Pakistan is a paradigm example of a failed state that has undergone an extremely dangerous form of radical Islamisation.
The Bahamani Dynasty
The Bahmani Deccan on the north was bounded by the Vindhyas included the
whole of Berar and a part of the modern Madhya Pradesh; on south its frontier
was shifting up to Krishna. The eastern kingdom was reached up to Rajah Mundary.
On the western frontier occupation was up to Konkan till the end of the Kingdom.
The Delhi Saltanate King Muhammad bin Tughluq had an effective control over
his Empire in the first phase of his reign which extended to as far south as
Madura and even further. He after 727 AH/1327 AD divided his Capital in two for
some time, one at Delhi and other at Deogir, later named as Quwwatul Islam and
then Daulatabad. He constructed a highway to connect Delhi with Daulatabad which
was first of its kind in the history of India. He done this for the better
control over his huge Empire seeing rebellious activities from south Kings and
Amirs. Earliest Deccan rebellion was Sultan's maternal cousin, Baha-ud-din
Gurshasp in 727 AH/1327 AD. He ordered leading Muslim families of Delhi to
migrate to new capital Daulatabad. During the first period 1327-1341 AD there
was perfect peace in the southern India. Decision of second capital was
apparently a great success for the Tughlaq Empire. Very soon the nobles and
amirs have broken the unity of the Empire and establish the independence of the
Deccan which was to las for three centuries and a half.
In 737 AH Shihab-i-Sultani Nusrat Khan, Governor of Bidar claimed himself
King. In 740 AH Ali Shah Nathu proclaimed himself king at Dharur with the title
of Ala-ud-din Ali Shah and was joined by his three brothers Hasan Gangu, Ahmad
and Muhammad. Syed Jalaluddin Ahsan Governor of Kaithal was able to found Royal
Dynasty in Madura in 734 AH. He defeated Narayana after breaking the wall of
Mudgal Fort in 1342 AD. New Amirs appointed by Delhi Sutan carried out a
successful revolution and created an independent Kingdom in Deccan in 746 AH.
Amirs selected Abul Fatah Nasiruddin Ismail Shah as their King in 746 AH against
Sultan. Zafar Khan defeated Sultan's army. Zafar Khan was received by Ismail
Shah. Ismail Shah Asked Zafar Khan to become the King with the title of
Sikandar-uth-thani Ala-ud-din Hasan Bahman Shah al-wali. The new King was
crowned on Friday Aug 3, 1347 (24.04.748 AH) in the mosque of Qtub-ud-din
Mubarak Shah Khalji at Daulatabad. After a long reign Bahmani Saltanate broken
into five offshoots, viz. Nizam Shahi at Ahmadnagar, Imad Shahi at Berar, Barid
Shahi at Bidar, Adil Shahi at Bijapur and Qutub Shahi at Golkunda.
| The Bahamani Dynasty 1347 - 1538 AD |
| Ala-ud-din Hasan Bahman Shah |
1347 - 1358 AD |
| Muhammad I |
1358 - 1375 AD |
| Ala-ud-din Mujahid Shah |
1375 - 1378 AD |
| Daud Shah I |
1378 - 1378 AD |
| Muhammad II |
1378 - 1397 AD |
| Ghiyas-ud-din Tahmatan Shah |
1397 - 1397 AD |
| Shams-ud-din Daud Shah II |
1397 - 1397 AD |
| Taj-ud-din Firoz Shah |
1397 - 1422 AD |
| Shihab-ud-din Ahmad Shah I |
1422 - 1436 AD |
| Ala-ud-din Ahmad Shah II |
1436 - 1458 AD |
| Ala-ud-din Humayun Shah |
1458 - 1461 AD |
| Nizam-ud-din Ahmad Shah III |
1461 - 1463 AD |
| Shams-ud-din Muhammad Shah III |
1463 - 1482 AD |
| Shihab-ud-din Mahmud |
1482 - 1518 AD |
| Ahmad Shah IV |
1518 - 1520 AD |
| Ala-ud-din Shah |
1520 - 1523 AD |
| Wai-ullah Shah |
1523 - 1526 AD |
| Kalim-ullah Shah |
1526 - 1538 AD |
During the 191 years of Bahmani reign following rulers ruled with Gulbarga
and Bidar as their capital:
Ala-ud-Din Hasan Bahman Shah - The Founder of Bahmani Dynasty of Deccan
Nasir-ud-din Ismail Shah asked Zafar Khan to become the King with the title
of Sikandar- uth- thani Ala-ud-din Hasan Bahman Shah al-wali. The new King was
crowned on Friday Aug 3, 1347 (24.04.748 AH) in the mosque of Qtub-ud-din
Mubarak Shah Khalji at Daulatabad. According to one historian Hasan was the
nephew of Malik Hizhbar-ud-din entitled Zafar Khan' Alai, who was killed in 697
AH/ 1298 AD when Hasan was only 6 years old.
