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{{POV|Neutrality disputed = |date=February 2015}}
{{Short description|Zamindar of Jessore (1584-1601), King of Jessore (1601-1612)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}}
{{Infobox royalty
{{Infobox royalty
|name = Maharaja Pratapaditya Ray
| name = Pratapaditya Guha
[[File:Pratapaditya Ray Guha.jpg|thumb|Rajachakravarty Pratapaditya Maharaj
| title = {{noitalic|[[Zamindar]] of [[Jessore]] (1584-1601)<br />[[Raja]] of [[Jessore]] (1602-1611/12)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.84864/page/n12/mode/1up?q=Pratapaditya | title=Baharistan I Ghaybi Volume I | date=1936 }}</ref> <br>Raishreshtha<br> Raichakravarti}}
| death_place = [[Benaras]]<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=o40cAAAAMAAJ | title=A History of Calcutta's Streets | date=1987 | publisher=Firma KLM }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6eYsAAAAMAAJ | isbn=978-81-7476-355-6 | title=History of the Bengali-speaking People | date=2001 | publisher=UBS Publishers' Distributors }}</ref>
|caption =
| spouse = Sharat Kumari
|spouse 1 = Sharat Kumari
| issue = Sangramaditya<br />Udayaditya<br />
|father = Shrihari Vikramaditya (or Sridhara)
| father = Shrihari Vikramaditya Guha (or Sridhara)
|issue = Udayaditya, Sangramaditya and Bindumati
| religion = [[Hinduism]]
|}}
}}
'''Pratapaditya Ray''' ({{lang-bn|মহারাজা প্রতাপাদিত্য রায়}}) (1561–1611 CE) also referred to as '''Rajachakravarty Pratapaditya Maharaj''' ({{lang-bn|রাজচক্রবর্ত্তী প্রতাপাদিত্য মহারাজ}}) was the Maharaja of [[Jessore (city)|Jessore]] Empire and among the most prominent of the [[Baro-Bhuyan]] on the [[Bengal region]] of the [[Indian subcontinent]],<ref name="Ray1929">{{cite book|author=Nagendra Nath Ray|title=Maharaj Pratapaditya|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JRsdAAAAMAAJ|year=1929|publisher=B. Bhattacharyya at the Sree Bhagabat Press}}</ref> who fought against the [[Mughal Empire]]. He is notable for his military resistance against the expansionism of the Mughal Empire and was known for his participation in the Battle of Hijli, Patna, Rajmahal, Kalindri, Salka and Kagarghat. He ruled over a vast area in Southern Bengal, Eastern Bihar and Northern Orissa which, at its zenith encompassed the districts of [[Nadia district|Nodia]], [[North 24 Parganas]], [[South 24 Parganas]], [[Howrah]], [[Hooghly district|Hoogly]], [[Bardhaman]] in West Bengal, [[Patna]], [[Rajmahal]] in eastern Bihar, [[Baleshwar]] in northern [[Orissa]], [[Kushtia]], [[Khulna]], [[Barisal]] in east and parts of [[Sundarbans]].
'''Pratapaditya Guha'''<ref name=":1" /> was a zamindar and King of [[Jessore (city)|Jessore]] of southern [[Bengal]], before being defeated by the [[Mughal Empire]].<ref name=":1" /> Supported by the Portuguese, he was eulogized by 19th and 20th century Bengali historians as a resistor against Mughal in Jessore but the statements are still debated.<ref name=":4">{{cite book |last=Chakrabarty |first=Dipesh |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AMEECgAAQBAJ&pg=PA137 |title=The Calling of History: Sir Jadunath Sarkar and His Empire of Truth |date=2015 |publisher=University of Chicago Press |isbn=978-0-226-10045-6 |pages=137 |access-date=26 July 2016}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Ray |first=Aniruddha |title=Essays in Honour of Prof. S.C. Sarkar |publisher=People's Pub. House |year=1976 |editor-last=De |editor-first=Barun |location=Delhi |chapter=Case Study of a Revolt in Medieval Bengal: Raja Pratapaditya Roy |author-link=Aniruddha Ray}}</ref>
[[File:Maharaja pratapaditya.jpg|thumb|Ruins of Ishwaripur Palace of Maharaja Pratapaditya]]
==Early life==
[[File:Maharaja Pratapaditya Ray.jpg|thumb|Nitish Mukherjee as Maharaja Pratapaditya in the Film ''Bou Thakuranir Haat'' (1953)]]
Pratapaditya was born to a [[Kashyap]] gotriya Bangaj Kulin [[Kayastha]] family in the Goharay dynasty of Bengal. His father Shrihari (or Shridhara), was an influential officer in the service of [[Daoud Shah Karrani|Daud Khan Karrani]].<ref name=":0">{{cite book |last=Khan |first=Muazzam Hussain |year=2012 |chapter=Pratapaditya, Raja |chapter-url=http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Pratapaditya,_Raja |editor1-last=Islam |editor1-first=Sirajul |editor1-link=Sirajul Islam |editor2-last=Jamal |editor2-first=Ahmed A. |title=Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh |edition=Second |publisher=[[Asiatic Society of Bangladesh]]}}</ref> Shrihari Guha killed Daud Khan Karrani's trusted [[Vizier|wazir]], [[Ludi Khan]] to acclaim that position.<ref name=":4">{{cite book |last=Chakrabarty |first=Dipesh |date=2015 |title=The Calling of History: Sir Jadunath Sarkar and His Empire of Truth |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AMEECgAAQBAJ&pg=PA137 |publisher=University of Chicago Press |pages=137–140 |isbn=978-0-226-10045-6 |access-date=26 July 2016}}</ref> Daud Khan Karrani bestowed upon Shrihari the title of "Vikramaditya" ('sun of valour', probably in reference to the [[Vikramaditya|legendary emperor]]) and the zamindari of one [[Chand Khan]], (referred to as Chandecan by the Portuguese) who had deceased without leaving any heir.<ref>{{cite news |last=Steele |first=Tim |date=10 January 2015 |title=Pratapaditya, another freedom fighter |url=http://www.dhakatribune.com/heritage/2015/jan/10/pratapaditya-another-freedom-fighter |newspaper=Dhaka Tribune |access-date=1 February 2015}}</ref> On the fall of Daud Khan at the hand of the [[Mughal Empire|Mughals]], Shrihari Guha misappropriated all the treasure of the sultan in his custody and absconded.<ref name=":0" /> Shrihari Guha fled to the marshy lands of the [[Khulna District]], declared himself independent and assumed the title of "[[Maharaja]] Vikramaditya"<ref name=":4" /> Pratapaditya was born to Srihari in 1561 and assumed power in 1584.<ref name=":0" /> and divided his kingdom – 5/8th to Pratapaditya and 3/8th to his brother Basanta Ray.
