Shaista Khan
Encyclopedia
Mirza Abu Talib, better known by his title Shaista Khan , was a Subahdar
and general in the army
of the Mughal Empire
. A maternal uncle to Emperor Aurangzeb
, he served as the Mughal
governor of Bengal
from 1664 to 1688, and was a key figure during the rule of his nephew, the emperor. Under his authority, the city of Dhaka
and Mughal power in the province attained its greatest heights. In the year 1660, he was assigned as the Mughal
Viceroy
in the struggle against the Maratha
rebel Ch. Shivaji Maharaj he barely survived and grieved the death of a son. He was awarded many honors and gifts by the Mughal Emperor.
Shaista Khan trained and served with the Mughal army and court, winning multiple promotions and appointed governor of various provinces. He also developed a reputation for being a successful military commander and grew close to the prince Aurangzeb
when the duo fought against the kingdom of Golconda
.
, Aurangzeb sent Shaista Khan as viceroy of the Deccan with a large army to defeat Shivaji. In January, 1660 Shaista Khan arrived at Aurangabad and quickly advancing seized Pune
, this city was the renown center of Shivaji's cult
. He also captured the fort of Chakan
, Kalyan
and north Konkan
after heavy fighting with the Maratha. The Maratha
were banned from entering the city of Pune and Mughal
distance from the locals turned out to be an error. On April 5, 1663 evening, a wedding party had obtained special permission for taking out a procession. Shivaji and many of his nearly 400 men disguised as the bridegroom's procession members entered Pune. Others entered in small parties dressed as laborers and soldiers of maratha generals serving under Shaista khan. After midnight, in a brave attack, they cut through and slain the Mughal
guards. The Maratha
s then entered the palace of the Nawab
in an attempt to assassinate the Mughal
Viceroy
Shaista Khan.
Shaista Khan was clearly unaware, and unprepared The Maratha
s broke into the courtyard of the palace slaughtered Mughal
palace guards.Shaista Khan's thumb was cut down by the brave act of Shivaji and his son was killed in an encounter with the Maratha
s in the palace courtyard, forty attendants and six women were killed. Taking advantage of confusion and the dark hours, the Marathas escaped the palace and Pune town, despite widespread camping of Mughal forces. Shocked by the sudden and bold attack in Pune, Aurangzeb transferred Shaista Khan back to Bengal and awarded him many honors and gifts for his short lived struggle.
kingdom (in modern Myanmar
), which had developed its military and naval strength. He immediately began developing the Mughal navy
, increasing its fleet to as many as 300 ships within a year. He also made strenuous diplomatic efforts to win the support of the Dutch East India Company
as well as Portugal
, which was supporting Arakan with resources and troops. With active Dutch military support, Shaista Khan led Mughal forces on an assault on the island of Sandwip, which lay in Arakanese control. Shaista Khan gained a considerable advantage when a conflict erupted between the Arakanese and the Portuguese. By promptly offering protection and support, Khan sequestered the aid of the Portuguese against the Arakanese and Mughal forces succeeded in capturing the island in November, 1665.
In December 1665 Shaista Khan launched a major military campaign against Chittagong
, which was the mainstay of the Arakenese kingdom. The imperial fleet consisted of 288 vessels of their own and about 40 vessels of the Ferinigis (Portuguese) as auxiliaries. Ibn Hussain, Shaista Khan's admiral, was asked to lead the navy, while the subahdar himself took up the responsibility of supplying provisions for the campaign. The overall command was given to Buzurg Ummed Khan, a son of Shaista Khan. The Mughals and the Portugese held sway in the following naval battle. The conquered territory was placed under direct imperial administration. The name of Chittagong was changed to Islamabad and it became the headquarters of a Mughal faujdar
. Khan also re-asserted Mughal control over Cooch Behar
and Kamarupa.
peasants being held captive by the Arakanese forces. As governor, Shaista Khan encouraged trade with Europe
, Southeast Asia
and other parts of India
. He consolidated his power by signing trade agreements with European powers. Despite his powerful position he remained loyal to Aurangzeb. Often mediating trade disputes and rivalries, Shaista Khan banned the British East India Company
from Bengal after the British demanding greater trading rights and hostile military exchanges erupted
between Mughal and British forces.
