BACKGROUND
YUSUF ADIL KHAN, ONE OF THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNORS UNDER THE BAHAMANIS and a protege of
Malik-ut-tujjar Mahmud Gavan was the founder of the Adilsahi dynasty of Bijapur.1 The Adilsahi
dynasty ruled well over one sixth of the present Maharastra. It would be interesting to trace the
career of Yusuf Adil, and the manner in which he worked his way up to become the founder of a
dynasty. The Adilsahi dynasty thrived for nearly 200 years till its final extinction by Aurangzeb. It
was in the reign of Samsuddin Muhammad III when the Bahamani power had reached the zenith of
its glory, that Yusuf Adil came into limelight. Historians say he was like a son to Khvaja Jahan
Mahmud Gavan. When Gavan became the Vakil-i-Saltanat of the Bahamani kingdom he tried to
forge unity among the Deccanis and foreigners. It was then that Yusuf Adil, one of the ablest of the
Turkish nobles was appointed Sarlaskar of Daulatabad, Junnar and Cakan. Darya Khan, Qasim
Beg, Sah Quli Sultan and other Turkish and Moghal nobles were appointed as his subordinates.
Yusuf Adil Khan participated in most of the campaigns undertaken and directed by Mahmud Gavan.
In the war with Malva, parts of the North western provinces of the Bahamani Kingdom were
occupied by local Maratha Chiefs, headed by Jansing Rai of Virkheda. Sultan Muhammad ordered
Yusuf Adil Khan, who had taken over recently as the governor of Maharastra provinces to put down
and liquidate the Maratha chiefs. Yusuf Adil marched against them, defeated them, and overran the
territory occupied by them. The Sultan granted the posts of Antur and Virkheda along with the
country surrounding as Jagir to Yusuf Adil. Yusuf Adil returned to the capital with a huge booty.
Under the orders of the Sultan he was entertained by Mahmud Gavan for a whole week. The
accounts relate that the Sultan himself
1ABDUL MOOZUFFUR YOOSOOF ADIL SHAH, the founder of the Adil Shahi dynasty, was
the son of one of the emperors of Room, of the Ottoman family, His father, Agha Morad, dying in
854 he was succeeded by his eldest son Mahomed ; on which occasion the ministers observed,
that as in the beginning of the late reign, a person named Moostufa, calling himself a son of Elderim
Bayeaeed occasioned great commotions in the empire, it was desirable that in future only one
prince of the family should be suffered to live. Sooltan Mahomed, assenting to the suggestion, gave
orders for his brother Yoosoof then a child, to be put to death; and the executioners came to
demand him from his mother, in order that, having strangled him, the body might be publicly
exposed. The Queen entreated them to spare the infant; or, if state policy demanded so cruel a
sacrifice, to indulge her by deferring the execution for a day, that she might prepare her mind for so
melancholy an event. The ministers having consented, the Queen improved the time to save her
son's life. She accordingly sent for Khwaja Imad-ood-Deen, a merchant of Sava, with whom she had
been in the habit of making purchases of the products of Persia, and enquired if he then had any
male slaves for sale. He replied,
162 MAHARASHTRA STATE GAZETTEER
went to stay with Mahmud Gavan and allowed many liberties to Yusuf in his own presence. In the
campaign against Parketa, the chief of Belganv, led by the Sultan himself, Mahmud Gavan,
assisted by Yusuf Adil and Imad-ul-mulk, managed the operation of mining the ramparts of the fort
wall, and led the final assault with the expansion of the Bahamani Kingdom, Mahmud Gavan
reorganised the provincial administration. The whole kingdom was divided into eight administrative
divisions instead of the former four. A tarafdar was appointed to each division. Yusuf Adil Khan was
now put in charge of the new province of Daulatabad. In the year 1480-1481 the Sultan led the
campaign against Narsimha of Vijayanagar, Nizam-ul-mulk ad Khan-i-Azam Adil Khan operated
under his command. They stormed the town of Kanci with ten thousand horse and a hundred and
fifty picked men from the Royal Body guard. It was at this time that the conspiracy against Mahmud
Gavan was formed. Yusuf Adil used to safe guard the interest of Mahmud Gavan at the court and
keep him posted of all the happenings there. The conspiracy resulted in the execution of Mahmud
Gavan at Kondapalli. The news of the assassination was conveyed to Yusuf Adil by Fathullah Imadul-
mulk and Khudavand Khan. Yusuf Adil arrived post haste to Kondapalli. He advised his
colleagues, Imad-ul-mulk and Khudavand Khan to keep away from the royal presence. After mutual
consultation they decided to go in force to the royal camp. Accordingly, they met the Sultan. He was
forced to confirm Imad-ul-Mulk and Khudavand Khan in their respective Jagirs and appoint Yusuf
Adil to the province of Bijapur, which was formerly held by Mahmud Gavan. Yusuf Adil then moved
with the royal camp. He, however, always kept at a safe distance. A few day after arriving at Bidar,
Ysuf Adil left for Bijapur.
contd.
he had five Georgians and two Circassians. Among these was a Circassian who on the whole, bore
some resemblance to the Prince, and him she purchased, at the same time committing Yoosoof to
the merchant’s care together with a large sum of money, entreating him to convey him to a place of
security, out of the Emperor’s dominions. The Khwaja, for the sake of the money, accepted the
commission, and began his journey, with the infant Prince, the same night. The next morning, the
ministers coming to the door of the Queen’s apartments, demanded her son; when having admitted
one of them, on whom she could rely, candidly informed him of the deception, and bound him to
favour it by large gifts. The Circassian slave was accordingly strangled, and the body being brought
out, wrapped in a shroud by the minister, whose integrity was not suspected, it was interred without
examination.
Khwaja Imad-ood-Deen carried the young prince to Ardveel, where he enrolled him among
the disciples of the venerable Sheik Suffy, after which he conveyed him to the city of Sava. When he
was seven years of age the Khwaja made known to him the secret of his birth, and placed him at
school with his own children. The next year the Queen sent a person to Sava to enquire after her
child, and the messenger, after an absence of nine months, departed homewards, but was taken so
ill at ‘Alexandria, that he remained there a year and a half; after which he returned to the Queen,
and presented her with a letter written by Yoosoof, giving her pleasing accounts of himself. The
princess bestowed alms to the poor in gratitude for the preservation of her son; and shortly after
sent his nurse, with her son Ghuzunufur Beg and her daughter Dilshad Agha, to Sava accompanied
by her former messenger, as also a large sum of money for the use of the Prince. Yoosoof
remained at Sava till he was sixteen years old, when his nurse imprudently divulged the secret of
his birth, which having come to the ears of the governor, a Toork of the tribe of Akkooinloo, he made
the Prince pay him four hundred tomans to permit him to quit the
HISTORY – MEDIAEVAL PERIOD 163
After a few months, when the Sultan was touring the western provinces, news was received
of the preparations made by Virupaksa of Vijayanagar to attack Goa. The Sultan ordered Yusuf Adil
to proceed to relieve Goa. The Sultan, however, died on 27th March 1482. When he heard of the
death of the Sultan, Yusuf Adil returned to the capital with with Mallu Khan, Darya Khan, and Fakhrul-
Mulk, accompanied by a thousand Moghal and Turkish troops. He proceeded to the palace to pay
respects to the new Sultan. Nizam-ul-Mulk, who had now been appointed as prime minister,
suspected foul play. He went to the palace in full strength. The meeting passed off peacefully. Each
side realised the strength of the other and the dangerous consequences which would flow from an
armed conflict in the capital at this critical juncture. Yusuf Adil camped outside the city. He was met
there by Malik Naib Nizam-ul-Mulk. The latter invited him to help him run the administration. Yusuf
Adil replied that he was a soldier. He refused to take part in the civil administration of the kingdom.
Nizam-ul-Mulk, who was by no means happy over the presence of Yusuf Adil, decided to destroy
him. In his capacity as prime minister he appointed Adil Khan Dakhani to his charge of Bijapur. He
then issued orders to Yusuf Adil and Imad-ul-mulk under the name of the Sultan that the Sultan
would be pleased to review their provincial levies. When these two arranged their forces for review
before the Sultan, they were told that their Turkish entourage was restive and that the Sultan was
not at all pleased with them. Nizam-ul-mulk then ordered Adil Khan Dakhani to carry out a general
massacre of the Turkish population. More than four thousand people were killed. It was then that
Yusuf Adil, ignoring the appointment of Adil Khan Dakhani to his charge, marched towards Bijapur.
contd.
place in safety. Yoosoof intended to remain at Koom till the governor of Sava should be removed,
but after some time, having left Koom, he proceeded to Kashan, Isfahan, and eventually to Shiraz,
where a story is told that the prophet Khizer appeared to him in a dream directing him to quit Persia
and go to Hindoostan where he should attain to sovereign power. Yoosoof accordingly left Shiraz,
went to the seacoast, and embarking at Gombroon for India, reached Dabul in the year 864. On his
arrival there he became acquainted with Khwaja Mahmood Goorjistany, a merchant who had come
to that port on business. Yoosoof’s appearance and manners (being at that time only seventeen
years of age) were at once striking and engaging, for he had received a liberal education at Sava.
The Khwaja prevailed on him to accompany him to Ahmudabad Bidur, where he was sold, as a
Georgian slave, to the minister Khwaja Mahmood Gavan for the royal bodyguard. This account the
author received from Mirza Mahmood of Sava, the son of Gheiasood-Deen prime minister of
Yoosoof Adil Khan at the time he declared his independence at Beejapoor, under the designation of
Yoosoof Adil Shah. The same story is related by Shah Jumal-ood-Deen Hoossein, the son of Shah
Hoossein-Anjoo, in his history, as also by Khwaja Nuzr, a member of the Bahmuny family. At the
period of the marriage of Beeby Musseety to the Prince Ahmud at Koolburga, that Princess took her
seat above all the other ladies and on remonstrance being made to her afterwards, she replied, as
the daughter of Yoosoof Adil Shah, and the niece and granddaughter of two emperors of Room, she
certainly considered herself inferior to no lady in the Deccan. Ameer Bereed of Bidur was afterwards
at the trouble of sending persons to Constantinople to endeavour to falsify this statement; but the
corroborating facts were so strong that the subject was not again agitated. Yoosoof Adil Khan is
said to have derived the appellation of Savaee from the circumstance of his having been educated
at Sava. (Briggs’s Ferishta, Vol. III, pp. 4-8.)
164 MAHARASHTRA STATE GAZETTEER
It was shortly after this that Nizam-ul-mulk was assassinated at Bidar. The circumstances of
his assassination have been narrated elsewhere. Qasim Barid-ul-Mamalik who held Kandhar and
Ausa in Jagir marched to the capital and forced the Sultan to appoint him Vazir or prime minister.
After the death of Nizam-ul-mulk, his son Malik Ahmad assumed his father's titles and conquered
most of the fortified places in Konkan and western ghats. At the instance of Qasim Band, the Sultan
sent orders to Yusuf Adil to march against Malik Ahmad along with Khvaja Jahan of Parenda and
Yusuf Talas of Cakan. Yusuf Adil refused to comply with these orders. He informed Malik Ahmad of
the royal conspiracy against him. Malik Ahmad was more than a match in his contest with the
Bahamani rulers. He defeated all attempts to subdue him. After he felt completely secure of his
position, he invited Yusuf Adil to assume royalty and declare independence. Yusuf Adil readily
agreed and thus came into existence the Adilsahi dynasty of Bijapur.
YUSUF ADIL SHAH.
The declaration of Independence by Yusuf Adil was not as absolute as that of Malik Ahmad
Niziam Sah. Long after Yusuf Adil's death, his successors till the fourth generation styled
themselves Majlis-i-Rafi Adil Khan in their. tablets and inscriptions and struck coins in the name of
whoever was nominally seated on the throne of Bidar by the Baridsahis.
Qasim Barid, who had become powerful at Bidar decided to reduce Yusuf Adil. He incited the
Raja of Vijayanagar to attack him. The minister of that State, Narasa Nayak sent a strong army
against Yusuf Adil and captured the coveted possessions of Raichur and Mudgal. Yusuf Adil now
decided to attack Bidar and threaten Qasim Barid. Qasim Barid appealed to Malik Ahmad and
Khvaja Jahan of Parenda to assist himr Malik Ahmad refused and Yusuf Adil easily defeated the
combination of Qasim Barid and Khvaja Jahan Fakhr-ul-mulk Dakhani in the battle fought about five
Kos from Bidar. He was accompanied by his lieutenants Darya Khan and Fakhrul-mulk Turk. Yusuf
Adil went to Bijapur after the battle. He then marched against Vijayanagar and after severe
encounters captured the towns of Raicur and Mudgal. In the following year, Bahadur Gilani,
rebelled. The Bahamani Sultan sent appeals to his provincial governors to help him suppress the
rebellion. Yusuf Adil responded by sending a force under Kamal Khan Dakhani. This force captured
Belganv after a siege lasting for three months. Sultan Quli Qutb-ul-mulk had also joined the royal
forces. He captured the rebel possession of Jamkhindi and handed it over to Yusuf Adil.1 Sultan
Mahmud left Bidar. He was
1Yoosoof Adil Khan was preparing to march against Jumkindy, which Bahadur Geelany had
taken from him, when Mahmood Shah, in consequence of complaints from the King of Guzerat,
resolved to march in person against the latter chief; on which occasion Yoosoof Adil Khan sent his
general Kumal Khan Deccany, with five thousand horse to attend the Bahmany monarch. Jumkindy
being taken, was delivered over to Yoosoof Adil Khan, and Bahadur Geelany was slain in action
when Mahmood Shah returned from this expedition. Yoosoof Adil Khan went forth to meet him; and
having conducted him into Beejapoor, then newly surrounded
HISTORY – MEDIAEVAL PERIOD 165
well received by Yusuf Adil who made him many valuable presents. The rebellion of Bahadur GilanI
was finally put down. Yusuf Adil now returned to Bijapur. After the victory Sultan Mahmud Bahamani
along with Qasim Barid, visited the port of Dabhol. On his return, he halted at Bijapur where Yusuf
Adil entertained him for a few days.