The first act of the new king was to transfer his title of Zafar Khan to
prince Muhammad. King adopted the title of Bahman. He sent Qutbul Mulk who
conquered Kotgir, Maram, Mahendri and Akkal Kot. Qir Khan was sent to conquer
Kalyan. After the news of this great victory of Kalyan, King renamed Daulatabad
to Fatahabad.
Sikandar was send to Malkher which was held by the Hindu Zamindars who
opposed first but subdued later. Krishna Nayak of Tilangana entered into treaty
and became friend of Sikandar and loyal to the King. Quir Khan revolted and was
beheaded by the king. King renamed Gulbarga as Ahsanabad and made it the capital
of Deccan.
The King died on Rabi-ul-awwal 1, 759 AH / Feb 11, 1358 at the age of 67.
Muhammad Shah I - Son of Bahman Shah
Muhammad Shah ascended the throne on 1-3-759 AH. He is better known as
organizer of Bahmani Kingdom and founder of its institutions. His Silver throne
from his father was replaced by the magnificent Takht-e-Firoza (Turquoise
Throne) on March 23, 1363 presented to him by Raya of Tilangana. He constructed
Jama Masjid in Gulbarga Fort and Shah Bazaar Masjid in Gulbarga town. In 764 AH
Sultan invaded Tilangana, Kanya Nayak offered Huns, elephants and horses along
with Golkunda Town. Sultan died on Zi-qada 19, 776 AH / April 21, 1375 AD.
Alaud-din Mujahid Shah - Son of Muhammad Shah
Muhammad I was succeeded by his son Ala-ud-din Mujahid Shah on 17th of
Shawwal 776 AH at the age of 19. Mujahid Shah was murdered on 17th of Zil-hij
779 AH by Masud Khan (son of Mubarak Khan) and Daud Khan.
Daud Shah I
Immediately on Mujahid's murder Daud Shah proclaimed king of Deccan and all
those present paid homage to him. It is said that Ruh Parwar Agha (Mujahid's
sister) got Daud murdered through a royal slave Bakah while he was attending
Friday prayer on 22nd of Muharram, 780 AH in great mosque of Gulbarga Fort.
Muhammad Shah II - Son of Mahmud Shah
Ruh Parwar after taking revenge of her brother's death, blinded Sanjar ( S/o
Daud I ). She put Muhammad II brother of Daud I on throne. Muhammad Shah II's 19
year reign was one of the most peaceful period in the whole Bahmani history.
Since he had no son so he adopted two sons Firoz Shah and Ahmad I of his uncle
Ahmad Khan s/o Bahman Shah. But after the birth of Tahmatan Shah, Muhammad on
his death bed wished that Ghiyasuddin Tahmatan Shah should succeed him and Firoz
and Ahmad should pay homage to him.
Muhammad died of typhoid on 21th of Rajab, 799 AH. The next day died the
grand old man of the Deccan Mallik Saif-ud-din Ghori who had lived through five
reigns and who was the Prime Minister of Bahmani State in the time of storm and
three of four rulers.
Ghiyas-ud-Din Tahmatan Shah - Son of Muhammad Shah II
Muhammad's elder son Ghiyas-ud-din Tahmatan Shah succeeded to the throne
without any trouble. Taghalchin ( Turkish slave ) who wanted to be the Prime
Minister arranged a big feast at which king was also invited. Taghalchin blinded
the king on 17th Ramadan, 799 AH and imprisoned him at Sagar and his step
brother Shams-ud-din Daud II was put on the throne.
Shams-ud-Din Daud Shah II - Son of Muhammad Shah II
The first thing the boy king was made to do was to promote Taghalchin to be
the Malik Naib and Mir Jumla of the kingdom. The manumitted slave girl who was
Shamsuddin's mother was now raised to the rank and title of Makhduma-i-Jahan
(Dowager Queen). Taghalchin tried to persuade Shamsuddin to imprison Firoz and
Ahmad and asked king's mother to have them done to death. On hearing of the
conspiracy the two brothers fled to Sagar. Firoz proclaimed himself king making
his younger brother Ahmad Khan Amir-ul-umra, Mir Fazlil-lah Inju Wakil (Prime
Minister). He had the blind boy Ghiyasuddin Tahmatan with him. He directly
attacked into the Darbar Hall Taghalchin and his son was killed Daud II was
blinded and allowed to move Mecca with his mother on 23rd Safar, 800 AH.
Shamsuddin Daud II died in 816 AH / 1414 AD at Mecca.
