The Bengal Sultanate began with Shamsuddin Ilyas Shah, whose reign marked a significant period in Bengali history. After his death, his grandson Giyasuddin Azam Shah, the third Sultan, succeeded him. Giyasuddin, known for his emotional and passionate demeanor, differed from many medieval rulers who prioritized statecraft over personal feelings.
Giyasuddin, the youngest of eighteen sons, was recognized early for his intelligence and was given responsibility over Subarnagram by his father, Sikandar Shah. This decision incited jealousy among Sikandar's other sons, leading to a conspiracy that made Giyasuddin believe his father was preparing for war against him. Consequently, Giyasuddin rebelled, set up camp in Goyalpara, and faced his father’s army, eventually defeating them. Sikandar Shah, mortally wounded, gave Giyasuddin his last instructions before dying.
Giyasuddin's subsequent actions included punishing his brothers and relocating from Pandua to Subarnagram. Haunted by his past, he avoided further conflict and focused on diplomacy, fostering relationships with figures such as Sultan Khwaja-i-Jahan Malik Sarwar of Jaunpur and the Chinese emperor. He was committed to justice, demonstrated by a story in which he accepted responsibility and compensation after accidentally killing a widow’s son.
Later in life, Giyasuddin fell ill and desired his favorite concubines to wash his body posthumously. Although he recovered, he faced envy from other women in the harem. He sought Persian poet Hafiz to finish a poem he started but ultimately did not visit Bengal. Giyasuddin’s reign saw significant literary contributions, including the Bengali translation of Krittivas’s Ramayana and Shah Muhammad Sagiir’s Yusuf Zulekha. He also built madrasas in Mecca and Medina and supported local Sufis.
Giyasuddin was succeeded by his son Saifuddin Hamza Shah, whose brief reign did not expand the realm or achieve notable conquests but continued his father’s tradition of emotional leadership and international diplomacy. Saifuddin’s reign, lasting only two years, ended without significant impact, and his father’s tomb in Sonargaon remains a historical site.
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