In 1495, Dastur Dinar resented his transfer from western Telangana to Gulburga and rebelled.
Mahmud Sah Bahamani again enlisted the help of Yusuf Adil. The combined forces led by Yusuf
Adil, Qutb-ul-mulk, Qadam Khan and Jahangir Khan defeated Dastur Dinar. He was ordered to be
put to death by Sultan Mahmud. Subsequently he was pardoned and reinstated in his fief of
Gulburga.
In 1497, was celebrated the betrothal of the infant Prince Ahmad to Bibi Sitti, the daughter of
Yusuf Adil at Gulburga. Yusuf Adil, Qasim Barid, Khvaja Jahan, Quli Qutb-ul-mulk and Sultan
Mahmud assembled at that place. On this occasion the old enmity between Dastur Dinar with Yusuf
Adil broke out. Qutb-ul-mulk joined hands with Yusuf Adil. In the action fought between the two
opposing groups Yusuf Adil emerged victorious. Qasim and Dastur fled to Aland. They were
pursued thither by Yusuf Adil who overtook them at Gunjauti and defeated them. He then got from
the Sultan, his confirmation over Gulburga, Gunjauti and Kalyani and returned to Bijapur.1
In the following year Yusuf Adil marched against Dastur Dinar and forced him to flee towards
Malik Ahmad Nizam Sah. Qasim Band again supported Dastur Dinar. After his victory over Dastur
Dinar, Yusuf Adil went to Bidar and complained to the Sultan that Nizam Sah was helping a rebel.
But Malik Ahmad remonstrated with Mahmud Sah against the wanton attacks by Yusuf Adil on
Dastur Dinar. The Sultan admonished Yusuf Adil who promised to desist from any attacks against
contd.
with a wall of stone, entertained him for ten days with great splendour. On his departure, he
presented him with twenty elephants, fifty horse, four bracelets set with jewels and other rare and
valuable articles to a large amount. Mahmood Shah having made choice of one elephant sent back
the other articles, with a private message, that as they would be seized by his minister Kasim
Bereed, he returned them to be kept for him in trust, till such time as Yoosoof Adil Khan, like a
faithful servant, should deliver him from his trammels. (Briggs's Ferishta, Vol. Ill, pp. 14-15.)
1The account of the battle of Gunjowty as given by Ferishta is as under :—
Yoosoof Adil Khan upon this, moved with Mahmood Shah, who was accompanied by Sooltan
Kooly Kootb Khan, and Mullik Elias, to reduce Kasim Bereed whom they defeated near the town of
Gunjowty, and the fugitives took shelter in various forts. After the victory, a rich carpet of cloth of
gold was spread on the field and Mahmood Shah taking Yoosoof Adil Khan by the hand,
commanded him to sit, an honour he declined to accept, till after being repeatedly pressed. Here it
was determined, that, on the following year, the allies should march and effectually subvert the
power of Kasim Bereed. Mullik Elias fell in the action, and Yoosoof Adil Khan conferred his estates
upon his eldest son Mahmood, with the title of Ein-ool-Moolk, Sad quitting Mahmood Shah returned
to Beejapoor. (Briggs's Ferishta, Vol. Ill, p. 18.)
166 MAHARASHTRA STATE GAZETTEER
Dastur Dinar in future. This formal promise was perhaps the result of the alliance between Malik
Ahmad, Dastur Dinar, Qasim Band and Khvaja Jahan which Yusuf Adil considered too strong for
him to resist.
In the same year, irritated at the high handedness of Qasim Barid, Sultan Mahmud
summoned Qutb-ul-mulk and Yusuf Adil to help him against Qasim Band. Both responded to the
summons and with the Sultan, besieged Ausa, the Jagir town of Qasim Band. The siege continued
for a long time. Yusuf Adil and Qutb-ul-mulk now lost all interest in the campaign and retired to their
respective fiefs. Qasim Barid once again assumed charge of the Sultan. It was, however, later
decided by Yusuf Adil, Malik Ahmad and Qasim Band that they should leave the Sultan alone at
Bidar. They should pay respects to him by visiting him every year. The Bahamani territory was now
formally distributed among the three when Goa and the neigh-bouring districts fell to Yusuf Adil.
The struggle for power during the next few years shifted to the eastern and southern borders
of the Bahamani territory viz., Vijayanagar, which had immensely benefited from the internal strife
that plagued the former Bahamani capital of Bidar. Qutb-ul-mulk tried to establish the Bahamani
hegemony over that region. In 1503 Sultan Mahmud led an expedition, and, assisted by Yusuf Adil
with 5,000 Turkish cavalry, 6,000 infantry and 500 elephants forced his terms upon Vijayanagar.
Vijayanagar agreed to pay the stipulated tribute and ceded Raicur and Mudgal which were restored
to Yusuf Adil. During this campaign Qasim Barid, who had lost the favour of Sultan Mahmud, was
replaced by Khan-i-Jahan. Qasim Barid conspired the murder of the new prime minister. This was
prevented by Yusuf Adil, Dastur-ul-mamalik and Qutb-ul-mulk who marched against Band, defeated
him and forced him to flee. The victorious three then paid their homage to Sultan Mahmud Sah and
returned to their respective fiefs1. Immediately after this, Yusuf
1On the following year, Yoosoof Adil Khan marched against Dustoor Deenar but Mullik Ahmud
Bheiry coming to his assistance, Yoosoof retired towards Bidur where he received assurances of
support from Sooltan Kooly Kootb Khan and Imad-ool-Moolk of Berar; on which Dustoor Deenar and
Mullik Ahmud retired without hazarding an action to their respective capitals. On his return to
Beejapoor, Yoosoof Adil Khan sent embassies to Mullik Ahmud Bheiry and to Imad-ool-Moolk ;
observing, that the Deccan was too small a country to maintain so many independent chiefs, that
therefore they three should out of regard to their own security unite and endeavour to occupy the
whole country. After much discussion it was resolved, that Imad-ool-Moolk should have Mahoor,
Ramgur, and all the territory then in possession of Khodawund Khan, the Abyssinian ; that Mullik
Ahmud should have Dowlutabad, Antore, Galna, and the country beyond those forts as far as the
borders of Guzerat; that Yoosoof Adil Khan, for his share, might seize the territories of Dustoor
Deenar and Ein-ool-Moolk; that Kasim Bereed should be allowed to take the country of Sooltan
Kooly Kootb-ool-Moolk, as an appanage to the capital of Ahmudabad Bidur, and its dependencies.
By this treaty it was understood that the contracting powers were not to interfere with the plan now
proposed, but on the contrary if necessary, unite to enforce it. (Briggs's Ferishta, Vol. III, pp. 18-19.)
HISTORY – MEDIAEVAL PERIOD 167
Adil marched towards Gulburga and attacked Dastur Dinar. Dastur Dinar could not withstand the
power of Yusuf Adil. He was defeated and slain in the battle. Yusuf Adil now added the fief held by
Dastur Dinar to his possessions of Bijapur.
Yusuf Adil had now sufficiently established himself as one of the principal contestants to
replace the now defunct Bahamani role in the Deccan. He was a staunch Siah by profession and
the establishment of that faith was one of his cherished dreams. Perhaps his education in Persia
had resulted in his conversion to the Siah faith. His task was not an easy one as a majority of his
troops who were Turks, Deccanis and Abyssinians were staunch Sunnis. Most of the neighbouring
kingdoms professed the Sunni faith. These factors, however, did not deter Yusuf Adil from carrying
out his plans. He decreed that the Khutba and the call for prayer would henceforward be recited
after the Siah form. As a result there was a general discontent in his kingdom among his subjects.
The neighbouring kingdoms of Ahmadnagar, Golconda and Bidar used this as a pretext to attack his
kingdom. Yusuf Adil considered himself unable to cope with this alliance. Entrusting the defence of
Bijapur to his general Kamal Khan he decided to create a diversion by ravaging the territory of the
allies. He reached Berar and requested Imad Sah to assist him. In spite of his sympathies for Yusuf
Adil, Imad Sah persuaded Yusuf Adil to recall his edict and promised, if he did so, to detach Malik
Ahmad and Qutb-ul-mulk from the alliance.1 Yusuf Adil agreed and recalled the edict. He also wrote
to Mahmud Sah but received an insulting letter from him, no doubt dictated by Amir Ali Barid. Yusuf
Adil marched from Berar, accompanied by Alauddin Imad Sah. He attacked Mahmud Sah and Amir
Ali Barid and defeated them at Kalam. Amir Ali fled to Bidar with Mahmud Sah leaving his camp and
all his effects in the hands of Yusuf Adil Sah. The alliance against Yusuf Adil was put down. On his
return to Bijapur Yusuf Adil re-established the public profession of the Siah form of faith. Till his
death in 1510 no attempt was made to disturb him on account of his change of faith2.
1Some authorities inform that Yusuf Adil went as far as Khandesh and was pursued by Sultan
Mahmud Shah as far as Gawil.
2Ferishta gives the following account in connection with the establishment of Shiah faith by
Yusuf Adil.
Mullik Ahmud Bheiry and Ameer Bereed, who were strict and zealous followers of the Soonut,
were alarmed at the innovation on the established faith of the Deccan and spoke of it in reproachful
terms. At length, forming an alliance, they invaded the, territory of Yoosoof Adil Shah. Ameer
Bereed seized on Gunjowty, and many districts taken from Dustoor Deenar, while Mullik Ahmud
Bheiry sent ambassadors to Beejapoor peremptorily demanding the surrender of the fortress of
Nuldroog. Yoosoof Adil Shah, incensed at this wanton attack on his dominions, sent back an anwer
full of indignation, and marching at once on Gunjowty recovered it forthwith, Mahmood Shah
Bahmuny and Ameer Bereed now made application for aid to Sooltan Kooly Koolb-ool-Moolk, Imadool-
Moolk, and Khodawund Khan Hubshy. Sooltan Kooly, though secretly of the Sheea persuasion,
yet in conformity with the spirit of the time and by the advice of his officers, moved towards the
camp of Mahmood hah; but Imad-ool-Moolk and Khodawund Khan framed excuses, and did not join
the league. Ameer Bereed now" despatched his own son Jehangeer Khan to Ahmudnaggur, with
such urgent remonstrances, that Mullik-Ahmud Bheiry was
168 MAHARASHTRA STATE GAZETTEER
It was in the years 1498, 1506 and 1510, that Yusuf Adil was confronted by the Portuguese.
In 1498 the attempt of Yusuf Adil's governor of Goa to surprise the Portuguese at their stronghold of
Anjadiv failed. In 1506 Yusuf Adil again sent a fleet of sixty vessels under Abdulla against Anjadiv.
The Portuguese resisted and beat back the attack. In 1510 the
contd.
induced to march with ten thousand horse and a train of artillery which, added to the troops of Ameer
Bereed and Sooltan Kooly Kootb-ool-Moolk, composed a formidable army, of which Mahmood Shah was
nominally the leader. Yoosoof Adil Shah thinking it unsafe to engage in a pitched battle with the inferior force
at his command, sent his son Ismael, then an infant of five years old, with allhis treasuries and elephants
from Alund to Beejapoor, committing the care of that city and the sole direction, of affairs to Kumal Khan
Deccany. Having stationed Duria Khan and Fukhr-ool-Moolk Toork to protect Koolburga, he himself,
attended by Ein-ool-Moolk Geelany, and many foreign officers, together with an army consisting of six
thousand horse firmly devoted to him, marched towards Beer, burning and destroying the country as he
passed. Mullik Ahmud Bheiry, finding his territory thus pillaged, moved with Mahmood Shah Bahmuny and
the allies, in pursuit of the enemy. Yoosoof Adil Shah had taken this step to prevent the war being carried
into his own country; and though he avoided a general action, he hovered around the allied army, harassed
their followers, and cut off their supplies. Finding this plan not sufficiently successful, and his troops being
exhausted with fatigue, after first plundering the environs of Dowlutabad, he penetrated into Berar, relying on
the friendship of Imad-ool-Moolk. This chief was at the time encamped with his army near Gavul, resolved to
maintain a strict neutrality, and to attend merely to the protection of his own country. Yoosoof Adil Shah,
however, was received with kindness; but Imad-ool-Moolk, apprehensive that the allies would invade Berar,
if he openly espoused the cause of yoosoof Adil Shah, advised him to retire for the present towards
Boorhanpoor, till some plan could be devised of dissolving the league formed against him; he recommended
him also, strongly, by way of conciliating his enemies, to order the Soony rites to be re-established in
Beejapoor. Yoosoof Adil Shah saw the necessity of compliance, and sent orders to that effect to Kumal
Khan. Meanwhile, taking leave of Imad-ool-Moolk, Yoosoof Adil Shah proceeded to Boorhanpoor where he
was received with due respect by the ruler of Kandesh.
Imad-ool-Moolk, on his part deputed one of his nearest relations to Mullik Ahmud Bheiry, and to
Sooltan Kooly Kootb-ool-Moolk, assuring them that Ameer Bereed had only made religion a pretext to
destroy Yoosoof Adil Shah, in order that he might secure Beejapoor for himself, and Imad-ool-Moolk added,
that if Ameer Bereed, now master only of a small territory, was enabled to effect so much in the name of the
King, the subversion of their own independence in the Deccan would in the event of any great accession of
dominion, necessarily follow. He, moreover, observed, that no man had any right to interfere in the religious
concerns of another, since every one would be rendered accountable for his actions on the day of judgment,
Setting aside, however, this argument, Yoosoof Adil Shah had now formally retracted his profession of the
Sheea doctrines, and had sent orders to restore the Soony rites in Beejapoor, so that no fair pretence now
remained for continuing the war. Imad-ool-Moolk, therefore, strongly recommended the confederates,
instead of weakening themselves and becoming the dupes of an artful minister, to retire to their own
dominions. Mullik Ahmud Bheiry and Sooltan Kooly Kootb-ool-Moolk, who paid great respect to the advice of
this aged and experienced statesman, were convinced by his arguments, and retreated suddenly one night,
without even taking leave of Mahmood Shah.
