Rukunuddin Kaikaus


Rukunuddin Kaikaus was an independent Sultan of Bengal who ruled from 1291–1300 CE. He succeeded his father Nasiruddin Bughra Khan. In several inscriptions and coins he styled himself as Sultan bin al-Sultan bin al-Sultan and also Sultan-us-Salatin.

History

Kaikaus ascended the throne of after the abdication of his father Nasiruddin Bughra Khan.
During his reign, he had divided his kingdom into two parts - Bihar and Lakhnauti. He appointed Ikhtiyaruddin Firoz Itgin as the Governor of Bihar and Shahabuddin Zafar Khan Bahram Itgin as the Governor of Lakhnauti. Zafar Khan Itgin conquered Satgaon in south-western Bengal. His kingdom extended to Bihar in the west, Devkot in the north and Satgaon in the south. He put a vast kingdom under his control. Delhi Sultan Alauddin Khalji also accepted Kaikaus's independent dominance of Bengal.
On Muharram 692 AH, he ordered Ikhtiyaruddin Firuz Aitigin to construct a mosque north of Maheswar in Bihar on the banks of the Burhi Gandak River.
Rukunuddin Kaikaus ruled Bengal for nine years and died in 1300. It is assumed that he was childless.