Taj-ud-Din Firoz Shah - Son of Ahmad Khan
Firoz Shah was one of the most learned of Indian sovereigns. He was a good
calligrapher and poet (poetic name Uruji or Firozi). Among other public works he
under took the construction of an Observatory on the chain of hills near
Daulatabad called Balaghat in 810 which could not be completed due to his death.
Hazrat Khwaja Syed Muhammad Gesu Draz was a Sufi (saint) and was deeply
related with the Bahmani kings and the people of Gulbarga. He was the s/o Syed
Yusuf who came to Daulatabad in the reign of Muhammad Tughlaq. Hazrat was born
on 4th Rajab, 721 AH (Jan 30, 1331) and started living near Gulbarga Jama Masjid
since 819 AH. He died on Nov 1, 1422 AD / 16th Zi Qada, 825 AH at the age of 105
years.
Firoz Shah paid tribute to him. He gave him many villages for his
maintenance.
He knows and can carry translation in Persian, Arabic, Turkish, Telugu,
Kannada, Marathi, Bengali and many other languages. He tamed prince Bukka and
Harihara of Vijayanagar and Narasingha of Kherla in battle.
Firoz's army tried to kill Ahmad Khan ( brother of Firoz ) but defeated in
battle fought cleverly by Ahmad. Gates of the city was opened for Ahmad on 5th
of Shawwal, 825 AH and he was taken to dying king Firoz. Firoz died on 11th of
Shawwal, 825 AH / Sep 28, 1422.
Shihab-ud-Din Ahmad I - Son of Ahmad Khan
At the begening of his reign he suffered the shock of the death of Hazrat
Khwaja Syed Muhammad Gesu Draz. He decided and shifted his capital from Gulbarga
to Bidar between 827-830 AH. He made Khalaf Hasan Basri as his Wakil-e-Saltanate
(Prime Minister).
He constructed the Tomb of Gesu Daraz at Gulbarga any buidings at Bidar.
Ahmad Shah attacked Vijayanagar and over powered Vijayaraya I. In the last
year of his reign he appointed his eldest son Ala-ud-din Zafar Khan to be his
heir, giving him the full charge of kingdom. King died on 29th of Ramadan, 839
AH after a short ilness.
Ala-ud-Din Ahmad II - Son of Ahmad Shah I
Ahmad I had been very successful as a king and when he died he was popular
even to the extent of being regarded as a saint. His son Zafar Khan who asumed
the title of Ahmad on his accession. He gave preference to newcomers from
outside over the old in his cabinet. This created a great cleavage between them
and the Dakhnis (old comers). He married the daughter of Raja of Sangmeswar and
gave her the title of Zeba Chehra apart from the daughter of Nasir Khan Faruqi
of Khandesh Agha Zainab.
There became two party, aparently the old-comers and the new-comers. King
died early due to his wound in his shin (front of lower leg)
Ala-ud-Din Humayun Shah - Son of Ahmad Shah II
Ahmad Shah II had nominated his eldest son Humayun heir to his throne. King
made Khwaja Mahmud Gawan, Malik-ut-tujjar, trafdar of Bijapur and
Wakil-e-Sultunate giving him full control of military matters. Humayun was a
very short tempered and cruel man. He made his own cousin Sikandar Khan as
Sipahsalar. Sikandar became rebellion and was crushed to death with the help of
Mahmud Gawan. Humayun died on 28th Zi-Qada 865 AH.
Nizam-ud-Din Ahmad III - Son of Humayun Shah
On Humayun's death his son Ahmad succeeded to the throne as Nizam-ud-din
Ahmad III at the age of 8. He was escorted to the throne by Shah Muhib-ul-la and
Syed-us-Sadat Syed Hanif. Late king had nominated a council of Regency
constituting of Khwaja-e-Jahan Turk, Mahmud Gawan with the Dowager Queen
Makhduma-e-Jahan Nargis Begum. Master mind which ruled the country during the
short reign of Ahmad Shah III was that of the great queen. All the political
prisoners of Humayun period were released. Ahmad III died on the very night of
his marriage on 13th Zi-Qada and was succeeded by his younger brother Muhammad
Khan as Shams-ud-din Muhammad Shah III.
Shams-ud-Din Muhammad Shah III - Son of Humayun Shah
Shamsuddin Muhammad was between 9 and 10 years when he succeeded his elder
brother. He was escorted to the Turquoise Throne by Shah Mohib-ul-lah (who was
released by his captor Mahmud Khalji of Malwa) and Syed Hanif. Nizam-ul-mulk
murdered Khwaja-e-Jahan Turk (one of the member of the three party committee of
Regency after the death of Humayun ) ) at the instance of Queen in the presence
of boy king in 870 AH.
