The Sur Empire was a powerful kingdom in northern India. It was ruled by the Afghan Sur family for about 16 to 18 years, from 1538/1540 to 1556. Its main capital was Sasaram, in what is now Bihar. The empire was founded by a strong leader named Sher Shah Suri.

The Sur dynasty took control of most of the Mughal Empire's lands. These lands stretched across the Indo-Gangetic Plain. They went from eastern Balochistan near the Indus River in the west, all the way to modern-day Rakhine, Myanmar in the east. Even as Sher Shah Suri gained power in North India, the eastern parts were still very important to the Sur Empire.

Sher Shah Suri's Rule

Early Battles and Rise to Power (1537–1540)

Depiction of Sher Shah's capture of Rohtasgarh fort through a clever plan

Sher Shah Suri fought many battles against the Bengal Sultanate. This made the ruler of Bengal ask for help from Humayun, the Mughal emperor. Humayun gathered his army in July 1537 and marched towards Chunar. He laid siege to the fort there in November 1537. The siege lasted over six months before the fort finally fell.

Sher Shah then invaded Bengal again and captured Gauda in April 1538. He also took control of Rohtasgarh in March 1538. He used Rohtasgarh to keep Afghan families safe and store the treasures he won from battles. After these victories, Sher Shah had his first coronation, becoming a king.

Sher Shah offered Humayun a peace deal. He offered 10 million dinars and to give up Bihar if he could keep Bengal. But Humayun did not want a strong enemy controlling Bengal, which had many resources. Also, the wounded ruler of Bengal, Ghiyasuddin Mahmud Shah, asked Humayun to keep fighting Sher Shah. Ghiyasuddin died soon after.

Humayun then marched to Bengal to fight Sher Khan. But bad weather and heavy rains caused him to lose his supplies. Humayun eventually reached Gauda and took it without a fight in September 1538. However, the Afghans had already left the city and taken all the treasures. Humayun stayed in Gauda for months, stuck because of the weather.

While Humayun was stuck, Sher Khan pushed deep into Mughal lands. He captured Bihar and Varanasi, took back Chunar, and even surrounded Jaunpur. Other parts of the Afghan army reached as far as Kannauj. Humayun was cut off in Gauda with no way to communicate. When he heard about problems in Agra, Humayun quickly made a peace deal with Sher Khan.

Humayun's army crossed the Karmanasa River, where Sher Khan could easily attack them. Seeing the Mughal army was weak, Sher Khan attacked them at the Battle of Chausa. The Afghans surprised the Mughals and completely defeated them. Humayun barely escaped, and over 7,000 Mughals died, including many important leaders.

After this defeat, Humayun went back to Agra. He gathered a large army of 40,000 soldiers. Sher Shah had 15,000. They met at Kannauj, with their armies facing each other across the Ganges river. Humayun's army was defeated again. Many Mughal nobles hid their ranks or ran away from the battle. Humayun had to flee to Sindh.

After this big victory, Sher Khan was crowned king for a second time on May 17, 1540. He became Sher Shah, the "Emperor of Northern India." He also took the title Sultan Adil, meaning "Just King." With Humayun defeated, Sher Shah captured Delhi.

Improving Bengal (1540–1541)

Sher Shah knew Bengal was very important. He worked hard to improve its government. Khijir Khan, the governor of Bengal under Sher Shah, started a rebellion in March 1541. Sher Shah led his army himself, defeated Khijir Khan, and brought Bengal back under his control.

Bengal was then divided into 47 smaller areas. Each area had a leader called a shiqdar. Kazi Fajilot oversaw all these leaders. These changes made Afghans more important in Bengal, and many Afghans moved there. Some of these Afghans later started new ruling families in Bengal, like the Muhammad Shahi dynasty (1553-1563) and the Karrani dynasty (1563-1576).

