List of rulers of Bengal


This is a list of rulers of Bengal. For much of its history, Bengal was split up into several independent kingdoms, completely unifying only several times. In ancient times, Bengal consisted of the kingdoms of Pundra, Suhma, Vanga, Samatata and Harikela.
In the 4th century BCE, during the reign of the Nanda Empire, the powerful Gangaridai rulers of sent their forces with the war elephants which led the withdrawal of Alexander the Great from the Indian subcontinent.
As a province of the Mauryan Empire, much of Bengal was part of it except for the far eastern Bengali kingdoms which maintained friendly relationships with Ashoka. The kingdoms of Bengal continued to exist as tributary states before succumbing to the Guptas. With the fall of the Gupta Empire, Bengal was united under a single local ruler, King Shashanka, for the first time. With the collapse of his kingdom, Bengal split up into petty kingdoms once more.
With the rise of Gopala in 750 AD, Bengal was united once more under the Buddhist Pala Empire until the 12th century than being succeeded by the Hindu Chandra dynasty, Sena dynasty and deva dynasty. After them, Bengal was ruled by the Hindu Maharajas of kingdoms such as Chandradwip and Cooch Behar.
After the Muslim conquests in the Indian subcontinent, Bengal was ruled by Muhammad bin Bakhtiyar Khalji, under whom Indian Islamic missionaries achieved their greatest success in terms of dawah and number of converts to Islam, which caused the decline of Buddhism. The Islamic Mamluk Sultanate, the Khalji dynasty, the Turko-Indian Tughlaq dynasty, the Sayyid dynasty and the Lodi dynasty ruled Bengal for over 320 years. Notable was Malik Altunia's reign with his wife Razia Sultana, the only female sovereign ruler.
Following Delhi Sultanate's reign, the Bengal Sultanate, a major trading nation in the world, was founded by Shamsuddin Ilyas Shah, and ruled by the Ilyas Shahi dynasty, succeeded by the Hussain Shahi dynasty founded by Alauddin Husain Shah, which saw the extension of the sultanate to the port of Chittagong, witnessing the arrival of the earliest Portuguese merchants.
After being absorbed to the Bengal Subah by Babur in the 16th century during the defeat of Sultan Nasiruddin Nasrat Shah in the Battle of Ghaghra, Bengal became the most economically advanced region in the world, and started to be ruled by the Subahdars of the Mughal Empire. Emperor Akbar developed the Bengali Calendar and began to preach the newly invented religion of Din-i Ilahi, which was declared by the Qadi of Bengal to be a blasphemy. Islam Khan I declared Dhaka as the capital of Bengal, which was then known as Jahangir Nagar, renamed after emperor Jahangir. The reign of prince Shah Shuja under emperor Shah Jahan's orders represented the height of Mughal architecture. During the period of proto-industrialization, when Bengal was ruled by emperor Aurangzeb's relatives such as Subedar Shaista Khan, Muhammad Azam Shah, and Azim-ush-Shan, the region was fully ruled through Fatwa Alamgiri, a hybrid body of Hanafi law based on sharia and was controversially described as the Paradise of the Nations.
After the decline of the Mughal Empire, the Nawabs of Bengal and Murshidabad ruled over Bengal and Odisha. Nawab Alivardi Khan came victorious against the Maratha Empire in the battle of Battle of Burdwan. Following the Battle of Plassey and the execution of the last independent ruler Siraj ud-Daulah, the British East India Company overtook Bengal, and the Bengal Presidency was established, ruled by Robert Clive, and the subdivision remained as the economic, cultural and educational hub of the British Raj.
The position of the Prime Minister of Bengal was established in 1937, being held by A. K. Fazlul Huq and Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy. After the Indian independence movement and Partition of Bengal, the West Bengal became a major state of the Republic of India, while the Muslim majority East Bengal became known as East Pakistan. In 1971 East Bengal became an independent nation, Bangladesh, following the Bangladesh Liberation War, governed by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Ziaur Rahman and Hussain Muhammad Ershad.

Legendary kings of Magadha: Brihadratha Dynasty (c. 1700–799 BCE)

Haryanka Dynasty (568–413 BCE)

The Khadga dynasty was a line of Buddhist kings that ruled the areas of Vanga and later Samatata.
was the kingdom ruled by the Mallas kings of Bishnupur primarily in the present Bankura district in the Indian state of West Bengal.

