sultanate · South Asia

Sonargaon Sultanate

1338 CE – 1352 CE · capital Sonargaon

An independent Muslim sultanate of eastern Bengal, the first to break from the Delhi Sultanate, ruled by Fakhruddin Mubarak Shah.

Origins

In 1338 Fakhruddin Mubarak Shah, an armour-bearer of the Tughluq governor of Sonargaon, seized power after his master's death and declared independence from Muhammad bin Tughluq. He held eastern Bengal from Sonargaon while rival rulers controlled Lakhnauti and Satgaon in the west.

Rule and society

Fakhruddin built roads and mosques and expanded control towards Chittagong, one of the earliest Muslim conquests of that port. He issued coins in his own name, a key source for the period. Ibn Battuta passed through his territory in 1346 and noted the abundance and cheapness of rice and goods.

Decline and legacy

Fakhruddin was succeeded by his son Ikhtiyaruddin Ghazi Shah. In 1352 Shamsuddin Ilyas Shah of Lakhnauti conquered Sonargaon, uniting all of Bengal under the Bengal Sultanate. Sonargaon remained an important city and mint town.

Lineage

Delhi Sultanate 1206 CE – 1526 CESonargaon SultanateBengal Sultanate 1352 CE – 1576 CE

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Cite this page
APA
The Epoch Institute. (2026). Sonargaon Sultanate. In The Epoch Institute States Register. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/sonargaon-sultanate
MLA
“Sonargaon Sultanate.” The Epoch Institute States Register, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/sonargaon-sultanate. Accessed .
Chicago
The Epoch Institute. “Sonargaon Sultanate.” The Epoch Institute States Register. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/sonargaon-sultanate.
Harvard
The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Sonargaon Sultanate’, The Epoch Institute States Register. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/sonargaon-sultanate (Accessed: ).

Last reviewed October 2026Random state ↻