Emergence of Provincial Kingdoms (North and South India) Notes for OAS

Provincial Kingdoms notes for OPSC OAS and UPSC cover the independent Sultanates and Rajput states that emerged after the decline of the Delhi Sultanate, from the 14th to the 16th century. This page explains the Bengal, Kashmir, Jaunpur, Malwa, Gujarat and Deccan Sultanates, the Rajput kingdoms of Mewar, Marwar and Amber, the Gajapati kingdom of Odisha, the Bahmani successor states, and the South Indian kingdoms of the Hoysalas and Kakatiyas.

Bengal Sultanate: Ilyas Shahi and Hussain Shahi Dynasties

Bengal became an independent Sultanate in 1338 CE after breaking away from the Delhi Sultanate. It was ruled by several dynasties, the most important being the Ilyas Shahi and Hussain Shahi dynasties.

Ilyas Shahi Dynasty (1342–1414)

• Shamsuddin Ilyas Shah founded the Ilyas Shahi dynasty in 1342 CE. He was the first independent Sultan of Bengal.BPSC
• Sikandar Shah (son of Ilyas Shah) built the Adina Mosque at Pandua in 1375 CE, one of the largest mosques in the subcontinent.UPPSC
• Ghiyasuddin Azam Shah established friendly relations with the Ming Empire of China, exchanging envoys.UPPSC
• Barbak Shah patronised Maladhar Basu, the writer of Sri Krishna Vijaya.UPPSC During his reign, Krittibas translated the Ramayana into Bengali.UPPSC

Hussain Shahi Dynasty (1494–1538)

• Alauddin Husain Shah founded the Hussain Shahi dynasty in 1494 CE.UPPSC
• He was a contemporary of the Vaishnava saint Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.IAS (Pre) 2009
• His reign saw the flourishing of Bengali literature and Vaishnava culture.

Kashmir Sultanate: Shah Mir Dynasty and Zain-ul-Abidin

The Kashmir Sultanate was founded by Shah Mir in 1339 CE. The most famous ruler of the dynasty was Zain-ul-Abidin (1420–1470 CE), known as the 'Akbar of Kashmir'.BPSC 2019, RAS/RTS 1993

Zain-ul-Abidin (1420–1470)

• He was called the Akbar of Kashmir for his religious tolerance and liberal policies.BPSC 2019
• He abolished Jizya and prohibited cow slaughter.UK UDA/LDA 2006UPPSC 2008
• He is also called the Alauddin Khilji of Kashmir for his price control policies.UPPSC
• He ordered the translation of the Mahabharata and Rajatarangini into Persian.IAS (Pre) 2002
• He wrote Persian poetry under the pen name Mumbayan.UPPSC
• He belonged to the Shah Mir dynasty.UPPSC

Sikandar Butshikan

• Sikandar Butshikan (Sikandar the Iconoclast) was the father of Zain-ul-Abidin. He ordered the destruction of the famous Sun temple at Martand.UPPSC
• The Martand Sun temple was originally built by Lalitaditya Muktapida of the Karkota dynasty.UPPSC

Kalhana's Rajatarangini

• Kalhana's Rajatarangini was written in the 12th century AD (c. 1148–1150 CE). It is a historical chronicle of Kashmir.UP Lower 2004
• Jonaraja wrote the Rajatarangini Dvitiya, describing the first thirty-five years of Zain-ul-Abidin's rule.UPPSC

Jaunpur: Sharqi Dynasty and the 'Shiraz of East'

The Sharqi dynasty of Jaunpur was founded by Malik Sarwar in 1394 CE.UPPSC

• The capital was Jaunpur, which became known as the 'Shiraz of the East' for its patronage of learning and culture.UPPSC 2011, UPPSC 2001
• Ibrahim Shah Sharqi built the Atala Mosque in Jaunpur in 1408 CE.MPPSC 2010
• Hussain Shah was the last ruler of the Sharqi dynasty. He was defeated by Bahlul Lodi in 1479 CE.UPPSC 2017

Malwa Sultanate: Khilji Dynasty, Mandu and Baz Bahadur

Independent Muslim rule in Malwa was established by Dilawar Khan in 1401 CE.MPPSC 2010

• Dilawar Khan shifted the capital from Dhar to Mandu.UPPSC
• The Khilji dynasty in Malwa was founded by Mahmud Shah I in 1436 CE.MPPSC
• The Jahaj Mahal at Mandu was built by Ghiyasuddin Khilji.MPPSC 2020, 2017
• Rana Kumbha of Mewar defeated Mahmud Khilji of Malwa in the Battle of Sarangpur (1437 CE).UPPSC
• Baz Bahadur, the last ruler of Malwa, was defeated by Mughal forces in the Battle of Sarangpur (1561 CE).UPPSC
• Mandu is in the Dhar district of Madhya Pradesh, and Hindola Mahal is in Mandu.MPPSC 2020

Gujarat Sultanate: Muzaffar Shah to Bahadur Shah

The independent Gujarat Sultanate was established by Muzaffar Shah in 1407 CE.UPPSC

• Sultan Ahmad Shah I founded the city of Ahmedabad in 1411 CE and made it the capital.UPPSC
• Mahmud Begada (1458–1511) was the greatest ruler of Gujarat. He captured Pavagadh and Junagadh.UPPSC
• Mahmud Begada ordered the construction of Bash-e-Firdaus (Garden of Paradise).UPPSC
• Bahadur Shah was killed by the Portuguese on board a ship in 1537 CE while making a deal with them.IAS (Pre) 2005