Securing the Punjab and Gakhars (1540–1542)

After Humayun fled, Sher Shah chased him into the Punjab. Sher Shah advanced on Lahore, causing panic among the Mughals. Kamran Mirza, Humayun's brother, was not ready to fight Sher Shah. He retreated to Kabul, leaving the region to Sher Shah. Sher Shah captured Lahore in November 1540. Afghan armies reached the Khyber Pass. Sher Shah did not expand his empire beyond the Indus River because he did not want to deal with many independent Afghans. The Afghans also took control of Multan in 1541.

Soon after, Sher Shah had problems with the Gakhars. They were always hard to control. Sher Shah tried to make peace, asking the Gakhar chief to accept him as emperor. The Gakhar chief gave an insulting answer, which made Sher Shah angry. Sher Shah marched through the Punjab and defeated the Gakhars. He destroyed much of their land and took many prisoners. Sher Shah also built the Rohtas Fort to control the Gakhars and prevent the Mughals from returning. He left 50,000 men in the Punjab before returning to Bengal.

Taking Over Malwa (1542)

In 1542, Sher Shah began his campaign to Malwa. He was worried that Malwa might join with the Mughals against him. Humayun was also trying to create a kingdom in Gujarat, and an alliance with the Malwa Sultanate would be a threat. So, the Afghan armies first marched on Gwalior. Led by Shujaat Khan, Gwalior came under Afghan rule. This removed the threat of being attacked from the side as the Afghans moved deeper into Malwa.

After Gwalior, the Afghans continued to Sarangpur. Qadir Khan, the ruler of Malwa, was left alone by his own leaders. He begged Sher Shah for mercy, and Sher Shah treated him well. Sher Shah even offered Qadir Khan a new land grant in Bengal. But Qadir Khan did not like the offer and fled to Gujarat. Sher Shah then made sure his new territories were stable before returning to Agra. On his way back, the ruler of Ranthambore also submitted to him. Shujaat Khan became the new governor of Malwa.

Capturing Raisen (1543)

After a local ruler died, Puran Mall took control of Raisen. He was said to have treated the Muslim people of the city very badly. Sher Shah heard about this and wanted to take control of Raisen himself. He prepared for war. Sher Shah offered Puran Mall the city of Varanasi if he would give up Raisen. Puran Mall refused, so Sher Shah declared war.

The Afghan army, led by Jalal Khan, met Sher Shah's forces near Vidisha. They then marched to Raisen and surrounded it. The siege lasted for six months. Sher Shah's cannons destroyed the city's defenses, and Puran Mall surrendered. A treaty was made, allowing Puran Mall and his family to leave safely with their belongings. Sher Shah and his army moved two marches away from the fort as agreed.

However, Sher Shah then met many Muslim women who had suffered under Puran Mall. They told Sher Shah how Puran Mall had killed their husbands and enslaved their daughters. Sher Shah was very moved by their stories. His army also demanded action. So, Sher Shah ordered his army to chase Puran Mall's group. The Rajput forces fought back but were completely defeated.

Second Punjab Campaign and Sindh (1543)

After conquering Multan in 1541, it was later taken over by Baloch tribes. Sher Shah began preparing a campaign in 1543 to get it back. He also wanted to build a new road from Lahore to Multan. During this time, a raider named Fateh Khan Jat was robbing travelers between Lahore and Delhi. Sher Shah ordered Haibat Khan to stop these raids.

Haibat Khan successfully trapped Fateh Khan in a mud fort. Fateh Khan surrendered. However, some of his soldiers managed to escape. Despite this, Haibat Khan captured them later. The Baloch leaders were executed. After this campaign, Haibat Khan also brought upper Sindh, as far as Sehwan, under control.

Conquering Marwar (1543–1544)

Painting of Rao Maldeo Rathore

In 1543, Sher Shah Suri led an army of 80,000 cavalry against Maldeo Rathore, the Rajput king of Marwar. Maldeo Rathore had an army of 4,000 to 12,000 cavalry and archers. Instead of marching to the enemy's capital, Sher Shah stopped at the village of Sammel. This was about ninety kilometers east of Jodhpur.

After a month of small fights, Sher Shah's army faced problems getting enough food. To solve this, Sher Shah used a clever trick. One evening, he dropped fake letters near Maldeo's camp. These letters falsely suggested that some of Maldeo's commanders were promising to help Sher Shah. This made Maldeo very suspicious of his commanders. Maldeo left for Jodhpur with his own men, abandoning his generals.