Basanta Ray was his uncle and he affectionately brought up both Pratapaditya and Lakshmikanta (Later to be known as [[Lakshmikanta Roy Choudhury]]), son of [[Jiya Gangopadhyay]] of the [[Sabarna Roy Choudhury]] clan.<ref name="ReferenceA">Bangiya Sabarna Katha Kalishetra Kalikatah by Bhabani Roy Choudhury, Manna Publication. {{ISBN|81-87648-36-8}}</ref> During this period he also taught them the lessons of [[zamindari]] as well as administrative inputs. Meanwhile, Lokkhikanto grew up and joined the administration at [[Jessore (city)|Jessore]] and proved a powerful and able administrator. It is generally agreed that Pratapaditya murdered his uncle near Budge Budge to claim himself independent.<ref name="DurgaDarshan" /><ref name="AlamHussain2011" /> Disheartened and aggrieved, Lakshmikanta resigned from the royal service and returned to Kalighat, his birthplace.<ref name="ReferenceA"/><ref name="DurgaDarshan">{{cite web |url=http://www.indiablooms.com/DurgaDarshan/2010/PujaBari/pujaBariDetails081010a.php |title=Sarborno Roy Chowdhurys and their Puja |website=Durga Darshan |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150201201235/http://www.indiablooms.com/DurgaDarshan/2010/PujaBari/pujaBariDetails081010a.php |archive-date=1 February 2015 |access-date=1 February 2015}}{{self-published source|date=August 2016}}</ref>
==Military campaigns==
Contemporary sources like the ''[[Baharistan-i-Ghaibi]]'', travelogues of Abdul Latif and other Europeans testify to the personal ability of Pratapaditya, his political pre-eminence, material resources and martial strength. When [[Mughal emperor]] [[Jahangir]], learned that Pratapaditya murdered his uncle Basanta Ray and declared himself as an independent ruler of [[Bengal]], he sent [[Raja Man Singh]] with an army to keep Bengal under control.<ref name="AlamHussain2011">{{cite book |last1=Alam |first1=Ishrat |last2=Hussain |first2=Syed Ejaz |date=2011 |title=The Varied Facets of History: Essays in Honour of Aniruddha Ray |publisher=Primus Books |page=221 |isbn=978-9380607160}}</ref> Descendants of Lakshmikanta claim that Raja Man Singh revered Basanta Ray greatly and after defeating Pratapaditya, he met his guru's son, Lakshmikanta.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.devarshi.faithweb.com/custom2.html |title=History of the Sabarna Roy Choudhury Family and of Kolkata (Calcutta) |website=The Family History |access-date=1 February 2015}}{{self-published source|date=August 2016}}</ref>
[[File:Military Operation By Pratapaditya Ray.jpg|thumb|Military expansion of Pratapaditya Ray]]
===Alliance and campaigns against Mughals===
Among the Bengal zamindars, Pratapaditya was the first to send his envoy to the Mughal subahdar [[Islam Khan I|Islam Khan]] to win the favour of the Mughals. He sent his envoy Shaykh Badi and his youngest son Sangramaditya with a large gift to the ''[[Subahdar]]'' in 1608. The prince was left behind as a hostage on the agreement that Pratapaditya would personally attend on the subahdar at Alaipur. Accordingly, Pratapaditya met the Subahdar in 1609 on the bank of the [[Atrai River|Atrai]] and tendered personal submission.<ref name=":0" />
Pratapaditya agreed that immediately after his return to his kingdom, he should send 400 war-boats with his youngest son Sangramaditya to join the imperial fleet under Ihtimam Khan, and that he himself should proceed along the river [[Arial Khan]] with 20,000 ''paiks'', 1000 cavalry, and 100 war-boats, to attack [[Musa Khan (Bengal Ruler)|Musa Khan]]'s possessions in Sripur<ref>{{cite book |last=Akhtaruzzaman |first=Md |year=2012 |chapter=Sripur |chapter-url=http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Sripur |editor1-last=Islam |editor1-first=Sirajul |editor1-link=Sirajul Islam |editor2-last=Jamal |editor2-first=Ahmed A. |title=Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh |edition=Second |publisher=[[Asiatic Society of Bangladesh]]}}</ref> and [[Vikramapura]], a pledge that he did not keep. To punish Pratapaditya for his disloyalty as a vassal and to subjugate his territory Islam Khan made preparation for an expedition. Having realized an impending attack Pratapaditya hastened to make amends for his folly and sent his son Sangramaditya with 80 war-boats to Islam Khan. But Islam Khan took up a stern attitude and decided to punish him by conquering his kingdom. He ordered the war-boats sent by the Raja to be destroyed.<ref name=":0" />
==Battle of Salka==
A large Mughal contingent consisting of 1,000 cavalry, 5,000 [[matchlock]] men and a number of tried and experienced officers, such as Mirza Makki, son of Iftikhar Khan, Mirza Saifuddin, Shaikh Ismail Fathpuri, Shah Beg Khaksar and Lachhmi Rajput, and a fleet consisting of 300 men-of-war, besides the war boats of new vassals like Musa Khan and Bahadur Ghazi, was selected for the war. The Mughal forces were under the command of Islam Khan's brother Ghiyas Khan or Inayat Khan, while the fleet and artillery were under Mirza Nathan, son of Ihtimam Khan. Another force was sent against his son in law Raja Ramchandra of Bakla at the same time so that he might not come to the assistance of Jessore. By December 1611 the Mughal forces had been consolidated and they were proceeding towards Jessore along the [[Ichamati River|Ichhamati]] and the Bhairab. They soon reached a place named Salka near the confluence of the river [[Jamuna River (West Bengal)|Jamuna]] and the Ichhamati.<ref name=":0" />
[[File:Man SIngh Begging For Life From Pratapaditya Ray.jpg|thumb|Man Singh begging mercy to Maharaja Pratapaditya Ray after his Defeat; Film-''Bou Thakuranir Haat'' [1953]]]
Pratapaditya meanwhile equipped a strong army and fleet and placed them under expert officers including Afghan dissidents (angered at loss of privilege to the foreign Mughals) and Portuguese (mostly mercenaries) and prepared to personally defend the fortified capital at Dhumghat. He deputed Udayaditya to defend the fort at Salka, strategically located having natural barriers on three sides. Udayaditya was assisted by Jamal Khan an Afghan, who commanded the cavalry and the elephants and Khwaja Kamal another Afghan tributary of Pratap who commanded the fleet of 500 war boats.
As the imperial fleet proceeded towards Salka, Udayaditya suddenly launched a vigorous attack and broke into the enemy rank, leaving Jamal Khan in charge of the garrison at the fort, and Khwaja Kamal backing up with a strong contingent of powerful war boats and ''ghurabs''. With its overwhelming numbers, the Jessore fleet managed to force the Mughals into backfoot, but steady artillery support from both the banks of Ichhamati and Mirza Nathan's breaching the enemy ranks at the back led to the capitulation of the Jessore fleet. Udayaditya managed to escape while Khwaja Kamal was killed. Jamal Khan followed Udayaditya with all the elephants. They then pushed back the Mughal forces causing them to retreat. Pratapaditya had scored a major victory against the Mughals and thus he sent them a letter telling them to recognize him as the rightful ruler of Bengal.<ref name=":0" />
== Battle of Kagarghat ==
Pratapaditya prepared himself to fight a second time from a new base near the confluence of Kagarghat canal and the Jamuna. He made a big fort at a strategic point and gathered all his available forces there. The [[Mughals]] began the battle by an attack on the Jessore fleet (Jan 1612) and compelled it to seek shelter beneath the fort. But their further advance was checked by the heavy cannonade of the Jessore artillery. A sudden attack of the Mughals completely defeated the Jessore fleet and they fell upon the fort with the elephants in front, thereby compelling Pratapaditya to evacuate the fort and retreat.<ref name=":0" /> His valiant army strategist Rudraditya has forced an exile after being captured during this war.{{Citation needed|date = February 2015}} This major defeat sealed the fate of Pratapaditya. After his defeat, Raja Man Singh requested Lakshmikanta to ascend the throne, but he refused.<ref name="DurgaDarshan" /> Instead, Bhavanand Majumdar, who had been in the service of Pratapaditya as a [[Brahmin]] boy, was given the throne, and he subsequently became the founder of the Nadiya Raj family.<ref name="Bhattacharya1896">{{cite book |last=Bhattacharya |first=Jogendra Nath |date=1896 |title=Hindu Castes and Sects |url=https://archive.org/stream/hinducastesands00bhatgoog/hinducastesands00bhatgoog_djvu.txt |location=Calcutta |publisher=Thacker, Spink and Co. |access-date=6 February 2015}}</ref>
== Battle of Raigarh ==
The glory of Pratapaditya's empire was spreading day by day. The Mughal emperor [[Akbar]] then sent another general named Azim Khan to Bengal with a large contingent of armies in order to eliminate Pratapaditya's power. Azim crossed [[Patna]] and [[Rajmahal]] without any hindrance, but no one stopped him as per Pratap's previous instructions. Azim's joy knew no bounds, thinking that Bala was being captured without bloodshed. He came to Raigarh near Kolkata and set up camp in the green desert of Bengal and began to enjoy rest and happiness without any worries. Meanwhile, in the middle of the night, Pratapaditya and his army suddenly attacked the Mughal army from four directions. The battle went on all night. Many Mughal armies fell into the face of the sharpened sword and began to fall apart. About twenty thousand Mughal soldiers were killed and captured in this fierce battle. The treasury of Pratapaditya was filled with a lot of valuable war materials. <ref>"Beeratwe Bangali", Anil Chandra Shome, pp-40</ref>
== Battle of Patna ==
According to the constituent pundits of Jessore, {{quote|
"युगयुग्मेषु चंद्रेच शके हत्वा बसंतकं।
प्रतापादित्यनामासौ जायते नृपतिर्महान।"}}
After the death of Basant Ray, Pratapaditya became very powerful by taking control of the entire [[Jessore]] state.