Rajput Kingdoms: Mewar, Marwar and Amber

Mewar: Sisodiya Dynasty

• Hammir Singh founded the Sisodiya clan of Mewar in the 14th century.UPPSC
• Rana Kumbha defeated Mahmud Khilji of Malwa and built the Vijay Stambha at Chittor in 1448 CE.UPPSC
• Rana Kumbha wrote treatises on music: Sangeet Raj, Sangeet Mimansa, and Sangeet Ratnakar.UPPSC
• Rana Sanga defeated Ibrahim Lodi in the Battle of Khatoli (1517 CE).RAS/RTS 2012

Marwar: Rathod Dynasty

• Marwar was ruled by the Rathod dynasty.UPPSC
• Rao Jodha founded the city of Jodhpur in 1459 CE.UPPSC
• Mal Dev was the greatest ruler of Marwar.UPPSC

Amber: Kachwaha Dynasty

• The Kachwaha rulers belonged to Amber (modern Jaipur).RRB 2013
• The Kachwaha dynasty was founded in the 10th century AD by Dulha Rai.MPPSC 2016

Odisha: Eastern Ganga and Suryavamsi Gajapati Dynasties

• Anantavarman Chodaganga of the Eastern Ganga dynasty ruled Odisha and built the Jagannath Temple at Puri.SSC CPO 2018
• Narasingha Deva I (Narsingh I) built the Sun Temple at Konark in the 13th century.SSC 2018
• The Suryavamsi rulers of Odisha adopted the title Gajapati (Lord of Elephants).UPPSC 2016
• Kapilendra Deva founded the Suryavamsi Gajapati dynasty in 1434 CE.

Gwalior: Tomar Dynasty and Man Singh Tomar

• The provincial kingdom of Gwalior was ruled by the Tomar dynasty.UPPSC
• Man Singh Tomar was the most famous Tomar ruler. He built the Gujari Mahal in Gwalior Fort.MPPSC 2018
• Baiju Bawara, the legendary musician, served at the court of Man Singh Tomar and later at the court of Bahadur Shah of Gujarat.Astt. Comm. 2019

Deccan Sultanates: The Five Successor States of the Bahmani Kingdom

The Bahmani Kingdom disintegrated into five independent Sultanates in 1527 AD.UPPSC

Bijapur (Adil Shahi Dynasty)

• Founded by Yusuf Adil Shah in 1490 CE.UPPSC
• Ibrahim Adil Shah II was hailed as 'Jagadguru' for his secularism and composed the Kitab-i-Nauras.IAS (Pre) 2000UPPSC 2020
• Ibrahim Adil Shah II was known as Abla Baba and founded Nauraspur, a town devoted to music.UPPSC
• Gol Gumbaz, the mausoleum of Mohammad Adil Shah, has one of the largest domes in the world.UPPSC 2010
• Bijapur declared Dakhini Urdu as the official language instead of Persian.UPPSC
• Bijapur was annexed by Aurangzeb in 1686 AD.UPPSC

Ahmadnagar (Nizam Shahi Dynasty)

• Founded by Malik Ahmad in 1490 CE.UPPSC
• Chand Bibi was the regent who defended Ahmadnagar against the Mughals.CG Patwari 2019
• Malik Ambar, the Prime Minister, is regarded as a pioneer of guerrilla warfare.UPPSC
• Ahmadnagar was annexed by the Mughals in 1636 CE.IAS (Pre) 2004

Golconda (Qutb Shahi Dynasty)

• Founded by Quli Qutb-ul-Mulk in 1512 CE.UPPSC
• Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah built the Char Minar at Hyderabad in 1591 CE.UPPSC
• The Qutb Shahis started the tradition of sending pearls to the Bhadrachalam temple on Rama Navami.UPPSC
• Madanna and Akkanna were ministers under Abul Hasan Qutb Shah.UPPSC
• Golconda was annexed by Aurangzeb in 1687 AD.UPSC 2020

South Indian Kingdoms: Hoysalas and Kakatiyas

• Dwara Samundra was the capital of the Kakatiya dynasty.UPRO/ARO 2014
• Hoysala monuments are found in Halebid and Belur.IAS (Pre) 2001
• The modern name of Dwarasamudra (Hoysala capital) is Halebid.UPPSC 2003
• The polygars (Palayakkarars) were territorial administrative and military governors in South India.UPPSC 2015

Odisha Angle: Gajapati Kingdom and the Provincial Kingdoms

Odisha's Gajapati kingdom was a major provincial power that interacted with the Bahmani Sultanate, Vijayanagara Empire, and the Bengal Sultanate.

• Kapilendra Deva (1434–1466) founded the Suryavamsi Gajapati dynasty and expanded Odisha's territory up to the Kaveri River.
• Purushottama Deva and Prataparudra Deva fought against Krishnadeva Raya of Vijayanagara.
• The Gajapati kingdom declined after the death of Prataparudra Deva and was finally conquered by the Afghans in 1568 CE.
• Odisha's ports, such as Khalkatapatna, were part of the Indian Ocean trade network linking India, Arabia, and Southeast Asia.

Practice Questions on Provincial Kingdoms for OPSC OAS