Shaista Khan - Revision history

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	'''Mirza Abu Talib''' (b. 22 November 1600 – d. 1694),<ref name=hedges_meets_khan/><ref>Sir Jadunath Sarkar, ''History of Aurangzib: Mainly Based on Persian Sources'', Volume 5 (1974), p. 283</ref> better known as '''Shaista Khan''', was a general and the [[Subahdar]] of [[Mughal Bengal]]. He was maternal uncle to the [[Mughal Emperor]] [[Aurangzeb]], and acted as a key figure during his reign. Shaista Khan initially governed [[Deccan Plateau\|the Deccan]], where he clashed with the [[Maratha]] ruler [[Shivaji]]. However, he was most notable for his tenure as the governor of [[Bengal]] from 1664 to 1688. Under Shaista Khan's authority, the city of [[Dhaka]] and [[Mughal Empire\|Mughal]] power in the province attained their greatest heights. His achievements include construction of notable mosques such as the [[Sat Gambuj Mosque]] and masterminding the conquest of [[Chittagong]]. Shaista Khan was also responsible for sparking the [[Anglo-Mughal War (1686–1690)\|Anglo-Mughal War]] with the [[East India Company\|English East India Company]].<ref>{{Cite journal \|title=Conflict and Cooperation in Anglo-Mughal Trade Relations during the Reign of Aurangzeb \|first=Farhat \|last=Hasan \|journal=Journal of the Economic and Social History of the Orient \|volume=34 \|issue=4 \|year=1991 \|pages=351–360 \|doi=10.1163/156852091X00058 \|jstor=3632456}}</ref>		'''Mirza Abu Talib''' (b. 22 November 1600 – d. 1694),<ref name=hedges_meets_khan/><ref>Sir Jadunath Sarkar, ''History of Aurangzib: Mainly Based on Persian Sources'', Volume 5 (1974), p. 283</ref> better known as '''Shaista Khan''', was a general and the [[Subahdar]] of [[Mughal Bengal]]. He was maternal uncle to the [[Mughal Emperor]] [[Aurangzeb]], and acted as a key figure during his reign. Shaista Khan initially governed [[Deccan Plateau\|the Deccan]], where he clashed with the [[Maratha]] ruler [[Shivaji\|Maharaj Shivaji]] and was humiliated by him. However, he was most notable for his tenure as the governor of [[Bengal]] from 1664 to 1688. Under Shaista Khan's authority, the city of [[Dhaka]] and [[Mughal Empire\|Mughal]] power in the province attained their greatest heights. His achievements include construction of notable mosques such as the [[Sat Gambuj Mosque]] and masterminding the conquest of [[Chittagong]]. Shaista Khan was also responsible for sparking the [[Anglo-Mughal War (1686–1690)\|Anglo-Mughal War]] with the [[East India Company\|English East India Company]].<ref>{{Cite journal \|title=Conflict and Cooperation in Anglo-Mughal Trade Relations during the Reign of Aurangzeb \|first=Farhat \|last=Hasan \|journal=Journal of the Economic and Social History of the Orient \|volume=34 \|issue=4 \|year=1991 \|pages=351–360 \|doi=10.1163/156852091X00058 \|jstor=3632456}}</ref>