The empowerment of Pratapaditya frightened the [[Mughal emperor]]. He sent Abram Khan, the Nawab of [[Patna]] with a large army to subdue the state of Jessore. Abram Khan entered Bengal with all the forces of Patna and advanced towards Jessore. Hearing the news of the impending war, Pratap immediately started preparing. Near the Mautala citadel in Jessore, the Jessore army built a two-sided structure. When Abram Khan came to Mautala with his Mughal army, the Jeshore army started a fierce attack from two directions. Majority of the Mughal army were killed in such a two-way attack and the rest of them joined the Jessore army out of fear. Abram Khan was taken prisoner.
[[File:Maharaja Pratapaditya Ray Of Jessore Empire.jpg|thumb|Maharaja Pratapaditya Ray Of Jessore Empire [Film- Bou Thakurnir Hat,1953]]
==Battle of Rajmahal==
After defeating the forces of Patna, Pratapaditya increased his desire to expand his empire. His army has increased considerably with his own army and remnant Mughal army. In this situation he started his war for the palace. Sardar Shankar Chakraborty, the gallant commander, started decorating the army. Pratapaditya attacked the palace with about twenty five thousand soldiers. Mallabhumraj [[Bir Hambir]] helped him in this war journey. The Jessore army fought fiercely with Nawab Sher Khan's forces at [[Rajmahal]] on the banks of the Ganges. Eventually the Nawab's army was defeated and Sher Khan fled to [[Dhaka]] en route to Gaur. By conquering the fort, Pratapaditya received ten crores of Tanka rupees and a lot of money. (P. 58) Meanwhile, after the defeat of Abram Khan, the Jessore army also captured Patna Fort. Thus the whole of [[Bengal]] and [[Bihar]] came under Pratapaditya's rule and almost all of eastern India stopped paying taxes to the Mughals. Pratapaditya became the ruler of Bengal-Bihar and assumed the title "Rajachakravarty Pratapaditya".<ref>Raja Pratapaditya Charitra, Ramram Basu</ref>
==Battle of Kalindri==
The declaration of independence of Maharaja Pratapaditya in Bengal, his coronation as independent Emperor and the conquest of the Mughal forts one after another captured the roots of the Mughal Empire. The glory of the Mughal Sultanate was hurt by the defeat of Mughal generals like Abram Khan, Sher Khan in frontal battles by the Jessore army. So this time in 1603, the Mughal emperor Jahangir sent 22 Mughal Umrah generals with [[Man Singh]] to attack Jessore. 22 Mughal Umrahs, including Man Singh, came to attack Jessore with a large number of Mughal soldiers and warships. During the attack on Jessore, while building a camp in the Basantpur area on the eastern bank of the [[Kalindi]] River, he saw that Pratapaditya kept a circle of soldiers around him, preparing for war. A fierce battle ensued between the Jessore Army and the [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] Army in the Basantpur-Sheetalpur area. The Mughal army was heavily bombarded by the raid boats of the fierce Jessore forces. Jessore commander Suryakanta Guha showed great skill in the war. Out of the 22 Umrahs of the Mughals, 12 were killed by Pratapaditya and the other ten fled the battlefield to save their lives. The dead twelve Umrahs were buried near Ishwarpur in Jessore, known as the "Grave of the Twelve Omrahs".
According to the texts of Pratapaditya's Kulacharyas, the twelve Umrahs simultaneously attacked Pratap and they all died. Acc {{quote|"बंगधिपवधार्थाय प्रतिज्यंच चकाय सः।
द्वाविंशतितमखानान प्रेषयमास सत्वरंग।"}}
On one such day, when torrential rains started, all the ammunition of the Mughals was destroyed. Then [[Man Singh]] somehow managed to escape with the help of the traitor Bhavananda. After that he never dared to fight Pratapaditya.
""Maharaja Pratapaditya of Jessore having declared himself independent of the authorities of the Emperor of Delhi, the Emperor Jahangir successively sent 12 Omrahs with large armies to subdue him, but Pratapaditya defeated them all in battle.""<ref>"Ancient Monuments of Bengal"</ref>
==Battle of Hijli==
Being crowned as the King of Jessore Kingdom, Pratapaditya formed a strong navy force. One of the successful naval battles of Pratapaditya was the battle against Nawab Taj Khan and Isha Khan of Hijli at [[Medinipur]]. At that time Hijli was under rule of the Afghan Sultans of [[Odisha]] [[Sultanate]]. Nawab Taj Khan was well known for persecution of Hindus, specially Brahmins. "Masnad-i-Ala" Isha Khan dominated the province of Hijli with a large number of [[infantry]], immense [[archers]] and [[artillery]].
Pratap's uncle Basanta Ray had a good relationship with Nawab Taj Khan of Hijli. When Basant Ray continued to prevent Pratap from fighting the Mughals, he killed him and his son Raghav Ray fled to Hijli and took refuge.
At this time Pratapaditya attacked Hijli. Pratapaditya had a fierce battle with Isha Khan in Hijli and he defeated Isha Khan miserably. Isha Khan died on the battlefield.<ref>"Pratapaditya" - Nikhilnath Roy. P- 50</ref><ref>"Raja Pratapaditya Charitra, RR Basu, P-59</ref>
Realizing the consequences of the war, Raghav Ray fled to Akbar in Delhi. There was a dewan of Isha Khan named Bhimsen Mohapatra, he helped Raghav Ray to escape. Pratapaditya imprisoned him. Fearing being humiliated by Pratap, he committed suicide by drowning in a pond called Bhimsagar in Bahirimutha. After the conquest of Hijli, Pratapaditya returned to Jessore.<ref>"History of Medinipur"- Jogesh Chandra Basu, P-175</ref>
In the seventeenth century, there was no other Hindu king in the whole of India was as mighty in military troops and resource as Maharaj Pratapaditya. He had about seven hundred boats full of war materials and twenty thousand pike and a kingdom of fifteen lakhs of rupees. This was written by a Muslim writer who was the enemy of Pratap at that time. Pratapaditya was an able administrator. During his reign, there was a complete restoration of law and order.
===Domain===
Pratapaditya's kingdom included a greater part of the undivided districts of [[24 Parganas]], Jessore and [[Khulna]]. It also included parts of present districts of [[Kushtia]], [[Barisal]], [[Bhola]] in Bengal, [[Baleshwar]] in [[Orissa]] and [[Patna]], [[Rajmahal]] in [[Bihar]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Singh |first=Nagendra Kr. |date=2003 |title=Encyclopaedia of Bangladesh |publisher=Anmol Publications |page=54 |isbn=81-261-1390-1}}</ref> Pratapaditya's capital was at Dhumghat, a city situated at the confluence of Jamuna and Ichhamati.
* [[Raybenshe]] Regiment Chief - Madan Dutta Ray Malla
* [[Afghan]] Regiment Chief - Jamal Khan, Khawja Kamal
* Kuki Regiment Chief - Raghu Kuki
* [[Spy]] Chief - Sukha
===Forts of Jessore===
== Kingdom of Jessore ==
Pratapaditya built several forts.
[[File:Mapofkingdom of jessore.jpg|thumb|Map of Kingdom of Jessore under Pratapaditya<ref name=":3">{{Cite book |last=Nikhilnath Roy |url=https://archive.org/details/PratapadityaByNikhilnathRoy |title=Pratapaditya By Nikhilnath Roy |year=1912 |pages=}}</ref>]]
Here's the list -
*1) [[Jessore]]
*2) [[Dhumghat]] (Capital)
*3) Raigharh
*4) Vedkashi
*5) Shibsha
*6) [[Pratapnagar]]
*7) Shalikha
*8) Matla
*9) Haidargarh
*10) Araikaki
*11) Mani
*12) Raimangal
*13) Chaksri
*14) Tala
*15) [[Behala]]
*16) [[Chitpur]]
*17) [[Salkia]]
*18) Mulajor
*19) [[Jagaddal]]
[[File:Maharaja pratapaditya.jpg|thumb|Ruins of Ishwaripur Palace of Maharaja Pratapaditya]]
=== Trade and Economy ===
The principal fourteen of them were at Jessore, [[Dhumghat]], Raigarh, Kamalpur, Vedkashi, [[Shibsha;]], [[Pratapnagar]], Shalikha, Matla, Haidargarh, Araikaki, Mani, [[Raimangal]] and [[Chaksri]]. There were seven forts built by Pratapaditya in and around present-day [[Kolkata]]. They were at [[Matla]], [[Raigarh]], [[Tala, Kolkata|Tala]], [[Behala]], Salkia, [[Chitpur]] and Mulajor. Apart from these Pratapaditya had built a fort near present-day [[Jagaddal]].
