Bengal Sultanate–Kamata Kingdom War

The Bengal Sultanate–Kamata Kingdom War was a late 15th century conflict between the Kamata Kingdom and the Bengal Sultanate.^[2] As a result of the conflict the Khen dynasty was overthrown and the Bengal Sultanate extended its domain up to the Hajo in what is present day western Assam by 1502. Nevertheless, the Sultanate administration was removed in about ten years by the Assamese Bhuyans led by Harup Narayan.^[3]

Bengal Sultanate–Kamata Kingdom War
Date 1498[1] Location North Bengal and Western Assam Result Bengal Sultanate victory
Belligerents
Bengal Sultanate	Kamata Kingdom
Commanders and leaders
Hussain Shah Shah Ismail Ghazi Shahzada Danyal Musundar Ghazi	Nilambar
Strength
24,000	20,000 – 25,000
Casualties and losses
400 killed 1,700 wounded	15,000 killed 4,000 several captured
Bengal Sultanate take over the khen Dynasty

Invasion

The conquest was instigated by Sachipatra, a Brahmin whose son was executed by King Nilambar for his promiscuity with the queen.^[4] In 1499, Sultan Alauddin Husain Shah dispatched an army under the command of Shah Ismail Ghazi to conquer Kamata.^[5] Ghazi's forces besieged the Kamatapur fort and destroyed the city. Hussain Shah imprisoned Nilambar of Kamata and ended the reign of the Khen dynasty.^[6] Though Kamatapur fell in 1498, Hussain Shah was able to annex up to Hajo not before 1502.^[7][8]

Aftermath

The region was brought under the administration of Sultanate governors in Hajo. Hussain Shah minted coins with the proclamation "conqueror of Kāmrū, Kamata, Jajnagar and Urisa".^[9][10] He also publicly inscribed the victory at a stone in Malda.^[11] The Sultan appointed his son, Shahzada Danyal,^[12] as the governor of the newly conquered region; that reached up to Hajo and intended to expand to Central Assam. Daniyal later fell to the Assamese Bhuyans within Hussein Shah's lifetime and his rule ended.

Notes

1. "Kamata-Kamatapura". Banglapedia.
2. Manilal Bose (1989). Social History of Assam: Being a Study of the Origins of Ethnic Identity and Social Tension During the British Period, 1905-1947. Concept Publishing Company. p. 38. ISBN 978-81-7022-224-8.
3. "But the rule of the Muslims was short. The Bhuyans made a united attack on Daniel's garrison and destroyed it to the last man."(Baruah 1986:181)
4. Nath, D. (1989). History of the Koch Kingdom, C. 1515-1615. Delhi: Mittal Publications. p. 70. ISBN 8170991099.
5. Majumdar, R. C., ed. (1980) [First published 1960]. The Delhi Sultanate. The History and Culture of the Indian People. Vol. VI (3rd ed.). Bombay: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. p. 217. OCLC 664485.
6. Sarkar (1992, p. 46)
7. "Husain Shah". Banglapedia.
8. "The annexation of the Khen Kingdom up to Hajo was, however, not completed before Ramzan 907/10 March 1502..." (Sarkar 1992:47)
9. Sircar, D. C. (2008). Studies in Indian Coins. Motilal Banarsidass Publishers. p. 21. ISBN 978-81-208-2973-2. Alāuddin Husen Shah (1493-1518 A.D.), described himself as the conqueror of Kamru (i.e Kamarupa) and Kamta and of Urisa (Orissa) and Jajanagar on his issues
10. Sirajul Islam; Miah, Sajahan; Khanam, Mahfuza; Ahmed, Sabbir, eds. (2012). "Kamata-Kamatapura". Banglapedia: the National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Online ed.). Dhaka, Bangladesh: Banglapedia Trust, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. ISBN 984-32-0576-6. OCLC 52727562. OL 30677644M. Retrieved 23 February 2025.
11. Sircar, D. C. (2008). Studies in Indian Coins. Motilal Banarsidass Publishers. ISBN 978-81-208-2973-2.
12. Desai, Ziyaud-Din A. (2003). Purā-prakāśa: Recent Researches in Epigraphy, Numismatics, Manuscriptology, Persian Literature, Art, Architecture, Archaeology, History and Conservation : Dr. Z.A. Desai Commemoration Volume. Bharatiya Kala Prakashan. p. 244. ISBN 978-81-8090-007-5.

References

• Baruah, S L (1986), A Comprehensive History of Assam, New Delhi: Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers Pvt. Ltd.
• Sarkar, J. N. (1992), "Chapter II The Turko-Afghan Invasions", in Barpujari, H. K. (ed.), The Comprehensive History of Assam, vol. 2, Guwahati: Assam Publication Board, pp. 35–48