	==Early life==		==Early life==
Line 55:		Line 55:
	==Confrontation with the Marathas==		==Confrontation with the Marathas==
	{{main\|Battle of Chakan}}		{{main\|Battle of Chakan}}
	After Aurangzeb's accession to the Mughal throne in 1659, he ~~sent~~ Shaista Khan as viceroy of the [[Deccan Plateau\|Deccan]] with a large army to enforce the treaty the Mughals had signed with the [[Adilshahi]] of [[Bijapur]]. Through the treaty, the [[Adil Shahi dynasty\|Adilshahi]] had ceded territory that it had previously captured from the [[Ahmadnagar Sultanate]] to the Mughals.<ref name="Gordon2007">{{cite book \|author=Stewart Gordon \|title=The Marathas 1600-1818 \|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iHK-BhVXOU4C&pg=PR9 \|year=2007 \|publisher=Cambridge University Press \|isbn=978-0-521-03316-9 \|pages=70–71}}</ref> However, the territory was also fiercely contested by [[Maratha~~]] ruler,~~ [[Shivaji]], who had acquired a reputation after ~~his~~ killing of Adilshahi general [[Afzal Khan (general)\|Afzal Khan]] in 1659.<ref>{{cite book \|last1=Sardesai \|first1=G.S. \|title=New history of the Marathas. Vol. I: ShivajiRaje and his line (1600-1701) \|year=1946 \|publisher=Phoenix Publications \|location=Bombay \|pages=142–144}}</ref> In January 1660, Shaista Khan arrived at [[Aurangabad, Maharashtra\|Aurangabad]] and quickly advanced, seizing [[Pune]], the centre of Shivaji's realm. He also captured the fort of [[Chakan, Maharashtra\|Chakan]] and [[Kalyan, India\|Kalyan]] and north [[Konkan]] after heavy fighting with the Marathas.<ref name="Majumdar2007">{{cite book \|year=2007 \|orig-year=First published 1974 \|editor1-last=Majumdar \|editor1-first=Ramesh Chandra \|editor1-link=R. C. Majumdar \|editor2-last=Pusalker \|editor2-first=A. D. \|editor3-last=Majumdar \|editor3-first=A. K. \|title=The History and Culture of the Indian People \|title-link=The History and Culture of the Indian People \|volume=VII: The Mughal Empire \|location=Mumbai \|publisher=Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan}}</ref>{{rp\|243, 259–60}} The Marathas were banned from entering the city of [[Pune]], and [[Mughal Empire\|Mughal]] distance from the locals turned out to be an error. Shaista was responsible for heavily mass destruct pune city and its innocent civilians. On the evening of 5 April 1663, a wedding ~~party~~ had obtained special permission for holding a procession. Shivaji and many of his ~~nearly 400~~ men disguised as the bridegroom's procession members entered Pune. Others entered in small parties dressed as labourers and soldiers of Maratha generals serving under Shaista Khan. After midnight, they raided the Nawab's compound and then entered the palace in an attempt to assassinate him.<ref>{{cite book \|last1=Sardesai \|first1=G.S. \|title=New history of the Marathas. Vol. I: Shivaji and his line (1600-1701) \|year=1946 \|publisher=Phoenix Publications \|location=Bombay \|pages=142–144}}</ref><ref>{{cite book \|last=Jasper \|first=Daniel \|editor1-last=Vora \|editor1-first=Rajendra \|editor2-last=Feldhaus \|editor2-first=Anne \|year=2006 \|chapter=Celebrating a Region through Historical Commemoration \|title=Region, Culture, and Politics in India \|page=239 \|publisher=Manohar \|isbn=978-81-7304-664-3}}</ref>		After [[Aurangzeb]]'s accession to the Mughal throne in 1659, he appointed Shaista Khan as viceroy of the [[Deccan Plateau\|Deccan]] with a large army to enforce the treaty the Mughals had signed with the [[Adilshahi]] of [[Bijapur]]. Through the treaty, the [[Adil Shahi dynasty\|Adilshahi]] had ceded territory that it had previously captured from the [[Ahmadnagar Sultanate]] to the Mughals.<ref name="Gordon2007">{{cite book \|author=Stewart Gordon \|title=The Marathas 1600-1818 \|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iHK-BhVXOU4C&pg=PR9 \|year=2007 \|publisher=Cambridge University Press \|isbn=978-0-521-03316-9 \|pages=70–71}}</ref> However, the territory was also fiercely contested by the ruler of the Hindavi Swaraj(Maratha Empire) - [[Shivaji\|Maharaj Shivaji]], who had acquired a big reputation after him killing of Adilshahi general [[Afzal Khan (general)\|Afzal Khan]] in the [[Battle of Pratapgarh\|Battle of Pratapgad (1659)]].