Sur Dynasty (1540-1556)

Founder: Sher Shah Suri

Capital: Delhi

Language: Pashto

Religion: Sunni Islam

Afghan dynasty that ruled northern India (1540-56), founded by Sher Shah Suri (1540-45), who won great victories at Battle of Chausa (1539) and Battle of Kananj/Bilgram (1540) and drove the Mughals from Delhi.

The shah’s personal name was Farid Khan, the title of Sher (“Tiger”) was conferred when, as a young man, he killed a tiger. Sher Shah ruled the whole of north India for five years, annexing Malwa and defeating the Rajputs. He reorganized the administration, laying foundations on which the Mughal emperor Akbar later built. He was killed by a cannonball while besieging the fortress of Kalinjar in central India.

Sher Shah’s son, Islam or Salim Shah was a man of ability and maintained Afghan rule despite dissensions. On his death in 1553, the Sur dynasty broke up among rival claimants. Sikandar Shah Suri was defeated in June 1555 by Humayun, who occupied Delhi in July. When Muḥammad Adil Shah’s Hindu general Hemu threw off his allegiance only to be defeated by the Mughals at Panipat (1556), the Sur dynasty ended. The Surs reign was a brief interlude in Mughal rule, brightened only by the brilliance of Sher Shah. They were the last Afghan rulers of northern India.

Memory Trick :       SIFi MISA ( In chronological order)

                               ASIM FISh ( In reverse chronological order)

S  ------------------------------------ Sher Shah Suri
I   ------------------------------------ Islam Shah Suri
Fi ------------------------------------ Firuz Shah Suri
M  ------------------------------------ Muhammad Adil Shah
I   ------------------------------------ Ibrahim Shah Suri
S  ------------------------------------ Sikandar Shah Suri
A  ------------------------------------ Adil Shah Suri  

Notable Points:

• Grand Trunk Road was built by Sher Shah Suri which is currently known as NH-2 and runs from Chittagong, Bangladesh up to  Kabul, Afghanistan. It is south Asia's oldest and longest road.
• Rupya (Silver coin) was first introduced by Sher Shah Suri.