Narasimhadeva I

Narasimha Deva I also called as Lāñguḷā Narasinha Deba (Odia : ପ୍ରଥମ ଲାଙ୍ଗୂଳା ନରସିଂହ ଦେବ) was a king of Eastern Ganga Dynasty of ancient Utkal (present day Odisha). He ruled the dynasty from 1238–1264. He defeated the Muslim forces of Bengal who were constantly posing a threat to the Eastern Ganga dynasty's rule over Odisha from the times of his father Ananga Bhima Deva III. He was the first king of Odisha and one of the few rulers in India who took the offensive against the Islamic expansion over India, though his father had successfully played a defensive military role against the Turkish and Afghan rulers of Bengal. He has also built the Konark temple to commemorate his victories over the Muslims along with a fort complex at Raibania in Balasore and Khirachora Gopinatha Temple of Remuna. Some Historical evidences say that he ruled Kolletikota as a part of his kingdom

Narasimha Deva was victorious against the Turks and Afghans who had captured Bengal and Bihar. He not only repulsed their attacks but pushed them as far behind as Padma River in current-day Bangladesh.

It was the Narasimha Deva's first offensive against the Muslim ruler of Bengal, Tughral Tughan Khan with the help of his brother in law Paramardi Dev who was also a Kalachuri prince. Small and semi independent Hindu states of South Bengal were overrun by the Odia army comprising the Kalachuri conscripts. A counterattack was launched by the Muslim forces of Bengal due to which the Odia army retreated to the strategic location of Kantei. According to the Muslim document called Tabaqat-i-Nasiri Minhaj, the area was covered with thick cane bushes and forest. The Odia army followed a guerrilla warfare tactics, initially staying hidden from the vision of the approaching Muslim forces. Once the Tughral Tughan Khan was convinced that the Odia army had left the area and halted the army in ease, the Odia forces launched a sudden attack ensuring a massive slaughter of the enemy forces. Tughral Tughan Khan himself had a narrow escape being possibly wounded.

...
Wikipedia