Regional Kingdoms of Medieval India (14th–16th Century)

1. Gujarat (Muzaffarid Dynasty)

• Muzaffar Shah I: Proclaimed independence after Timur's invasion.
• Ahmed Shah I: Founded Ahmedabad. Built Jami Masjid and Teen Darwaza. Hired Hindu ministers (Manik Chand).
• Mahmud Begarha (1459–1511):
  • Greatest ruler; captured Girnar (Junagarh) and Champaner (hence 'Begarha' - two forts).
  • Founded Mustafabad and Muhammadabad.
  • Fought the Portuguese (Battle of Diu) to break their trade monopoly.
  • Court poet: Udayaraja (wrote Raja-Vinoda in Sanskrit).
  • Physical description: Famous for a long beard and massive appetite.

2. Malwa (Ghori and Khalji Dynasties)

• Strategic Importance: Command routes between Gujarat-North and North-South India.
• Hoshang Shah: Shifted capital to Mandu (Shadiabad). Built the impregnable Mandu Fort.
• Mahmud Khalji: Reached greatest height. Tussle with Rana Kumbha.
• Art & Culture: Massive architecture with lofty plinths. Jahaz Mahal, Hindola Mahal, and Baz Bahadur-Roopmati palaces.

3. Mewar (Sisodia Clan)

• Rana Hammira: Established the Second Guhila dynasty; first to use the title 'Rana'.
• Rana Kumbha (1433–68):
  • Built the Vijay Stambha (Victory Tower) at Chittor.
  • Musical scholar: Wrote Sangeet-Raj, Sangeet Mimansa.
  • Constructed many forts (Kumbhalgarh, Achalgarh).
• Rana Sanga (1508–28):
  • United Rajput factions. Defeated Ibrahim Lodi at Ghatoli.
  • Battle of Khanwa (1527): Lost to Babur due to the defection of Silhadi.
  • Meera Bai was his daughter-in-law.

4. Kashmir (Shah Miri Dynasty)

• Sikandar Shah: Known as But-Shikan (Idol Breaker) for his iconoclastic policies.
• Zain-ul-Abidin (1420–70):
  • Called 'Bud Shah' (Great Sultan) and 'Akbar of Kashmir'.
  • Abolished Jizya and cow slaughter; restored Hindu temples.
  • Built Zaina Lanka (artificial island in Wular Lake).
  • Introduced Shawl and Carpet weaving (invited craftsmen from Persia/Samarkand).
  • Translated Mahabharata and Rajatarangini into Persian.

5. Jaunpur (Sharqi Dynasty)

• Founder: Malik Sarwar (Sultanu-Sharq).
• Cultural Hub: Known as the "Shiraz of India" for its learning and architecture.
• Architecture: Atala Masjid (Sharqi style - unique pylon-like gateways).

UPSC Pointers (Prelims)

• Mandu Style: Massive plinths and glazed tiles (unlike the delicate stone-carving of Gujarat).
• Kashmir Tech: Zain-ul-Abidin sent people to Samarkand to learn Paper-making and Book-binding.
• Begarha Personality: Noted by Barbosa for having been given poison since childhood (making him immune but toxic to flies).

Provincial Kingdoms of Medieval India

1. Gujarat

• Muzaffar Shah (Zafar Khan): Founded the Muzaffarid dynasty (1407).
• Ahmed Shah I: Founded Ahmedabad (1411); built Jami Masjid and Teen Darwaza.
• Mahmud Begarha (1459–1511):
  • Title: Begarha (Captured two forts: Girnar/Junagarh and Champaner).
  • Highlights: Sacked Dwarka (to check pirates); resisted Portuguese naval dominance.
  • Architecture: Built Mustafabad and Muhammadabad.

2. Malwa

• Capital: Dhar (later shifted to Mandu / Shadiabad - City of Joy).
• Hoshang Shah (1406–1435):
  • Architecture: Built the Jami Masjid and his namesake tomb (white marble) at Mandu.
• Mahmud Khalji: Reached Malwa's peak; fought Rana Kumbha.
• Baz Bahadur: Noted for music/poetry; romantic liaison with Rani Roopmati. Defeated by Akbar's generals (Adham Khan).

3. Mewar

• Rana Kumbha (1433–1468):
  • Title: Sangeet Shiromani; wrote Sangeet Raj (treatise on music).
  • Architecture: Built Vijay Stambha (Tower of Victory) at Chittor; 32 out of 84 forts in Mewar (e.g., Kumbhalgarh).
• Rana Sanga (1508–1528):
  • Battles: Defeated Ibrahim Lodhi at Ghatoli and Dholpur.
  • Final Battle: Battle of Khanwa (1527) against Babur; betrayed by Silhadi.

4. Jaunpur (Shiraz of the East)

• Founder: Malik Sarwar (Malik-us-Sharq).
• Architecture: Atala Masjid (built by Ibrahim Shah Sharqi), Jhanjhiri Masjid.
• Contribution: Major center for Arabic/Persian learning; Hussain Shah Sharqi refined the Khayal (Hindustani classical music).

5. Kashmir

• Sultan Sikandar: Known as But-Shikan (Iconoclast); forced conversions.
• Zain-ul-Abidin (1420–1470):
  • Title: Bud Shah (The Great Sultan) and Akbar of Kashmir.
  • Reforms: Abolished Jaziya; prohibited cow slaughter; restored temples.
  • Economy: Introduced paper-making and book-binding (from Samarkand); developed Shawl and Carpet weaving.
  • Literature: Translated Mahabharata and Rajatarangini into Persian.

6. Bengal

• Dynasties: Ilyas Shahi and Hussain Shahi.
• Ghiyasuddin Azam Shah: Famous for justice; corresponded with Persian poet Hafiz.
• Alauddin Hussain Shah (1494–1519):
  • Highlights: Greatest Sultan of Bengal; patronized Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
  • Literature: Bengali language flourished; Maladhar Basu (Gunaraja Khan) wrote Sri-Krishna-Vijaya.
• Nasiruddin Nasrat Shah: Built the Bara Sona and Qadam Rasul mosques at Gaur.

7. Assam (Ahom Kingdom)

• Origin: Mongoloid tribe from North Burma (13th century).
• Suhungmung (1497–1539):
  • Title: Svarga Narayana / Dihingia Raja.
  • Highlights: Refulsed Muslim invasions; first Ahom king to adopt a Hindu title.
  • Culture: Shankardeva (Vaishnavite reformer) spread Neo-Vaishnavism.

8. Odisha (Gajapati Dynasty)

• Kapilendra Deva (1435–1466):
  • Title: Dakshina Kapileswara.
  • Highlights: Defeated the Bahmanis and Vijayanagar; patronized Sarala Das (Odia Mahabharata).
• Prataparudra Deva: Famous for his devotion to Chaitanya; reign marked the decline of military power under Bhakti influence.
• Kamrup ruler Prithu (13th century) is credited with repelling a 1206 CE Turko-Afghan invasion of Assam by forces linked to Bakhtiyar Khilji, per the Persian chronicle Tabaqat-i-Nasiri referencing a ruler named Bartu.
• Ahom general Lachit Borphukan defeated the Mughals at the 1671 Battle of Saraighat; Mughal attempts to annex the Ahom kingdom (1615-1682) included Mir Jumla's 1662 occupation, countered by Ahom rulers from Chakradhwaj Singha (1663-70) onward.