===Army===
During the reign of Pratapaditya, the ruler of Jessore in the early 17th century, the Portuguese played a significant role in the local economy through their trade activities. Jessore, located in present-day Bangladesh, became a crucial hub for Portuguese merchants due to its strategic position along the trade routes. The Portuguese established a thriving trade network in the region, exchanging goods such as textiles, spices, and precious metals. Their presence bolstered the local economy, as they facilitated the flow of these commodities between South Asia and Europe. Additionally, the Portuguese influence contributed to the cultural and economic integration of Jessore into the global trading system of the time. Pratapaditya, recognizing the value of this relationship, engaged with the Portuguese to enhance the prosperity of his domain, thereby creating a mutually beneficial economic partnership.
Pratapaditya's army was divided into six divisions – infantry, cavalry, artillery, archers and elephant division. The infantry consisted of the ''Dhali'' and ''Raibneshe'' soldiers, under the command of Kalidas Ray and Madan Malla. Madan Malla belonged to [[Bagdi caste]] (Barga Kshatriya). In fact, the Raibneshe soldiers of Pratapaditya's army were all Bagdi in origin. They were brought from [[Mallabhum]] by Pratapaditya to strengthen his army because at that time Bagdi was one of the most important and capable warrior castes of whole Bengal.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.daricha.org/sub_genre.aspx%3FID%3D90%26Name%3DRaibneshe&sa=U&ved=0ahUKEwi_g4TwmrnVAhXMTCYKHfToDb84HhAWCCYwAQ&usg=AFQjCNF0vLnDGwxW9MJQJMmV-CBEF-CLOA| title= Raibneshe-Daricha Foundation}}</ref> According to Bharatchandra, Pratapaditya had 52,000 ''Dhali''s under his command. There were many [[Kuki peoples|Kuki]] soldiers in his army and the Kuki regiment was under the command of Raghu. A cavalry of 10,000 was commanded by Pratapsingha Dutta, assisted by Mahiuddin and Nurullah. The archers were led by Sundar and Dhulian Baig. There were 1,600 elephants trained for war. Apart from these Pratapaditya had a network of spies, under the command of Sukha.
The majority of Pratapaditya's army were composed of Bengali Kaysthas, Brahmins, Rajputs, Barga Kshatriyas, Portuguese Sailors and Afghans. There were a sizeable number of Kuki and Arakaneese soldiers in his army. Also, Pratapaditya had several Afghan officers in his service, including Jamal Khan, the son of Katlu Khan and Khwaja Kamal. His chief of strategic warfare was two Brahmin called Shankar Chakraborty and Rudraditya Upadhyaya. Rudraditya was married to Pratapaditya's niece Baisakhi Devi. The frontiers of the capital were managed by Rudraditya. He also employed many Portuguese officers during his battles against Mughals.
=== Military strength ===
Under the rule of Pratapaditya, Jessore not only thrived economically but also fortified its military capabilities. Pratapaditya, known for his strategic acumen, along with the help of his very able general, a brahmin called Rudraditya Upadhyaya commanded a formidable fleet of approximately 700 warships and a cavalry force of 10,000 men. His naval fleet, bolstered by Portuguese military assistance and advanced shipbuilding techniques, played a crucial role in safeguarding vital trade routes and asserting dominance over the [[Bay of Bengal]]. Rudraditya played a key role in building alliances with the Portuguese and the Arakans. The large number of warships ensured that Jessore's maritime interests were well-protected and allowed for effective control of regional waters. <ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Naval Warfare in ancient India |url=http://enlight.lib.ntu.edu.tw/FULLTEXT/JR-ENG/cha.htm |access-date=2024-08-26 |website=enlight.lib.ntu.edu.tw (Page - 654)}}</ref>
===Navy===
In addition to his naval forces, Pratapaditya's cavalry was renowned for its mobility and effectiveness in combat. With 10,000 cavalrymen, his forces were well-equipped with armour and weaponry influenced by various regional styles and practices. This cavalry played a significant role in defending his territory from external threats and in maintaining order within his domain. The combination of a powerful navy and a well-trained cavalry under Pratapaditya's command ensured both the security and expansion of Jessore's influence during his reign.<ref name=":2" />
Being quite familiar with the terrain of his kingdom and the frequent raids by the [[Portuguese people|Portuguese]] and Arakanese pirates along the coast of the [[Bay of Bengal]], Pratapaditya could have ignored the need of a strong naval fleet only at his own peril. Most of the Bara Bhuiyans of the time were well equipped in naval warfare and Pratapaditya was no exception. Historian [[Radhakumud Mookerjee]] observed thus:
{{quote|But by far the most important seat of Hindu maritime power of the times in Bengal was that established at Chandikhan or Saugor island by the constructive genius of Maharaj Pratapaditya, the redoubtable Kingof Jessore. Numbers of men-of-war were always to be found ready for battle and in a seaworthy condition at that naval station. There were also three other places where Maharaj Pratapaditya built his shipyards and dockyards: these were Dudhali, Jahajaghata, and Chakasri, where his ships were built repaired and kept.}}
These [[Man-of-war]]s were usually made of timber, abundant in the mangroves of [[Sundarbans]]. Some of these vessels had more than 64 oars and most of them were equipped with artillery. There were several classes of vessels in the fleet, namely, ''Piara'', ''Mahalgiri'', ''Ghurab'', ''Pal'', ''Machoya'', ''Pashat'', ''Dingi'', ''Gachhadi'', ''Balam'', ''Palwar'' and ''Kocha''. Among them ''Ghurab'' was the largest and most powerful ship. According to Abdul Latif's travelogue, the Jessore fleet consisted of hundreds of war boats. According to Dutch historian Jos Gommans, the Mughal fleet consisted of, at a maximum of about 500 boats, whereas the fleet of Pratapaditya had twice as many.<ref>{{cite book |last=Gommans |first=Jos J. L. |date=2002 |title=Mughal warfare: Indian frontiers and highroads to empire, 1500–1700 |publisher=Routledge |page=174 |isbn=0-415-23989-3}}</ref> The fleet was initially under the command of Bengali officers, but later Portuguese officers were entrusted with the duty.
===Extent of dominion===
[[File:The Depiction Of Mighty Ghurab Warship.jpg|thumb|The depiction of mighty Ghurab Warship]]
==Foreign relations and religious policy==
European accounts from the late 16th century describe Pratapaditya’s dominions as exceptionally extensive for a regional ruler. A key reference appears in Beveridge’s History of Bakarganj (Appendix, p. 446), based on the account of a European writer referred to as Fernandez, who states:<ref>{{Cite book |last=Ghosh |first=Amulya Charan |url=http://archive.org/details/dli.bengal.10689.7018 |title=Pratapaditya প্রতাপাদিত্য |date=1906}}</ref>
===Campaign against piracy===
<blockquote>“Fernandez describes Chandean as lying half way between Porto Grande (Chittagong) and Porto Piccolo, and says that the King’s dominions were so extensive that it would take fifteen or twenty days to traverse them.”<ref>{{Cite book |last=Ghosh |first=Amulya Charan |url=http://archive.org/details/dli.bengal.10689.7018 |title=Pratapaditya প্রতাপাদিত্য |date=1906}}</ref></blockquote>
The island of [[Sandwip]] had gained strategic importance because of its salt production, and because it was the most important gateway of trade in the Bay of Bengal and to [[Chittagong]] port. At the turn of the 17th century, Sripur and Arakan had fought two battles over the control of Sandwip and both the times [[Kedar Ray]], the king of Sripur had wrested control over Sandwip, with the help of his Portuguese naval officer Domingos Carvalho. Kedar Ray had awarded the island to his able office as a recognition of his service. But when the [[Arakanese people|Arakanese]] successfully took control of the island in 1602, Carvalho fled to Jessore. It is said that Pratapaditya arrested, tried and executed Carvalho and sent his severed head to the Arakan court at [[Mrauk U]].{{Citation needed|date = February 2015}}
===Jesuits===
== Slavery and religious tensions in Kingdom ==
The [[Jesuit]]s arrived at Jessore in 1599. They were received most cordially by the king and his Portuguese subjects, most of whom were in the naval services. The king granted them full permission to preach to his subjects and to baptise all those who wished to become Christians. The first Jesuit church in Bengal was opened in January 1600.