Ameer Bereed not aware of the reason which led to this desertion of his allies, applied to Imad-ool-
Moolk for his assistance to invade Beejapoor, and suffed himself to be detained some days by idle
negotiations, till Yoosoof Adil Shah arrived at Gavul from Boorhanpoor. Ameer Bereed now perceived the
danger of his situation and instantly fled with the King, attended only by a few followers, leaving his cantry
standing, which was plundered by the Berar troops. Yoosoof Adil Shah, having taken leave of Imad-ool-
Moolk, returned to Beejapoor after an absence of three months, and being no longer apprehensive of his
enemies had renewed the public exercise of the Sheea religion, and inclined his mind to the improvement of
his country without meditating further conquests. At this time he sent Syud Ahmud Hirvy with presents and
declarations of attachment, to Shah Ismael Sufvy, King of Persia with an account of his success in
establishing the Sheea religion. (Briggs's Ferishta, Vol. III, pp. 26—29.).
HISTORY – MEDIAEVAL PERIOD 169
Portuguese attacked the Bijapur stronghold of Goa and reduced it. All attempts of Bijapur to
recapture Goa failed. Henceforward, Goa, became a Portuguese territory1.
Yusuf Adil Sah died in 1510 of dropsy. He was buried at Sahapur, about forty miles east of
Bijapur. Among the rulers of the five succession states of Bahamani Kingdom, Yusuf stands high in
respect of accomplishments and statesmanship. There was not in his character the bigotry, cruelty
and licentiousness which marked the rule of his Bahamani predecessors and many of the
contemporary rulers. Even his declaration of Siah faith was free from the fanatical excitement and
bloodshed which later marked the conversion of Burhan Nizam Sah to Siahism. With the exception
of Golconda, Bijapur outlived all the other Deccan Dynasties. Credit for this goes to Yusuf Adil Sah
who founded his kingdom on the principles of toleration. Though the chief power in the country was
Muhammedan, a large number of Hindus were employed in state service. The garrisons of most of
the hill forts were composed of Marathas, Ramosis and Bedars and parts of the plain Country were
entrusted chiefly to Marathas, Brahmans and Lingayats.2
ISMAIL ADIL SHAH.
Yusuf Adil Sah was succeeded by his son Ismail Adil Sah who was a minor. During the
minority of the Sultan, Kamal Khan was appointed regent. He was a staunch Sunni and declared the
Sunni faith as the State religion. He now aspired for the throne and decided to remove the possible
opposition from the foreign element in the services. He dismissed all the foreigners except 300 in
the Sultans bodyguard and enrolled considerable Maratha cavalry. He formed an offensive and
defensive alliance with Amir Ali Barid who had also harboured similar designs against Ahmadnagar
where the minor Burhan Nizam Sah had ascended the throne and where the affairs of the kingdom
were in the hands of Mukammil Khan. Kamal Khan fixed 30th May 1511 as the day for the
deposition of the young
1In 1502 an Italian traveller visited Bijapur and has given an excellent description of that
Kingdom. Durate Barbosa, a Portuguese traveller who was minutely acquainted with the west coast
of India between 1500 and 1514 also records some interesting details about Deccan in general and
the kingdom of Bijapur in particular.
2Grant Duff's Marathas, 36—38.
3On his arrival at Beejapoor, he brought the young King once into durbar for form's sake— to
receive the compliments of the court. To strengthen his own party he reduced the number of the
Khaskheil, or royal guards, from three thousand foreign troops to three hundred, commanding the
rest to quit Beejapoor in a week, under penalty of death, and forfeiture of their property to the state.
The unfortunate exiles hastened with all speed to various parts to avoid such tyranny. The Regent
having thus removed the chief obstacle to his accession, next adopted the practice of the court of
Nizam Shah, and caused the officers of a thousand horse to be styled commanders of three
thousand. He also raised a vast number of G'hora Rawoot, till at length, having an army of twenty
thousand horse devoted to his service, he Called together his creatures on the 1st of Suffur, in the
year 917, to consult with regarding a lucky day for deposing Ismael Adil Shah, and for causing his
own name to be read in the Kootba at Beejapoor. After much debate, the first of the ensuing month,
Rubbool-Awul, was fixed as the time propitious to his designs, he little supposing that the recorders
of fate were then penning the concluding pages of the journal of his vainglorious life. (Briggs's
Ferishta. Vol. III, pp. 37-38.)
170 MAHARASHTRA STATE GAZETTEER
Sultan. He postponed the occasion on the advice of astrologers. He remained in seclusion in the
palace. The Sultan's mother Babuji Khanam, took advantage of this delay, and conspired with Yusuf
Turk, the Sultan's Godfather, to put down Kamal Khan. On the pretext of seeking the regent's
permission to proceed to Mecca, Yusuf Turk visited the regent in the palace. He stabbed Kamal
Khan to death and in the process lost his own life. The news of what had happened leaked out. The
dead regent's mother and brother Safdar Khan declared that the regent was only wounded. To save
the situation, Safdar Khan put the dead body in the posture of receiving salutation and attacked the
palace with a contingent of armed men. The palace guards were encouraged by Yusuf Adil's foster
sister Dilsad Agha. They were on the point of being overpowered by Safdar Khan's men when a
number of loyal troops climbed the palace walls and entered the palace garden. A hand to hand
fight now ensued and Safdar Khan was wounded in the eye by a flurry of shots fired against his men
from the palace walls. Safdar Khan took refuge by the side of the palace wall on the top of which
was seated, the Sultan, Ismail Adil Sah. He rolled over a stone upon the head of Safdar Khan killing
him instantaneously. The insurgents were now dispersed and the command of the state troopers
was taken over by Khusrau Turk. For the prominent part taken by Khusrau Turk in the suppression
of the insurgents, he was given the estates of Belganv and the title of Asad Khan. On the advice of
Asad Khan, the Sultan in 1513, restored the Siah faith which had been forbidden by Kamal Khan.
There was now trouble in offing for Bijapur. The Sultans of Ahmadnagar, Golconda and Bidar
formed an alliance against Bijapur. They invaded its territory with an army of 25,000 taking Sultan
Mahmud Sah Bahamani with them. They laid waste the Bijapur territory as they advanced and
reached Allapur (Alandpur) about a mile and half from the eastern gate of the city. Ismail Adil issued
out with 12.000 of his picked foreign cavalry and defeated the allies. The aggressors left behind
Mahmud Sah who was wounded in the battle. Ismail conciliated the prisoners by his deference and
courtesy and delivered his sister Bibi Sitti to her affianced husband Prince Ahmad. The marriage
was celebrated with great pomp at Gulburga. The Sultan was taken to Bijapur where he expressed
his desire to return to Bidar. With an escort of 5,000 cavalry Ismail dispatched Sultan Mahmud
Bahamani to Bidar. After some time, Amir Ali Barid, with the help of Burhan Nizam Sah, forced the
Bijapur cavalry to retire
1Ferishta gives the following account of the battle of Allapur (Alandpur) :— Ismael Adil Shah
deemed it prudent to remain in his capital, permitting the enemy to advance without opposition to
Allapoor. a town built by Yoosoof Adil Shah within a mile and a half of Beejapoor, when quitting the
city at the head of twelve thousand horse, all of whom were foreigners, he attacked the allied forces.
Notwithstanding the superiority of the enemy in numbers the Beejapoor troops defeated them so
completely, that they fled, leaving behind them Mahmood Shah
HISTORY – MEDIAEVAL PERIOD 171
At this time Sah Ismail Safavi of Iran, a staunch follower of Siahism sent an ambassador to
Bijapur with costly presents. He was detained by Amir Barid at Bidar, perhaps to spite Ismail Adil.
He was allowed to proceed to Bijapur only when Ismail Adil had strongly protested to Amir Barid and
Sultan Mahmud Sah. Sah Ismail addressed Ismail Adil as Sah in an autograph letter sent to him and
expressed his pleasure at the conduct of the ruler of Bijapur. In recognition of his royal title of Sah,
Ismail ordered that his Moghal soldiers would have a twelve peaked cap as a part of their uniform.
Some time after this Ismail Adil was confronted by Krsna Deva Raya of Vijayanagar who had
extended his kingdom as far north as the Krsna and had possessed himself of the Raicur doab,
after the death of Yusuf Adil. To recapture the lost territory Ismail marched against Krsna Deva
Raya. He was defeated by the army of Vijayanagar, and managed to escape narrowly. For a long
time Bijapur did not dare to attack Vijayanagar.
Later, to punish Amir Barid for fomenting trouble for Bijapur, Asad Khan proposed an alliance
between Bijapur and Ahmadnagar. Accordingly Ismail Adil and Burhan Nizam Sah met at Solapur in
1524, when Bibi Mariam, the sister of Ismail Adil was married to Burhan Nizam Sah. Ismail Adil at
first promised the fort of Solapur and its five and half districts as dowry for the princess. Later he
refused to cede the fort and the districts promised by him. The alliance naturally bred enmity instead
of friendship. Burhan returned to Ahmadnagar and invited Alauddin Imad Sah and Amir Ali Barid to
aid him in the capture of the fortress of Solapur. The allies marched at the head of 40,000 troops
and laid siege to Solapur. Ismail advanced to meet the allies with a force of 10,000 foreign troops
and three thousand archers. The archers were, however, surprised by a contingent from the allied
army and defeated. They retreated. Rallying later they marched towards the allied camp and were
allowed to pass. They then attacked the allied camp with great fury. After a dreadful slaughter many
effected
contd.
and his son, the Prince Ahmud, who both fell from their horses during the action Shah the baggage
of the fugitives fell into the hands of the victors. Ismael Adil Shah on hearing of the situation, of the
princes, went to pay his respects to them; he made offerings of horses with furniture set in jewels,
and proposed to conduct them in magnificent palkies into Beejapoor. and to emancipate them from
the oppression of Ameer Bereed. Mahmood Shah, however, not consenting to enter the city,
encamped near Allapoor ; where he remained some time to recover of the bruises he had sustained
in his fall and afterwards requested that Beeby Musseety sister to Ismael Adil Shah might now be
married to his son Ahmud to whom She had formerly been betrothed. Ismael Adil Shah giving his
consent to the nuptials the ancient city of Koolburga was fixed on for its celebration and both kings
paired thither where the marriage ceremony was conducted with great magnificence; and the bride
being delivered to the Prince Ahmud, Ismael Adil Shah sent an escort of five thousand cavalry to
attend the royal pair accompanied by Mahmood Shah, to Ahmudabad, which was deserted by
Ameer Bereed on their approach. Mahmood Shah II, for some time, tasted the sweets of liberty, and
was released from the control of his minister; but the Beejapoor troops no sooner left Bidur in Ameer
Bereed returned, and resumed the charge of affairs as before, (Briggs's Ferishta, Vol. III, pp. 46-
47.).
172 MAHARASHTRA STATE GAZETTEER
a safe retreat. When the allied camp had not yet recovered from this night attack, Ismail marched
against them and defeated them. The allies fled the camp and vast riches fell into the hands of
Bijapuris1.
1Waring's Marathas, 35-36.
It is asserted, that in the treaty of alliance formed on this occasion Ismael Adil Shah consented to give
up, as a marriage-portion to his sister, the fort of Sholapoor with its five and a half districts taken by the late
regent from Zein Khan; but it is certain this article was not immediately fulfilled Boorhan Nizam Shah, or
some time: neglected noticing the omission; but in the next year, having secured the co-operation of Imad
Shah, King of Berar, and of Ameer Bereed, Regent of Bidur, the confederates marched with forty thousand
men to besiege Sholapoor, and to occupy the ceded districts.
Ismail Adil Shah, collecting ten thousand foreign cavalry moved to oppose the invasion; and both
armies continued encamped during forty days between the forts of Sholapoor and Nuldroog, at the distance
of four miles from each other without coming to action. Three thousand foreign bowmen of Ismael Adil Shah
were sent forth daily to hover round the enemy's camp, and cut oil his supplies; in which service they were
very successful. Khwaja Jehan Deccany, governor of Purenda, in consequence, vexed with the inactivity of
Boorhan Nizam Shah quitted the camp attended by four thousand select Deccany cavalry, with the
resolution of surprising the Beejapoor archers. On the following evening, the foreigners as usual, took up
their post for the right On the banks of a rivulet, and having picketed their horses, were unarming and
waiting for their servants to dress their food. At this time, when the night had just shut in, Khwaja Jehan
Deccany, with a reconnoitring party, came upon them but was discovered at a short distance from the
outposts by a sentry, who gave the alarm. The bowmen instantly took to their horses but before they were all
mounted. Khwaja Jehan fell upon them, and killed about three hundred; the rest owed their escape to the
spread of their horses. Khwaja Jehan's Deccanies, after returning from the pursuit, came to the spot on
which the archers had been encamped, add dismounting, employed themselves in plundering and in eating
the victuals which had been left in the pots on the fires The Beejapoories, stung by the disgrace of this
shameful defeat, determined, on turning it to advantage, and concluding the enemy's army might also be
surprised, they resolved to make an attack on the camp of Boorhan Nizam Shah. They accordingly moved
direct to his lines, and the sentinels, tailing them for Khwaja Jehan's detachment returning to comp,
permitted them to pass. When in the midst of the camp, the Beejapoor bowmen discharging their arrows
made great haven, and pursued their route direct to the tent of Boorhan Nizam Shah. Confusion soon
prevailed in every quarter; friends could not be distinguished from foes and the bowmen when sated with
slaughter and plunder, retired with very little loss. On the following morning, Ismael Adil Shah advanced to
give battle to the enemy while yet suffering from the terror occasioned by the night-attack. Boorhan Nizam
Shah and Imad Shah drew up their line, but in so great disorder and with such precipitation, that they were
unable to withstand the assault of the Beejapoor troops. Imad Shah being charged by Assud Khan fled from
the field without scarcely making any opposition, and did not halt, except at night, till he reached his fort of
Gawul in Berar. Boorhan Nizam Shah was also on the point of giving way; but Being in time reinforced by
Ameer Bereed with six thousand fresh horse, continued to oppose for some time longer. At last, Khoosh-
Geldy Agha and Ismael Agha, Toorky officers in the Beejapoor service, gained the enemy's rear with two
thousand horse, while Assud Khan made a simultaneous attack on the right wing. These assaults threw the
enemy into utter confusion; and Boorhan Nizam Shah, overcome by the weight of his armour, was nearly
falling from his horse through faintness. In this stage of the action, some Toorky slaves, observing the
condition of the king of Ahmudnuggur—led his horse off the field, and the rout of his army instantly
succeeded. About three thousand of the Ahmudnuggur troops were slain in the pursuit, and the royal
standard of Nizam Shah fell into the hands of Assud Khan, besides forty elephants many pieces of cannon,
and the tents and baggage of the enemy, which became the reward of the victors. Ismael Adil Shah, after
his story returned in triumph to Beejapoor, where he made rejoicings for a whole month, and conferred
rewards and honours on the officers who had most distinguished themselves. To Assud Khan he gave five
large and six small elephants, and on the same occasion he increased the ply of every soldier in his army.
