UNIT 8 AHMEDNAGAR, BTJAPUR AND GOLKONDA Structure 8.0 Objectives 8.1 Introduction 8.2 Ahmednagar 8.3 Bijapur 8.4 Golkonda 8.5 External Relations 8.5.1 Relations with each other 8.5.2 Relations with Vijaynagar 8.5.3 ~kiationswith Marathas 8.5.4 Relations with Europeans 8.6 Administrative Structure 8.6.1 Ruling Classes 8.6.2 Central Administration 8.6.3 Provincial and Local .9dministration 8.7 Let Us Sum Up 8.8 Answers to Check Your Progress Exercises Appendix-Lis: of Sultans in the Three Kingdoms 8.0 OBJECTIVES In this Unit we will discuss the three major kingdoms in Deccan, viz., Ahmednagar, Bijapur and Golkonda. After going through this unit, you would be able to know: political developments in the kingdoms of Ahmednagar, Bijqpur and Golkonda; relations of these kingdoms with each other and other powers of the region; nature of the ruling class in these kingdoms; and central and provincial administration in the three kingdoms. 8.1 INTRODUCTION The disintegration of the Bahmani kingdom gave rise to five independent kingdoms in Deccan, viz., Ahmednagar, Bijapur, Golkonda, Bidar and Berar. In a few years the kingdoms of Bidar and Berar were subdued by their powerful neighbours. The remaining three continued to flourish for almost 100-150 years before they were engulfed by the Mughal empire. The main focus in this Unit would be on the political developments in these kingdoms. You would know their relations with the Portuguese, the Marathas, and interaction with each other. You would also learn about their administrative set up. During this period these states came into conflict with the Mughals. But this would form the theme of our next Unit. i.e., Unit 9. Content Digitized by eGyanKosh, IGNOU Regional Powers and The Mughak -- 8.2 AHMEDNAGAR The Nizam Shahi dynasty of Ahmednagar was founded by Malik Ahmed Nizamul Mulk Bahri in 1490. He was the son of Malik Hasan- the Prime Minister of the Bahmani kingdom. Malik Hasan started carving out this principality from Konkan and at the time of his death in 1510, the kingdom extended from Bir to Chaul and Ravedanda on the sea- coast and from the frontiers of Khandesh in the north to Poona, Chakan and Sholapur in the south. It included the Daulatabad fort also. This kingdom continued till 1636 when it was annexed by the Mughzls. Throughout this period, the Ahmednagar rulers struggled to protect the territories under their possession from external aggression. At the same time, efforts were made to annex new areas. The biggest success in this direction came when Berar was annexed. The first set-back to Ahmednagar came in 151 1 when she lost Sholapur to Bijapur. Another set-back for Husain Nizam Shah of Ahmednagar came when Golkonda, Bijapur and Vijaynagar joined hands to inflict a humiliating defeat on him, but he managed to secure the kingdom. Soon Husain Nizam Shah married his daughter Chand Bibi to Ali Adil Shah of Bijapur. A little later (1565), Bijapur, Golkonda, Ahmednagar and Bidar attacked Vijaynagar. Its ruler Ramaraja was defeated and killed. Husain died in 1565 and was succeeded by his eldest son Mugta?a who ruled till 1588. Euring the first six years, Murtaza's mother Khunza ~uma'yuncontrolled the affairs of the kingdom but her repeated military failures against her neighbours led the Nizam Shahi nobility to help Murtaza take reins of administration in his own hands. He retrieved the situation and recovered Udgir from Bijapur. In 1574, Murtaza annexed Berar to his kingdom; in 1588, he was killed by his son Hussain. But the latter was also killed in 1589. In 1595, Chand Bibi enthroned Bahadur and took the reins in her own hands. She faced the mighty Mughal power, forcing her to cede Berar to the Mughals. The increasing Mughal pressure led Chand Bibi to decide to surrender the Ahmednagar fort. But this resuited in her murder by the nobles and the capture of Ahmednagar fort by the Mughals in 1600. Bahadur Nizam Shah was sent to the Gwaliar fort as captive. Malik Ambar, a Nizam Shahi noble, tried to revive the kingdom by enthroning a member of the royal family as Murtaza Nizam Shah 11. He continued to defy the Mughals. In 1610, he killed the intriguing Murtaza and enthroned his son as Burhan Nizam Shah 111. During his reign, skirmishes took place between the Nizam Shahi forces and the Portuguese. The Mughal pressure on the Nizam Shahi forces compelled Burhan to conclude peace with the Portuguese. In 1616, the Mughal commander Shah Nawaz Khan ravaged the new Nizam Shahi capital Khirki, but Malik Ambar rehabilitated it and resumed offensive against the Mughals. Later, Prince Khurram forced Malik Ambar to surrender the Ahmednagar fort and the districts of Balaghat. However during 1619-1620, Malik Ambar recovered