Mirza Abu Talib, better known as Shaista Khan, was a general and the subahdar of Mughal Bengal.
23 Facts About Shaista Khan
2.
Shaista Khan initially governed the Deccan, where he clashed with the Maratha ruler Shivaji.
3.
Shaista Khan's achievements include constructions of notable mosques such as the Sat Gambuj Mosque and masterminding the conquest of Chittagong.
4.
Shaista Khan was responsible for sparking the outbreak of the Anglo-Mughal War with the English East India Company.
5.
Shaista Khan 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.
6.
Shaista Khan 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.
7.
Shaista Khan captured the fort of Chakan and Kalyan and north Konkan after heavy fighting with the Marathas.
8.
Shaista Khan consolidated his power by signing trade agreements with European powers.
9.
Shaista Khan banned the English East India Company from Bengal in 1686, beginning the Anglo-Mughal War.
10.
In 1680, Shaista Khan was again appointed as the Subedar of Bengal.
11.
Shaista Khan served his first term from 1663 to 1678 and his second term from 1680 to 1688.
12.
Shaista Khan encouraged the construction of modern townships and public works in Dhaka, leading to a massive urban and economic expansion.
13.
Shaista Khan was a patron of the arts and encouraged the construction of majestic monuments across the province, including mosques, mausoleums and palaces that represented the finest in Indo-Sarcenic and Mughal architecture.
14.
Shaista Khan greatly expanded Lalbagh Fort, Chowk Bazaar Mosque, Saat Masjid and Choto Katra.
15.
Shaista Khan supervised the construction of the mausoleum for his daughter Bibi Pari.
16.
Shaista Khan began by rebuilding the Mughal navy, increasing its Bengal fleet to 300 battle-ready ships within a year.
17.
Shaista Khan made diplomatic efforts to gain the support of the Dutch East India Company as well as Portugal, With the direct support of the Dutch army, Shaista Khan led the Mughals in an attack on the Arakanese-held Sandwip under the command of Mazlis Khan, which lay in Arakanese control.
18.
Shaista Khan gained a considerable advantage when a conflict erupted between the Arakanese and the Portuguese.
19.
The Portuguese, led by Captain Moor, set fire to Arakanese fleets and fled to Bhulua where Thanadar Farhad Shaista Khan gave them refuge.
20.
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.
21.
Shaista Khan ordered Farhad Khan and Mir Murtaza to take the land route.
22.
Shaista Khan's legacy was the expansion of Dhaka into a regional centre of trade, politics and culture; a thriving and prosperous city from a small township.
23.
The Shaista Khan Mosque is a massive standing monument to Shaista Khan, built on his palace grounds.