Sikandar Shah (reigned 1358–1390) was the second Sultan of the Ilyas dynasty of Bengal. He succeeded his father Ilyas Shah. He built the celebrated Adina Mosque in Pandua in 1368.[1]
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The most significant event of his reign was the second Bengal expedition by Delhi Sultan Firuz Shah Tughluq. A Persian noble, Zafar Khan Fars, son-in-law of Sultan Fakhruddin Mubarak Shah (ex-ruler of Sonargaon), reached Delhi after fleeing from Bengal. Firuz Shah declared him the legitimate ruler of Bengal and on his instigation, Firuz Shah personally led his army consisting of 80,000 cavalry, 470 elephants and a sizeable infantry to Bengal in 1359. Sikandar, like his father, took shelter in the island fortress of Ekdala and Firuz Shah besieged the place. But ultimately, Firuz Shah had to pull out his army from Bengal after concluding a treaty with Sikandar Shah.[1]
Sikandar had seventeen sons by his first wife and one by his second. The latter revolted against his father and occupied Satgaon and Sonargaon. Finally, in a battle in Goalpara, near the capital Pandua, he defeated his father and killed him in 1390.[2] He ascended to the throne as Ghiyas-ud-Din Azam Shah[1]
| Preceded by Ilyas Shah |
Sultan of Bengal 1358–1390 |
Succeeded by Ghiyasuddin Azam Shah |