Ghiyasuddin Mahmud Shah

Ghiyasuddin Mahmud Shah (reigned: 1533–1538) was the last Sultan of the Hussain Shahi dynasty of Bengal. The dynasty was founded by Alauddin Husain Shah in 1494.

History

Banglapedia assesses him as a "weak, pleasure loving and easy-going ruler" who "...had neither diplomatic foresight, nor any practical approach to the political problems which beset Bengal during his reign." His reign was marked by rebellions, including those by Khuda Bakhsh Khan, his general and governor of the Chittagong area, and Makhdum Alam, the governor of Hajipur.

During his reign the Portuguese arrived in Chittagong in 1534, and were captured and sent to Gaur as prisoners on charges of misbehavior. But, in the face of enemy superiority he reconciled with them and permitted to establish factories at Chittagong and Hughli. Ghiyasuddin and his Portuguese allies were defeated by Sher Shah Suri and his Afghans on 6 April 1538, as his appeals to Mughal Emperor Humayun went unanswered.