The Forgotten Bengal Sultan Nasiruddin Mahmud and the Afghan Camel Cavalry

Episode 69 of The Hidden History of Bengal shifts focus to the mid-15th century, when the Bengal Sultanate under Nasiruddin Mahmud Shah faced a unique existential threat: an invasion by the Lodi Afghan ruler Bahlul Lodi. We explore the little-known 1453 AD Battle of Mandaran, where Bengal's army, reinforced by Abyssinian slave soldiers and a novel camel-mounted artillery, repelled the Afghan invasion. The episode examines the strategic use of the Hooghly River for defense, the role of Raja Ganesha's descendants in maintaining Bengal's independence, and the cultural flourishing of Bengali literature under Mahmud Shah's patronage, including the composition of the medieval epic 'Krittivasi Ramayan'. We also delve into the curious alliance between the Bengal Sultanate and the Ming Dynasty, with Chinese envoys visiting the court of Gaur. This episode offers a fresh angle on Bengal's medieval golden age, moving beyond the Mughal-centric narratives of prior episodes. #BengalSultanate #NasiruddinMahmud #BahlulLodi #BattleOfMandaran #AbyssinianSoldiers #CamelArtillery #HooghlyRiver #Gaur #KrittivasiRamayan #BengaliLiterature #MingDynasty #BengalHistory #MedievalIndia #SouthAsianHistory #ForgottenHistory #FexingoHistory #History #India Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo