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Hoshang Shah: Sultan of Malwa

                                                Hoshang Shah's Tomb|Wikimedia Commons


Hoshang Shah or Hushang Shah was the second ruler (first independent ruler) of the Sultanate of Malwa. (Importance of Malwa’s geographical situation in Medieval times can be ascertained from the fact that it commanded the trunk routes from Gujarat and South India to North India). 

Hoshang Shah was known as Alp Khan before his accession to the throne in 1406. He was the son of Husain Ghuri on whom Tughlaq Sultan, Firuz Shah Tughlaq, had bestowed the title of Dilawar Khan and appointed him a noble. 

Hoshang Shah ruled for thirty years. After his accession, he had to face invasion from Sultan Muzaffar Shah (reigned 1407-1411) of Muzaffarid dynasty of Gujarat. In medieval times, Malwa was the bitterest rival of the Gujarat Sultanate. The invasion resulted in the defeat of Hoshang Shah and he was taken prisoner by Muzaffar Shah who, however, restored the kingdom to him. Back in his kingdom, Hoshang Shah shifted his capital from Dhar to Mandu. 

Hoshang Shah invaded Narsingh Rai of Kherla, a vassal of the Bahmani ruler Ahmad Shah (1422-35), and killed him. He forced Muzaffarid Sultan Shihabuddin Ahmad Shah to retreat from Mandu. He besieged the Gagron Fort (in the Jhalawar district of Rajasthan). 

However, his attempt to conquer Gwalior was met with failure when Mubarak Shah, the second ruler of the Sayyid Dynasty of Delhi Sultanate, relieved the besieged fort. 

Hoshang Shah died in 1435 and is buried in his tomb at Mandu. 

Hoshangabad city in the state of Madhya Pradesh, named after Hoshang Shah, will be now called Narmadapuram.

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