===Enslavement of Portuguese Women===
Some historical accounts and regional narratives allege that during military confrontations between Pratapaditya’s forces and Portuguese groups in southern Bengal, [[Portuguese people|Portuguese]] civilians, including women, were captured and taken as prisoners. According to these sources, a number of these captives were reportedly kept as slaves or incorporated into royal households or estates, a practice that was not uncommon in warfare in [[South Asia]] during the late medieval period.<ref>{{cite news |title=History of Bakerganj|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.24305/page/n184/mode/1up|author=Henry Beveridge |date=2025-12-21}}</ref>.
Modern historians note that detailed contemporary documentation regarding the number of captives, their legal status, and their subsequent treatment is limited. As a result, the extent and nature of the alleged enslavement of Portuguese [[women]] under Pratapaditya remain subjects of history.<ref>{{cite news |title=History of Bakerganj|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.24305/page/n184/mode/1up|author=Henry Beveridge |date=2025-12-21}}</ref>
===Demolition of Churches in Jessore===
Several historical sources state that [[Christian]] churches and missionary establishments in the Jessore region were destroyed during Pratapaditya’s [[military]] campaigns against Portuguese presence in [[Bengal]]. These actions are generally interpreted as part of broader armed resistance to Portuguese political, military, and commercial influence in the region. Historians argue that churches often functioned as centers of Portuguese authority and, in some cases, as fortified structures, making them strategic targets during conflicts. Consequently, the [[demolition]] of [[Church (building)|churches]] is usually understood within a political and military context rather than as an instance of systematic religious persecution.<ref>{{cite news |title=History of Bakerganj|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.24305/page/n184/mode/1up|author=Henry Beveridge |date=2025-12-21}}</ref>
The priests Dominic de Sosa, <!-- first name needed --> Fernandez, and Melchior de Fonseca were invited to visit a place called Chandecan ({{Lang-it|Ciandecan|links=no}}) by its king, and Fernandez was granted letters patent from the king authorising them to continue their mission. 19th-century historian Henry Beveridge identified the "King of Chandecan" as Pratápáditya, and "Chandecan" with Dhumgát, which he places near [[Kaliganj, Nadia|Khaliganj]] in the 24 Pardanas. He notes that a man named Chand Khan Masandari had been proprietor of the land before Pratapaditya's father Bikramaditya. After Fernandez died in prison at Chittagong in November 1602, the other priests fled [[Arakan|Arracan]], first to [[Sandwip]] island then to Chandecan. To maintain relations with the king of Arracan, the king of Chandecan who was then at "Jasor" summoned the Portuguese captain Carvalho from Chandecan and had him killed. He then had the church destroyed and the priests expelled.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Beveridge |first1=Henry |title=The district of Bákarganj; its history and statistics |date=1876 |publisher=Trübner & Co. |location=London |pages=173–179 |url=https://archive.org/details/districtofbkar00beve/}}</ref>
Three contemporary sources remain — letters of Portuguese Jesuit priests collated in ''Histoire des lndes Orientales'' by Father Du Jarric; ''[[Baharistan-i-Ghaibi]]'', a history of Bengal by Mirza Nathan; and, travelogues of Abdul Latif.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0">{{cite book |last=Khan |first=Muazzam Hussain |title=Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh |publisher=[[Asiatic Society of Bangladesh]] |year=2012 |editor1-last=Islam |editor1-first=Sirajul |editor1-link=Sirajul Islam |edition=Second |chapter=Pratapaditya, Raja |editor2-last=Jamal |editor2-first=Ahmed A. |chapter-url=https://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Pratapaditya,_Raja}}</ref>
===Jeshoreshwari Kali Temple===
== Background ==
{{Main|Jeshoreshwari Kali Temple}}
Pratapaditya's ancestors were likely based in [[Saptagram|Satgaon]], having migrated from [[Bakla, Bangladesh|Bakla]].<ref name=":1" /> His father Shrihari Guha was an influential officer in the service of [[Daud Khan Karrani]] and succeeded Ludi Khan as the [[Vizier|''wazir'']] c. early 1573;{{Efn|Khan was put to death for signing a truce with [[Munim Khan]] — the Mughal Subahdar of Jaunpur — during his invasion of Jamania, without Karrani's consent.}} he had been conferred with the title of Raja Vikramaditya by Daud Khan.<ref name=":1" /> Upon Daud Khan's defeat by the [[Mughal Empire|Mughals]] in the [[Battle of Rajmahal]], Shrihari fled to the marshes of [[Khulna District|Khulna]] and styled himself as "Vikramaditya"— probably with his brother, Janakiballav, who had been awarded the title of "Basanta Ray"— and refused to submit to the [[Mughals]] for a while; their capital was at Dhumghat.<ref name=":1" />
The patron deity of Jessore was Jeshoreshwari. According to popular legend, one morning a general of the king, discovered a ray of light emanating from a nearby forest. When he was informed, he went to investigate the source of the light rays. Deep inside the jungle he found an idol of Mother [[Kali]], that was emitting the light. He at once realized that it was the idol of the patron deity, the protector of his kingdom and his people. So he brought the idol to his capital and constructed a temple so that she may be worshiped by the faithful.
[[File:Maa Jessoreshwari Temple.jpg|thumb| Maa Jessoreshwari Temple built by Maharaja Pratapaditya;Now,In Bangladesh]]
Popular tradition asserts that eventually [[Todar Mal]] would confirm their possessions.<ref name=":1" /> Sources do not mention Shirhari except in the immediate aftermath of the Battle of Rajmahal; so, it is difficult to speculate about Shrihari's reign but a non-extant inscription imposes a terminus ante quem of c. 1590 for the end of his rule.<ref name=":1" />
For about the first decade, Pratapaditya likely ruled in a dyarchy with Basanta Ray.<ref name=":1" /> It is believed that c. 1598 - 1600, Pratapaditya had his uncle murdered with support from his friend and confidante Rudraditya and the Portuguese and ascended to the throne.<ref name=":1" /> In return, he allowed the Portuguese Missionaries to settle in his territories; the first Church in Bengal was opened at Dhumghat c. 1600.<ref name=":1" />
Pratapaditya built a bath at Bangshipur. It was six domed structure – two big and four small domes – called ''hammamkhana''.
===Settlement in the Sundarbans===
=== Conflict with Portuguese ===
At that time the mangroves of the Sundarbans constituted a much larger area than what it is now. When Srihari's father Bhabananda laid the foundation of Jessore, forest land had to be reclaimed for fortification and human settlement however during Pratapaditya's reign, forest land was successfully reclaimed for agriculture as well.<ref>{{cite book |last=Banerjee |first=Anuradha |date=1998 |title=Environment, population, and human settlements of Sundarban Delta |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zf_xv9LRd4cC&pg=PA159 |publisher=Concept Publishing Company |page=159 |isbn=81-7022-739-9}}</ref> Indigenous communities like the [[Munda people|Mundas]] and the [[Bawali]]s were settled in the Sunderbans.
