Ibrahim Shah of Jaunpur

Shams-ud-Din Ibrahim Shah Sharqi was the third sultan of the Jaunpur Sultanate, ruling from 1401 until his death in 1440.^{[note 1]}

Ibrahim Shah
Shams-ud-Din
3rd Sultan of Jaunpur
Reign	1401 – 1440
Predecessor	Mubarak Shah
Successor	Mahmud Shah
Issue	Mahmud Shah

Early life and background

Malik Sarwar, who established the Jaunpur Sultanate had adopted Mubarak and Ibrahim. Mubarak succeeded Malik Sarwar in 1399, adopting the title of Mubarak Shah. After the death of Mubarak Shah in 1401, his younger brother Ibrahim became the sultan, assuming the title of Shams-ud-Din Ibrahim Shah.^[1][2]

Reign

Ujjain

Peace

After the events of Ujjain, Ibrahim enjoyed about ten years of peace. During this period, art and architecture flourished, and many scholars from different parts of India, as well as Iran, immigrated to Jaunpur. The Chahar Ungli Masjid and Jhanjhari Masjid were constructed during this period.

Mahmudabad

In 1433, Ibrahim Shah marched on to Mahmudabad and besieged the city for three months. Hushang Shah of Malwa, learning of this situation, also advanced towards Mahmudabad. Ibrahim raised the siege, crossed the Jamuna river, and encamped on the other side of the city. By this time, Hoshang had entered the city and place Jalal Khan on the throne. Ibrahim returned to Jaunpur.^[3]

Many Mahmudabadi nobles, unhappy with Jalal's rule, came to Jaunpur in order to seek Ibrahim's help. Ibrahim once again marched upon Mahmudabad and once again, Hushang Shah marched as well, and was joined by Jalal Khan. The armies of Jaunpur and Malwa fought an indecisive battle, with the Malwi losses being slightly higher. Hoshang Shah left in order to avoid a long war, leaving Jalal Khan within Mahmudabad, and Ibrahim laid siege. Jalal escaped to a nearby town, and Ibrahim occupied the city of Mahmudabad, enthroning Zaghir Khan. Zaghir later abdicated in favour of his brother, and Ibrahim finally placed Jalal on the throne.^[4]

Delhi

In 1437, taking advantage of the weak position of the Sultan of Delhi, Muhammad Shah, he annexed large parts of the Delhi Sultanate and besieged Delhi. Muhammad Shah sought for peace and offered a matrimonial alliance, and his daughter Bibi Raji was married to Ibrahim's son, Mahmud Khan.^[5]

Notes

1. Nizamuddin Ahmad chronicles his date of death as 1436. However, numismatic evidence points to 1440.(Saeed 1972, p. 61)

References

1. Saeed 1972, pp. 20, 36–41.
2. Haig 1928, p. 251.
3. Saeed 1972, p. 57–58.
4. Saeed 1972, p. 58–59.
5. Saeed 1972, p. 60.

Bibliography

• Saeed, Mian Muhammad (1972). The Sharqi of Jaunpur: A Political & Cultural History. University of Karachi.
• Haig, Wolseley (1928). The Cambridge History of India. Vol. III. Cambridge University Press.