Maldeo's generals, Jaita and Kumpa, fought with a few thousand men against Sher Shah's huge army of 80,000 men and cannons. In the Battle of Sammel (also called Giri Sumel), Sher Shah won. But many of his generals died, and his army suffered thousands of losses. After this victory, Sher Shah's general Khawas Khan Marwat took Jodhpur and controlled the territory of Marwar from Ajmer to Mount Abu in 1544.

Sher Shah's Death (1545)

Sher Shah Suri Tomb at Sasaram

The Tomb (covered in green)

After conquering Marwar, Sher Shah surrounded Kalinjar Fort in 1544. While leading the attack, he was badly hurt when one of his cannons exploded. Sher Shah was taken to his tent and stayed there for two days. When he heard that the fort had finally fallen, he said, "Thanks to Almighty God." Sher Shah died from his wounds on May 22, 1545. He was either 73 or 59 years old. His son, Jalal Khan, became the next ruler, taking the title Islam Shah Suri. Sher Shah was buried in the Sher Shah Suri Tomb in Sasaram. This tomb is 122 feet high and stands in the middle of an artificial lake. It was finished on August 16, 1545, three months after Sher Shah's death.

Islam Shah Suri's Rule (1545—1554)

After Sher Shah, his son Islam Shah Suri ruled the empire. He continued many of his father's policies and worked to keep the empire strong.

Legacy of the Sur Empire

The Sur dynasty controlled almost all the lands that belonged to the Mughal Empire. This stretched from Balochistan in the west to modern-day Bangladesh in the east.

Even though the Sur Empire lasted only a short time, it had a big impact. When the Mughals returned to power, especially under Emperor Akbar, they used many of the administrative reforms that Sher Shah had put in place.

Historians like Abbas Khan Sarwani wrote about Sher Shah's family. He mentioned that Sher Shah's grandfather, Ibrahim Khan Sur, came to Hindu-stán from Afghánistán. They settled in the Punjab region.

Government and Administration

Rupiya released by Sher Shah Suri, 1538–1545 CE, was the first Rupee

Sher Shah introduced a new system for money. He created the rūpee as a standard silver coin weighing 178 grains. This was the start of the modern rupee used today in countries like India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. He also minted gold coins called the Mohur and copper coins called Paisa. Records show that Sher Khan started minting coins with his own royal title, Farid al-Din Sher Shah, as early as 1538.

Sher Shah also greatly improved and modernized the Grand Trunk Road. This important road runs from modern-day Bangladesh to Afghanistan. He built inns (caravanserais) and mosques along the road. Trees were planted on both sides to give shade to travelers. Wells were also dug for water. He also set up an efficient postal system, where mail was carried by horse riders.

Local Government

The Sur Empire was divided into many smaller areas called Iqtas. Some of these areas were ruled by military governors. For example, Haibat Khan governed the Punjab and had control of over 30,000 men. Khwas Khan governed Rajasthan with about 20,000 men. These governors could even give land grants to their own soldiers. The leaders of Iqtas were known by different names, like Hakim or Faujdar. Their job was to keep law and order in their areas.

Iqtas were further divided into districts called Sarkars. Each Sarkar had two main officers: the Shiqar and the Munsif. Shiqars were in charge of civil administration and had 200-300 soldiers to keep order. The Munsif was responsible for collecting taxes and handling civil justice.

Sarkars were also divided into two or three Parganas. A Pargana was a medium-sized town and the villages around it. In each Pargana, there was a Shiqar, a Munsif, and a treasurer called a Fotdar. There was also a Karkun who could write in Hindi and Persian. The Shiqar in a Pargana was a military officer who helped maintain stability and collect land taxes.

Villages often managed themselves through their own groups called Panchayats. Sher Shah respected this system. Each Panchayat was made up of village elders who looked after the villagers' needs and gave out punishments based on local customs. The village chief acted as a link between the villages and the higher government.

