Component-I (A) – Personal Details
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Component-I (A) – Personal details: Prof. P. Bhaskar Reddy Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati. Prof. V. Sakunthalamma Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati. & Prof. Susmita Basu Majumdar Dept. of AIHC, University of Calcutta. Dr. Danish Moin Maulana Azad National Urdu University, Hyderabad. Prof. Susmita Basu Majumdar Dept. of AIHC, University of Calcutta. 1 Component-I (B) – Description of module : Subject Name Indian Culture Paper Name Indian Numismatics Module Name/Title Coins of Deccan Sultanates Module Id IC / NMST / 26 Pre-requisites Objectives Aims to understand coins of Deccan and south India issued on Islamic pattern. It includes coins of Bahamani, Qutub Shahi, Adil Shahi, Nizam Shahi, Barid Shahi and Imad Shahi and Madurai sultanates. Keywords Coins / Typology/ Mint / Metrology E-text (Quadrant-I) : The present module aims to understand coins of Deccan sultanates (Bahamani, Qutub Shahi, Adil Shahi, Nizam Shahi, Barid Shahi and Imad Shahi) which ruled primarily in the modern states of Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka between 14th and 17th c. Besides, Madurai sultanate which ruled in Tamil Nadu is also included in this module in order to understand Islamic coinage tradition in medieval Deccan and south India in proper manner. 1. Introduction The medieval India coins generally witnessed Islamic influence with its inscription in Arabic script, primarily contains two sets of information- religious and secular. These include kalima and the name of caliphs, rulers name often with their father and grandfather’s name, date and mint etc. The Indian coins with Islamic influence are first noticed in north India in 9th c. CE but it became common in 13th century during the rule of Mameluk. With the expansion of Delhi sultanates -Khalji and Tughluq, Islamic type coins came into circulation in the Deccan as a currency of Delhi sultanate. But by second quarter of 14th century, Deccan developed its own currency system with Islamic influence. The second quarter of the 14th c. witnessed disintegration of Delhi sultanate and two independent provincial sultanates namely Madurai sultanate and Bahamani came into prominence in Deccan and south India. The former was founded by Jalaluddin Ahsan Shah in 1334 CE, while later was founded by Hassan Gangu (Alauddin Bahman Shah) in 1346 CE. Madurai sultanate could rule for a period of 43 years by as many as 8 rulers and finally captured by Vijaynagar. Bahamani sultanate ruled for about 200 years by as many as 18 rulers and was further divided into five small sultanates. 2. Coins of Madurai Sultanate: 2.1 Emergence of first Sultanate of south India/ Deccan Madurai was ruled by Pandya king and it was invaded during the reign of Alauddin Muhammad shah Khalji under the command of his general Malik Kafur and partly came under the control of the of Delhi sultanate. During the reign of Muhammad bin Tughluq it was 2 finally captured and made a province of Delhi sultanate. Jalaluddin Ahsan was appointed as governor of the province who later rebelled against the Delhi sultanate and established an independent dynasty in 1334 CE. Jalaluddin Ahsan (1333-1339 CE) was the first sultan of Madurai, who is represented by his coins (gold, silver, copper) bearing hijri date 735 (1333CE). Thus with the help of date on the coin we may consider him as first independent sultan of Deccan or south India, who had issued his coins on Islamic pattern. The coins of Jalaluddin Ahsan and his immediate successors do not bear the mint name. However, in the absence of mint name on the coins, Madurai being the capital city of kingdom may be considered as mint of Jalaluddin Ahsan. It won’t be wrong if we presumed Ma’bar or Madurai as first mint of independent Deccani or south Indian sultanate. The later sultans of Madurai had issued coins with mints name Daulatabad and Maabar. But this Daulatabad is not Daulatabad (Devgiri). However, the exact location of this Daulatabad is not clear so far. 2.2 The Typology of the coins of Madurai Sultanate The coins of Madurai sultans are primarily known in billon and copper issued more or less on the pattern of Khaljis and Tughluq. Jalaluddin Ahsan Shah, the founder of the dynasty, however, issued coins in gold, silver, billon and copper. The coins of first three metals were issued in the in the weight standard of about 3.5 gms. while copper coins weighed about 4.5gms. His coins bear small inscription, inscribed as as-sultan al-azam on the one side and Ahsan shah as-sultan on the other. He has also adopted the title of Khalifat zaman or sikander us-zaman on the one side and Ahsan shah date on the other. Udauji Shah, successor of Jalaluddin Ahsan is known only in billon coins while Qutubuddin Firuz is