<ref>{{cite book \|last1=Sardesai \|first1=G.S. \|title=New history of the Marathas. Vol. I: ShivajiRaje and his line (1600-1701) \|year=1946 \|publisher=Phoenix Publications \|location=Bombay \|pages=142–144}}</ref> In January 1660, Shaista Khan arrived at [[Aurangabad, Maharashtra\|Aurangabad]] and quickly advanced, seizing [[Pune]], the centre of Maharaj Shivaji's realm. He also captured the fort of [[Chakan, Maharashtra\|Chakan]] and [[Kalyan, India\|Kalyan]] and north [[Konkan]] after heavy fighting with the Marathas.<ref name="Majumdar2007">{{cite book \|year=2007 \|orig-year=First published 1974 \|editor1-last=Majumdar \|editor1-first=Ramesh Chandra \|editor1-link=R. C. Majumdar \|editor2-last=Pusalker \|editor2-first=A. D. \|editor3-last=Majumdar \|editor3-first=A. K. \|title=The History and Culture of the Indian People \|title-link=The History and Culture of the Indian People \|volume=VII: The Mughal Empire \|location=Mumbai \|publisher=Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan}}</ref>{{rp\|243, 259–60}} The Marathas were banned from entering the city of [[Pune]], and [[Mughal Empire\|Mughal]] distance from the locals turned out to be an error. Shaista was responsible for heavily mass destruct pune city and its innocent civilians.
	[[File:Shaistekhan Surprised.jpg\|thumb\|250px\|A 20th-century depiction of Shivaji (right) attacking Shaista Khan as he tries to flee by artist [[M.V. Dhurandhar]] ]]
	Aurangzeb angrily transferred Shaista Khan to Bengal, refusing to give him an audience at the time of the transfer, as ~~was the~~ custom.<ref>{{Cite book \|last=Chandra \|first=Satish \|title=History of medieval India (800-1700) \|url=https://archive.org/details/history-of-medieval-india-800-1700_202303/page/357/mode/1up \|year=2007 \|publisher=Orient Longman \|isbn=978-81-250-3226-7 \|page=357}}</ref>		===Attack by Shivaji on Shaista in Pune===
			On the evening of 5 April 1663, a wedding reception had obtained special permission for holding a procession. Maharaj Shivaji and many of his men disguised as the bridegroom's procession members and some as Mughal soldiers entered Pune where in the [[Lal Mahal]] Shaista Khan was residing. Others entered in small parties dressed as labourers and soldiers of Maratha generals serving under Shaista Khan. After midnight, they raided the Nawab's compound and then entered the palace ([[Lal Mahal]]) in an attempt to assassinate him. Maharaj Shivaji himself faced Shaista Khan directly, Shahista Khan in fear to save his life jumped out of a window in an attempt to escape but during this Maharaj Shivaji cut off 3 fingers of Shaista Khan. Though Shaista escaped this event, it heavily damaged his reputation and was humiliating for him <ref>{{cite book \|last1=Sardesai \|first1=G.S. \|title=New history of the Marathas. Vol. I: Shivaji and his line (1600-1701) \|year=1946 \|publisher=Phoenix Publications \|location=Bombay \|pages=142–144}}</ref><ref>{{cite book \|last=Jasper \|first=Daniel \|editor1-last=Vora \|editor1-first=Rajendra \|editor2-last=Feldhaus \|editor2-first=Anne \|year=2006 \|chapter=Celebrating a Region through Historical Commemoration \|title=Region, Culture, and Politics in India \|page=239 \|publisher=Manohar \|isbn=978-81-7304-664-3}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web \|title=Britanica: Shivaji: Challenging the Mughals \|url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Shivaji#ref373642\|date=May 9, 2008\|last=Desai\|first=Ranjit Ramchandra}}</ref>
			[[File:Shaistekhan Surprised.jpg\|thumb\|250px\|A 20th-century depiction of Maharaj Shivaji (right) attacking Shaista Khan as he tries to flee by artist [[M.V. Dhurandhar]] ]]
			After this event Aurangzeb angrily transferred Shaista Khan to Bengal, refusing to give him an audience at the time of the transfer, as per custom.<ref>{{Cite book \|last=Chandra \|first=Satish \|title=History of medieval India (800-1700) \|url=https://archive.org/details/history-of-medieval-india-800-1700_202303/page/357/mode/1up \|year=2007 \|publisher=Orient Longman \|isbn=978-81-250-3226-7 \|page=357}}</ref>

