In 1342, Haji Ilyas united Bengal and founded the Ilyas Shahi dynasty, taking the title:

Haji Ilyas, a noble of Bengal, united the different regions of Bengal and founded the Ilyas Shahi dynasty, taking the title "Shamsuddin Ilyas Shah".

About Shamsuddin Ilyas Shah:

• He took power in Lakhnauti (north Bengal) in 1342.
• By 1352, he had brought the three regions of Bengal, Lakhnauti, Satgaon and Sonargaon, under his control, uniting Bengal into a single kingdom.
• He took the title "Shah-i-Bangalah" ("King of Bengal"), and his subjects were called "Bangalis"; this is often seen as the beginning of a Bengali political identity.
• He made Pandua (Firozabad) his capital.
• He conquered parts of Bihar, Nepal (he raided Kathmandu) and Odisha.

His conflict with Delhi:

• Firoz Shah Tughlaq led a campaign against him in 1353-54, and besieged the fort of Ekdala, but could not defeat him.
• Ilyas Shah remained independent.

His successors:

• Sikandar Shah: his son; he built the huge Adina Mosque at Pandua (1374), one of the largest mosques in India.
• Ghiyasuddin Azam Shah: a patron of learning, who corresponded with the Persian poet Hafiz.
• The Ilyas Shahi dynasty ruled until the early 15th century, and again later in the 15th century, with an interruption when Raja Ganesha seized power.

Later Sultans of Bengal:

• The Husain Shahi dynasty (1494-1538): Alauddin Husain Shah was a famous ruler who patronised Bengali literature.
• Bengal was conquered by Sher Shah Suri and later by Akbar.

Culture:

• The Bengal Sultans patronised Bengali literature, and translations of the Mahabharata and Ramayana into Bengali were made under their patronage.
• They developed a distinctive style of architecture, using brick and terracotta, with curved roofs.

Why not the other options?

• ✗Sikandar Shah and Ghiyasuddin Azam Shah were his successors.
• ✗Alauddin Husain Shah belonged to a later dynasty.