To enable him to bear this expense, has appropriate all the lands hitherto allotted for the supposed of that
seraglio to his troops, and gave up half the customs levied at the forts for the same object. Being one day
told that some officers were still unprovided for, and in the minister saying, that the treasury could not
maintain so many troops on the present pay, he asked what number of districts were set aside for the
support of his wardrobe and
HISTORY – MEDIAEVAL PERIOD 173
In 1526, Ismail gave his younger sister in marriage to Alauddin Imad Sah and helped him,
unsuccessfully, in the latter's attempt to regain the fort of Pathri from Burhan Nizam Sah. In the
invasion of Ahmadnagar in 1528 by Bahadur Sah of Gujarat Ismail Adil sent a contingent of 6,000
horses to the assistance of Burl an. In the same year Asad Khan Lari, the Bijapur general again
defeated Burhan Nizam and Ami Band. They had attacked the Bijapur country. In the following year
Ismail Adil Sah sent his general Asad Khan against Bidar. Asad Khan entered Barid's camp and
made him a captive when he lay in a drunken sleep. Ismail defeated a relieving force from Golconda
and decreed the sentence of death upon Amir Ali Band. Alauddin Imad Sah pleaded in vain with
Ismail Adil to release Amir Ali Barid. Ismail insisted upon the surrender of Bidar. Amir Ali Band had
no choice left out to accede to the demand and surrender Bidar. Amir Ali Band now practically
became the vassal of Bijapur.1 Shortly after this, IsmaiI Adil, with the help of Alauddin Imad Sah,
invaded Vijayanagar. Taking advantage of the confusion prevailing in that kingdom following the
death of its king Krsna Deva Raya, Ismail succeeded in reducing the forts of Raicur and Mudgal. He
was, however, prevented from pressing further on account of the reported aggressive movements
by Burhan Nizam Sah and Amir Ali Barid from the North. Ismail now restored Bidar to Amir Ali Barid
on his agreeing to cede the forts of Kalyani and Kandhar. In 1532, Ismail Adil pressed his demand
for the cession of these two forts. Burhan Nizam Sah intervened asking, Ismail Adil to abandon the
enterprise. Ismail turned fiercely upon him, twitting him with the use of the title conferred by the
leader of a gang of Gujaratis and the use of a second hand and soiled Insignia of Malva. War broke
out, Amir Ali and Burhan Nizam marched to the frontier of Bijapur but were defeated at Naldurg by
Asad Khan Lari. Burhan Nizam Sah fled headlong to Ahmadnagar. Much plunder fell into the hands
of Bijapurs and the superiority of Ismail was established throughout the Deccan.
In the same year, however, the officers of both the kingdoms met to apportion the territory of
the Deccan between themselves. Under the scheme Ahmadnagar was to annex Berar, and Bijapur,
contd.
kitchen and having ascertained they amounted to twenty-four he commanded half to be allotted to
the pay of the troops; saving, that it was better for him to suffer some inconvenience than that the
soldiers should have reason to complain. (Briggs's Ferishta vol. Ill, pp. 52*55.)
1 Ferishta gives the following account about the humiliating treatment meted out to Amir Barid
by Ismail Adil Shah.
Ismail Adil Shah, on the following morning, being seated on his throne, Ameer Bereed was
placed opposite to him, with his head bare, and his hands tied behind his back, exposed to a hot
sun. When he had stood for two hours in this situation the King gave orders, for his being put to
death, and an executioner advanced to do his duty with a drawn scimitar. Ameer Bereed Shah,
perceiving his helpless condition, condescended to beg his life; saying that undoubtedly he had
been guilty of many insults to the King and his late father, of blessed memory, and was conscious of
smeriting revenge at his hands; but if the King would forget these circumstances, and suffer him to
live and repent he would Surrender to him the city of Ahmudabad, with the fortress of Bidur, whose
battlement the ladders of an enemy had never yet scaled, and he promised to deliver into his hands
the treasures of the Bahmuny royal family.
174 MAHARASHTRA STATE GAZETTEER
which had already claimed Bidar was to annex Golconda. In pursuance of this treaty Ismail, in 1534
besieged Nalgunda, about 60 miles from Golconda and defeated a relieving force sent by Qutb Sah.
When the siege was in progress Ismail fell sick and leaving Asad Khan to prosecute the siege he
left for Gulburga. On his way he suddenly died. At the time of the death of Ismail, Badami and the
adjacent regions south of Bijapur were still under the occupation of Vijayanagar. Ismail Adil was a
just and prudent ruler. He was adept in painting, arrow making and embroidering saddle clothes. He
was fond of the company of poets and learned men and dearly loved repartee. No king of the
Deccan was his equal in humour.1
IBRAHIM ADIL SHAH.
On the death of Ismail Adil Sah, Asad Khan raised to the throne the eldest son of the dead
Sultan, Mallu Khan. This was the wish of his master. He was, however, a worthless and a
debauched youth hated by commoners and noblemen alike. Asad Khan, also feared the worst from
the new Sultan. He, therefore, left for Belganv leaving the administration of the kingdom in the
hands of Babuji Khanam, the grandmother of Mallu Khan. In his short reign of six months. Mallu
Khan gave vent to his unabashed passions by molesting ladies of the noble class. Babuji Khanam,
seeing that his rule would lead to the ruin of the Kingdom, accepted the nobles advice to depose
him. Mallu Khan was deposed and blinded. His younger brother Ibrahim was raised to the throne
under the title of Ibrahim Adil Sah.
Ibrahim was a staunch follower of the Sunni faith. His first act on assumption of power was to
replace the current Siah faith by the Sunni doctrine. This was accompanied by a complete change in
the military organization of the state. Ismail Adil, who had sensed the danger of a Deccani rising in
the rebellion of Kamal Khan had dismissed all the Deccanis from the military services and replaced
them by foreigners, mostly Siahs. It was now the turn of these foreigners to be dismissed and make
way for the less efficient but more orthodox and conservative Deccanis and Africans. These were
staunch Sunnis. Ibrahim struck a further blow to the foreign influence by substituting the language of
the natives of the Deccan, that is Marathi for which he had developed a liking. Marathi now took the
place of Persian as the language of accounts and finance. Under the new administration many
Brahmins and other Hindus rose to high ranks. Marathas held positions of distinction in the Adil sahi
army. He entertained 3,000 Deccani cavalry. Instead of; the Bahamani system of self horsed
cavaliers or Siledars he enlisted men of low position who were supplied with state horses and were
called Bargirs.2
1Briggs's Ferishta, Vol. III, 72.
2Grant Duff's Marathas, 34 and note.
Ibrahim Adil Shah, on his accession to the throne, having rejected the names of the Imams
from the Kootba, restored the exercise of the Soony rites, and commanded that no person should in
future wear the scarlet cap of twelve points, which had been
HISTORY – MEDIAEVAL PERIOD 175
Ibrahim's first war was with Vijayanagar. The contused affairs of that state gave him an
opportunity to attack it. Bhoj Nirmal, usurper of the throne, sought the aid of Ibrahim after putting to
death the minor king, while Venkatraya, the regent was away on an expedition. Fearing the worst
consequences from the Muhammedan invasion of the kingdom, Venkatraya marched towards
Vijayanagar when, Bhoj Nirmal committed suicide. Venkatraya reached Vijayanagar and ascended
the throne without opposition. Ibrahim regarded this as a breach of faith to his formal ally Bhoj
Nirmal and sent Asad Khan Lari to invest and besiege Adoni. Asad Khan was, however, defeated by
Venkatadri, the brother of Venkatraya. Asad Khan retired after concluding a peace treaty with
Vijayanagar.1
After the campaign against Vijayanagar, Asad Khan Lari incurred the displeasure of Ibrahim
Adil Sah. This was more due to his profession of the Siah faith than his recent defeat at the hands of
Venkatadri. Consequently Asad Khan retired to his Jagirs at Belganv. This gave the enemies of
Asad Khan a chance to further poison the mind of Ibrahim Adil against Asad Khan. They falsely
charged Asad Khan of secret correspondence with Burhan Nizam Sah who had lately been
converted to the Siah faith by Sah Tahir. Burhan Nizam Sah and Amir Ali Barid were not slow in
taking advantage of the dissensions between the master and the servant. They invaded the Bijapur
territory from the north, captured Parenda and reduced Solapur, the possession of which was the
most cherished desire of the Ahmadnagar Sultans. Asad Khan, dreading the prospects of plunder
and devastation of his Jagir estates, joined Burhan Nizam Sah and Amir Ali Barid. The three
marched towards Bijapur. Ibrahim was now convinced of the treachery of Asad Khan. He
misconstrued his advance as open rebellion against him. Thinking himself incapable of resisting the
allies, he fled
contd.
adopted by all the troops of his father, in imitation of the Persians. Instead of foreign troops he
enlisted Deccanies in his service, and permitted only four hundred foreigners to remain in his bodyguard.
All the foreign officers, with the exception of Assud Khan Lary, Khoosh Geldy Agha, Roomy
Khan, and Shoojat Khan Koord, were degraded, and Deccanies and Abyssinians were promoted in
their stead. All the foreign troops which were thus dismissed entered into the service of different
princes. Ramraj, the Hindoo Prince of Beejanuggur, entertained three thousand of them ; and in
order to reconcile them to the act of making obeisance to him, he caused a Koran to be placed
before them when they came to pay their respects ; which enabled them to do so without a breach
of the ordinances of their religion.
Ibrahim Adil Shah, by this new regulation, created an army of thirty thousand cavalry
composed of men who rode the King's horses. The customs which prevailed in the reign of Ismail
Adil Shah were wholly laid aside; and the public accounts, formerly kept in Persian, were now
written in Hindvy, under the management of bramins, who soon acquired great influence in his
government. Assud Khan was ordered to enlist Deccanies in his service, and to adopt the Soony
faith. Out of a thousand foreigners, he discharged six hundred, but refused to change his
persuasion and both in his camp and on his own jageer he publicly exercised the Sheea
ceremonies, an indulgence the King thought it prudent to allow. (Briggs's Ferishta, Vol. III, pp. 78—
80.)
1The accounts given by Muslim Chroniclers of a successful night attack by Asad Khan upon
the Vijayanagar camp after his defeat by Venkatadri are entirely fictitious and need corroboration.
176 MAHARASHTRA STATE GAZETTEER
to Gulburga1. He was joined there by Darya Imad Sah. Asad Khan convinced him of his loyalty to
Ibrahim. He explained that it was under compulsion that he had joined the invaders.. On their march
Burhan and Amir Barid spread fire and slaughter as far as the capital. They then besieged the city.
To prevent the junction between the armies of Berar and Bijapur, they moved towards Gulburga.
When they neared Gulburga, Asad Khan deserted the allies with his 6,000 troops and joined his
master. Thus reinforced, Ibrahim Adil and Darya Imad Sah inflicted a crushing defeat upon the allies
who were forced to flee towards Bid. The allies were closely pursued and driven to hills in the
neighbourhood of Daulatabad. Amir Barid died in the meanwhile. Burhan who was thus trapped,
sued for peace which was granted on his agreeing to cede Solapur and never again to molest
Bijapur.
In 1546 Burhan Nizam Sah who was still smarting under his recent defeat and humiliation
formed an alliance with Jamsid Qutb Sah (who had ascended the throne after murdering his father)
and the Raja of Vijayanagar against Bijapur. Burhan attacked Bijapur from the north. Jamsid Qutb
Sah marched from the east, occupying the Gulburga region and laying siege to Hippergi. The Raja
of Vijayanagar besieged Raicur. Ali Band Sah also joined in the fray and besieged Solapur. Ibrahim
bought off Burhan Nizam Sah and Sadasivraya by flattery and concessions and left Asad Khan free
to deal with Jamsid Qutb Sah. Asad Khan defeated Jamsid at the gates of Golconda. The
confederacy was broken. He was now free to deal with Burhan Nizam Sah. The action of Burhan,
who, roused by Sadasivraya, had advanced as far as Arjan on the left bank of Bhima gave Ibrahim
sufficient cause to march against him. He advanced from Bijapur and passed the rainy season on
the right bank of the river. He then crossed the river and attacked Burhan with a considerable force
including 250 elephants and 170 pieces of cannon. Ibrahim fought so gallantly in this battle that he
killed three antagonists in single combat with his own hands. Burhan tried to revive the confederacy
in the following year. He was defeated by Ibrahim and driven out of the Bijapur territory. However,
when Burhan invaded Bidar, all the attempts of Ibrahim Adil to save that kingdom from defeat failed
and Burhan captured the fortresses of Ausa, Udgir and Kandhar, defeating Ibrahim in several
engagements.
1The breach between the King and his minister becoming public throughout the Deccan,
Boorhan Nizam Shah and Ameer Bereed availed themselves of it to circulate insidious reports that
Assud Khan had promised to deliver up Belgam to them whenever they should approach ; and
accordingly, in the year 949 A. H. they invaded the territories of Ibrahim Adil Shah, and wresting the
five districts dependent on Sholapoor from his officers, gave them up to the servants of Khwaja
Jehan Deccany, after which they moved in the direction of Belgam. Assud Khan, though not
originally privy to the invasion, deemed it prudent, in order to save his estates from plunder, to join
them on their approach with six thousand horse. The allies, inspired with fresh courage by this
accession of power, spread desolation through the country to the neighbourhood of Beejapoor ; and
Ibrahim Adil Shah, conceiving himself unable to oppose them in the field, retired with his family to
Koolburga. (Briggs's Ferishta, Vol. III, pp. 89-90.)