Pala Empire

Chandra Dynasty

Deva Dynasty

Khalji dynasty under Delhi (1204-1227)

The Khalji governors of Bengal were at times independent, and at times subordinate to the Delhi Sultanate.
NameReignNotes
Muhammad bin Bakhtiyar Khalji1204–1206Began the Khalji dynasty
Muhammad Shiran Khalji1206–1208
Ghiyasuddin Iwaj Shah Khalji1208–1210
Ali Mardan Khalji1210–1212
Ghiyasuddin Iwaj Shah Khalji1212–1227second term as Husamuddin Iwaj Khalji, killed for gaining independence from Sultan of Delhi Iltutmish
Nasiruddin Mahmud1227–1229Not from the Khalji tribe, appointed by his father Iltutmish
Alauddin Daulat Shah Khalji1229–1230
Malik Balkha Khalji1230–1231Last Khalji ruler

Governors of Bengal under Mamluk Sultanate">Mamluk Sultanate (Delhi)">Mamluk Sultanate (1227–1281)

Balban dynasty (Independent Lakhnauti">Gauda (city)">Lakhnauti kingdom)

Governors of Bengal under Tughlaq Sultanate">Tughlaq dynasty">Tughlaq Sultanate (1324–1339)

Bengal Sultanate Era

Independent Sultans of Bengal during Tughlaq Sultanate (1338–1352)

Ilyas Shahi dynasty (1352–1414)

NameReignNotes
Shamsuddin Ilyas Shah1352–1358Became the first sole ruler of whole Bengal comprising Sonargaon, Satgaon and Lakhnauti.
Sikandar Shah1358–1390Killed in battle with his son and successor, Ghiyasuddin Azam Shah
Ghiyasuddin Azam Shah1390–1411
Saifuddin Hamza Shah1411–1412
Shihabuddin Bayazid Shah1412–1414

House of Raja Ganesha (1414–1435)

Mahmud Shahi dynasty (1435–1487)

Habshi rule (1487–1494)

Hussain Shahi dynasty (1494–1538)

NameReignNotes
Alauddin Hussain Shah1494–1518
Nasiruddin Nasrat Shah1518–1533
Alauddin Firuz Shah1533
Ghiyasuddin Mahmud Shah1533–1538

Governors of Bengal under Suri Empire">Sur Empire">Suri Empire (1532–1556)

Muhammad Shah dynasty (1554–1564)

Karrani dynasty (1564–1576)

NameReignNotes
Taj Khan Karrani1564–1566
Sulaiman Khan Karrani1566–1572
Bayazid Khan Karrani1572
Daud Khan Karrani1572–1576

Mughal ''Subahdars'' of Bengal Subah (1565–1717)

During the reign of Akbar">Akbar the Great">Akbar

During the reign of [Jahangir]

During the reign of [Shah Jahan]

During the reign of [Aurangzeb]

NameReignNotes-
Mir Jumla II1660–1663-
Shaista Khan1664–1678-
Azam Khan Koka1678–1678Known as Fidai Khan II
Prince Muhammad Azam20 July 1678 – 6 October 1679-
Shaista Khan1680–1688-
Ibrahim Khan II1689–1697-
Prince Azim-us-Shan1697–1712-

Post Aurangzeb Subahdars

The Nawabs of Bengal

Nawabs of Murshidabad

Hindu Dynasties in Bengal

Many illustrious maharajas ruled much of East Bengal and the Sundarbans and conquered Jessore
Their surname was Basu - they came to Bengal during the Sena Dynasty to conquer the Palas and take over from them. A famous literary novel was written about the Chandradwip Basu family by Tagore called Bou Thakuranis Haat and a film was made from this book.

Bhawal Estate

Rulers of Gazipur and Madhupur forest area, in central Bangladesh.

Maharajas of Koch Behar(Cooch Behar State)

Maharajas of Nadia

East India Company governors in Bengal

Governors of British East India Company in Bengal (1757–1793)

As per the treaty of Allahabad in 1765, the British East India Company was given the right to collect revenue. From 1769, the company collected revenue from Bengal.

Governors-General of British East India Company in Bengal - Dual government (1773-1774)

Following the Regulating Act of 1773, the Governor of Bengal was officially called Governor-General of Fort William.
In 1793, the British East India Company abolished Nizamat, i.e. local rule by Mughal emperor- appointed Nawabs and annexed Bengal.
As per Charter Act of 1833, the Governor-General of Bengal would be called Governor-General of India
With the establishment of the Empire of India in 1858, the position of Governor-General was replaced with Governor-General and Viceroy of India. Calcutta, the capital of Bengal also became the capital of India. As a result, the position of Lieutenant-Governor of Bengal was established to look after provincial matters.