His rule over Jessore coincided with multiple foreign powers — the Portuguese, the Arakanese, and the Mughals — vying for the control of the Bengal delta and entering into fragile alliances with local rulers.<ref name=":1" /> In 1602, Dominique Carvalho, a Portuguese war-master in service of [[Kedar Ray]], had occupied the salt-rich port of Sandip which had been seized by the Mughals from the Rays, two years before.<ref name=":1" /> However, the inhabitants did not take kindly to Carvalho and rebelled; soon, multiple parties — [[Min Razagyi|the Arakans]], who helped Carvalho to subdue the rebellion; the Portuguese, who constructed a fort without consent of the Arakans; the Rays, who felt usurped by the Portuguese; the Mughals, who wished to expand into the East — found themselves embroiled in a regional conflict that spanned for a couple of years.<ref name=":1" /> In the end, the Mughals having killed Ray and the Arakans having chased the Portuguese out made the most significant gains.<ref name=":1" />
He also invited eligible Brahmins, Kayasthas and [[Vaidya]]s to settle in Jessore. Shibnath Shastri's ancestors who hailed from South India were invited by the king to settle in the kingdom.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Arnold |first1=David |last2=Blackburn |first2=Stuart H. |date=2004 |title=Telling lives in India: biography, autobiography, and life history |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xcVU2vwIgKcC&pg=PA90 |publisher=Indiana University Press |page=90 |isbn=0-253-21727-X}}</ref>
Pratapaditya appears to have attempted in leveraging this multipolarity to his advantage.<ref name=":1" /> In 1605, he invited Carvalho to his kingdom only to have him arrested by his general Rudraditya.<ref name=":1" /> Du Jarric accuses Pratapadiya of having entered into a secret treaty with the Arakans to save his own territory; [[Aniruddha Ray]] speculates that pleasing the Mughals, who were on the ascendancy, might have been an additional factor.<ref name=":1" /> Carvalho's arrest empowered the local Afghans to loot and massacre the Portuguese the same night; even the church was not spared.<ref name=":1" /> The next day, Pratapaditya destroyed Carvalho's fleet, arrested the surviving Portuguese, and confiscated all of their properties; after a summary trial, four were put to death and a ransom of eleven thousand rupees was fixed for the rest.<ref name=":1" />
===Arts and culture===
The initial reluctance from the Portuguese to pay the ransom caused consternation in local Hindus who raided the church suspecting the missionaries of Machiavellian tactics.<ref name=":1" /> Eventually, once the ransom was paid, Pratapaditya had the Portuguese as well as the Missionaries leave Jessore permanently.<ref name=":1" /> However, by 1612 they were again parts of Jessore army and must have entered into a truce sometime in-between.<ref name=":1" />
Pratapaditya was a patron of literature, music and fine arts. He patronized many artists, poets and learned men in his court.{{citation needed|date=September 2015}}
The ''Dhali'' or 'shield dance' is a folk dance that originated and developed during the reign of Pratapaditya. It is believed that after winning a grueling battle, the fatigued soldiers of the king's army began dancing with their swords in the spirit of contentment, and to prepare themselves for the next war.{{citation needed|date=February 2015}}
In 1609, Islam Khan was appointed as the Subehdar of Bengal.<ref name=":1" /> Pratap sent his son Sangramaditya to greet Khan, who was inducted into imperial service; it was suggested that Pratap follow suit.<ref name=":1" /> In 1609, Pratap met Khan with fifty thousand rupees and other presents, accepting Mughal vassalage and promising military assistance in subduing [[Musa Khan (Bengal)|Musa Khan]] and other Zamindars in the region.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" /> The deals was struck at a time when the Mughals were fighting multiple forces in Bengal and in a desperate need for allies.<ref name=":1" /> By 1612, most of the rebel Zamindars were subdued and Mughal ascendancy in the region was established.<ref name=":1" /> However, citing that Pratap did not help the Mughals in their expeditions, Islam Khan decided to seize Jessore alongside adjacent Bakla; Ray hypothesizes that the Mughals were trying to control the entire span of Hooghly — whose hinterlands were vital from an economic as well as a military perspective — and hence, scoped for opportunities.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> Pratapaditya requested for a pardon and dispatched 80 war-boats under Sangramaditya but in vain; Sangramaditya was captured, and the fleet destroyed.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" />
==Death==
This encounter led Pratapaditya to start preparing for the inevitable.<ref name=":1" /> Udayaditya along with the majority of his force was sent away to take a defensive stance on the banks of one Salka river, north of the capital, where a fort was rapidly constructed; a well-equipped navy was put under the command of Khwaja Kamal while the infantry unit was put under Jamal Khan.<ref name=":1" /> Despite strategically sound warfare on Udayaditya's part, the face-off ended in a devastating defeat — he, alongside Jamal Khan, barely escaped to Jessore where the rear-guard was being mounted.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" /> The Mughals continued in their advance and camped at Buranhatty, not far from Jessore.<ref name=":0" /> Soon enough, Bakla fell.<ref name=":1" /> With Jessore being opened up from all sides, Paratapaditya left for the Mughal camp to offer his submission.<ref name=":1" /> However, for reasons unknown, he ditched the plan and the conflict continued.<ref name=":1" /> Pratapaditya took, what would be his last stand, about 5 miles north of his capital, in a makeshift fort.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" /> The defence hold for days before felling to a sudden attack, forcing him to retreat to Jessore and concede defeat.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" />
At end of Kagarghat battle, the Mughals offered a truce in spite of a marginal win, as both sides were fatigued of fighting. Pratapaditya, assured of his safety,<ref name=":4" /> surrendered to Ghiyas Khan who personally escorted him to Islam Khan at Dhaka. Pratapaditya was put in chains and his kingdom was annexed. Pratapaditya was kept confined at Dhaka.<ref name=":0" /> There is a lack of available authentic information regarding his last days, but per Mughal documents, he committed suicide by consuming poison on while he was captured and was on the way to Benares as a prisoner.
After the fall of Maharaj Pratapaditya, the Mughal army sacked Jessore. Srish Chandra Basu quotes historian Tapan Kumar Ray Choudhuri, {{quote|Plunder and rape appear as the concomitants of Mughal campaigns, and even a sensible man like Mirza Nathan boasts of his ruthless exploits. Udayaditya's (Maharaj Pratapaditya's son) failure to satisfy this officer's lust for gold drew upon the head of the Jessore people a terrible vengeance. He threatened to show what is meant by looting, and true to his words, wrought such a havoc that he became an object of terror to the people of the country. Yet, to be sure, Mirza Nathan was more humane than his brother Murad who during a Jessore campaign bought as captives four thousand women, young and old, stripped of their clothing.<ref>{{cite book |last=Basu |first=Srish Chandra |title=India Under Muslim Rule |url=https://archive.org/details/indiaundermuslin00vasuuoft |publisher=Srish Chandra Basu |page=[https://archive.org/details/indiaundermuslin00vasuuoft/page/7 7]}}</ref>{{additional citation needed|date=February 2015}}
Paratapaditya was treated with respect and taken as a war-prisoner to Dhaka, where Islam Khan had him imprisoned along with his sons.<ref name=":1" /> Whereas his sons were released soon, what happened to Pratapaditya is not known;post the defeat at Jessore Rudraditya could not be traced either and his territory was distributed as jagirs.<ref name=":1" />
}}
After his death, Bhavanand Majumdar, who had been in the service of Pratapaditya, was given the throne by Raja Man Singh. Bhavanand eventually became the founder of the [[Nadia Raj]] family.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Bhattacharya|first=Jogendra Nath|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HTE8AAAAMAAJ&q=Bhava+nand+man+sing|title=Hindu Castes and Sects: An Exposition of the Origin of the Hindu Caste System and the Bearing of the Sects Towards Each Other and Towards Other Religious Systems|date=1968|publisher=Editions Indian|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Did you know Nadia's original capital was Matiyari?|url=https://www.getbengal.com/details/did-you-know-nadia-s-original-capital-was-matiyari|access-date=2020-06-09|website=Get Bengal}}</ref>
==Legacy==
Pratapaditya's bravery and heroism became the subject of many ballads, Of mention is the ''Annadamangal'', the ''magnum opus'' of [[Bharat Chandra]] the greatest medieval poet of Bengal. In the final of the three-part epic, Bharat Chandra introduces Pratapaditya as excerpted below:
{{quote
|যশোর নগর ধাম, প্রতাপ আদিত্য নাম, মহারাজ বঙ্গজ কায়স্হ ।
Pratapaditya has been recognized as a hero in several narratives of [[Hindu Nationalism]] where he has been placed alongside [[Shivaji]].<ref name=":4" />
* ''[[Annada Mangal|Annadamangal]]'', a historical epic by [[Bharatchandra Ray|Raygunakar Bharatchandra]].<ref name=":4" />
* ''Pratapaditya Charita'', a [[historical romance]] novel by [[Ramram Basu]], published in 1801.<ref name=":4" />
* ''Bangadhip Parajay'', a [[historical romance]] novel by Pratap Chandra Ghosh, published in two volumes in 1869 and 1884.<ref name=":4" />
* ''Bou Thakuranir Hat'', a historical novel by [[Rabindranath Tagore]], published in 1883.<ref name=":4" />
* ''Banger Pratapaditya'', a historical romance play by [[Kshirode Prasad Vidyavinode|Kshirod Prasad Vidyavinod]], published in 1903.<ref name=":4" />
* ''Vangiva Pratapa'', a historical romance play in Sanskrit by [[Haridas Siddhanta Bagish|Haridas Bhattacharya Siddhantabagisha]], published in 1946.
