Back شير شاه Arabic شير شاه ARZ Şir şah Suri Azerbaijani شیرشاه سوری AZB शेर शाह सूरी Bihari শের শাহ সুরি Bengali/Bangla Xer-Xah Surí Catalan شیر شا سوری CKB Šér Chán Súr Czech Sher Shah Suri German
| Sher Shah Suri | |
|---|---|
| Shah Sultan Adil (Just King) Ustad-I-Badshahan[a] Hazrat-i-Ala Lion King | |
_from_a_manuscript_of_Tarikh-i-Khandan-i-Timuriya,_prepared_by_the_court_painters_of_Mughal_emperor_Akbar,_circa_16th_century.jpg) Painting of Sher Shah Suri from a manuscript of Tarikh-i-Khandan-i-Timuriya (dated between c. 1570–1590), prepared by the court painters of Mughal emperor Akbar | |
| Sultan of Hindustan | |
| Reign | 6 April 1538/17 May 1540 — 22 May 1545[b] |
| Coronation | First coronation: 6 April 1538 Second coronation: 17 May 1540 |
| Predecessor | Humayun (as Mughal Emperor) |
| Successor | Islam Shah Suri |
| Ruler of Bihar | |
| Reign | 1530 — 6 April 1538/17 May 1540 |
| Predecessor | Jalal Khan Lohani |
| Successor | Abolished |
| Born | Farid al-Din Khan 1472, or 1486 Sasaram, Delhi Sultanate (now in Bihar, India) |
| Died | 22 May 1545 (aged 73, or 59) Kalinjar |
| Burial | Sher Shah Suri Tomb, Sasaram |
| Spouse | Utmadun Nissa Bano Begum Rani Shah |
| Issue | Islam Shah Suri (Jalal Khan) Adil Khan |
| Native language | Pashto |
| House | Sur |
| Father | Hasan Khan Sur |
| Religion | Sunni Islam |
| Military career | |
| Battles/wars |
|
Sher Shah Suri (born Farid al-Din Khan; 1472, or 1486 – 22 May 1545),[4] often referred to as Sultan Adil (Just King), was the founder of the Sur Empire in India. He served as the regent and later the sole ruler of Bihar from 1530 to 1540 until he defeated the Mughal Empire in 1540, founding the Sur Empire, and establishing his rule in Delhi, crowning himself Sultan of Hindustan.[5] After his accidental death in 1545 CE, his son Islam Shah succeeded him. The influence of his innovations and reforms extended far beyond his brief reign. During his time in power, he remained undefeated in battle and was renowned as one of the most skillful Afghan generals in history.[6]
Born between 1472 and 1486 and given the name Farid Khan, his early childhood saw him flee from home due to internal family strife. He pursued an education in Jaunpur, where his rise to power began after his father offered him a managerial position over his jagirs. Sher Shah effectively governed these territories, gaining a reputation for his reforms that brought prosperity to the region. However, due to family intrigues, he eventually relinquished his position over the jagirs. Sher Shah then moved to Agra, where he stayed until his father's death. This event allowed him to return to his family's jagirs and take control, thereby solidifying his leadership and furthering his rise to power.
Sher Shah spent time in Agra after the Mughals gained power, observing the leadership of Babur. After leaving Agra, he entered the service of the governor of Bihar. Following the governor's death in 1528, Sher Shah obtained a high position in Bihar and, by 1530, became the regent and de facto ruler of the kingdom. He engaged in conflicts with the local nobility and the Sultanate of Bengal. In 1538, while Mughal Emperor Humayun was engaged in military campaigns elsewhere, Sher Shah overran the Bengal Sultanate and established the Suri dynasty. He defeated the Mughals and drove them out of India, establishing himself as emperor in Delhi. A brilliant strategist, Sher Shah was both a gifted administrator and a capable general. His reorganization of the empire and strategic innovations laid the foundations for future Mughal emperors, notably Akbar. Sher Shah died in May 1545 while besieging Kalinjar fort. Following his death, the empire descended into civil war until it was eventually re-conquered by the Mughals.
During his rule as Emperor of the Sur Empire, Sher Shah implemented numerous economic, administrative, and military reforms. He issued the first Rupiya organized the postal system of the Indian subcontinent, as well as extending the Grand Trunk Road from Chittagong in Bengal to Kabul in Afghanistan, significantly improving trade. Sher Shah further developed Humayun's Dina-panah city, renaming it Shergarh, and revived the historical city of Pataliputra, which had been in decline since the 7th century CE, as Patna.[7] Additionally, he embarked on several military campaigns that restored Afghan prominence in India.
Cite error: There are <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or {{efn}} templates on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist|group=lower-alpha}} template or {{notelist}} template (see the help page).
- ^ Tarikh I Sher Shahi Of Abbas Khan Sarwani Persian To English K P Jayaswal Research Institute Patna Bhramadeva Prasad Ambashthya, by Bhramadeva Prasad Ambashthya, page 189 and 166
- ^ Sher Shah by Dowson John, Ed page 104
- ^ Sher Shah by Dowson John, Ed page 105
- ^ Lee 2019, p. 55.
- ^ Kolff 2002, p. 33.
- ^ Chandra 2007, p. 216.
- ^ Patna encyclopedia.com.