Lieutenant-Governors (1858–1912)

In late 1911, the Indian Government decided to move the capital to New Delhi. As a result, the Governorship of Bengal Presidency was now necessary.
NameTook officeLeft office
Thomas Gibson-Carmichael, 1st Baron Carmichael19121917
Lawrence Dundas, Earl of Ronaldshay19171922
Victor Bulwer-Lytton, 2nd Earl of Lytton19221927
Sir Stanley Jackson19271932
Sir John Anderson19321937
Michael Knatchbull, 5th Baron Brabourne19371938
Sir John Arthur Herbert19391943
Richard Casey19441946
Sir Frederick Burrows19461947

[Prime Minister of Bengal] (1937–1947)

The Government of India Act 1935 introduced provincial autonomy in India and the position of Chief Minister or Premier of Bengal became very prominent.

Office holders

NoNameImageTermPartyGovernorViceroy
1Sher-e-Bangla
A. K. Fazlul Huq		1 April 1937 - 1 December 1941
12 December 1941 - 29 March 1943		Krishak Praja PartySir John Arthur HerbertThe Marquess of Linlithgow
2Sir Khawaja Nazimuddin29 April 1943 - 31 March 1945Bengal Provincial Muslim LeagueSir John Arthur Herbert
Sir Richard Casey 		The Marquess of Linlithgow
The Viscount Wavell
3H. S. Suhrawardy23 April 1946 - 14 August 1947Bengal Provincial Muslim LeagueSir Richard Casey
Sir Frederick Burrows		The Viscount Wavell
Earl Mountbatten

Subsequently, all three Bengali chief ministers moved to East Pakistan, where they continued to be influential statesmen. Nazimuddin and Suhrawardy became Prime Ministers of Pakistan, while Huq served as the Chief Minister and Governor of East Pakistan.

After Independence of India and Pakistan

British colonial period ended when India and Pakistan became independent nations in 1947. Bengal fell into two parts – one in India, named West Bengal and the other part in Pakistan as East Bengal, later renamed to East Pakistan in 1955.

Pakistani (east) Bengal (1947–1971)

Governors of East Bengal (1947–1955)

Chief Minister of East Bengal (1947–1955)

Governors of East Pakistan (1955–1971)

In late 1954, the prime minister Muhammad Ali Bogra initiated the One Unit policy which resulted in East Bengal province being renamed to East Pakistan.
TenureGovernor of East PakistanPolitical Affiliation
14 October 1955 – March 1956Amiruddin AhmadMuslim League
March 1956 – 13 April 1958A. K. Fazlul HuqMuslim League
13 April 1958 – 3 May 1958Hamid Ali Awami League
3 May 1958 – 10 October 1958Sultanuddin AhmadAwami League
10 October 1958 – 11 April 1960Zakir HusainMuslim League
11 April 1960 – 11 May 1962Lieutenant-General Azam Khan, PAMilitary Administration
11 May 1962 – 25 October 1962Ghulam FaruqueIndependent
25 October 1962 – 23 March 1969Abdul Monem KhanCivil Administration
23 March 1969 – 25 March 1969Mirza Nurul HudaCivil Administration
25 March 1969 – 23 August 1969Major-General Muzaffaruddin, PAMilitary Administration
23 August 1969 – 1 September 1969Lieutenant-General Sahabzada Yaqub Khan, PAMilitary Administration
1 September 1969 – 7 March 1971Vice-Admiral Syed Mohammad Ahsan, PNMilitary Administration
7 March 1971 – 6 April 1971Lieutenant-General Sahabzada Yaqub Khan, PAMilitary Administration
6 April 1971 – 31 August 1971Lieutenant-General Tikka Khan, PAMilitary Administration
31 August 1971 – 14 December 1971Abdul Motaleb MalikIndependent
14 December 1971 – 16 December 1971Lieutenant-General Amir Abdullah Khan Niazi, PAMilitary Administration

Chief Minister of East Pakistan (1955–1971)

On 7 October 1958, the post of Chief Minister of East Pakistan was abolished. And after the independence of Bangladesh on 16 December 1971, the Province of East Pakistan was dissolved.

Indian (west) Bengal (1947–present)

Governors of West Bengal

Chief Ministers of West Bengal

After independence of Bangladesh

seceded from West Pakistan on 16 December 1971 after the end of Bangladesh Liberation War and was named Bangladesh as an independent nation.
The President was the executive Head of state of Bangladesh during Presidential system of government from 1975 to 1991. Thereafter, the Prime Minister is the executive head of government of this parliamentary republic while the President is the ceremonial Head of state, elected by the parliament.

Key

;Political parties
;Other factions
;Status

Presidents

Prime Ministers of Bangladesh

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