Shaista Khan encouraged the construction of modern townships, public works in the capital of Dhaka, leading to a massive urban and economic expansion. He was a great patron of the arts and encouraged the construction of majestic monuments across the province, including mosque
s, mausoleum
s and palaces that represented the finest in Indo-Sarcenic and Mughal architecture
. Khan greatly expanded the Lalbagh Fort, the Chowk Bazaar Mosque
, the Satgumbad Mosque and the Choto Katra
. He also supervised the construction of a majestic mausoleum for his daughter Bibi Pari.
. His legacy was the expansion of Dhaka into a regional centre of trade, politics and culture; a thriving and prosperous city from a small township. The Shaista Khan Mosque
is a massive standing monument to Shaista Khan, built on his palace grounds. Incorporating unique elements of Bengali and Mughal architecture, it is a major tourist attraction and a valued historical monument protected by the Government of Bangladesh today.
Subahdar
Subahdar was one of the designations of a governor of a Subah during the Mughal era of India who was alternately designated as Sahib-i-Subah or Nazim. The word, Subahdar is of Persian origin...
and general in the army
Army
An army An army An army (from Latin arma "arms, weapons" via Old French armée, "armed" (feminine), in the broadest sense, is the land-based military of a nation or state. It may also include other branches of the military such as the air force via means of aviation corps...
of the Mughal Empire
Mughal Empire
The Mughal Empire , or Mogul Empire in traditional English usage, was an imperial power from the Indian Subcontinent. The Mughal emperors were descendants of the Timurids...
. A maternal uncle to Emperor Aurangzeb
Aurangzeb
Abul Muzaffar Muhy-ud-Din Muhammad Aurangzeb Alamgir , more commonly known as Aurangzeb or by his chosen imperial title Alamgir , was the sixth Mughal Emperor of India, whose reign lasted from 1658 until his death in 1707.Badshah Aurangzeb, having ruled most of the Indian subcontinent for nearly...
, he served as the Mughal
Mughal Empire
The Mughal Empire , or Mogul Empire in traditional English usage, was an imperial power from the Indian Subcontinent. The Mughal emperors were descendants of the Timurids...
governor of Bengal
Bengal
Bengal is a historical and geographical region in the northeast region of the Indian Subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal. Today, it is mainly divided between the sovereign land of People's Republic of Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal, although some regions of the previous...
from 1664 to 1688, and was a key figure during the rule of his nephew, the emperor. Under his authority, the city of Dhaka
Dhaka
Dhaka is the capital of Bangladesh and the principal city of Dhaka Division. Dhaka is a megacity and one of the major cities of South Asia. Located on the banks of the Buriganga River, Dhaka, along with its metropolitan area, had a population of over 15 million in 2010, making it the largest city...
and Mughal power in the province attained its greatest heights. In the year 1660, he was assigned as the Mughal
Mughal Empire
The Mughal Empire , or Mogul Empire in traditional English usage, was an imperial power from the Indian Subcontinent. The Mughal emperors were descendants of the Timurids...
Viceroy
Viceroy
A viceroy is a royal official who runs a country, colony, or province in the name of and as representative of the monarch. The term derives from the Latin prefix vice-, meaning "in the place of" and the French word roi, meaning king. A viceroy's province or larger territory is called a viceroyalty...
in the struggle against the Maratha
Maratha
The Maratha are an Indian caste, predominantly in the state of Maharashtra. The term Marāthā has three related usages: within the Marathi speaking region it describes the dominant Maratha caste; outside Maharashtra it can refer to the entire regional population of Marathi-speaking people;...
rebel Ch. Shivaji Maharaj he barely survived and grieved the death of a son. He was awarded many honors and gifts by the Mughal Emperor.
Early life
Mirza Abu Talib is of Iranian origin. His grandfather and father, Mirza Ghias Beg Itimaduddaula and Asaf Khan, were the wazirs (or Prime Ministers) of the Mughal Emperors Shahjahan and Jahangir respectively. Emperor Jahangir awarded the title of Shaista Khan to Mirza in recognition of his family's service and position in the Mughal court.Shaista Khan trained and served with the Mughal army and court, winning multiple promotions and appointed governor of various provinces. He also developed a reputation for being a successful military commander and grew close to the prince Aurangzeb
Aurangzeb
Abul Muzaffar Muhy-ud-Din Muhammad Aurangzeb Alamgir , more commonly known as Aurangzeb or by his chosen imperial title Alamgir , was the sixth Mughal Emperor of India, whose reign lasted from 1658 until his death in 1707.Badshah Aurangzeb, having ruled most of the Indian subcontinent for nearly...
when the duo fought against the kingdom of Golconda
Golconda
Golconda may be:Places:* Golkonda, ruined city and fortress in India* Golconda, Illinois, town in the United States* Golconda, Nevada, former town in the United StatesOther:* Golconda...
