History of the Nawabs of Bengal/Conquest of Tripura

Background thumb|433x433px|Map of Bengal after the Conquest The Bengali chronicles record that in 1729 the Mughal‑Bengal authorities (under Nawab Shuja-ud-Daulah) launched a military expedition against the Kingdom of Tripura. At this time Tripura’s ruler was Dharma Manikya II (of the Manikya dynasty), but he faced a rival claimant, Jagatram Thakur (later titled Jagat Manikya). Jagatram approached the Nawab of Bengal seeking support, promising overdue tribute payments to the Nawab’s court. In turn, the Nawab’s provincial governor in Dhaka, Mirza Lutfullah (the Naib-Nazim of Bengal), authorized a campaign to enforce Mughal suzerainty. Contemporary sources emphasize that the Tripura kings had long been expected to send annual gifts (nazrana) to the Mughal court, and Mirza Lutfullah saw in Jagatram’s plea “a golden opportunity” to establish Bengal’s authority over Tripura. Internal Politics of Tripura Tripura’s internal situation helped precipitate war. Jagatram was a grandson of former ruler Chhatra Manikya and had plotted against his cousin King Dharma. He secretly assured the Nawab’s commanders that he would deliver all unpaid tributes in exchange for being placed on the throne. Meanwhile, Dharma Manikya II was ruling from the plain capital (Udaipur) and had ceased the regular tribute, angering Bengal. As one chronicle notes, “the Maharaja was unprepared for such an attack” when Mughal forces struck in 1729 Military Campaign (1729) Under Mirza Lutfullah’s orders, the Bengali‑Mughal army invaded from multiple directions. The general Mir Habib Ullah Khan led troops through the Comilla/Udaipur (southern Tripura) route, while other detachments advanced from Dacca and Chittagong (east and south) simultaneously. An allied local force under Jagatram joined the offensive in hopes of seizing the throne. The joint attack overwhelmed Dharma Manikya’s defenses. Sources describe Tripura’s capital (sometimes called the Chandigarh fort or simply Udaipur) being stormed “so swiftly that the king fled” into the nearby hills. By late 1729, Mir Habib’s army had occupied the rich southwestern plains of Tripura (the majority of the kingdom’s territory), while Dharma Manikya escaped to the hill regions. The campaign was effectively a complete victory for the Bengal forces. Chronicles record that by the end of 1729 the Nawab’s army “defeated the Maharaja and occupied the southwestern plain parts of Tripura,” forcing Dharma Manikya into the hills. Bengal’s success was rapid and decisive: one account states “the kingdom fell under their control” after the fall of Udaipur. The local chronicles and later histories explicitly credit Mir Habib (and his sponsor Mirza Lutfullah) with the conquest, noting Jagatram’s collaboration under the Nawab’s command. Aftermath and Administration Following the conquest, Tripura’s plains were annexed to Bengal Subah (the Mughal province of Bengal). Nawab Shuja-ud-Daulah rewarded his generals and reorganized the newly won territory. Contemporary Persian chronicles report that Mirza Lutfullah renamed Tripura “Raushanabad” (Roshanabad, “City of Light”) upon victory. The Mughal governor appointed Aga (Aqa) Sadek as faujdar (military governor) of Raushanabad. Thus the former Tripura core lands became an official Mughal administrative unit (a chakla) called “Chakla Roshanabad” under Bengal’s control. King Dharma Manikya II’s status was greatly reduced. He was confined to the hill region of Tripura, and in effect became a Mughal vassal. Sources indicate Dharma agreed to administer the Roshanabad territory as his personal zamindari (estate) under the Nawab, paying a fixed tribute (jama) of 5,000 rupees per year. (This amount was apparently collected by the new faujdar Aqa Sadek.) Jagatram Thakur – the claimant who aided Bengal – was later (c. 1732) enthroned as Jagat Manikya, but only as a puppet subject expected to pay revenue to Murshidabad. In short, Tripura’s plains were converted into a Mughal/Bengal district and Dharma II was reduced to a tributary Zamindar of Roshanabad. Written