The rise and fall of the Sharqi dynasty in Jaunpur
In short: Once a formidable military power in Northern India, the Jaunpur Sultanate challenged empires and flourished as a cultural hub. From its origins as a tribute to a Delhi Sultan to its era of immense wealth and unique architecture, the city's history is a complex tapestry of conquest and coexistence.
The city's name traces back to 1359, when it was invaded by Feroz Shah Tughlaq and renamed in honor of his cousin, Muhammad bin Tughluq, also known as Jauna Khan. By 1393, following a period of factional fighting within the Sultanate, Malik Sarwar declared independence, founding the Sharqi dynasty, or the 'dynasty of the East'. This era, spanning from 1394 to 1479, saw Jaunpur emerge as a significant military force, capable of threatening the Delhi Sultanate and the Sultanate of Bengal.
The Sultanate reached its zenith under Shams-ud-din Ibrahim Shah, who ruled from 1402 to 1440. His influence extended as far west as Kanauj and as far east as Bihar. During the subsequent reign of Husain Shah (1456–1476), the Jaunpur army was considered perhaps the largest in India. However, Husain Shah's attempts to conquer Delhi were thwarted by three successive defeats at the hands of Bahlul Khan Lodi, a failure that modern historians suggest led to a high number of eunuchs in the military ranks.
Despite its military prowess, the Sultanate's independence ended in 1480 when Sikandar Lodi reconquered the city. Although the Sharqi kings attempted to retake their territory for several years, they were ultimately unsuccessful. Despite these conflicts, the Sharqi period was noted for excellent communal relations between Muslims and Hindus, partly because the Sharqi rulers were indigenous converts to Islam rather than Persian or Afghan descendants. This cultural legacy persists in the city's architecture, where mosques like the Atala Masjid blend Hindu and Muslim motifs with original elements.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh
- Also: Wikidata — Jaunpur · CC0
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