhubani as his capital.
• Asif Khan was the last Governor of Bihar during Akbar's reign.

Jahangir and Bihar

• On November 3, 1605, Jahangir succeeded Akbar as the Mughal emperor.
• Shortly after his accession, Jahangir replaced Asif Khan with Lala Beg, also known as Beg Bahadur, as the Governor of Bihar.
• Other governors of Bihar during Jahangir's reign included Islam Khan, Afzal Khan (son of Abul Fazl), Zafar Khan, Ibrahim Khan, Jahangir Quli, and Muqarrab Khan.
• In 1621, Jahangir appointed his son Parvez as the Governor of Bihar, making him the first Mughal prince to hold this position. However, Parvez faced a rebellion from Shahzada Khurram, who captured Patna and Rohtas from him. Eventually, Shah Jahan was defeated and driven out of Bihar.
• During Jahangir's reign, Baz Bahadur (Jahangir Quli Khan) was appointed Subedar of Bihar. He took swift action against rebels, including the defeat of Raja Sangram Singh of Kharagpur in the Battle of Kharagpur, which helped secure the Khokhra region.
• Mirza Rustam Safri served as the last Governor of Bihar during Jahangir's reign.

Shah Jahan and Bihar

• During Shah Jahan's reign, Bihar experienced a period of peace.
• Khan-i-Alam was initially appointed Governor of Bihar during this period, but due to his inefficiency, he was recalled within a year and replaced by Mirza Safi, also known as Saif Khan.
• Saif Khan is known for constructing the Shahi Idgah in Patna. He was succeeded by Abdullah Khan in 1632 AD, who successfully suppressed a revolt by Raja Pratap, the Ujjainia chief.
• Shaista Khan served as Governor of Bihar from 1639 AD to 1643 AD, with other governors during this period including Itiqad Khan, Azam Khan, and Sayeed Khan.
• In 1651 AD, Jafar Khan became Governor of Bihar. He is known for establishing Bagh-i-Jafar Khan in Patna and the Dundi Bazar Mosque.
• Jafar Khan was succeeded by Zulfiqar Khan and then Alivardi Khan.

Aurangzeb and Bihar

• Daud Khan Quraishi was the first Governor of Bihar during Aurangzeb's reign. He founded the town of Daudnagar in the Gaya district, defeated the Cheros of Palamu, and expanded the empire into Chota Nagpur.
• After Daud Khan, Jan Nisar Khan, also known as Lashkar Khan, became Governor. His tenure saw the visits of European travellers Tavernier and Bernier to Patna.
• Jan Nisar Khan was succeeded by Ibrahim Khan, who faced a severe famine in Patna during his rule. He was followed by Amir Khan and then Tarbiat Khan.
• In 1702 AD, Aurangzeb appointed his grandson Prince Azim, known as Azimushan, as Subedar of Bihar. He rebuilt Patna and renamed it Azimabad in 1704 AD.
• After Aurangzeb's death, Bahadur Shah I (Shah Alam I) became the ruler. He appointed Prince Azimushan as the administrator of Bihar and Farrukhsiyar as the Nawab of Bengal. Mughal control in Bihar weakened after Azimushan's tenure.
• Farrukhsiyar was the first Mughal to be coronated in Patna in 1713, becoming the first Mughal ruler to take the oath in Patna. During his rule, four subedars were appointed in Bihar: Kairat Khan, Mir Jumla, Buland Khan, and Khan Jaman.

18th Century Bihar

• Mughal Rule: During the reign of Mughal king Muhammad Shah (1719-1748), Fakr-ud-daula was appointed as the Governor of Bihar. He was the last Mughal Governor of the region, but was dismissed in 1733 by the Nawab of Bengal.
• Nawab Control: By 1733, the Nawabs of Bengal had established control over Bihar. Alivardi Khan, appointed as Naib Nazim (Deputy Nawab) between 1734-1740, played a crucial role in maintaining order during this period of instability marked by Afghan invasions and the weakening of Mughal authority.
• Alivardi Khan's Leadership: Alivardi Khan continued his governance until 1756, suppressing various revolts and invasions, notably in the battles of Patna and Ranisarai. His leadership was instrumental in stabilizing the region.
• Sirajuddaulah and Trade: After Alivardi Khan's death, Sirajuddaulah became the Nawab of Bihar and Bengal. Under the Nawabs' rule, trade flourished in Bihar, with the continuation and growth of major fairs like the Sonepur Mela, the largest cattle fair in India, attracting traders from distant regions.
• Maratha Influence: The mid-17th century saw the Marathas, led by Peshwa Balaji Baji Rao, invade regions like Munger and Bhagalpur in Bihar.
• Persian Education: Bihar became a center for Persian education, particularly in cities like Patna, Bihar Sharif, and Bhagalpur.

Sikhism in Bihar

• Early Sikh Presence: Sikhism began to spread in Bihar during the later Medieval period. Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of Sikhism, visited Patna in 1509 and stayed at the house of Bhagat Jaitmal near Gaighat, Patna. Guru Tegh Bahadur, the ninth Guru, also traveled to Patna with his family in 1666 AD.
• Guru Gobind Singh: The tenth and final Guru of Sikhism, Guru Gobind Singh, was born in Patna Sahib, Patna, in 1666 AD. He became the Sikh Guru at the age of nine after his father was executed for refusing to convert to Islam. Guru Gobind Singh was a spiritual leader, poet, and warrior who founded the Khalsa, a community of Sikh warriors, to fight against the Mughal Empire. He also played a key role in finalizing the Guru Granth Sahib, the holy scripture of Sikhism.
• Takht Shri Harmandir Saheb: Also known as Patna Saheb, this Gurdwara is one of the Five Takhts in Sikhism and holds significant religious importance.
• Other Gurudwaras: Notable Gurudwaras in Bihar include Gurdwara Ghai Ghat, Gurdwara Gobind Ghat, Gurdwara Guru Ka Bagh, Gurdwara Bal Leela, and Gurdwara Handi Saheb.
• Post-Partition Sikh Migration: After the Partition of India, many Sikhs migrated to Patna, with a significant number identifying as Nanak Panthi, followers of Guru Nanak.

Sufism in Bihar

• Early Presence: Sufism was present in Bihar and its neighboring regions even before the Turkish conquest, initially associated with the Chisti and Suharawardi orders. Bihar Sharif and Saran were notable centers for Chisti Sufism.
• Wajudia School: Sufism in Bihar later became associated with the Wajudia School. The Shuttasia order also gained prominence, with figures like Abul Faiz Qazin Ola being notable Sufi saints.
• Popular Orders: Various Sufi orders such as Chisti, Kadri, Suharvardi, Firdausi, and Nakshbandi became popular in Bihar.
• Prominent Sufi Saints: Makhdoom Sharfuddin Ahmed Yahja Maneri, born in Maner village near Patna in 1264 AD, was a prominent Sufi saint. He studied Arabic, Persian, logic, philosophy, and religion before being given the title of Firdausi by Sheikh Najeebuddin Firdausi. His writings include Maktubat-i-Sadi, Maktubati-Bist-o-Hasht, and Fawaed-i-Rukni. His tomb is located at Badi Dargah in Bihar Sharif, Nalanda.