.
Confrontation with Shivaji
After his accession to the throne and after the dramatic death of Afzal KhanAfzal Khan
Afzal Khan may refer to:*Afzal Khan , Bijapuri general*Afzal Khan , Pakistani actor *Mir Afzal Khan, former Pakistani politician*Afzal Khan Lala, Pashtun nationalist...
, Aurangzeb sent Shaista Khan as viceroy of the Deccan with a large army to defeat Shivaji. In January, 1660 Shaista Khan arrived at Aurangabad and quickly advancing seized Pune
Pune
Pune , is the eighth largest metropolis in India, the second largest in the state of Maharashtra after Mumbai, and the largest city in the Western Ghats. Once the centre of power of the Maratha Empire, it is situated 560 metres above sea level on the Deccan plateau at the confluence of the Mula ...
, this city was the renown center of Shivaji's cult
Cult
The word cult in current popular usage usually refers to a group whose beliefs or practices are considered abnormal or bizarre. The word originally denoted a system of ritual practices...
. He also captured the fort of Chakan
Chakan, Maharashtra
Chakan is a census town in the Pune district of the Indian state of Maharashtra.- Geography :"Kuruli" is place near to Chakan is located at . It has an average elevation of ....
, Kalyan
Kalyan
Kalyan is a city in Thane district of Maharashtra, and a major railway station lying at the junction of the north-east and south-east lines of the suburban Mumbai division of the Central Railway, 53 km north-east of Mumbai. Kalyan is also a major Taluka place, a tehsil of the Thane district...
and north Konkan
Konkan
The Konkan also called the Konkan Coast or Karavali is a rugged section of the western coastline of India from Raigad to Mangalore...
after heavy fighting with the Maratha. The Maratha
Maratha
The Maratha are an Indian caste, predominantly in the state of Maharashtra. The term Marāthā has three related usages: within the Marathi speaking region it describes the dominant Maratha caste; outside Maharashtra it can refer to the entire regional population of Marathi-speaking people;...
were banned from entering the city of Pune and Mughal
Mughal Empire
The Mughal Empire , or Mogul Empire in traditional English usage, was an imperial power from the Indian Subcontinent. The Mughal emperors were descendants of the Timurids...
distance from the locals turned out to be an error. On April 5, 1663 evening, a wedding party had obtained special permission for taking out a procession. Shivaji and many of his nearly 400 men disguised as the bridegroom's procession members entered Pune. Others entered in small parties dressed as laborers and soldiers of maratha generals serving under Shaista khan. After midnight, in a brave attack, they cut through and slain the Mughal
Mughal Empire
The Mughal Empire , or Mogul Empire in traditional English usage, was an imperial power from the Indian Subcontinent. The Mughal emperors were descendants of the Timurids...
guards. The Maratha
Maratha
The Maratha are an Indian caste, predominantly in the state of Maharashtra. The term Marāthā has three related usages: within the Marathi speaking region it describes the dominant Maratha caste; outside Maharashtra it can refer to the entire regional population of Marathi-speaking people;...
s then entered the palace of the Nawab
Nawab
A Nawab or Nawaab is an honorific title given to Muslim rulers of princely states in South Asia. It is the Muslim equivalent of the term "maharaja" that was granted to Hindu rulers....
in an attempt to assassinate the Mughal
Mughal Empire
The Mughal Empire , or Mogul Empire in traditional English usage, was an imperial power from the Indian Subcontinent. The Mughal emperors were descendants of the Timurids...
Viceroy
Viceroy
A viceroy is a royal official who runs a country, colony, or province in the name of and as representative of the monarch. The term derives from the Latin prefix vice-, meaning "in the place of" and the French word roi, meaning king. A viceroy's province or larger territory is called a viceroyalty...
Shaista Khan.
