Medieval History notes · Chapter 12 of 15 · Mithila (north Bihar) · 1324/25–1530
Oinwar dynasty
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At a glance
- The Oinwars — Maithil Brahmin rulers of Mithila after 1324 — presided over the golden age of Maithili culture. Their court language became Maithili, and the poet Vidyapati, the “Maithil Kavi Kokil”, served seven of their kings.
Timeline
- 1324/25 Kameshwar Thakur receives Mithila from the Tughlaqs
- 1412–16 Shiva Simha’s reign
- 1416–28 Queen Lakhima Devi rules
- 1530 Nusrat Shah of Bengal invades; the last ruler, Laxminath Simha, is killed
Origins
- Pandit Nath Thakur was the founding patriarch; Kameshwar Thakur, his kin, was the first to be given Mithila.
- They were learned Srotriya Maithil Brahmins.
- Oini village was their initial seat (hence “Oinwar”). They later relocated to Sugauna — hence also called the Sugauna dynasty.
Check yourself
Why is the dynasty called “Oinwar”?
Oini village was the family’s initial seat.
What is the other name of the Oinwar dynasty?
The Sugauna dynasty, after their later seat.
Who was the Oinwar founding patriarch?
Pandit Nath Thakur; his kinsman Kameshwar Thakur was first given Mithila.
What was the social background of the Oinwar rulers?
Learned Srotriya Maithil Brahmins.
The rulers
- Deva Simha:
- shifted the capital to Devakuli
- the family adopted “Simha” in their names, underlining a Kshatriya-like ruling role despite being Brahmins
- Shiva Simha (1412–16) — the most powerful Oinwar king:
- stopped paying tribute to the Jaunpur (Sharqi) Sultanate and defeated the Sultan of Jaunpur, Ibrahim Shah
- the poet Vidyapati gave him the title “Pancha-Gaudeshwara” — lord of the five Gauda lands
- Queen Lakhima Devi (1416–28):
- wife of Shiva Simha, often named alongside him in Vidyapati’s songs
- ruled after him and committed sati
- Laxminath Simha — the last Oinwar ruler:
- 1530: Sultan Nusrat Shah of Bengal invaded Mithila
- and killed Laxminath Simha
Check yourself
Who shifted the Oinwar capital to Devakuli?
Deva Simha.
Why did the Oinwar rulers adopt “Simha” in their names?
To underline a Kshatriya-like ruling role despite being Brahmins.
Who was the most powerful Oinwar king?
Shiva Simha (1412–16).
Who received the title Pancha-Gaudeshwara, and from whom?
Shiva Simha, from the poet Vidyapati — “lord of the five Gauda lands”.
To which Sultanate did Shiva Simha stop paying tribute?
The Jaunpur (Sharqi) Sultanate; he defeated Ibrahim Shah of Jaunpur.
Who was Queen Lakhima Devi?
Wife of Shiva Simha; ruled 1416–28 and committed sati.
Who was the last Oinwar ruler, and who killed him?
Laxminath Simha, killed by Sultan Nusrat Shah of Bengal (1530).
Golden age of Maithili culture
- The Oinwar kings were native Maithils, and the court language shifted from Sanskrit to Maithili.
- Vidyapati (c. 1350–1450):
- called Maithil Kavi Kokil — the “cuckoo of Maithili poets”
- served in the court of seven Oinwar kings
- his Radha–Krishna songs influenced Bengali Vaishnava poetry and the bhakti of Chaitanya
| Work of Vidyapati | What it is |
|---|---|
| Padavali | Maithili songs of Radha–Krishna love and devotion to Shiva |
| Kirtilata | In Avahatta; praise of King Kirti Simha |
| Likhanavali | A manual of letter writing |
| Vibhagasara | On the law of inheritance |
| Purusha Pariksha | Sanskrit moral tales |
Check yourself
Who is called Maithil Kavi Kokil?
Vidyapati.
In the courts of how many Oinwar kings did Vidyapati serve?
Seven.
Name four works of Vidyapati.
Padavali, Kirtilata, Likhanavali and Vibhagasara (also Purusha Pariksha).
Under the Oinwars, the court language shifted from what to what?
From Sanskrit to Maithili.
What is Vidyapati’s Likhanavali?
A manual of letter writing.
What came next
- Under Akbar, Mithila was granted to Mahesh Thakur (1557), founder of the Khandavala line that became Raj Darbhanga.
All 15 chapters of Medieval History notes
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- Mahmud of Ghazni7 sections
- Muhammad Ghori9 sections
- Mamluk (Slave) dynasty10 sections
- Khalji dynasty13 sections
- Tughlaq dynasty7 sections
- Sayyid dynasty4 sections
- Lodi dynasty5 sections
- Bahmani kingdom10 sections
- Vijayanagara empire11 sections
- Karnata dynasty5 sections
- Oinwar dynasty5 sections
- Mughal empire15 sections
- Sur dynasty7 sections
- Marathas7 sections