Khalji dynasty (Bengal)

Khalji dynasty
খলজী (Bengali)
خلجی (Persian)
1204–1231
Location of the Khaljis of Bengal and neighbouring South Asian polities, circa 1230 CE.[1]
CapitalLakhnauti
Common languagesPersian (official)
Arabic (religious)
Religion
Sunni Islam
GovernmentTribal oligarchy[2]
• 1204–1206
Muhammad Bakhtiyar Khalji (first)
• 1231
Balka Khalji (last)
Historical eraMiddle Kingdoms of India
• Established
1204
• Disestablished
1231
CurrencyTaka
Preceded by		 Succeeded by
Sena dynasty
Ghurid dynasty
Delhi Sultanate
Bengal Sultanate
Today part ofBangladesh
India

The Khalji dynasty (Bengali: খলজি রাজবংশ, Persian: خاندان خلجی) was the first Muslim dynasty to rule the Bengal region in the Indian subcontinent. The dynasty, which hailed from the Garmsir region of present-day Afghanistan, was founded in 1204 by Muhammad Bakhtiyar Khalji, a Muslim Turko-Afghan[3][4] general of the Ghurid Empire.[5][6] The Khaljis initially pledged allegiance to Sultan Muhammad of Ghor until his death in 1206, though their rule in Bengal was mostly independent. Under the rule of Iwaz Khalji, Bengal experienced major developments such as its first naval force, flood defence systems and linkage with the Grand Trunk Road. The dynasty was based in the city of Lakhnauti in northern Bengal, later expanding eastwards and southwards. Nasiruddin Mahmud, the son of Mamluk sultan Iltutmish of Delhi managed to conquer Bengal in 1227; although the Khaljis briefly reasserted their independence, they surrendered to the Mamluks in 1231, who replaced them with a series of regional governors.

  1. ^ Schwartzberg, Joseph E. (1978). A Historical atlas of South Asia. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. p. 37, 147. ISBN 0226742210.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference social was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Know Your State West Bengal. Arihant Experts. 2019. p. 15. Turk-Afghan Rule: Muhammad Bakhtiyar Khilji's invasion to Bengal marked the advent of Turk-Afghan rule in Bengal.
  4. ^ Chandra, Satish (2004). Medieval India: From Sultanat to the Mughals-Delhi Sultanat (1206–1526). p. 226. Although the Afghans formed a large group in the army of the Delhi Sultanat, only few Afghan nobles had been accorded important positions. That is why Bakhtiyar Khalji who was part – Afghan had to seek his fortune in Bihar and Bengal.
  5. ^ Know Your State West Bengal. Arihant Experts. 2019. p. 15. Turk-Afghan Rule: Muhammad Bakhtiyar Khilji's invasion to Bengal marked the advent of Turk-Afghan rule in Bengal.
  6. ^ Chandra, Satish (2004). Medieval India: From Sultanat to the Mughals-Delhi Sultanat (1206–1526). p. 226. Although the Afghans formed a large group in the army of the Delhi Sultanat, only few Afghan nobles had been accorded important positions . That is why Bakhtiyar Khalji who was part – Afghan had to seek his fortune in Bihar and Bengal .