	==Subahdar of Bengal==		==Subahdar of Bengal==

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{{Short description|17th century Mughal general and provincial governor}}
{{more citations needed|date=March 2012}}
{{EngvarB|date=March 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2017}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|honorific_prefix=Amir-ul-Umara
|name=Mirza Abu Talib
|honorific_suffix=Shaista Khan
|image=Nawab Sháyista Khán.jpg
|office1=Viceroy of [[Khandesh]]
|term1= 1658–1669
|monarch1=[[Aurangzeb]]
|office2=[[Subahdar]] of [[Bengal]]
|predecessor2=[[Mir Jumla II|Mir Jumla]]
|successor2=[[Ibrahim Khan II|Ibrahim Khan]]
|monarch2=[[Aurangzeb]]
|term2 = 1664 – 1678, 1680 - 1688
|father=[[Asaf Khan IV]]
|children=Buzurg Umed Khan<ref>{{cite Banglapedia|author=Hossain, AKM Yakub & Haque, AKM Khademul|article=Buzurg Umed Khan}}</ref> [[Bibi Pari|Iran Dukht Rahmat Banu (Bibi Pari)]]<ref>{{cite Banglapedia|author=Hossain, AKM Yakub & Chowdhury, AM|article=Bibi Pari}}</ref> Aqidat Khan Jafar Khan Abu Nasr Khan Iradat Khan<ref>{{cite Banglapedia|author=Abdul Karim|article=Iranians, The}}</ref>
|birth_date = {{circa}} 1600<ref>Sir Jadunath Sarkar, ''History of Aurangzib: Mainly Based on Persian Sources'', Volume 5 (1974), p. 283</ref>
|death_date ={{death year and age|1694|1600}}
}}

'''Mirza Abu Talib''', ({{circa}} 1600–1694) better known as '''Shaista Khan''' ({{lang-bn|শায়েস্তা খান}}) was a general and the [[subahdar]] of [[Mughal Bengal]]. A maternal uncle to the emperor [[Aurangzeb]],<ref>{{cite book|author=Samaren Roy|title=Calcutta: Society and Change 1690–1990|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=y-W6TjM2n1AC&pg=PA52|access-date=25 February 2012|date=May 2005|publisher=iUniverse|isbn=978-0-595-34230-3|pages=52–}}</ref> he acted as a key figure during his reign. Shaista Khan initially governed [[Deccan Plateau|the Deccan]], where he clashed with the [[Maratha]] ruler [[Shivaji]]. However, he was most notable for his tenure as the governor of [[Bengal]] from 1664 to 1688. Under Shaista Khan's authority, the city of [[Dhaka]] and [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] power in the province attained its greatest heights. His achievements include constructions of notable mosques such as the [[Sat Gambuj Mosque]] and masterminding the conquest of [[Chittagong]]. Shaista Khan was also responsible for sparking the outbreak of the [[Anglo-Mughal War]] with the [[East India Company|English East India Company]].<ref>{{Cite journal|title=Conflict and Cooperation in Anglo-Mughal Trade Relations during the Reign of Aurangzeb|first=Farhat|last=Hasan|journal=Journal of the Economic and Social History of the Orient|volume=34|issue=4|date=1991|pages=351–360|doi=10.1163/156852091X00058|jstor=3632456}}</ref>

