Medieval II

1567

Suleiman Karani, the Sultan of Bengal invades Odisha.

1568

Ram Chandra Bhanja, the feudatory of Saranga Garh rises in rebellion and proclaims himself as the king, Mukunda Dev dies in a battle with Ram Chandra Bhanj, and soon thereafter Ram Chandra Bhanja also meets his defeat and death in the hands of Bayazid, the son of Suleiman Karani. He succeeds in conquering Odisha there by beginning Afghan rule in Odisha.

1590 – 1595

Odisha becomes an arena for the battles between the Mughals and the Afghans when the Afghans refuse to acknowledge the suzerainty of the Mughals ruling over Delhi. The operation continues from 1590 to 1595 resulting in the complete defeat of Afghans.

1592-1751

Mughal rule in Odisha begins with the arrival of Raja Manasingh, Akbar’s Raajput General who destroys the Afghan resistance. On the instruction of Akbar, Odisha is divided into five sarkars: Jaleswar (including Midinapur), Bhadrak, Cuttack, Chika Khol, and Raja Mahendry Dandpat. Odisha is thus acquired for Mughal Empire and is governed as a part of the Bengal Sub Area for sometime. It is during the Mughal rule that the merchants carry on their brisk overseas trade & commerce and attract the attention of Europe traders. The Portuguese, the Dutch, The English and The French discover Odisha’s economic potential for markets outside.

1607

During the rule of Akbar’s son & successor, Jahangir, Odisha is constituted into a separate province, with Cuttak as capital and is placed under a subahdar.

1633

East India Company sets up trade at Hariharpur and Balasore.

1670

Kavi Samrat Upendranath Bhanj is believed to have been born around 1670.

1728

The Nizam of Hyderabad occupies the whole of Ganjam & Chikakol (Srikakulam) & declares them as the North sarkar.

1751 – 1803

Maratha Administration of Odisha begins with Raghuji Bhonsla-I as the new chief of the territory – Marathas continue to rule till 1803 the year in which Odisha is transferred to hands of the British. Maratha administration is said to have proven fatal to the welfare and prosperity of the land and presents a picture of misrule, anarchy and weakness, rapacity and violence. Maratha rulers however patronize religion and religious institutions, thus making Odisha center of attraction, Odia literature also makes rapid progress.

1757-1764

After the battle of Plassey in 1757 & Buxar in 1764 the British Empire looks for acquiring more Indian territories. Odisha being the neighboring state of Bengal naturally comes to be included in their design.