HISTORY – MEDIAEVAL PERIOD 177
Ibrahim attributed these failures to the treachery of his officers. He became cruel and
suspicious. He executed without trial, seventy Muslim and forty Hindu officials. This so enraged his
courtiers that they conspired to depose Ibrahim and place on the throne his brother Abdulla. Asad
Khan, who had fallen under suspicion, tried to enlist the support of the Portuguese of Goa, Burhan
Nizam Sah and Jamsid Qutb Sah, from his jagirs at Belganv, where he had retired. The plot was,
however, discovered and Abdulla fled to the Portuguese of Goa. The Portuguese promised to
support Abdulla on his agreeing to cede to them some territory of Bijapur.
The Portuguese committed great havoc in the Bijapur territories between Goa and Bankot.1 In
the meanwhile Burhan Nizam Sah and Jamsid Qutb Sah asked Asad Khan to join them. He, in spite
of the treatment he had received at the hands of his master, refused. Withdrawing his support to
Abdulla he veered round to his master. Burhan and Jamsid who had remained at Belganv with a
view to secure that fort saw the increasing support which Ibrahim was able to muster from his
nobles who had followed in the foot steps of Asad Khan. They retired to their respective kingdoms.
The Portuguese also relented and withdrew their support to Abdulla. There was, however, a revolt
against Ibrahim's authority, in the Konkan. Ibrahim marched with a large force to the Konkan and
crushed the rebellion. Asad Khan now saw his end approaching. He asked Ibrahim to visit him at
Belganv. Ibrahim respected the wishes of his faithful servant, paid a visit to him on his death bed
and returned to Bijapur. Shortly after, Asad Khan died (4th, March 1546).
The curse of division and conflict, however, never left the Deccan. The two kingdoms of
Ahmadnagar and Bijapur again came to grips in the following year. Burhan Nizam Sah now allied
himself with Sadasivaraya of Vijayanagar. Ibrahim Adil formed an alliance with Ali Barid Sah.
Burhan first besieged Solapur but later decided to punish Ali Barid. He had till now been his
companion in all his defensive and offensive wars so far. He, therefore, raised the siege of Solapur
and marched against the kingdom of Bidar. He invested and besieged the fort of Kalyani. Ibrahim
marched to the relief of the fort. He met with some initial successes but was surprised by Burhan on
November 14, 1547, the day of festivities which terminated the month of fasting. He had to flee for
his life. Burhan then captured the fort of Kalyani. Ibrahim, who had fled from the field of battle
reassembled his battered forces and marched to Parenda. Parenda was easily captured by the
Bijapuris who slew many of the garrison, the rest fleeing the fort. Ibrahim put one of his officers in
command of the fort and retired to Bijapur. After the capture of Kalyani Burhan moved on to
Parenda.
1Grant Duff's Marathas, 35.
178 MAHARASHTRA STATE GAZETTEER
The Adil Sahi officer at Parenda, on hearing of the approach of the Nizamsahi forces,
mounted his horse and without engaging the Nizamsahi forces fled from the fort.
Hostilities between the two states were again renewed in 1552 when Burhan again joined
hands with Sadasivraya of Vijayanagar. Sadasivraya captured the Bijapur possessions in the Raicur
doab. Burhan Nizam Sah captured Solapur. Flushed by these successes Burhan Nizam Sah and
Sadasivraya marched towards Bijapur and besieged that city. Ibrahim withdrew from his capital.
Burhan, however, had to leave the campaign half way on account of sickness and return to
Ahmadnagar where shortly afterwards he breathed his last on December 30, 1553. He was
succeeded by his son Husain. Another contestant for the throne, Haider, was unsuccessful and fled
to Bijapur. A truce now followed between Ahmadnagar and Bijapur. It was not destined to last long.
The Bijapur court became a place of asylum for the enemies of Ahmadnagar. Khvaja Jahan of
Parenda who was attacked by Husain Nizam Sah fled to Bijapur, so also the Ahmadnagar
nobleman Saif Ain-ul-mulk who had espoused the cause of Abdul Qadir against Husain Nizam Sah.
Ibrahim Adil bestowed Upon Saif Ain-ul-mulk the fiefs of the late Asad Khan Lara of Belganv and
thus made him practically the Amir-ul-umra of Bijapur. On the accession of Husain Nizam Sah, one
of his brothers, Ali, had taken refuge with Ibrahim Adil Sah. He was the nephew of Ibrahim Adil. The
truce between the two kingdoms was broken when Ibrahim Adil agreed to the suggestion of Khvaja
Jahan and Saif Ain-ul-Mulk to support the claims of Ali to the throne of Ahmadnagar. By agreeing to
their suggestion he perhaps intended to recover Solapur. Ibrahim now equipped Ali with a small
force to invade the kingdom of Ahmadnagar. He himself marched from Bijapur and besieged the
fortress of Solapur. To counter the invasion of Ibrahim Adil, Husain, after repulsing Ali, marched with
Darya Imad Sah to the relief of Solapur. Ibrahim Adil sent Saif Ain-ul-mulk against the relieving force
and closely followed him. Ain-ul-mulk, with the small contingent under his command, attacked
Husain and Darya Imad Sah. A hand to hand battle started and Ain-ul-mulk succeeded in inflicting
severe losses upon Husain Nizam Sah and Darya Imad Sah. However, complete victory eluded
Ibrahim Adil, who believed in a fake report made by one of his officers that Ain-ul-mulk had gone
over to Husain Nizam Sah and had been well received. Thinking himself betrayed by Ain-ul-mulk,
Ibrahim withdrew his support to Ain-ul-mulk and retreated towards Bijapur. Husain Nizam Sah and
his ally, who were badly beaten by Ain-ul-mulk, retired to Ahmadnagar. Ain-ul-mulk, now eager to
join his master left the battlefield and marched towards the retreating army of Ibrahim Adil Sah.
Ibrahim once again misconstrued the intentions of Ain-ul-mulk and thinking that he was being
pursued by the latter hastened his march towards Bijapur. Ain-ul-mulk sent a message of loyalty to
Ibrahim Adil
HISTORY – MEDIAEVAL PERIOD 179
and requested that money should be sent to him from the treasury to reequip his exhausted army.
Ibrahim Adil Sah, however would have none of it. He treated Ain-ul-mulk with total discourtesy. He
was informed that his services were no longer needed. Orders of his dismissal were sent to him.
Ain-ul-mulk now turned a rebel and made himself the master of the tract watered by the Man and of
Ulva, Miraj and other districts in the north-western corner of the kingdom. He collected levies from
the cultivators to support his troops. He became powerful enough to defeat a contingent of the
Bijapur army. He now declared for Abdulla Ibrahim's brother who was still at Goa and inflicted a
crushing defeat upon the army led personally by Ibrahim Adil. He pursued his former master right up
to Torva, about four miles from Bijapur and proclaimed Abdulla, king. In desperation Ibrahim
appealed to Sadasivraya of Vijayanagar who sent an army of 15.000 to his succour under the
command of his brother Venkatadri. Ain-ul-mulk tried to surprise the relieving force by a night attack
upon it. He was heavily defeated and forced to flee the battle field along with his nephew Salabat
Khan. Abdulla, who was left behind was imprisoned by Ibrahim. Ain-ul-mulk reached the borders of
Ahmadnagar. He was treacherously murdered along with Salabat Khan by Husain Nizam Sah.1
Ibrahim, who had suffered irreparable
1Following are the details about Saif Ain-ul-mulk given by Ferishta:—
Some time after, Boorhan Nizam Shah dying, peace was concluded between his successor
Hoossein Nizam Shah and Ibrahim Adil Shah. The two kings had a Friendly meeting on their
borders, and parted much pleased with each other ; but this good understanding did not last long.
Khwaja Jehan Deccany, who had fled to avoid the resentment of his sovereign, Hoossein Nizam
Shah, coming to Beejapoor, inspired Ibrahim Adil Shah with hopes of retaking Sholapoor ; and for
this purpose Ibrahim Adil Shah concluded a treaty with Ramraj, and invited into his service Seif Einool-
Moolk, commander-in-chief of the army of the late Boorhan Nizam Shah, who had taken refuge
in Berar from the oppression of the present sovereign. These overtures were accepted by that
distinguished chieftain ; and the King of Beejapoor conferred on him high titles, with considerable
estates, and an immediate present of money. By his advice Ibrahim Adil Shah soon after espoused
the cause of the Prince Ally, son of Boorhan Nizam Shah, who had taken refuge at his court. It was
agreed between them, that on Ally Nizam Shah being seated on the throne of Ahmudnuggur, the
forts of Kulliany and Sholapoor should be surrendered to the King of Bejapoor. In order to effect
these objects, the Prince Ally, accompanied by a body of two thousand horse which had come with
him from Ahmudnuggur, marched to the frontier for the purpose of drawing over the noples of that
kingdom to his cause; but in this attempt he met with little success ; and Hoossein Nizam Shah
having put his army in motion, Ibrahim Adil Shah marched from Beejapoor to support the Prince
Ally, having previously distributed large sums among his troops.
Both armies met on the plains of Sholapoor, and drew up to engage. Ibrahim Adil Shah gave
the command of his right wing to Seif Ein-ool-Moolk, Geelany and Ankoos Khan, and that of the left
to Noor Khan and Imadool-Moolk, himself taking post with the household troops in the centre. The
hirwul of advanced picquets was commanded by Seif Ein-ool-Moolk who pushed on from the line
and began the action with great impetuosity ; Ibrahim Adil Shah, disapproving of his separation so
far from the main body directed that the picquets should remain nearer the line in Her the sooner to
receive support, if necessary. The general returned for answer, That his Majesty's observation was
very just; but that as he had advanced so far, to return would only give spirits to the enemy. Having
sent this message, he went on, and seized the enemy's cannon, which he spiked, and drove their
picquets back on their main body. Here, however, he was resolutely opposed by Hoossein Nizam
Shah, who commanded in person, notwithstanding which the Nizam Shahy army bagan to give way,
and must inevitably have been defeated, had the gallantry of Seif Ein-ool-Moolk met with proper
support. At this crisis, several Nizam Shahy chiefs who had been engaged on the left, advanced to
the assistance of their sovereign
180 MAHARASHTRA STATE GAZETTEER
damage in his recent conflict with Ain-ul-mulk, waged unsuccessful wars against the Portuguese in
Konkan during the last two years of his reign. He died at Bijapur in 1558 as a result of intemperate
habits. It is said that during his last illness many of his medical attendants were beheaded or
trodden to death by elephants. At the time of Ibrahim's death, both his sons Ali and Tahmasp had
incurred the displeasure of their father for their devotion to the Siah faith. They had been confined
by Ibrahim in the forts of Miraj and Belganv, respectively. Ibrahim wanted to disinherit Ali. When he
found that Tahmasp was a much more staunch supporter of Siah faith, he allowed the matters to
take their own course.
contd.
and almost surrounded Seif Ein-ool-Moolk, whose division was thrown into temporary confusion ; but still
seeing the standards of Ibrahim Adil Shah, though at a distance he as was his custom on desperate
occasions, dismounted from his horse, resolved to conquer or die. Some of the troops, on seeing him
dismount, told the King that Seif Ein-ool-Moolk, having gone over to the enemy, had just alighted to pay his
respects to Hoossein Nizam Shah. Ibrahim Adil Shah, who from the first entertained suspicions of his
fidelity, was now confirmed in them, and fled from the field without halting, till he reached Beejapoor. Seif
Ein-ool-Moolk, finding the King had fled, nobly fought his way through the enemy with great loss ; and upon
his arrival at the capital, sent word, respectfully, to his master, that he had lost all his baggage, and was
without tents or any covering for himself or his miserable followers ; he begged, therefore, an advance of
cash, to enable him to repair his losses, and appear at court according to his rank and station. The King,
who was persuaded his defeat originated in the first disobedience of his orders for the picquets to fall back,
replied, that he wanted no such insubordinate and obstinate servants, and that he might provide for himself
wherever he could. Seif Ein-ool-Moolk, who could not accuse himself of any crime, was overwhelmed with
astonishment, and sent another message to represent that he had served the King at the risk of his life with
unshaken fidelity, and had sacrificed five hundred brave relations and friends in the battle ; and that in his
present miserable situation he could not move. He stated he had no other refuge but the King's threshhold ;
and that having quitted his place of refuge at his invitation, he could not repair to any other court. The King
conceiving the latter part of Ein-ool-Moolk's message to reflect on himself, ordered the bearer of it to be
beaten and turned out of his presence.
Seif Ein-ool-Moolk, despairing of redress, had recourse to the advice of his friends how to proceed ;
and they recommended his going to his jaggeers, and raising the collections of the autumn harvest, then just
ripe, after which, should the King send a force to expel him, he might retire wherever he should see best.
This plan he accordingly adopted ; and having marched from Beejapoor to Man-Desh, collected the
revenues, and divided them among his troops. Ibrahim Adil Shah sent one of his officers with five thousand
horse to expel Ein-ool-Moolk from the country, but the royalists were defeated ; and the chief, thus urged
into revolt, growing bolder by success, collected the revenues of many districts, such as Walwa, Mirch, and
others. The King now detached against him ten thousand horse and foot, under command of Neeaz Kooly
Beg and Dilawur Khan Hubshy. These troops were also defeated ; and so many elephants and horses, with
such a quantity of valuable baggage, fell into the hands of Ein-ool-Moolk, that he began seriously to think of
establishing himself in the country as an independent chief, with which view he levied additional troops.