Shaista Khan was clearly unaware, and unprepared The Maratha
Maratha
The Maratha are an Indian caste, predominantly in the state of Maharashtra. The term Marāthā has three related usages: within the Marathi speaking region it describes the dominant Maratha caste; outside Maharashtra it can refer to the entire regional population of Marathi-speaking people;...
s broke into the courtyard of the palace slaughtered Mughal
Mughal Empire
The Mughal Empire , or Mogul Empire in traditional English usage, was an imperial power from the Indian Subcontinent. The Mughal emperors were descendants of the Timurids...
palace guards.Shaista Khan's thumb was cut down by the brave act of Shivaji and his son was killed in an encounter with the Maratha
Maratha
The Maratha are an Indian caste, predominantly in the state of Maharashtra. The term Marāthā has three related usages: within the Marathi speaking region it describes the dominant Maratha caste; outside Maharashtra it can refer to the entire regional population of Marathi-speaking people;...
s in the palace courtyard, forty attendants and six women were killed. Taking advantage of confusion and the dark hours, the Marathas escaped the palace and Pune town, despite widespread camping of Mughal forces. Shocked by the sudden and bold attack in Pune, Aurangzeb transferred Shaista Khan back to Bengal and awarded him many honors and gifts for his short lived struggle.
Campaign against Arakan
Upon his arrival in Bengal, Shaista Khan was immediately engrossed in putting down the rebellions of hill tribes. Shaista Khan foresaw a potent threat from the ArakanRakhine State
Rakhine State is a Burmese state. Situated on the western coast, it is bordered by Chin State in the north, Magway Region, Bago Region and Ayeyarwady Region in the east, the Bay of Bengal to the west, and the Chittagong Division of Bangladesh to the northwest. It is located approximately between...
kingdom (in modern Myanmar
Myanmar
Burma , officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar , is a country in Southeast Asia. Burma is bordered by China on the northeast, Laos on the east, Thailand on the southeast, Bangladesh on the west, India on the northwest, the Bay of Bengal to the southwest, and the Andaman Sea on the south....
), which had developed its military and naval strength. He immediately began developing the Mughal navy
Navy
A navy is the branch of a nation's armed forces principally designated for naval and amphibious warfare; namely, lake- or ocean-borne combat operations and related functions...
, increasing its fleet to as many as 300 ships within a year. He also made strenuous diplomatic efforts to win the support of the Dutch East India Company
Dutch East India Company
The Dutch East India Company was a chartered company established in 1602, when the States-General of the Netherlands granted it a 21-year monopoly to carry out colonial activities in Asia...
as well as Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
, which was supporting Arakan with resources and troops. With active Dutch military support, Shaista Khan led Mughal forces on an assault on the island of Sandwip, which lay in Arakanese control. Shaista Khan gained a considerable advantage when a conflict erupted between the Arakanese and the Portuguese. By promptly offering protection and support, Khan sequestered the aid of the Portuguese against the Arakanese and Mughal forces succeeded in capturing the island in November, 1665.
In December 1665 Shaista Khan launched a major military campaign against Chittagong
Chittagong
Chittagong ) is a city in southeastern Bangladesh and the capital of an eponymous district and division. Built on the banks of the Karnaphuli River, the city is home to Bangladesh's busiest seaport and has a population of over 4.5 million, making it the second largest city in the country.A trading...
, which was the mainstay of the Arakenese kingdom. The imperial fleet consisted of 288 vessels of their own and about 40 vessels of the Ferinigis (Portuguese) as auxiliaries. Ibn Hussain, Shaista Khan's admiral, was asked to lead the navy, while the subahdar himself took up the responsibility of supplying provisions for the campaign. The overall command was given to Buzurg Ummed Khan, a son of Shaista Khan. The Mughals and the Portugese held sway in the following naval battle. The conquered territory was placed under direct imperial administration. The name of Chittagong was changed to Islamabad and it became the headquarters of a Mughal faujdar
Faujdar
Faujdar/Fouzder/Fouzdar/Foujdar was a title awarded by Muslim rulers to people who had responsibility of protecting some territory.In pre-Mughal times, the term referred to a military officer but did not refer to a specific rank. With the administrative reforms performed by Mughal emperor Akbar,...
. Khan also re-asserted Mughal control over Cooch Behar
Cooch Behar
Cooch Behar is the district headquarters and the largest city of Cooch Behar District in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is situated in the foothills of the Eastern Himalayas and located at . Cooch Behar is the only planned town in North Bengal region with remnants of royal heritage...
and Kamarupa.