Mohammad Shah III got married at the age of 14 years. Dowager Queen retired
from active role. Malik-ut-tujjar Mahmud Gawan was made Prime Minister. The
Prime Minister ship of Mahmud Gawan saw the Bahmani State attaining high
unequalled in the whole of its history. During this period Parenda Fort, Great
College of Bidar and Madarsa at Bidar. Kherla was besieged in 872 AH. Kapileswar
of Orissa was defeated in 1470 AD. Goa was annexed on 20th of Shaban 876 AH.
Queen Dowager died in 877 AH.
Boundaries of Bahmani Kingdom now touching the Bay of Bengal in the east and
the Arabian Sea in the west. Mahmud Gawan was one of the first ministers in
Medieval India to order a systematic measurement of land, fixing the boundaries
of villages and towns and making a thorough enquiry into the assessment of
revenue.
King annexed Kanchi on 1st Muharram, 886 AH. This was the southern most point
ever reached by Bahmani. Nobles conspired against Khwaja Mahmud Gawan and
prepared a false paper on behalf of Khwaja saying he wants Deccan to be
partitioned between him and Purushottum of Orissa. King sentenced Khwaja to
death on 5th Safar 886 AH at the age of 73. Later King came to know that Khwaja
was innocent. He appointed his son Mahmud as his heir. He died on on 5th Safar
887 AH.
Shihab-ud-Din Mahmud - Son of Ahmad Shah III
The long reign of Mahmud Shah Bahmani, was a period of gradual weakening of
the state. He ascended the throne at the age of 12 years, when new-comers had
been over thrown. New Regency was formed with Queen as president. Qasim Barid
was entitled with Barid-ul-mumalik.
King began to indulge in wine women and song and spent so much money that he
had to extract many jewels from the Turquoise throne at the instigation of Qasim
Barid. Qasim Barid forced Mahmud to make Prime Minister of the kingdom in 897
AH. Malik Ahmad Nizamul-mulk revolted and made a beautiful palace making it the
center of his newly created capital, which he named after himself, Ahmadnagar in
900 AH. Qutbul-Mulk was appointed as the Governor of Tilangana in 901 AH
/1495-96 AD who controlled over Warrangal, Rajakonda, Dewarkonda and Kovilkonda.
Qasim Barid died in 910 AH and was succeeded byhis son Amir Barid. Ahmad Nizam
died in 914 AH and succeeded by his son Burhan. Sultan died on 24th Zil-hij 924
AH.
Ahmad Shah IV - Son of Mahmud Shah
Amir Barid was very clever, He put Mahmud's son Ahmad on throne. Amir Barid
was careful that king should not leave the palace but he actually set about to
spoil his life and morals. New Sultan was forced to breakup the the ancient
crown of the Bahmanis, worth 15 lakhs of Rupees (Rs. 1,500,000). and sell the
jewels in order to provide himself with the means of ease and pleasure. Sultan
died on 1st Muharram 927 AH.
Ala-ud-Din Shah - Son of Ahmad Shah IV
Amir Barid's wish to become king was rekindled with Ahmad's death. He put the
crown on Ahmad's son Ala-ud-din on 17th of Rabi-us-sani 929 AH after 15 day's of
thinking.The new Sultan was wise and courageous. Amir Barid conspired against
him and Sultan was dethroned on 17th Rabi-us-sani 929 AH.
Wali-ul-Lah Shah - Son of Mahmud Shah
Amir Barid put Waliullah son of Mahmud on throne. He was imprisoned in his
own zanana (ladies room) and lived on bread and clothes provided to him by his
master. Amir Barid married the pretty Bibi Sitti, Ahmad's widow who was just
22-23 yrs. Amir Barid was now a royal kinsman and was free to enter the zanana
apartment of the palace. He began to make love with the queen. When Sultan
resisted he was poisoned in the begining of 932 AH.
Kalim-ul-Lah Shah - Son of Mahmud Shah
Kalimullah son of Mahmud Shah was the last king of the Bahmani Dynasty. He
was closely guarded by Amir Barid. A new political force had now appeared on the
Indian Horizon in the person of Zahir-ud-din Muhammad Babur. All the rulers of
Deccan i.e. Bijapur, Ahmadnagar, Berar, and Burhanpur sent their congratulations
to the Mughal conqueror. Kalimulla also wrote letter to Babur to relieve him
from Amir Barid. This news was leaked and out of fear of his life Kalimullah
Shah fled to Bijapur in 934 AH / 1527 AD. He was not welcomed there. He left for
Ahmadnagar. He was first received well by Burhan Nizamul Mulk, but never again
called in open court. Kalimullah soon breathed his last in Ahmadnagar. His
coffin was brought to Bidar. His date date of death could not be confirmed.
After the death of Kalimullah his son Ilhamullah proceeded to Mecca and never
returned.