known to have issued coins in silver and copper. Their coins are also issued with small legend. Ghiyasuddin Muhammad Damghan shah issued gold coins in the weight standard of about 11.9 gms., similar to the weight standard of gold and silver tanka of Alauddin Muhammad shah of Khalji. Like Alauddin Muhammad shah he even adopted the tittle of sikander us sani and yamin ul khilafah. Other sultans such as Nasiruddin Damghan, Shamsuddin Adil shah and Alauddin Sikander Shah have also issued their gold coins on tanka pattern. But their gold tanka are rare. Jalaluddin Ahsan: copper 3. The Coins of Bahamani Sultanate 3.1. Foundation of a strong sultanate in Deccan It was Alauddin Muhammad Khalji of Delhi who first invaded the region of Deccan in 1294 CE and also issued his coins from Qila Degir. Deccan, however, became a strong province of Delhi sultanate during the reign of Muhammad bin Tughlaq. He even transferred his capital from Delhi to Deogir and named it Daulatabad. Muhammad bin Tughluq, however, could not control the region of Deccan for a long and his authority was challenged by a group of nobles under the leadership of Ismail Mukh and Daulatabad was captured. Later, in 1346 CE Hasan Gangu, another important noble of this group established Bahamani dynasty with Gulbarga its capital, later, it was shifted to Bidar. He ruled in the name of Alauddin Bahman Shah(1347-1359 CE). The dynasty continued to rule for about 200 years by as many as 18 rulers. Out of eighteen rulers, sixteen are represented by their coins, 3 known in gold, silver and copper. Ten rulers are represented in all three metals. Three rulers Tahmathan Shah(1397CE), Ahmad I (1422-35 CE) and Daud Shah (1397 CE) are known in silver and copper. The last two rulers Waliullah Shah(1523-1526 CE) and Kalimullah Shah (1526-1538 CE)are represented only in copper. The Bahamani coins were minted in four places named Ahsanabad (Gulbarga), Fatahabad (Daulatabad) Muhammadabad (Bidar) and Goa. 3.2 Islamic type coins of Deccan: Continuity and Changes in coin typology Though, the Bahamanis issued their coins on Islamic tradition similar to the Khalji and Tughluq of Delhi sultanates, but gradually they introduced some changes and made them distinct than that of Delhi sultanate. .Apart from the distinct style of inscription and typology of the coins, the Bahamani adopted new weight standard for its copper coins and discarded billon currency. Heavy copper coins were introduced. The weight were increased upto 17gm. with its denominations varies from1.5 gm to 17 gm. The gold and silver coins were issued in the weight of at about 11 gms., similar to the gold and silver coins of Delhi sultanate. 3.3 Coin Inscription Changes are also witnessed in the inscription- unlike Khalji and Tughluq, these coins do not bear the name or Abassid caliph. kuniyah, laqab, nisbah and ism etc. are the commonly used inscription of Bahamani. But these changes which are gradual and not abrupt as early sultans of Bahamani followed the coin-types of Khaljis and Tughluq. Like Alauddin Muhammad Shah Khalji, Alauddin Bahman Shah used the title of Yamin ul- khilafah and Sikander-us sani on his gold and silver coins. The gold and silver coins of Muhammad I introduced a new inscription inscribed as sultan al- ahd wa zaman hami millat rasul ar-rahman on the one side and abul muzaffar Muhammad shah bin Bahman shah as-sultan. His copper coins are issued with inscription Muhammad shah as-sultan on the one side and ibn Bahman shah on the other. Bahman Shah (sikander us sani type) Muhammad I al-ahd wa zaman type The coins of Firuz Shah Bahamani(1397-1422 CE) are known in gold, silver and copper. Most of his gold and silver coins are issued with the legend inscribed as al-mustansir billah al-mannan al-wasiq bitayid ar Rahman abul muzaffar Taj -ud-duniya waddin Firuz shah as- sultan. But his gold coins need special mention here as it inscribed Kalima on the one side and al-wasiq bitayid ar Rahman abul muzaffar Tajuuddin Firuz shah on the other. He was the only ruler of Bahamani known to have issued coins bearing Kalima. Copper coins are issued with small legend such as Firuz shah Bahamni on the one side and Raji rizwan muhmani or al-hakim be amr allah on the other. The coins of Ahmad Shah II (1435-1457 CE) are known in good numbers. His copper coins are known in various denominations varies between about 16 gms. and 1,7 gms. The inscription on these coins are inscribed as as sultan al halim al-karim al- ibadallah al-ghani al-muhamani on the one side and abul muzaffar ala-udduniya waddin Ahmad shah bin Ahmad shah al-wali al-bahamani on the 4 other. The copper coins are inscribed as al-mutawakkil al-ghani on the one side and ahmad shah bin ahmad shah al-wali al-bahamani on the other, al-wasiq bataid al-mulk abul muzaffar on the one side and Ahmad shah bin Ahmad shah Bahman shah.