Governor of Bengal
Upon his victory against the Arakanese, he ordered the release of thousands of BengaliBengali people
The Bengali people are an ethnic community native to the historic region of Bengal in South Asia. They speak Bengali , which is an Indo-Aryan language of the eastern Indian subcontinent, evolved from the Magadhi Prakrit and Sanskrit languages. In their native language, they are referred to as বাঙালী...
peasants being held captive by the Arakanese forces. As governor, Shaista Khan encouraged trade with Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
and other parts of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. He consolidated his power by signing trade agreements with European powers. Despite his powerful position he remained loyal to Aurangzeb. Often mediating trade disputes and rivalries, Shaista Khan banned the British East India Company
British East India Company
The East India Company was an early English joint-stock company that was formed initially for pursuing trade with the East Indies, but that ended up trading mainly with the Indian subcontinent and China...
from Bengal after the British demanding greater trading rights and hostile military exchanges erupted
Child's War
Child's War - a war between English East India Company and Mughal Empire which lasted from 1686 to 1690.In 1682 English East India Company sent William Hedges to Shaista Khan, the Mughal governor of Bengal in order to obtain a firman, an imperial directive that would grant England regular trading...
between Mughal and British forces.
Mosque
A mosque is a place of worship for followers of Islam. The word is likely to have entered the English language through French , from Portuguese , from Spanish , and from Berber , ultimately originating in — . The Arabic word masjid literally means a place of prostration...
s, mausoleum
Mausoleum
A mausoleum is an external free-standing building constructed as a monument enclosing the interment space or burial chamber of a deceased person or persons. A monument without the interment is a cenotaph. A mausoleum may be considered a type of tomb or the tomb may be considered to be within the...
s and palaces that represented the finest in Indo-Sarcenic and Mughal architecture
Mughal architecture
Mughal architecture, an amalgam of Islamic, Persian, Turkish and Indian architecture, is the distinctive style developed by the Mughals in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries in what is now India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. It is symmetrical and decorative in style.The Mughal dynasty was...
. Khan greatly expanded the Lalbagh Fort, the Chowk Bazaar Mosque
Chawk Mosque
The Chawk Mosque in Dhaka, Bangladesh, is located in the Chowk Bazaar area of the old town of Dhaka, south of the current city centre. It was originally built mostly likely during the rule of the Mughals in the 17th century and may be the earliest dated mosque in Bengal built on a high vaulted...
, the Satgumbad Mosque and the Choto Katra
Choto Katra
Choto Katra which means the Small Katra. It is one of the Katras built during Mughal's regime in Dhaka, Bangladesh. It was constructed in 1663 by Subahdar Shaista Khan and the architectural work was done by him. Choto Katra is rectangular in a plan of 101m X 92m. It has two gateways, one to the...
. He also supervised the construction of a majestic mausoleum for his daughter Bibi Pari.
Legacy
In his late years, Shaista Khan left Dhaka and returned to DelhiDelhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
. His legacy was the expansion of Dhaka into a regional centre of trade, politics and culture; a thriving and prosperous city from a small township. The Shaista Khan Mosque
Shaista Khan Mosque
Shaista Khan Mosque or Shayesta Khan Mosque is a historically significant architectural monument situated by the Buriganga River at Mitford Area in old Dhaka, Bangladesh. The mosque is an architecture of Mughal period. The mosque was built by Mughal Subadar Shaista Khan.-History:Subahdar Shaista...
is a massive standing monument to Shaista Khan, built on his palace grounds. Incorporating unique elements of Bengali and Mughal architecture, it is a major tourist attraction and a valued historical monument protected by the Government of Bangladesh today.
See also
- Mughal EmpireMughal EmpireThe Mughal Empire , or Mogul Empire in traditional English usage, was an imperial power from the Indian Subcontinent. The Mughal emperors were descendants of the Timurids...
- List of rulers of Bengal
- History of BengalHistory of BengalThe history of Bengal includes modern day Bangladesh and West Bengal, dates back four millennia. To some extent, the Ganges and the Brahmaputra rivers separated it from the mainland of India, though at times, Bengal has played an important role in the history of India.- Etymology :The exact origin...
- History of BangladeshHistory of BangladeshThe history of Bangladesh as a nation state began in 1971, when it seceded from Pakistan. Prior to the creation of Pakistan in 1947, modern-day Bangladesh was part of ancient, classical, medieval and colonial India....
- History of IndiaHistory of IndiaThe history of India begins with evidence of human activity of Homo sapiens as long as 75,000 years ago, or with earlier hominids including Homo erectus from about 500,000 years ago. The Indus Valley Civilization, which spread and flourished in the northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent from...