==Early life==
Shaista Khan was of [[Persian people|Persian]] origin. His grandfather [[Mirza Ghiyas Beg]] and father [[Abu'l-Hasan Asaf Khan]] were the [[Vizier|wazirs]] of the [[Mughal emperors]] [[Jahangir]] and [[Shah Jahan]], respectively. He also had familial connections with the imperial dynasty, having been a paternal nephew of the empress [[Nur Jahan]] and the brother of the empress [[Mumtaz Mahal]]. Jahangir awarded the title of [[Mirza]] to Shaista Khan in recognition of his family's service and position in the Mughal court.<ref name=Karim>{{cite Banglapedia|author=Abdul Karim|article= Shaista Khan}}</ref>

Shaista Khan trained and served with the Mughal army and court, winning multiple promotions and being appointed governor of various provinces. He also developed a reputation as a successful military commander and grew close to his nephew, the prince [[Aurangzeb]], when the duo fought against the kingdom of [[Golconda]].<ref name=Karim/>

==Confrontation with the Marathas==
{{main|Battle of Chakan}}
After Aurangzeb's accession to the Mughal throne in 1659, he sent Shaista Khan as viceroy of the [[Deccan Plateau|Deccan]] with a large army to enforce the treaty the Mughals had signed with the [[Adilshahi]] of [[Bijapur]]. Through the treaty the [[Adil Shahi dynasty|Adilshahi]] had ceded territory that it had previously captured from the [[Ahmadnagar Sultanate]], to the Mughals.<ref name="Gordon2007">{{cite book|author=Stewart Gordon|title=The Marathas 1600-1818|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iHK-BhVXOU4C&pg=PR9|date=1 February 2007|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-0-521-03316-9|pages=70–71}}</ref> However, the territory was also fiercely contested by [[Maratha Empire|Maratha]] ruler, [[Shivaji]] who had acquired a reputation after his killing of Adilshahi general, [[Afzal Khan (general)|Afzal Khan]] in 1659.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Sardesai 1946 |first1=G.S. |title=New history of the Marathas. Vol. I: Shivaji and his line (1600-1701) |date=1946 |publisher=Phoenix Publications |location=Bombay |pages=142–144}}</ref> In January 1660, Shaista Khan arrived at [[Aurangabad, Maharashtra|Aurangabad]] and quickly advanced, seizing [[Pune]], the centre of Shivaji's realm. He also captured the fort of [[Chakan, Maharashtra|Chakan]] and [[Kalyan, India|Kalyan]] and north [[Konkan]] after heavy fighting with the Maratha.<ref name="Majumdar2007">{{cite book |date=2007 |orig-year=First published 1974 |editor1-last=Majumdar |editor1-first=Ramesh Chandra |editor1-link=R. C. Majumdar |editor2-last=Pusalker |editor2-first=A. D. |editor3-last=Majumdar |editor3-first=A. K. |title=The History and Culture of the Indian People |title-link=The History and Culture of the Indian People |volume=Volume VII: The Mughal Empire |location=Mumbai |publisher=Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan}}</ref>{{rp|243, 259–60}} The Maratha were banned from entering the city of [[Pune]] and [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] distance from the locals turned out to be an error. On the evening of 5 April 1663, a wedding party had obtained special permission for holding a procession. Shivaji and many of his nearly 400 men disguised as the bridegroom's procession members entered Pune. Others entered in small parties dressed as labourers and soldiers of Maratha generals serving under Shaista Khan. After midnight, they raided the Nawab's compound and then entered the palace in an attempt to assassinate him.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Sardesai 1946 |first1=G.S. |title=New history of the Marathas. Vol. I: Shivaji and his line (1600-1701) |date=1946 |publisher=Phoenix Publications |location=Bombay |pages=142–144}}</ref><ref>Jasper, D., 2006. Celebrating a Region through Historical Commemoration. Region, Culture, and Politics in India, p.239.[https://d1wqtxts1xzle7.cloudfront.net/37745586/Daniel_Jasper.pdf?1432672953=&response-content-disposition=inline%3B+filename%3DCelebrating_a_Region_through_Historical.pdf&Expires=1591308579&Signature=ctHVujdl9peIc6IrdGmC-CkHbkHrZGDXyGWvg~tYBeQoxcy742IABS3VGeozmqyoVQTO1~ra-LIYNlcVzNfYRFwxI9CclfAF-jN4j2xiFVmqmNqiyRW7o9AM15WM3dtyx0YrkUR3FAOdVvRCxRHo116IU8xm68hy97mgJo1Z6t4uQCsZ2JYIO7ngJlbr3OyutA5Xj0ixKpMqRuxeWk-X0H~yDXkgyrVJIASmgxv5dW1i5n52u0aYkHNzutXm6R1kbgJ9KQPvX3Hh2qOCAVkelCEqnTGFalsLGILWXv2MItQZpCzn5aknsnjuCuESSkEj4CE6TU9lChwg~5GHQ23GYw__&Key-Pair-Id=APKAJLOHF5GGSLRBV4ZA]{{dead link|date=May 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
[[File:Shaistekhan Surprised.jpg|thumb|250px|Shivaji (right) attacks Shaista Khan, as he tries to flee]]
Shaista Khan was unaware and unprepared. The Marathas broke into the courtyard of the palace and slaughtered the palace guards. According to a tale, the Nawab lost three fingers in a skirmish with Shivaji, while his son was killed in an encounter with the Marathas in the palace courtyard. Several of his wives also perished.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Truschke|first=Audrey|title=Aurungzeb The man and the myth|publisher=Penguin Books|year=2017|isbn=978-0-143-44271-4}}</ref> Taking advantage of the confusion and darkness, the Marathas escaped the palace and Pune, despite the widespread camping of Mughal forces. Shocked by the sudden and bold attack in the city, Aurangzeb angrily transferred Shaista Khan to Bengal, even refusing to give him audience at the time of transfer as was the custom.<ref>{{Cite book|title=History of medieval India : 800-1700|last=Chandra, Satish.|date=2007|publisher=Orient Longman|isbn=978-81-250-3226-7|location=Hyderabad, India|oclc=191849214}}</ref>