the lost territories. Malik Ambar was not only a successful military commander but a very able administrator. He is credited with a number of effective measures concerning revenue and general administration. With his death in 1626, Ahmednagar seems to have lost all hopes. Now Marathas tried to help Ahmednagar against the Mughals under Shahjahan. Shahji Bhonsle enthroned a member of the royal family as Murtaza Nizam Shah 111. Defying the Mughals, he occupied a number of forts. But Shahjahan forced Muhammad Adil Shah to accept defeat in 1636. A settlement was made, according to which, the Nizarn Shahi kingdom came to an end. It was divided between the Mughals and Bijapur kingdom. It was settled that the forts of Parenda and Sholapur with their adjoining districts, the province of Kalvani and the Nizam Shahi temtorv lying between the Bhima and Nira rivers would be taken by Adil Shah of Biiapur ~h,,,~d~,,~,,Bijap,,r and Ga,k,,,,da and, In return, he would assist the Mughals to bring Shahji to submission. Abdullah Qutb Shah of Golkonda also signed a treaty with the Mughals. Prince Aurangzeb was appointed the governor of the Mughal Deccan. He conquered the Nizam Shahi forts of Udgir and Ausa which completed the extinction of Ahmednagar kingdom. Shahji surrendered Murtaza Nizam Shah I11 to the Mughals and himself fled to Bijapur. Murtaza was.imprisoned in the Gwaliar fort and, thus, the Nizam Shahi kingdom came to an end. 8.3 BIJAPUR The independent state of Bijapur was also carved out from the Bahma9i kingdom in 1490. Bijapur remained independent till 1686 when it was annexed by the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. During this period of around 200 years, it was ruled by Adil Shahi kings. Its founder, Yusuf Adil Khan, of Persian descent, was the tarafdar (governor) of Bijapur province of the Bahmani kingdom. He declared his independence in 1490. He enlarged his small territory by capturing Raichur, Goa, Dabhol, Gulbarga and Kalyani. But he lost Goa to the Portuguese in 1510. During the period of his successors, efforts were made to retain and keep adding new territories. ~smaiiShah tried to capture Sho!apur from Ahmednagar but failed. The major success of Ismail Shah was the capture of Bidar. Amir Barid of Bidar had always been intriguing against Bijapur. Therefore, Ismail marched and captured him alive. Amir Barid had to cede Bidar to Bijapur and was enrolled in the Bijapuri nobility. In 1530, Ismail in alliance with Alauddin Imad Shah recovered Raichur Doab and Mudgal from the Vijaynagar Empire. As a reward, Ismail gave back Bidar to Amir Barid in return for Qandahar and Kalyani. But after his. return to Bidar, Amir Barid allied himself with Burhan and refused to give Qandahar and Kalyani. Finally, Ismail attacked and defeated him. In 1534, Ismail made an abortive attempt to take Kovilkonda and Golkonda from Sultan Quli Qutbul Mulk. After his return to Bijapur, he died the same year. He.was succeeded by the elder prince Mallu Adil Khan but, due to his licentious behaviour, he was blinded and imprisoned by his grandmother Punji Khatun in 1535. He died in captivity in 1535. He was succeeded by his younger brother Ibrahim. Ibrahim was forced to give away the ports of Salsette and Bardez to the Portuguese because the latter had already occupied them in 1535 as a price to keep the rebel prince Abdullah in check who had taken shelter in Goa. Ali Adil Shah 1 (1556-1580), the next Sultan, captured the Vijaynagar forts of Adoni, Torgal, Dhanvar and Bankapur and made an unsuccessful attempt to capture Penukonda, the Vijaynagar's new capital. Ali Adil Shah I was assassinated in 1580. After him, his minor nephew Ibrahim ascended to the throne; his aunt, Chand Bibi, took charge of him as his guardian. The court politics led to the overthrow of three regents within a period of ten years. The biggest success of Ibrahim Adil Shah was the annexation of the kingdom of Bidar in 1619. Ibrahim was succeeded by Muhammad Adil Shah (1627-1656). He conquered Tivy, Barder, Sarzora and culture from the Portuguese. During his reign the kingdom reached the zenith of its glory. At the time of his death in 1656, the boundaries of the kingdom extended from the Arabian sea to the Bay of Bengal and the tfibutes from the subdued nayaks compensated for the loss incurred by payments to the Mughals. After Mohammed Adil Shah's death, his son Ali Shah I1 (1656-1672) succeeded him. During this period, the Mughal and Maratha invasions (See Units 9,lO) weakened the kingdom. After his death, his four year old son Sikandar was declared the Sultan (1672-1686). During this period, factional fights, interference by Golkonda and the Marathas and Mughal invasions shattered the kingdom.