Ibrahim Adil Shah, at length thought it necessary to take the field in person, at the ; head of five
thousand chosen horse, three thousand foot, and a train of artillery. Ein-ool-Moolk encamped on the river
Man, and the King arrived, and halted some days on the opposite bank without attacking him. Seif Ein-ool-
Moolk could not make up his mind to retreat, and resolved not to quit the country without fighting. For three
days successively he advanced towards the King's camp, as if to engage, but as often returned; the royal
army remaining under arms on each occasion from dawn till, sunset, expecting the attack. On the fourth day,
Ein-ool-Moolk put his troops again in motion; but the King supposing that his design was only to parade, as
on the preceding days, neglected to make preparations for his reception, the common guards of the camp
only getting under arms. At length the enemy's standard appearing in sight, Ibrahim Adil Shah marshalled
his troops in great haste, and moved out of the, camp to give battle. Ein-ool-Moolk, averse from engaging
the king in person, con-; suited with his friends; observing, that it was reason to fight against the royalstandard;
to which all assented except Moortuza Khan Anjoo who remarked, that
HISTORY – MEDIAEVAL PERIOD 181
ALI ADI SHAH
The accession of Ali to the throne was secured by Muhammad Kisvar Khan, the son of Asad
Khan on hearing the news of Ibrahim's death. He moved to Miraj to Ali's support. On his accession
Ali Adil Sah again made the Siah faith the religion of the state. For the support extended to him by
Kisvar Khan, he made him the commander in chief of the Bijapur army. Like his father, Ali was
eager to recover Solapur. With this object he sent an embassy to Ahmadnagar. He made similar
efforts to secure the help of Vijayanagar for the recovery of Solapur. In the latter he was more
successful than in the former. Husain on his part formed an alliance with Ibrahim Qutb Sah and
invading the Bijapur territory, besieged Gulburga. But he was worsted by the joint armies of Bijapur
and Vijayanagar. Sadasivraya succeeded in detaching Ibrahim from his alliance with Husain Nizam
Sah. In consequence, Husain Nizam Sah was forced to raise the siege and retire to Ahmadnagar.
Husain Nizam Sah was now stuck up in his confrontation with the Portuguese. Seizing this
opportunity, Ali Adil Sah again pressed Husain Nizam into ceding Solapur and Kalyani. Husain,
however, remained equally adamant and refused to cede the fortresses. Now Ali Adil Sah drew
Ibrahim Qutb Sah into an alliance against Ahmadnagar. Husain Nizam. Sah, on the other hand,
entered into a treaty with Darya Imad Sah of Berar. Ali Adil Sah, now with the full support of
Golconda and Vijayanagar, again put forth his demand for the cession of Kalyani and Solapur. On
the refusal of Husain Nizam Sah he attacked Ahmadnagar. The allied armies marched right up to
contd.
the standards did not fight, and there was no danger of shedding royal blood. Ein-ool-Moolk,
satisfied with this casuistry, and finding it too late to hesitate. charged the royalists, and attacking
the centre, where Ibrahim Adil Shah was posted, pressed on it so vigorously that it was soon thrown
into disorder, and the King fled ; upon which his whole line broke, and victory declared in favour of
Ein-ool-Moolk, who seized the royal canopy, elephants, and artillery, besides all the tents and
baggage. The King shut himself up in the citadel of Beejapoor ; and so great was the alarm of the
people of the town, that the ruin of the royal family was pronounced to be inevitable. Seif Ein-ool-
Moolk following up his success, appeared before Beejapoor where he for several days assaulted
various parts of the city, and endeavoured to cut off the supplies.
In this exigency, Ibrahim Adil Shah applied to the Hindoo prince Ramraj for assistance,
sending him a present of 1,200,000 boons, upon which he despatched his brother Venkatadry, with
a considerable force, to expel the enemy. Seif Ein-ool-Moolk, in imitation of Assud Khan, thought to
surprise the infidel's camp but Venkata dry having intelligence of his designs, ordered his troops to
be on their guard, and having procured long faggots, with cloths steeped in oil bound round one end
of each commanded his followers, upon the alarm being given, to light them, and holding them up
as high as possible, afford the troops a full sight of the enemy. Ein-ool Moolk, in prosecution of his
intentions having one night chosen two thousand men for the purpose, marched, accompanied by
Sulabat Khan, to the enemy's camp, which he was allowed to enter unmolested ; upon the
preconcerted signal being given, all the brands were instantly lighted up, and Venkatadry, who was
fully prepared, fell upon the enemy with such success, that above five hundred of them were slain
before the deteachment could clear the camp. Ein-ool-Moolk and Sulabat Khan with the greatest
difficulty made their escape ; and losing the road through the darkness of the night, a report spread
through his camp on the return of some of the fugitives that Ein-ool-Moolk was killed. The troops
became panic-struck at their situation, and separating in all directions during the night, fled to
different quarters. Ein-ool-Moolk and Sulabut Khan, with two hundred horse, about daylight arriving
at their ground, and seeing it deserted, fled by the route of Man-Desh to the dominion of Hoossein
Nizam Shah, where they sought protection, but were basely assassinated by his treachery.
(Briggs's Ferishta, Vol. III, pp. 105—11)
182 MAHARASHTRA STATE GAZETTEER
Ahmadnagar which they invested. The whole territory or Ahmadnagar was laid waste by the
combined armies of Bijapur, Golconda and Vijayanagar1. Husain Nizam Sah now withdrew from his
capital and retired to Paithan where he summoned Darya Imad Sah to his aid. He also succeeded in
detaching Ibrahim Qutb Sah from the alliance. Ibrahim left the alliance and straightway marched to
Golconda. He supplied the Ahmadnagar fort with provisions and detailed one of his generals to the
assistance of Husain Nizam Sah. Though the desertion of Qutb Sah had no material effect upon the
strength of the besieging armies the activities of Jahangir Khan, the Berar general caused great
hardships to the allies and forced them to raise the siege of Ahmadnagar. The allies then marched
to Asti and from thence sent a force to besiege Parenda. Husain Nizam Sah, who had been reduced
to miserable straits, now sued for peace. The allies agreed to peace on their own conditions. Husain
Nizam Sah was forced to cede Kalyani to Bijapur. Ali Adil then marched to Bijapur and Sadasivraya
returned to Vijayanagar. The peace, however, did not last long. Husain Nizam brought Ibrahim Qutb
Sah over to his side and besieged the fortress of Kalyani. The news again brought Bijapur and
Vijayanagar together and their armies marched to the relief of Kalyani. They were joined by the
armies of Bidar and Berar. Husain and Ibrahim raised the siege of Kalyani and marched to meet the
armies of the allies. Unfortunately for Husain Nizam Sah his entire artillery got stuck in marshy
grounds. He had to retire to his camp. The advanced guard of Bijapur discovered the abandoned
guns, captured all of them and then attacked Ibrahim Qutb Sah. Ibrahim Qutb Sah was routed and
fled the battle field. The allied armies now attacked the base camp of Husain Nizam and Ibrahim
Qutb Sah and sacked it. Ibrahim now retired to his country, and
1There is no evidence to support the Muslim historians account of the alleged orgies
committed by the Hindu armies of Vijayanagar.
This is how Ferishta gives the details.
Ally Adil Shah's enmity towards Hoossein Nizam Shah daily increasing, he intimated to him,
by a message sent through Shah Hoossein Anjoo, that it was clear to the whole world that the forts
of Kulliany and Sholapoor belonged to his family by ancient right, though, owing to the misfortunes
of his father, they had pa sed into the hands of the Nizam Shahy government, but that now he
hoped they would both be restored, or at all events, the former. Shah Hoossein Anjoo failed in every
argument in prevailing on Hoossein Nizam Shah to give up either place ; and Ally Adil Shah sent
another ambassador to Ahmudnuggur, representing that passion and obstinacy in the discussion of
political questions of such importance did not become great kings ; and that to prevent ill
consequences, he trusted Hoossein Nizam Shah would see the justice of giving up the forts, when
the friendship between their states would increase ; but if not, he might expect the march of an army
into his dominions, which should be laid waste without mercy.
Hoossein Nizam Shah, inflamed by this message, sent back reply so indecent as to be unfit to
relate ; which increased the anger of Ally Adil Shah to such a degree, that changing the colour of his
canopy and standard from yellow to green, the colour of Hoossein Nizam Shah, by way of defiance
(according to the custom of the Deccan), challenged him to come and reclaim his honour.
In the year 966, A. D. 1558, Ally Adil Shah having invited Ramraj to join him, those two
monarchs invaded the territory of Hoossein Nizam Shah, and laid it waste so thoroughly, that from
Purenda to Joonere, and from Ahmudnuggur to Dowlutabad, not a vestige of population was left.
The infidels of Beejanuggur, who for many years had been wishing for such an opportunity, left no
cruelty unpractised. They
HISTORY – MEDIAEVAL PERIOD 183
Husain Nizam Sah, hotly pursued by the allies, fled towards junnar. Ali Adil Sah and Sadasivraya
continued their advance in the Ahmadnagar territory and besieged Ahmadnagar. Ali Adil, however,
advised Sadasivraya to raise the siege of Ahmadnagar and pursue the retreating Ahmadnagar
armies. Accordingly, the siege was raised. The allies closely pursued Husain towards Junnar.
Husain had, however, retreated in the hilly regions of the western ghats and was secure. The rainy
season was now fast approaching. It was useless to follow the pursuit. The allies, therefore,
retreated and again invested the Nizamsahi capital of Ahmadnagar. Now the same calamity befell
the Vijayanagar camp as had in previous years befallen the armies of Ahmadnagar. Vijayanagar lost
heavily. The allies now grew weary of the campaign, raised the siege of Ahmadnagar and retired to
their respective countries. Ali Adil Sah on his way to Bijapur, halted at Naldurg and rebuilt that fort.
During all these years the Muslims Sultans had lost heavily to Vijayanagar. Substantial
chunks of the territory of Bijapur and Golconda were annexed by Vijayanagar. Sadasivraya had
contd.
insulted the honour of the Mussulman women, destroyed the mosques, and did not respect even the
sacred Koran. Hoossein Nizam Shah, by the advice of Kasim Beg Mukeem, Shah Jafur, and other
ministers, declining any opposition in the field, retired to Peitun, and after some time purchased
peace by giving up Kulliany to Ally Adil Shah ; but the enemy had no sooner retired than he entered
into an alliance with Ibrahim Kootb Shah, and marched in conjunction with him to retake the fort he
had just surrendered. Ally Adil Shah on receiving intelligence of this league again despatched
Kishwur Khan and Aboo Toorab to Beejanuggur, to solicit aid from Ramraj ; and also invited Ally
Bereed Shah to enter into the same confederacy. Ramraj, who knew the character of the King
judging that should he refuse his assistance he would make peace with the Mussulman powers, and
attempt the recovery of Moodkul and Rachore, marched to join him with fifty thousand horse and a
great army of foot. The allies met on the banks of Krishna, and moved immediately towards
Kulliany, which was then besieged by the Nizam Shahy and Kootb Shahy forces.
Ibrahim Kootb Shah, according to his usual mode of embracing the strongest party, quitted
his ally, and came over suddenly to Ally Adil Shah ; upon which Hoossein Nizam Shah, without
delay, retreated to Ahmudnuggur. The allies followed him with the utmost expedition to that city, and
he did not think it prudent to remain there, but having thrown a reinforcement and supplies into the
citadel, retired to the town of Joonere. The three sovereigns laid siege to Ahmudnuggur, and sent
detachments on all sides to lay waste the country. The Hindoos of Beejanuggur committed the most
outrageous devastations, burning and razing the buildings, putting up their horses in the mosques,
and performing their abominable idolatrous worship in the holy places. The siege was pushed with
the greatest vigour, but the garrison held out with resolution hoping that at the approach of the
monsoon the enemy would be necessitated to retire. In this they were not disappointed ; for when
the rains set in, the floods, the damp, and the want of provisions, caused the utmost distress to
prevail in the camp. At the same time, also, Ibrahim Kootb Shah maintained a secret
correspondence with the besieged, to whom he privately sent in grain. Ally Adil Shah, suspecting
the causes of the obstinacy of the besieged, and, probably, scandalised by the behaviour of his
Hindoo allies, persuaded Ramraj to raise the siege, and to march against Sholapoor. Upon their
arrival within some miles of that fortress, Kishwur Khan, feeing the danger of the aggrandisement of
the Hindoo prince, represented to Ally Adil Shah, that if the fort of Sholapoor should fall, Ramraj
would most probably keep it for himself, and extend his views to the neighbouring countries ; it
seemed, therefore, advisable to endeavour to reduce the fort of Nuldoorg, and to leave the
reduction of Sholapoor to a more convenient time, when there would be no apprehension of any
rivalry for its possession. Ally Adil Shah, approving this advice, persuaded Ramraj to alter his views,
and move to the place where Raja Nul had formerly erected a strong fortress. Here, after throwing
up an extensive work of stone, the allies took leave of each other, and returned to their several
dominions. (Briggs's Ferishta, Vol. III, pp. 119-22).
184 MAHARASHTRA STATE GAZETTEER
humiliated the so-called mighty Sultans of Ahmadnagar and Bijapur on and off the field of battle.
This realisation ultimately came to them and they now decided to curb the power of Vijayanagar. It
had posed a serious danger to their existence. Bidar and Golconda did not matter. The two
inveterate foes, Bijapur and Ahmadnagar, were brought together by a matrimonial alliance. Ali's
sister Hadiyya Sultana was married to Murtaza, Husain's heir, and Husain's daughter Cand Bibi was
married to Adil Sah. The fortress of Solapur constituted the dowry of Cand Bibi. The vexed question
of Solapur thus appeared to have been ended at least for the time being. It was now not necessary
for the allies to seek an excuse for an attack against Vijayanagar. Ali Adil Sah demanded the
restitution of Bagalkot and the Raicur doab. This demand was met with an insolent reply from
Vijayanagar. The Bijapur envoy was driven from Vijayanagar. The four Sultans now moved against
Vijayanagar and marched to Talikota which gave the name to the battle fought shortly afterwards
between Vijayanagar and the four Muslim Sultanates of the Deccan. Sadasivraya of Vijayanagar
was also not a mean opponent. He marched to meet his adversaries with a huge force. Ali Adil Sah
had joined his allies with an army of 80,000, with; over 700 elephants. The army of Vijayanagar was
camped on the right or south bank of Krsna while the allies had camped on the left bank.