accounts of the conquest survive. The event is narrated in the Persian chronicle Nawbahar-i-Murshid Quli Khan-i (1729) by Azad al-Husaini, and later summarized by Munshi Ghulam Husain Salim (Riyaz-us-Salatin, 1786–88). These sources confirm the key facts: Mir Habib Ullah Khan led the attack in 1729, aided by Jamindar Aga Sadiq, subduing Tripura and installing the Nawab’s nominee as ruler. Socio-Cultural Impact The 1729 conquest ushered Tripura more fully into the Mughal–Bengal cultural and administrative orbit. Bengal’s language and titles became prominent in Tripura’s governance: the name Roshanabad itself is Persian, and the appointment of a faujdar and fixed tribute followed Mughal norms. In effect, the Maharaja’s court lost its independence. Historians note that after 1729 “the princely state of Tripura was finally included into the Mughal state” and thereafter “Tripura lost the position of a sovereign state and became a zamindari of the Mughals”. For the Tripuri people, this meant paying regular revenues to Dhaka/Murshidabad and accepting Bengal’s overlordship. Religiously and culturally, the takeover did not appear to involve widespread violence against Tripura’s Hindu practices. (No major temple desecrations or forced conversions are recorded in contemporary accounts.) However, a few indicators of Islamic influence did arise: for example, Mir Habib and Aga Sadek’s roles introduced Muslim military elites into Tripura, and the local Arabised name Roshanabad was adopted. Over the longer term, Tripura’s elite would interact more with Islamic institutions in Bengal. But in 1729 itself, the immediate change was political: the indigenous monarchy remained (Dharma II in the hills, and later Jagat Manikya as a proxy) but under Mughal suzerainty. The conquest also shifted Tripura’s capital back and forth. Udaipur (in the plains) fell to the invaders; the old hill capital (Raguni) or other sites became the refuge of Dharma II. (Later in the 18th century, Tripura’s capital would move to Pandua/Agartala, under Mughal-vassal rulers.) In sum, the 1729 campaign inserted Tripura into the Bengal Sultanate’s sphere, eroding its sovereignty. As one scholar summarizes: “Between 1733 and 1748… Tripura lost the position of a sovereign state and became a Zamindari of the Mughals”. Conclusion The 1729 invasion of Tripura by the Bengal Nawabs was a decisive turning point for the kingdom. Politically, it ended Tripura’s independence and made the Maharaja a subordinate zamindar. Militarily, it demonstrated Bengal’s ability to project power eastward into the hill regions. Socio-culturally, the conquest introduced Mughal administrative systems and nomenclature (e.g. Raushanabad, faujdar, fixed tribute) into Tripura’s society. The Mughal chronicle records of 1729 confirm that Mirza Lutfullah’s force, led by Mir Habib Khan, “subjugated Tripura” and established the region as Roshanabad under Bengal’s rule. In effect, after 1729 Tripura became a tributary province of the Bengal Sultanate (Nawabs), a status which lasted until the mid-18th century and beyond. Timeline (1729): 1729: Jagatram Thakur, claimant to the Tripura throne, secures a promise of support from Nawab Shuja-ud-Daulah’s governors by offering overdue. Early/Mid 1729: Mirza Lutfullah (Naib Nazim of Dhaka) orders Mir Habib Ullah Khan to invade Tripura. Jamindar Aga Sadiq joins as a subordinate commander. 1729: Mughal‑Bengal armies attack from multiple fronts; Tripura’s forces are defeated. The capital Udaipur (plain Tripura) falls; King Dharma Manikya II flees to the. 1729 (later): Bengal authorities annex Tripura’s plains, renaming the territory Raushanabad (Roshanabad) and appointing Aqa Sadek as faujdar. Jagatram (soon Jagat Manikya) is positioned as a vassal, and Dharma II is relegated to ruling the hills on payment of an annual tribute of ₹5,000. End of 1729: Tripura’s plains are fully under Bengal’s administration. Contemporary Persian chronicles (e.g. Nawbahar-i-Murshid Quli Khan-i) record the conquest in detail. Tripura’s monarchy survives only as a Mughal-appointed zamindari in Roshanabad.