Ghiyasuddin Iwaj Shah
Ghiyas-ud-din Iwaz Khilji (later known as Husam-ud-din Iwaj Khilji) was a Bengal ruler on 1208-1210 and again on 1212-1227.
History
During the infighting of the Khilji Maliks he assumed power in 1208 and ruled for two years until being dethroned by Ali Mardan Khilji in 1210. But after the death of Ali Mardan Khilji he once again took power in 1212 and styled himself as Ghiyas-ud-din Iwaz Shah.
Ghiyas-ud-din Iwaz Khilji ruled for 15 long years and established peace in Bengal. He transferred the capital from Devkot to Gaur. He prepared a powerful navy for Bengal. Ghiyas-ud-din Iwaz Khilji carried out invasions into neighboring regions and made Vanga (Eastern Bengal), Kamarupa (Assam), Tirhut (Northern Bihar) and Utkala (Northern Orissa) his tributary states.[1]
Ghiyas-ud-din Iwaz Khilji's conquest of Bihar was considered as a threat to the Mamluk Sultanate (Delhi) and the Sultan of Delhi Iltutmish decided to reduce him. In 1224 Iltutmish invaded Bengal. The two armies confronted in Teliagarh of Bihar. Ghiyas-ud-din Iwaz Khilji's navy and infantry were defeated by the Delhi army. He gave 8,000,000 taka and 38 war elephants to Iltutmish and was compelled to strike coins at the name of Iltutmish.[1]
But with the withdrawal of Iltutmish, Ghiyas-ud-din Iwaz Khilji once again declared independence and invaded eastern Bengal to crush a rebellion. Iltutmish once again invaded Bengal in 1226 and defeated him. Ghiyas-ud-din Iwaz Khilji and his courtiers were killed in the battle and Bengal became a province of Mamluk Sultanate (Delhi).
| Preceded by Muhammad Shiran Khilji |
Khilji Dynasty of Bengal 1208-1210 (1st Reign) 1212-1227 (2nd Reign) |
Succeeded by 1st Ali Mardan Khilji 2nd Nasiruddin Mahmud of Mamluk Sultanate (Delhi) |
See also
References