Magh Raiders and the Mughals in the First Half of Seventeenth Century Bengal

Abstract

This research article tries to understand the nature of Mughal defence against the Arakanese rulers in the first half of the seventeenth century. The atrocities of the magh raids in the various parts of medieval Bengal could not be countered by the Mughals because they were very weak at river warfare. The occupation of Chittagong by the Arakanese, making it a strong base for raids and keeping the Portuguese pirated as their front line of defence as well as attack kept the Arakanese rules at upper hand. It was only after the Fort of Chittagong was brought under Mughal rule; they could tame the Pirates and stop the raids