=== Theatre ===
=== 1750–1850 ===
* ''Pratapaditya'', based on Kshirod Prasad Vidyavinod's ''Pratapaditya'', staged by Star Theatre on 16 August 1903.
The earliest extant mention of Pratapaditya in vernacular literature is [[Annada Mangal]], a mid-18th c. historical epic by ''Raygunakar Bharatchandra''.<ref name=":1" /> Pratap was a hero, blessed by [[Kali]] but vanity and pride hastened his end.<ref name=":1" /> This would influence the first historical prose on the subject by [[Ramram Basu]] — ''Pratapaditya Charita''.<ref name=":1" /> Written as a historical romance novel c. 1800, Basu claimed to be among the heirs of Pratapaditya and used family letters and a Persian manuscript among sources.<ref name=":1" /> Both of these works significantly influenced the production of future literature on Pratapaditya; notably, it was caste that played a defining role in the rise and fall of Pratapaditya in these narratives, and [[Communalism (South Asia)|communalism]] was largely absent.<ref name=":1" />
* ''Pratapaditya'', based on Haran Rakshit's ''Banger Sesh Bir'', staged by Classic on 29 August 1903.
* ''Pratapaditya'', based on Kshirod Prasad Vidyavinod's ''Banger Pratapaditya'', staged by Natyamandir between 1926 and 1930.
=== Film ===
=== 1850–1900 ===
* ''[[Bou Thakuranir Haat]]'', a Bengali film, based on Rabindranath Tagore's ''Bou Thakuranir Hat'', directed by [[Naresh Mitra]]. Pratapaditya was played by Nitish Mukherjee.
In 1856, Harish Chandra Tarkalankar published ''The History of Raja Pratapaditya: "The Last King of Sagar lsland"'', a modernized retelling of Basu's novel.<ref name=":1" /> Soon, the British administrators would start taking a keen interest in local history and naturally, Pratapaditya.<ref name=":1" /> In 1857, Smyth was the first colonial official to chronicle our subject — he came upon certain ruins in Sunderban, which local legends had attributed to Pratapaditya.<ref name=":1" /> 11 years later, Rainey read a paper on Pratapaditya in [[The Asiatic Society]]: the contents were borrowed from Tarkalankar's work and Pratapaditya was a hero.<ref name=":1" /> The first critical evaluation came in 1874 in Westland's ''Report of the District of Jessore'' — in the words of Ray, it was an attempt to "cut Pratap's heroism to size".<ref name=":1" /> The same year, were published, three "pioneering essays" by Blochman.<ref name=":1" />
== Descendants ==
By mid-1870s, Pratapaditya was no longer a unanimous hero — the colonial administration was pushing back against panegyrics.<ref name=":1" /> Beveridge's report in 1876 portrayed him to be a "cruel monster" for murdering Carvalho.<ref name=":1" /> Falkner deemed him to be an adventurer, not worth more than a footnote.<ref name=":1" />
*Dr. [[Bidhan Chandra Roy]], the second Chief Minister of [[West Bengal]] was a descendant of Pratapaditya.<ref>{{cite book |last=Sharma |first=Vishwamitra |date= September 2007|title=Famous Indians of the 21st century |publisher=Pustak Mahal |page=70 |isbn=978-81-223-0829-7}}</ref>
* Guha Family of [[Erikathi, Faridpur (Present Bangladesh)|Erikathi, Faridpur (Bangladesh)]] are said to be descendants of Pratapaditya Roy.{{citation needed|date=June 2018}}
* Guha Roy Choudhury of [[Taki (India)]], West Bengal are said to be descendants of Pratapaditya Roy.{{citation needed|date=February 2015}}
* Guha's of [[Jalpaiguri]], West Bengal are said to be descendants of Pratapaditya Roy.{{citation needed|date=February 2015}}
* Aichs of [[Kolkata]], West Bengal are said to be descendants of Pratapaditya.{{citation needed|date=February 2015}}
* Guhas' of Paikpara, presently Anirban Guha, Amlan Guha, Ansuman Guha with their family. Anirban Guha has now moved to New Delhi where he is posted in the Ministry of Union of India.
Pratapaditya Guha[4] was a zamindar and King of Jessore of southern Bengal, before being defeated by the Mughal Empire.[4] Supported by the Portuguese, he was eulogized by 19th and 20th century Bengali historians as a resistor against Mughal in Jessore but the statements are still debated.[5][4]
During the reign of Pratapaditya, the ruler of Jessore in the early 17th century, the Portuguese played a significant role in the local economy through their trade activities. Jessore, located in present-day Bangladesh, became a crucial hub for Portuguese merchants due to its strategic position along the trade routes. The Portuguese established a thriving trade network in the region, exchanging goods such as textiles, spices, and precious metals. Their presence bolstered the local economy, as they facilitated the flow of these commodities between South Asia and Europe. Additionally, the Portuguese influence contributed to the cultural and economic integration of Jessore into the global trading system of the time. Pratapaditya, recognizing the value of this relationship, engaged with the Portuguese to enhance the prosperity of his domain, thereby creating a mutually beneficial economic partnership.
Under the rule of Pratapaditya, Jessore not only thrived economically but also fortified its military capabilities. Pratapaditya, known for his strategic acumen, along with the help of his very able general, a brahmin called Rudraditya Upadhyaya commanded a formidable fleet of approximately 700 warships and a cavalry force of 10,000 men. His naval fleet, bolstered by Portuguese military assistance and advanced shipbuilding techniques, played a crucial role in safeguarding vital trade routes and asserting dominance over the Bay of Bengal. Rudraditya played a key role in building alliances with the Portuguese and the Arakans. The large number of warships ensured that Jessore's maritime interests were well-protected and allowed for effective control of regional waters. [7]
In addition to his naval forces, Pratapaditya's cavalry was renowned for its mobility and effectiveness in combat. With 10,000 cavalrymen, his forces were well-equipped with armour and weaponry influenced by various regional styles and practices. This cavalry played a significant role in defending his territory from external threats and in maintaining order within his domain. The combination of a powerful navy and a well-trained cavalry under Pratapaditya's command ensured both the security and expansion of Jessore's influence during his reign.[7]
European accounts from the late 16th century describe Pratapaditya’s dominions as exceptionally extensive for a regional ruler. A key reference appears in Beveridge’s History of Bakarganj (Appendix, p. 446), based on the account of a European writer referred to as Fernandez, who states:[8]
“Fernandez describes Chandean as lying half way between Porto Grande (Chittagong) and Porto Piccolo, and says that the King’s dominions were so extensive that it would take fifteen or twenty days to traverse them.”[9]
Slavery and religious tensions in Kingdom[edit | edit source]
Some historical accounts and regional narratives allege that during military confrontations between Pratapaditya’s forces and Portuguese groups in southern Bengal, Portuguese civilians, including women, were captured and taken as prisoners. According to these sources, a number of these captives were reportedly kept as slaves or incorporated into royal households or estates, a practice that was not uncommon in warfare in South Asia during the late medieval period.[10].