Sadasivraya had raised powerful batteries at places where he expected the allies to cross at Ingalgi.
On the face of it it was impossible for the allies to cross the ford. They decided to outmanoeuvre the
Vijayanagar army by inducing it to leave its positions. According to plan, the allied forces started
moving up the river bank as if to ford the river 10 miles higher up from their position at Dhanur. The
Vijayanagar army also started pulling its forces on the opposite bank in line with the allied armies.
When the allies saw the defences at Ingalgi dismantled by the Vijayanagar army they doubled back
during the night and crossed the ford, abandoned so thoughtlessly by the enemy. The allies now
took up their positions and moved for a frontal assault upon the enemy. They were, however, met
with a flight of rockets. A fierce battle raged between the contestants. The allied centre was
commanded by Husain Nizam Sah. He not only withstood his own ground, but attacked the enemy
and gradually succeeded in pushing them back. At this stage Ramraja the prime minister of
Vijayanagar dismounted from the elephant and entered his palanquin. He was soon surrounded by
a contingent of Ahmadnagar army and made a prisoner. He was taken before Husain Nizam Sah,
who ordered his head to be cut off. The army of Vijayanagar became dispirited and fled the field,
leaving thousands of dead behind. Heavy losses were inflicted upon them and the victors gained
enormous booty. The allies now marched to Vijayanagar and gave themselves up to plunder, loot
and arson. The Bijapuris completed the reconquest of Raicur doab and only the mutual jealousies
between Bijapur and Ahmadnagar prevented the complete division and absorption of the
HISTORY – MEDIAEVAL PERIOD 185
territories of Vijayanagar by these two kingdoms. The allies then retired to their respective
kingdoms. Tirumala, the brother of Ramraja established himself at Penukonda.
Husain Nizam Sah died shortly afterwards and was succeeded by his son Murtaza Nizam
Sah. Ali Adil now joined Murtaza Nizam Sah in the latter's invasion against Tufal Khan of Berar.
Both the Sultans attacked the kingdom of Berar and marched up to Ellicpur, laying waste the whole
territory of the kingdom, Ali Adil had perhaps joined Murtaza to serve as a counterbalancing force
against Murtaza. The attempts of Tufal Khan, who had fled to Gavil, to detach him from the alliance
succeeded. Tufal Khan offered Ali Adil Sah 50 elephants and the equivalent of 40,000 in cash to
which Ali Adil Sah easily succumbed. He subsequently left his ally to fight Tufal Khan alone on the
pretext of the approaching monsoon. This perhaps shows the esteem in which the Deccani Sultans
held each other. The great alliance which the Sultans of Ahmadnagar, Bijapur, Golconda and Bidar
had formed against the common foe of Vijayanagar broke up. The Sultans now started fighting
among themselves. The traditional hostility between the kingdoms of Ahmadnagar and Bijapur
came to the fore in the year 1567 when Ali Adil Sah invaded the territory of the kingdom of
Ahmadnagar and captured the fort of Kondana. He sent Kisvar Khan, one of his generals: with a
strong force towards Bid. He routed a contingent of Ahmadnagar troops sent against him at Kaij and
established his headquarters at Dharur where he built a strong fortress.
Murtaza Nizam Sah now took over the reins of the government from his mother. He marched
to Dharur with extraordinary speed and alacrity. He attacked the Dharur fortress with whatever
troops he had. A chance shot from Cangiz Khan, his general, instantaneously killed Kisvar Khan.
The panic stricken Bijapur garrison fled the fort which was occupied by Murtaza Nizam Sah. When
the news of the investment of Dharur reached Bijapur, Ali Adil sent his general Ain-ul-mulk with
10,000 troops to the relief of the besieged garrison. He was, however, met half way by Cangis
Khan, who had been sent by Murtaza Nizam Sah against him. Cangiz Khan inflicted a crushing
defeat upon Ain-ul-mulk throwing his ranks in complete disorder.
Murtaza Nizam Sah was now ready to invade the kingdom of Bijapur. He formed an alliance
with, Ibrahim Qutb Sah of Golconda. They met at Waghdari. The combined forces moved into the
territory of Bijapur. Developments were, however, taking place in Bijapur. One of the sons of Sah
Tahir, the famous minister of Burhan Nizam Sah, Abul Hasan, was the minister of Ali Adil Sah. The
aggression against the kingdom of Bijapur by Murtaza raised doubts in the mind of Ali Adil, about
the complicity of Sah Abul Hasan in this invasion. Ali Adil, threatened Abul Hasan with dire
consequences. Ibrahim Qutb Sah sent a friendly letter to Ali Adil assuring him of help.
186 MAHARASHTRA STATE GAZETTEER
Abul Hasan pleaded his innocence with Ali Adil Sah. He also sent an urgent request to Murtaza
Nizam Sah to retire from the territory of Bijapur. He also sent a copy of the letter written by Qutb
Sah, representing to Murtaza the duplicity of his ally. Murtaza now got wild, attacked his ally's camp
and sent him in headlong flight to Golconda. He then retired to Ahmadnagar.
In 1570 Bijapur, Ahmadnagar, the Zamorin of Calicut and the king of Achin in Sumatra formed
an alliance against the Portuguese with a view to conquer their possessions in the east. It was
decided that Ali Adil should take Goa and Ahmadnagar should invest Caul. In 1570 Ali Adil Sah,
with his general Nuri Khan, opened the siege of Goa with a hundred thousand men, 2,140 war
elephants and 350 guns big as well as small. This army occupied several posts near Goa. So
confident was Ali Adil of his victory that he had parcelled out the different offices of Goa among his
nobles and had allotted among them certain Portuguese ladies of noted beauty. The Portuguese
had hardly 700 men under arms and the defence preparations consisted of indifferently manned and
equipped boats. With these defences the Portuguese put up a stubborn fight, under their viceroy
Domi Luisle Ataide. They crossed to the mainland several times, carried out several sorties and
captured many prisoners. In 1571 the garrison was reinforced by several squadrons of fighting men.
The Portuguese now grew bold. They attacked the besiegers, destroyed battery positions,
plundered villages and killed many men of the enemy. The continued siege, however, did not
dampen the enthusiasm of Ali Adil. In April 1571 an engagement lasting for four days took place
between 5,000 Bijapuris under Suleman Aga and 2,000 Portuguese under their viceroy in which the
Bijapuris were defeated. The siege continued till August and the Bijapur losses were placed at
12,000 men, 300 elephants, 4,000 horses and 6,000 draught bullocks. The failure of the siege
forced Ali to retire. The Portuguese similarly mauled the forces of Murtaza Nizam Sah at Caul
forcing him to sign a humiliating treaty with them. The heavy defeats Ahmadnagar and Bijapur
received at the hands of the Portuguese had, however, the effect of creating more friendly feeling
between the two kingdoms1. In the following year the two kingdoms decided that Ahmadnagar
should conquer the eastern regions while Bijapur should move south. Accordingly Bijapur captured
Adoni2 and Bankapur. Its supremacy is said to
1Faria-e-Souza in Kerr's Voyages, VI 423-429.
2Following is an account of the capture of Adoni by Ali Adil Shah:—
In the following year Ally Adil Shah marched to Goa, in order to recover it out of the hands of
the Europeans ; but he retreated without effecting any object, after the loss of a vast number of his
troops. He next moved against the fortress of Adony, which had hitherto resisted all the efforts of the
Mahomedans. This fort was now in possession of one of the principal officers of the late Ramraj,
who on the death of his master, had assumed independence. Ankoos Khan was despatched on this
service with eight thousand horse, a body of infantry, and a considerable train of artillery. Several
indecisive actions Were fought on the plain ; till at length the chief shut himself up in the fortress,
which, though well supplied with stores and provisions, yet, owing to the vigour with which Ankoos
Khan carried on the siege,
HISTORY – MEDIAEVAL PERIOD 187
have been acknowledged along the west coast south of Goa to Barcealor in south Kanara1. Murtaza
Nizam Sah, now alarmed by the growing power of Bijapur, formed alliance with Golconda and
marched against Bijapur. However, hostilities were avoided by the timely intervention of Cangiz
Khan of Ahmadnagar and Sah Abul Hasan of Bijapur. Ali Adil now turned his arms against
Vehkatadri of Vijayanagar. He invaded his capital of Penuconda. The city was on the point of falling
to Adil Sahi forces when Vehkatadri succeeded in seducing Hundia Tamma Naik, the chief of the
Maratha cavalry numbering about 9,000 in the Adil Saha army to his side. The Bijapur army was so
harassed by the Maratha cavalry that Ali Adil was forced to raise the siege and retire to Bijapur. Ali
Adil took revenge later by inviting the Marathas to Bijapur subsequently and destroying them2. In the
meanwhile Murtaza Nizam Sah had completed the conquest of Berar which he annexed to the
kingdom of Ahmadnagar (1574 A.D.) Murtaza now turned his arms against Bidar by forming a
league with Ibrahim Qutb Sah of Golconda. To save himself, Ali Band appealed to Ali Adil Sah for
help. He obtained it by agreeing to surrender among other possessions, two handsome eunuchs in
his service. Ali Adil had long coveted them. The assistance received from Ali Adil forced Murtaza to
raise the siege of Bidar and retire to his kingdom. There he was faced with the prospects of a
rebellion by his brother Burhan. The rebellion was put down. Burhan fled to Bijapur. A year before
his death in 1580, Ali Adil being childless, had, appointed Ibrahim, the son of his brother Tahmasp
as his successor. As stated earlier Ali Barid had already dispatched the two eunuchs whose
company Ali Adil so eagerly desired. The eunuchs were loath to leave their master. They had no
option. One of the eunuchs was ushered in the palace. He resented the advances made by Ali Adil
Sah. He quietly drew the dagger hidden about his person and stabbed Ali Adil Sah to death. The
eunuchs were, however, cut to
contd.
it submitted to his arms. Adony is situated on the summit of a high hill and contains many ponds and
fountains of clear and sweet water, with numerous princely structures. The rays of Beejanuggur,
regarding it as impregnable, had all contributed to make it a convenient asylum for their families ;
and it was fortified with eleven walls, one within another so that it appeared impossible to reduce it
by force ; and nothing but the close and the long blockade of Ankoos Khan could have effected that
object. (Briggs's Ferishta, Vol. III, pp. 134-35).
1Rice's Mysore I, 235.
2Ally Adil Shah having settled his new conquests appointed a Brahmin to superintend the
revenue, and left Moostufa Khan commander-in-chief of the whole army conferring the office of
vakeel upon Afzul Khan Shirazy ; after which he returned to Beejapoor. Moostufa Khan, who was a
faithful servant, and anxious to extend the power of his sovereign, sent, not long after, one of his
confidential friends to court, proposing to his majesty to march against Penkonda. Ally Adil Shah,
approving the suggestion, ordered his forces to assemble and moved to Adony ; from whence on
the junction of Moostufa Khan with the troops of the Carnatic, he proceeded towards Penkonda. On
his approach, Venkatadry, committing the place to the care of one of his nobles, retired with his
treasuries and effects to the fortress of Chundurgeery. The King surrounded the city, blocking it up
closely for three months ; at the end of which time the garrison were nearly submitting for want of
provisions, when Venkatadry bribed Hundiatum Naik, the chief of the Bergies with
188 MAHARASHTRA STATE GAZETTEER
pieces by the palace guards. It may be mentioned here that towards the close of the reign of Ali Adil
Sah, ambassadors from the emperor Akbar visited Bijapur. The object of this embassy is not stated.
Perhaps in the Moghal court, plans were already under consideration, for the conquest of the
Deccan. Possibly the embassy was simply a token of friendly courtesy, as Ali's munificence and
patronage of the arts had drawn to Bijapur, learned men from Persia, Arabia and Turkey.
IBRAHIM ADIL SHAH
Ibrahim Adil, who succeeded Ali Adil, was nine years of age when he ascended the throne.
A regency was formed, with Cand Bibi, the wife of Ali Adil and the sister of Murtaza Nizam Sah, at
the head. Kamal Khan Dakhani was appointed as the prime minister., The first eight or ten years of
rule during the minority of Ibrahim Adil witnessed a struggle for power among the leading nobles of
the kingdom of Bijapur. Kamal Khan showed utter disrespect for the regent Cand Bibi. He tried to
usurp power. Cand Bibi took help from another Deccani nobleman Kisvar Khan. She forced Kamal
Khan to flee the capital While he was attempting to flee Bijapur, he was intercepted by Kisvar
Khan's men and executed. Murtaza saw in this, an opportunity to invade that Kingdom. Salabat
Khan, the prime minister of Ahmadnagar sent a force under Bahizad-ul-mulk to besiege' Naldurg
and induced Ibrahim Qutb Sah to join him. Kisvar Khan sent a force against the contingent of 8,000
horse coming from Golconda to join Bahizad-ul-mulk. This force defeated the Qutb Sahi contingent
and put it to flight. Another force was sent under Ain-ul-mulk to oppose Bahizad-ul-mulk. Ain-ul-mulk
attacked Bahizad-ul-mulk near Dharasiv when the latter was completely off his guard and routed
him. A huge booty, including 150 elephants, fell into the hands of Bijapuris. Kisvar Khan demanded
the elephants as his prize. This was refused by the field officers who forced him to relinquish his
regency. Controversy developed among the foreigners and Siddis as to who should succeed Kisvar
Khan, the former demanding the reinstatement of Sayyad Murtaza Ardistani and
contd.
twenty-four lacks of rupees and five elephants, to desert with his followers from the King, and
harass his camp ; which he did so effectually, that Ally Adil Shah was compelled to raise the siege,
and to retire to the neighbourhood of Bunkapoor from whence he shortly after marched back to
Beejapoor, leaving Moostufa Khan to protect the frontiers.