==Subahdar of Bengal==
[[File:Charles D'Oyly06.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Construction of [[Saat Masjid]] is credited to Shaista Khan]]

On the death of Mir Jumla II in 1663, Shaista Khan was appointed the Subedar of Bengal. As governor, he encouraged trade with Europe, Southeast Asia and other parts of India. He consolidated his power by signing trade agreements with European powers. Despite his powerful position he remained loyal to Aurangzeb, often mediating trade disputes and rivalries. He banned the English East India Company from Bengal in 1686, beginning the Anglo-Mughal War. In 1678, Prince Muhammad Azam Shah was appointed the Subedar of Bengal. In 1680, Shaista Khan was again appointed as the Subedar of Bengal. He served his first term from 1663 to 1678 and his second term from 1680 to 1688.

===Construction projects===
Shaista Khan encouraged the construction of modern townships and public works in Dhaka, leading to a massive urban and economic expansion. He was a patron of the arts and encouraged the construction of majestic monuments across the province, including mosques, [[mausoleum]]s and palaces that represented the finest in Indo-Sarcenic and [[Mughal architecture]]. Khan greatly expanded [[Lalbagh Fort]], [[Chawk Mosque|Chowk Bazaar Mosque]], [[Saat Masjid]] and [[Choto Katra]]. He also supervised the construction of the mausoleum for his daughter [[Bibi Pari]].

