Mahmud Shah (1440–1457 Ce): A Significant Ruler Of The Jaunpur Sultanate

After Ibrahim Shah passed away in 1440 CE, Mahmud Shah took over as the head of the Jaunpur dynasty. He inherited a sizable and stable kingdom, and he shared his father's desire to grow it. Bengal was invaded by Mahmud Shah as part of his first expansionist mission. He was successful in his campaign against Chunar, but Kalpi was not captured. He ran campaigns against Orissa as well. In 1452 CE, he attempted to invade Delhi, but Bahlul Lodi stopped him. 

 

•    In 1440, Mahmud Shah, Ibrahim Shah's son, ascended to the throne.

 

•    He was Ibrahim's eldest son, who overcame Kalpi but fell short of capturing Chunar's fort.

 

•    In 1452 CE, he attempted to take over Delhi, but Bahlol Lodhi beat him. Later, he marched towards Etawah and made another effort to capture Delhi.

 

•    Finally, he acknowledged Bahlul Lodi's control over Shamsabad by signing a peace pact. This peace accord, however, did not last very long.

 

•    The dispute between the two kings in 1456–1457 was rekindled over the issue of Shamsabad, which was supposed to be ceded to Bahlol Lodi.

 

•    When Bahlol was denied the land, he marched to Shamsabad with his army.

 

•    The Jaunpuri warriors blocked Bahlul when he tried to take Shamsabad.

 

•    During this time, Mahmud Shah's illness caused him to pass away, and his son Bhikhan succeeded him as ruler.

 

•    As much as his father, Sultan Mahmud shah was a fan of both.

 

•    To prove this, magnificent structures like palaces and enormous mosques have been built throughout his reign.

 

•    His hometown, Jaunpur, was also endowed with magnificent mosques during this time, the most noteworthy of which was the Lal Darwazah Masjid (Ruby Gate Mosque), built in 1450 CE.

 

•    At the same time, his favored queen, Bibi Raji, had her opulent home constructed next to it.

 

•    The town of Shahpur, which was bigger and more populous than Mahmudabad, was destroyed in 1443 by Nasir Khan, the king of Kalpi.

 

•    Mahmud was inspired to march against Kalpi as a result of this, and he sent an embassy to Malwa with gifts in an effort to win over the ruler and secure permission to use force against Kalpi.

 

•    Mahmud marched against Nasir Khan with a sizable force.

 

•    Nasir Khan was unable to withstand the attack and fled to Chanderi, which at the time was a part of Kalpi.

 

•    Mahmud Khalji of Malwa marched with a sizable force to capture Mahmudabad in January 1444 after Nasir Khan submitted.

 

•    In a second military encounter close to the town of Rath, Mahmud Shah was defeated.

 

•    The third conflict between the two armies broke out soon after, but peace was eventually achieved thanks to a local sufi Shaikh-u'l-Islam.

 

•    Additionally, he promised to give Nasir Khan Control of the village of Rath by sending an emissary to him.

 

Mahmud Shah was a regal and noble king. Many historians have praised him as a noble and respectable leader. Many academics praised him for his interests in the arts and culture. Mahmud delighted in mingling with ulama and sufis. Outstanding intellectual works were written during his reign, and Jaunpur saw the construction of the magnificent Lal Darwazah Masjid mosque. In 1457, Mahmud Shah was unwell and passed away. He was succeeded by his son Bhikhan, who adopted the name Muhammad Shah.