Modern historians note that detailed contemporary documentation regarding the number of captives, their legal status, and their subsequent treatment is limited. As a result, the extent and nature of the alleged enslavement of Portuguese women under Pratapaditya remain subjects of history.[11]
Several historical sources state that Christian churches and missionary establishments in the Jessore region were destroyed during Pratapaditya’s military campaigns against Portuguese presence in Bengal. These actions are generally interpreted as part of broader armed resistance to Portuguese political, military, and commercial influence in the region. Historians argue that churches often functioned as centers of Portuguese authority and, in some cases, as fortified structures, making them strategic targets during conflicts. Consequently, the demolition of churches is usually understood within a political and military context rather than as an instance of systematic religious persecution.[12]
Three contemporary sources remain — letters of Portuguese Jesuit priests collated in Histoire des lndes Orientales by Father Du Jarric; Baharistan-i-Ghaibi, a history of Bengal by Mirza Nathan; and, travelogues of Abdul Latif.[4][13]
Pratapaditya's ancestors were likely based in Satgaon, having migrated from Bakla.[4] His father Shrihari Guha was an influential officer in the service of Daud Khan Karrani and succeeded Ludi Khan as the wazir c. early 1573;[lower-alpha 1] he had been conferred with the title of Raja Vikramaditya by Daud Khan.[4] Upon Daud Khan's defeat by the Mughals in the Battle of Rajmahal, Shrihari fled to the marshes of Khulna and styled himself as "Vikramaditya"— probably with his brother, Janakiballav, who had been awarded the title of "Basanta Ray"— and refused to submit to the Mughals for a while; their capital was at Dhumghat.[4]
Popular tradition asserts that eventually Todar Mal would confirm their possessions.[4] Sources do not mention Shirhari except in the immediate aftermath of the Battle of Rajmahal; so, it is difficult to speculate about Shrihari's reign but a non-extant inscription imposes a terminus ante quem of c. 1590 for the end of his rule.[4]
For about the first decade, Pratapaditya likely ruled in a dyarchy with Basanta Ray.[4] It is believed that c. 1598 - 1600, Pratapaditya had his uncle murdered with support from his friend and confidante Rudraditya and the Portuguese and ascended to the throne.[4] In return, he allowed the Portuguese Missionaries to settle in his territories; the first Church in Bengal was opened at Dhumghat c. 1600.[4]
His rule over Jessore coincided with multiple foreign powers — the Portuguese, the Arakanese, and the Mughals — vying for the control of the Bengal delta and entering into fragile alliances with local rulers.[4] In 1602, Dominique Carvalho, a Portuguese war-master in service of Kedar Ray, had occupied the salt-rich port of Sandip which had been seized by the Mughals from the Rays, two years before.[4] However, the inhabitants did not take kindly to Carvalho and rebelled; soon, multiple parties — the Arakans, who helped Carvalho to subdue the rebellion; the Portuguese, who constructed a fort without consent of the Arakans; the Rays, who felt usurped by the Portuguese; the Mughals, who wished to expand into the East — found themselves embroiled in a regional conflict that spanned for a couple of years.[4] In the end, the Mughals having killed Ray and the Arakans having chased the Portuguese out made the most significant gains.[4]
Pratapaditya appears to have attempted in leveraging this multipolarity to his advantage.[4] In 1605, he invited Carvalho to his kingdom only to have him arrested by his general Rudraditya.[4] Du Jarric accuses Pratapadiya of having entered into a secret treaty with the Arakans to save his own territory; Aniruddha Ray speculates that pleasing the Mughals, who were on the ascendancy, might have been an additional factor.[4] Carvalho's arrest empowered the local Afghans to loot and massacre the Portuguese the same night; even the church was not spared.[4] The next day, Pratapaditya destroyed Carvalho's fleet, arrested the surviving Portuguese, and confiscated all of their properties; after a summary trial, four were put to death and a ransom of eleven thousand rupees was fixed for the rest.[4]
The initial reluctance from the Portuguese to pay the ransom caused consternation in local Hindus who raided the church suspecting the missionaries of Machiavellian tactics.[4] Eventually, once the ransom was paid, Pratapaditya had the Portuguese as well as the Missionaries leave Jessore permanently.[4] However, by 1612 they were again parts of Jessore army and must have entered into a truce sometime in-between.[4]
In 1609, Islam Khan was appointed as the Subehdar of Bengal.[4] Pratap sent his son Sangramaditya to greet Khan, who was inducted into imperial service; it was suggested that Pratap follow suit.[4] In 1609, Pratap met Khan with fifty thousand rupees and other presents, accepting Mughal vassalage and promising military assistance in subduing Musa Khan and other Zamindars in the region.[4][13] The deals was struck at a time when the Mughals were fighting multiple forces in Bengal and in a desperate need for allies.[4] By 1612, most of the rebel Zamindars were subdued and Mughal ascendancy in the region was established.[4] However, citing that Pratap did not help the Mughals in their expeditions, Islam Khan decided to seize Jessore alongside adjacent Bakla; Ray hypothesizes that the Mughals were trying to control the entire span of Hooghly — whose hinterlands were vital from an economic as well as a military perspective — and hence, scoped for opportunities.[13][4] Pratapaditya requested for a pardon and dispatched 80 war-boats under Sangramaditya but in vain; Sangramaditya was captured, and the fleet destroyed.[4][13]
This encounter led Pratapaditya to start preparing for the inevitable.[4] Udayaditya along with the majority of his force was sent away to take a defensive stance on the banks of one Salka river, north of the capital, where a fort was rapidly constructed; a well-equipped navy was put under the command of Khwaja Kamal while the infantry unit was put under Jamal Khan.[4] Despite strategically sound warfare on Udayaditya's part, the face-off ended in a devastating defeat — he, alongside Jamal Khan, barely escaped to Jessore where the rear-guard was being mounted.[4][13] The Mughals continued in their advance and camped at Buranhatty, not far from Jessore.[13] Soon enough, Bakla fell.[4] With Jessore being opened up from all sides, Paratapaditya left for the Mughal camp to offer his submission.[4] However, for reasons unknown, he ditched the plan and the conflict continued.[4] Pratapaditya took, what would be his last stand, about 5 miles north of his capital, in a makeshift fort.[4][13] The defence hold for days before felling to a sudden attack, forcing him to retreat to Jessore and concede defeat.[4][13]
Paratapaditya was treated with respect and taken as a war-prisoner to Dhaka, where Islam Khan had him imprisoned along with his sons.[4] Whereas his sons were released soon, what happened to Pratapaditya is not known;post the defeat at Jessore Rudraditya could not be traced either and his territory was distributed as jagirs.[4]
The earliest extant mention of Pratapaditya in vernacular literature is Annada Mangal, a mid-18th c. historical epic by Raygunakar Bharatchandra.[4] Pratap was a hero, blessed by Kali but vanity and pride hastened his end.[4] This would influence the first historical prose on the subject by Ramram Basu — Pratapaditya Charita.[4] Written as a historical romance novel c. 1800, Basu claimed to be among the heirs of Pratapaditya and used family letters and a Persian manuscript among sources.[4] Both of these works significantly influenced the production of future literature on Pratapaditya; notably, it was caste that played a defining role in the rise and fall of Pratapaditya in these narratives, and communalism was largely absent.[4]
In 1856, Harish Chandra Tarkalankar published The History of Raja Pratapaditya: "The Last King of Sagar lsland", a modernized retelling of Basu's novel.[4] Soon, the British administrators would start taking a keen interest in local history and naturally, Pratapaditya.[4] In 1857, Smyth was the first colonial official to chronicle our subject — he came upon certain ruins in Sunderban, which local legends had attributed to Pratapaditya.[4] 11 years later, Rainey read a paper on Pratapaditya in The Asiatic Society: the contents were borrowed from Tarkalankar's work and Pratapaditya was a hero.[4] The first critical evaluation came in 1874 in Westland's Report of the District of Jessore — in the words of Ray, it was an attempt to "cut Pratap's heroism to size".[4] The same year, were published, three "pioneering essays" by Blochman.[4]
By mid-1870s, Pratapaditya was no longer a unanimous hero — the colonial administration was pushing back against panegyrics.[4] Beveridge's report in 1876 portrayed him to be a "cruel monster" for murdering Carvalho.[4] Falkner deemed him to be an adventurer, not worth more than a footnote.[4]
↑Khan was put to death for signing a truce with Munim Khan — the Mughal Subahdar of Jaunpur — during his invasion of Jamania, without Karrani's consent.