== Conquest of Chittagong ==

{{Infobox military conflict
| conflict = Conquest of Chittagong
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| date = November 1665 – 27 January 1666<ref name="বাংলাদেশের ইতিহাস">ড. মুহম্মদ আব্দুল করিম. বাংলাদেশের ইতিহাস. মগ বিতাড়ন ও চট্টগ্রাম জয়. ২৬৯–২৭০.</ref>
| place = [[Chittagong Division|Chittagong]], [[Bengal Subah|Province of Bengal]], [[Mughal Empire]] (present-day [[Chittagong Division|Chittagong]], [[Bangladesh]])
| territory = Annexation of [[Chittagong Division|Chittagong]] into [[Bengal Subah|Bengal]]
| result = Mughal victory<ref name="বাংলাদেশের ইতিহাস"/>
| combatant1 = {{flagicon image|Alam of the Mughal Empire.svg}} [[Bengal Subah]] {{flagicon|Netherlands|size=22px}} [[Netherlands]] 
* [[Dutch East India Company]]
{{flagicon|Portugal|size=22px}} [[Portugal]]
| combatant2 = {{Flagicon image|Arakan Liberation Party flag.png}} [[Kingdom of Mrauk U|Arakan]]
| commander1 = {{flagicon image|Alam of the Mughal Empire.svg}} '''Shaista Khan''' {{flagicon image|Alam of the Mughal Empire.svg}} Buzurg Umed Khan {{flagicon image|Alam of the Mughal Empire.svg}} Ibn Hussain {{flagicon image|Alam of the Mughal Empire.svg}} [[Farhad Khan]]
| commander2 = {{Flagicon image|Arakan Liberation Party flag.png}} [[Sanda Thudhamma]]
| strength1 = {{flagicon image|Alam of the Mughal Empire.svg}} 6,500 troops<ref name="Trudy, Ring 1996">Trudy, Ring; M. Salkin, Robert; La Boda, Sharon; Edited by Trudy Ring (1996). International dictionary of historic places. Chicago: Fitzroy Dearborn Publishers. {{ISBN|1-884964-04-4}}. Retrieved 21 June 2015.</ref> 300 ships<ref name="Trudy, Ring 1996">Trudy, Ring; M. Salkin, Robert; La Boda, Sharon; Edited by Trudy Ring (1996). International dictionary of historic places. Chicago: Fitzroy Dearborn Publishers. {{ISBN|1-884964-04-4}}. Retrieved 21 June 2015.</ref> {{flagicon|Portugal|size=22px}} 40 ships<ref name="বাংলাদেশের ইতিহাস"/>
| strength2 = {{Flagicon image|Arakan Liberation Party flag.png}} unknown
| casualties1 = {{flagicon image|Alam of the Mughal Empire.svg}} light<ref name="বাংলাদেশের ইতিহাস"/>
| casualties2 = {{Flagicon image|Arakan Liberation Party flag.png}} several ships sunk 135 ships captured<ref name="বাংলাদেশের ইতিহাস"/>
| notes =
| casus =
| mage2 =
}}

Upon his arrival in Bengal, Shaista Khan was faced with putting down the [[Kingdom of Mrauk U|Arakan]]ese pirates. He began by rebuilding the Mughal navy, increasing its Bengal fleet to 300 battle-ready ships within a year.<ref name="Sarkar1948p379">{{cite book |editor-last=Sarkar |editor-first=Jadunath |editor-link=Jadunath Sarkar |year=1973 |orig-year=First published 1948 |title=The History of Bengal |volume=Volume II: Muslim Period, 1200-1757 |location=Patna |publisher=Academica Asiatica |page=379 |oclc=924890 |quote=It was Shāista Khan's task to put an end to this terror [the Arakan pirates] ... The Bengal flotilla (nawwāra) had been wofully depleted ... Shāista Khan's energy and persistence overcame every obstacle. A new navy was created, manned and equipped in a little over a year ... In a short time 300 vessels were ... ready in war-trim ... The island of Sondip ... [was] captured ... (November 1665.) A still more important gain was the seduction of the [[Firingi|Feringis]] of Chātgāon from the side of the Arakanese ... A feud had just then broken out between the Magh ruler of Chātgāon and the local Portuguese ... Shāista Khan gave their chief captain a bounty ... and their other leaders were all enlisted in the Mughal service.}}</ref> He also made strenuous diplomatic efforts to win the support of the [[Dutch East India Company]] as well as [[Portugal]], which was supporting Arakan with resources and troops. With active Dutch military support, Shaista Khan led Mughal forces on an assault on the island of Sandwip, which lay in Arakanese control.{{citation needed|date=November 2018}} Mughal forces succeeded in capturing the island in November 1665.<ref name="Sarkar1948p379" />