Religious Approach

Historians have different views on Sher Shah's religious policy. Some say he was tolerant towards Hindus. Others say he was very devoted to his own faith and sometimes called his wars against the Rajputs a Jihad. For example, the war against Puran Mall was described as a Jihad. However, many agree that he was generally tolerant of Hindus and did not hold grudges against them.

According to one historian, Srivastava, Sher Shah's balanced approach made his fellow Muslims happy with his fair treatment of Hindus. Sher Shah believed that Islam should be supreme in the lands he conquered, but not by getting rid of Hinduism.

The Army

Sher Shah's army defeated the Mughal Empire and drove them out of India. Sher Shah invited Afghans from all over the empire and gave them important positions. He personally took interest in recruiting soldiers. He also promoted people based on their skills and hard work. The Afghan army relied heavily on its cavalry, and their infantry used muskets.

One of his reforms was to divide his armies into groups, each led by a commander. Discipline was very strict. Supplies were brought by Banjaras, who traveled with the army. Soldiers were given specific roles, which helped prevent spies. Sher Shah also thought speaking Pashto was a sign of friendliness and gave higher salaries to Afghans in his army who could speak it. In 1540, Sher Shah's army had over 150,000 cavalry, 25,000 infantry, and more than 5,000 war elephants.

Fairness and Justice

Sher Shah Suri was famous for providing justice. Courts were held by judges called Qadis. Sher Shah himself also heard civil cases. Hindus settled their disagreements in Panchayat meetings. In criminal cases, no one was above the law. The criminal laws were very strict to prevent people from committing crimes out of fear of punishment. Sher Shah gave harsh punishments to people in high positions, including government officials.

Sher Shah had a strong reputation as a just ruler. Merchants could travel and even sleep in deserts without worrying about robbers. Sher Shah's soldiers acted like police. Their job was to find thieves and robbers. Sher Shah also made officials responsible for finding criminals. If they failed to find the culprits in cases like murder, the officials themselves could be held responsible and punished. Because of these changes, historians praise his system for being very effective.

Buildings and Architecture

Sher Shah built many important structures. These include the Rohtas Fort (a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Pakistan) and several buildings in the Rohtasgarh Fort in Bihar. He also built the Sher Shah Suri Masjid in Patna, and the Qila-i-Kuhna Mosque inside the Purana Qila complex in Delhi. The Sher Mandal, an octagonal building also in Purana Qila, later became Humayun's library. In 1545, he built a new city called Bhera in present-day Pakistan, which included a large mosque named after him.

The mausoleum of Sher Shah Suri is considered one of India's most beautiful monuments. It is known for its grand and dignified appearance. Some even prefer it over the Taj Mahal.

Trade and Economy

Among his many reforms, Sher Shah Suri removed taxes that were collected at the borders of provinces. He wanted to encourage trade across India. Only two taxes remained: one on goods brought into the country, and another when goods were sold. This meant that customs duties were almost entirely removed, making trade easier and more active.

Rulers of the Sur Empire

No.	Name	Born	Died	Reign	Notes
1st	Sher Shah Suri	1472 or 1486	May 22, 1545	April 6, 1538/May 17, 1540 — May 22, 1545
2nd	Islam Shah Suri	1507	November 22, 1554	May 26, 1545 — November 22, 1554	Son of Sher Shah Suri.
3rd	Firuz Shah Suri	May 4, 1542	1554	1554	Son of Islam Shah Suri.
4th	Muhammad Adil Shah	unknown	1557	1554 — 1555	Son-in-law of Sher Shah Suri.
5th	Ibrahim Shah Suri	unknown	1567/1568	1555	Brother-in-law of Sher Shah Suri.
6th	Sikandar Shah Suri	unknown	1559	1555 — June 22, 1555	Brother-in-law of Sher Shah Suri.
7th	Adil Shah Suri	unknown	April 1557	June 22, 1555 — 1556	Brother of Sikandar Shah Suri.

Images for kids

Isa Khan Niyazi tomb near Humayun's tomb, Delhi

Sur Empire facts for kids

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