Shaista Khan gained a considerable advantage when a conflict erupted between the Arakanese and the Portuguese. The Portuguese, led by Captain Moor, set fire to [[Kingdom of Mrauk U|Arakan]]ese fleets and fled to [[Bhulua]] where Thanadar [[Farhad Khan]] gave them refuge. Farhad then sent them off to Shaista. By promptly offering protection and support, Shaista secured the aid of the Portuguese against the Arakanese.<ref name="Sarkar1948p379" />

[[File:ShaistaKhan.png|thumb|left|180px|Shaista Khan in later days]]

In December 1665, Shaista Khan launched a major military campaign against [[Chittagong]], which was the mainstay of the Arakanese kingdom. The imperial fleet consisted of 288 vessels of their own and about 40 vessels of the [[Firingi]]s (Portuguese) as auxiliaries. Ibn Hussain, Shaista Khan's admiral, was asked to lead the navy, while the subahdar himself took up the responsibility of supplying provisions for the campaign. He also ordered [[Farhad Khan]] and Mir Murtaza to take the land route. The overall command was given to Buzurg Ummed Khan, a son of Shaista Khan.<ref name="Majumdar2007" />{{rp|230}} The Mughals and the Portuguese held sway in the following naval battle. The conquered territory to the western bank of Kashyapnadi ([[Kaladan river]]) was placed under direct imperial administration. The name of Chittagong was changed to Islamabad and it became the headquarters of a Mughal [[faujdar]].<ref name="Majumdar2007" />{{rp|230}} Khan also re-asserted Mughal control over [[Cooch Behar]] and [[Kamarupa]].

Upon his victory against the Arakanese, he ordered the release of thousands of [[Bengali people|Bengali]] peasants being held captive by the Arakanese forces.

==Legacy==
In his late years, Shaista Khan left [[Dhaka]] and returned to [[Delhi]]. His legacy was the expansion of Dhaka into a regional centre of trade, politics and culture; a thriving and prosperous city from a small township. It is said that he made currency of Bangladesh 'Taka' so strong that eight 'mon' (around 295 kilogram) processed rice or 'chaal' could be bought with one taka.<ref>{{cite web|title=Rice price scam in Bangladesh|url=https://m.theindependentbd.com//arcprint/details/118808/2017-10-15|first=SHAMIM|last=ZAHEDY|access-date=15 October 2017|work=The Independent}}</ref>
The [[Shaista Khan Mosque]] is a massive standing monument to Shaista Khan, built on his palace grounds. Incorporating unique elements of [[Bengal]]i and [[Mughal architecture|Mughal]] architecture, it is a major tourist attraction and a valued historical monument protected by the [[Government of Bangladesh]] today.{{citation needed|date=November 2018}}

==See also==
* [[List of rulers of Bengal]]
* [[History of Dhaka]]

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}
* {{cite book |last1=Karim |first1=Abdul |date=1992 |title=History of Bengal: Mughal Period |publisher=University of Rajshahi }}
* {{cite book |last1=Duff |first1=James Grant |author-link1=James Grant Duff |date=1921 |orig-year=First published 1826 |url=http://ebook.lib.hku.hk/CADAL/B31419239V1/ |title=History of the Marhattas |volume=Vol. 1 |edition=Revised Annotated |location=London |publisher=Oxford University Press }}

{{Authority control}}

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[[Category:Subahdars of Bengal]]
[[Category:Mughal nobility]]
[[Category:17th-century Iranian people]]
[[Category:Indian people of Iranian descent]]
[[Category:Indian Shia Muslims]]
[[Category:Dhaka]]
[[Category:History of Bangladesh]]
[[Category:Medieval India]]
[[Category:Mughal Empire]]
[[Category:1694 deaths]]