In the year 986, the Bergies committing excesses in their jageers about Beejanug gur, the
King sent Moortuza Khan Anjoo against them with three thousand foreign archers, a number of
Deccanies and Abyssinians, with whom they carried on skirmishes for nearly a whole year without
being at all weakened. Moostufa Khan then represented to the King that it was useless sending
troops against them, and he had better prevail upon them by stratagem to come to Beejapoor, when
he might punish them in a manner worthy of their treachery. Ally Adil Shah, approving this advice,
despatched Yeesoo Pundit, and others of their friends, to invite them to return. Hundiatum Naik in
vain represented to them that it was not possible that the King could forgive a treachery which had
disappointed him of the conquest of Penkonda ; but said they were only invited to court that their
destruction might be effected. Most of the chiefs and their followers, however, returned; but
Hundiatum Naik retired to Penkonda, where he engaged in the service of Venkatadry. For some
time the King treated the Bergies with kindness, but at length put most of them to death. (Briggs's
Ferishta, Vol. III, pp. 141-42).
HISTORY – MEDIAEVAL PERIOD 189
the latter putting forth the claims of one of their own number. No compromise, however, could be
arrived at and the foreign nobility, in anger and disgust, left for their respective fiefs. The Siddis
marched to Bijapur. Haji Kisvar Khan did not remain inactive. He brought about the assassination of
his only rival Sayyad Mustafa1. This dastardly outrage by Kisvar Khan brought upon him the odium
of all the parties in the kingdom of Bijapur. With these disorders at Bijapur Salabat Khan, the
minister of Ahmadnagar, sent a force to besiege the fort of Naldurg. This was put under the
command of Sayyad Murtaza. The force was joined by a contingent of 20,000 horse from Prince
Muhammad Quli Qutb Sah of Golconda (1580 A.D.). The confusion prevailing in the court of Bijapur
rendered the dispatch of any assistance to Naldurg impossible. The fort garrison which was,
however, well supplied with provisions and ammunition, resisted stubbornly. The siege dragged on,
with the besiegers suffering heavily in men and material. Dispairing of quick success, Sayyad
Murtaza opened negotiations with the commandant of the fort offering him bribe and a post of high
rank in the Ahmadnagar kingdom. The commandant rejected these offers with scorn and contempt
and continued the fight, in spite of no help arriving from Bijapur.
The affairs at Bijapur had taken a turn for the worse. Cand Bibi felt highly offended at the
murder of Sayyad Mustafa. She resented the high handedness of Haji Kisvar Khan. To secure his
power more firmly Kisvar Khan imprisoned Cand Bibi and confined her to the fort of Satara. This
action made Kisvar Khan highly unpopular. A group was formed against him headed by the Siddi
nobles Ikhlas Khan, Dilavar Khan and Hamid Khan. They adopted an attitude of open hostility
towards Kisvar Khan, who one day set out of the capital with Ibrahim Adil on the pretext of a hunting
tour. The opposition,
1Following are the details given by Ferishta about the assassination of Mustafa Khan:—
Kishwar Khan, informed of these designs, took steps to prevent them. He sent an order
Hinder the royal seal to Meer Noor-ood-Deen, a Jageerdar near Bunka-poor, to assassinate
Moostufa Khan, promising to reward him for the deed with the estates and honours of that
nobleman. Noor-ood-Deen, though he had been patronised by Moostufa Khan, and was indebted to
him for his present office, undertook to perform this base action. He sent the bearer of the royal
order into the fort, and at the same time private instructions by one Mahomed Ameen, addressed to
the principal officers of the garrison, informing them, that Moostufa Khan meditated to put them to
death, and to deliver up the fort to the Raja of the Carnatic, with whom he had entered into a design
to subvert the royal authority ; therefore, it was required that they should fulfil the contents of the
order intrusted to the hands of Mahomed Ameen, the bearer, and rid themselves of their
treacherous governor, for which they would be amply rewarded by the King. Mahomed Ameen,
upon his arrival at the gates of Bunkapoor, sent word to Moostufa Khan, that he had brought a letter
from the King ; upon which he was admitted with great respect, and orders were given for his
accommodation. Pretending that it was late, he desired to be excused showing the mandate till the
next morning ; and Moostufa Khan, unsuspicious of treachery, took no notice of the delay. During
the night Mahomed Ameen showed the paper to the officers of the garrison, who seeing the King's
order for the death of Moostufa Khan, agreed to put it into execution. Accordingly, while he was at
prayers the following morning, a number of them rushed upon him, and strangled him with a bowstring.
(Briggs's Ferishta, Vol. III, pp. 147-48).
190 MAHARASHTRA STATE GAZETTEER
however, was too powerful for him to resist. He, therefore, allowed the Sultan to return to the
capital. He himself fled to Ahmadnagar1 Of the trio, Ikhlas Khan assumed the regency2. He was,
however, dismissed by Cand Bibi who had returned from Satara from her confinement. She now
appointed Afzal Khan as the regent. The regency of Afzal Khan was, however, shortlived. He was
assassinated by the hot headed Siddis. They now assumed power and expelled many leading
foreigners from the city of Bijapur. Ikhlas Khan now called Ain-ul-mulk Kanani from his fief. This was
perhaps with the object of imprisoning or dismissing him. Ikhlas Khan was frustrated in his objective.
Ain-ul-mulk Kanani descended with his entire force upon the city of Bijapur. He arrested all the
leading Siddi nobles and hurled indignities upon them, by parading them through the streets of
Bijapur. It was only a chance rumour that the palace guards were coming to oppose him on behalf
of the Siddis that
1Kishwar Khan was, however, not well received at Ahmadnagar and hence he fled to
Golconda. At Golconda he was murdered by an Ardistani, a partisan of Sayyad Mustafa whose
murder had been compassed by Kishwar Khan.
2Kishwur Khan, on hearing of this league against him, gave up all thoughts of opposition. To
preserve appearances, however, as-well as to prevent his being seized by the inhabitants of the
city, he invited the young King to a feast at his own house ; but as he attended him through the
streets, the common people, and, even the women, uttered loud exclamations of abuse against him,
calling him the murderer of Syuds and the gaoler of Chand Beeby. The Regent, finding the minds of
the populace incensed against him, thought it time to prepare for his escape When he heard the
army was arrived within a day's march of the city, he prevailed on the King to go with him, on
pretence of hunting to Koolabagh, one of the royal gardens ; where, on his arrival, he expressed
fears lest the heat of the Sun should hurt his Majesty's health, and begged he would return to the
palace, promising to follow himself, as soon as he had taken a view of the gardens of Shahpoor.
The King returned agreeable to his request; when Kishwur Khan, who had a train of four hundred
horse, among whom he had distributed his jewels and money, leaving his women and children
behind in the city, took the road of Ahmudnuggur. On his arrival he found that court did not wish to
afford him protection ; on which he moved towards Golconda, the capital of Kootb Shah, where he
was shortly after assassinated by one of the elatives of Moostufa Khan, in revenge for his treachery
towards that nobleman.
The Abyssinian chieftains entered Beejapoor without opposition, and were honoured by the
young king with dresses and other marks of approbation Yekhlass Khan assumed the regency ; and
Chand Beeby, being conducted from her confinement in Satara to the capital, was again intrusted
with the cares of the young King's person.
At her request, Afzul Khan Shirazy was appointed Peshwa, and Yessoo Pundit, Moostowfy of
the kingdom ; but the new regent, not long after, put the two latter to death, on suspicion of their
entertaining designs prejudicial to his interest in concert with Chand Beeby. He banished many
officers of rank from Beejapoor, and in cojunction with Humeed Khan and Dilawur Khan ruled the
state as his caprice directed. He invited Ein-ool-Moolk from his jageer to court and on his arrival
near the city, the minister, with his two companions, went out to meet him, as a mark of respect.
Ein-ool-Moolk, seeing the three ministers with but few attendants, treacherously seized them, put
heavy fetters on them and the next morning prepared to enter the city with his prisoners upon
elephants, in order to secure the government. On his entering the city he found that the garrison had
shut the gates of the citadel, and meant to oppose him ; upon which, without securing his captives,
he withdrew with expedition, and again retired to his jageer. Yekhlass Khan and his companions,
being thus unexpectedly released, reassumed their authority ; but some of the nobility at court
opposing them, great dissensions prevailed in Beejapoor, which gave encouragement to enemies to
invade the Kingdom. (Briggs's Ferishta, Vol. III, pp. 149-51).
HISTORY – MEDIAEVAL PERIOD 191
saved them from further humiliation. No sooner had Ain-ul-mulk heard the rumour than he fled the
city of Bijapur, leaving his prisoners free. This left the Siddis again in full control of the administration
of the state.
The confusion prevailing at Bijapur gave the necessary opportunity to the Ahmadnagar and
Golconda army besieging Naldurg to penetrate deep into the Bijapur territory. They raised the siege
of Naldurg and advanced towards Bijapur, reaching within a short distance from the forts walls of
the city. The Siddis were now faced with the problem of defending the capital. The situation was
further complicated by the arrival of the foreign noblemen from their respective fiefs with an
estimated force of sixty thousand soldiers. Two of the foreign noblemen, Ain-ul-mulk Kanani and
Ankus Khan joined Sayyad Murtaza Sabzavari, the Ahmadnagar commandant of the besieging
army, with their troops. The rest of the foreign nobles remained without the city walls. They neither
expressed their willingness to make a common cause with the Africans in the defence of the capital,
nor did they, like Ain-ul-mulk and Ankus Khan, openly declare for Sayyad Murtaza Sabzavari. This
was not treachery according to the code of the Deccan. It was merely a justifiable precaution on the
part of the leaders to ensure the ascendancy of their party. Their apparent defection convinced the
people that the Siddis could not save the city. The Siddis tendered their resignation to Cand Bibi".
Once their purpose was achieved, the foreigners got ready to defend the capital1. Skilled
contingents of the Marathas and Canarese cavalry were summoned from the outlying districts to
fight a guerilla war and cut off the supplies of the besieging armies. Ain-ul-mulk now convinced the
foreigners in the armies of Ahmadnagar and Golconda that continuation of the siege operations
would be fruitless in the face of the superior strength of the Bijapur armies. Further, the arrival of
fresh reinforcements from the distant parts of the kingdom of Bijapur would
1Chand Beeby, relying on their declarations, conferred the robes of Ameer Joomlagy on Shah
Abool Hussun, son of Shah Tahir, who immediately sent off expresses with orders to encourage the
Bergy chiefs of the Carnatic to return to their duty. He also wrote to Syud Moortuza who had a
profound veneration for the family of Shah Tahir, advising him to prevail upon the allies to quit the
territories of Beejapoor ; threatening, if they did not, that when the Bereies joined the King (which
would shortly take place) their retreat should be cut off. Syud Moortuza. the Berar general, unwilling
that the efforts of the allies, under Kootb Shah and Behzad-ool-Moolk. should succeed, adopted
measures to induce them to retreat. In the first place, he sent to Ein-ool-Moolk and Ankoos Khan,
the two chiefs who had deserted from Beejapoor, recommending them to return ; observing, that it
was unworthy of them at such a moment of danger to quit the service of their king on pretence of
dislike to his ministers. They accordingly re-entered Beejapoor the same evening, where they
renewed their allegiance to Ibrahim Adil Shah. Most of the nobility and the Bergies, hearing of the
change in the administration, also hastened to court with their followers, and by the loyal exertions
of Abool Hussun in less than a month an arrny of above twenty thousand men was collected at the
capital where affairs assumed a more propitious aspect. The Bergy chiefs were detached to harass
and cut off the enemy's supplies ; and succeeded so well, that in a short time famine pervaded their
camp, and the allies repented of their expedition to Beejapoor. (Briggs's Ferishta, Vol. III, pp. 153-
54).
192 MAHARASHTRA STATE GAZETTEER
reduce the besiegers to miserable straits. There was more of a threat than persuasion in what Ainul-
mulk conveyed. Sayyad Murtaza Sabzavari decided to raise the siege and retire. The
Ahmadnagar armies withdrew accordingly. The Golconda forces occupied Gulburga on their way.
They were, however, defeated and pursued up to the borders of their kingdom by a relieving army
sent from Bijapur. Dilavar Khan, who had taken the leading part in ridding the kingdom of invaders
now assumed the control of the administration of the state. But the respite received due to the
disappearance of external danger, brought again to the fore the factional rivalries that had riddled
the state since the death of Ali Adil Sah. Jealous of the ascendency of Dilavar Khan, Ikhlas Khan
conspired to assassinate him. He attacked him in the citadel. The attempt, however, proved
abortive. He was deserted by his officers who had promised to support him. He himself was
arrested, blinded and imprisoned. One more person to loose his life in this factional struggle for
power was Sah Abul Hasan, the son of Sah Tahir. Sah Abul Hasan was arrested, blinded and
imprisoned. Shortly after, he was put to death. The execution of Sah Abul Hasan was due more to
religious than political causes. It was due to the suppression of the Siah faith and the restoration of
Sunni faith by Dilavar Khan. This was done as soon as he had assumed supreme power in the
kingdom. The Sunni faith continued to be the state religion of the kingdom of Bijapur till the
accession to the throne of Ali Adil Sah II. Dilavar Khan's regency lasted for well over eight years.'
During this period Bijapur enjoyed great prosperity. Though himself a Sunni, Dilavar Khan sought
friendship with the neighbouring Siah states of Ahmadnagar and Golconda by arranging matrimonial
relations with those states. Young Ibrahim was married to Taj Sultana the sister of the Sultan of
Golconda. Ibrahim's sister Khadija was given in marriage to Murtaza Nizam Sah's son and heir
Milan Husain.
Two English travellers Fitch and Newberry visited Bijapur in 1583 which they describe as a
very large and rich town, with lofty houses, handsome and built of stone. The inhabitants are
described as idolaters, with very numerous idols strewn in the groves about the city1. The expected
improvement in relations with Ahmadnagar did not materialise because of the postponement of the
marriage of the Bijapur princes with Miran Husain. Ibrahim Adil Sah, subsequently, invaded
Ahmadnagar and, besieged the fortress of Ausa. This threat compelled Murtaza-Nizam Sah to
celebrate the marriage of Miran Husain with; Princess Khadija. Murtaza, had, over the past few
years, been showing signs of unsettled mind. He now tried to take the lite of his son, who was
related to Ibrahim Adil. Miran Husain miraculously escaped from this attempt on his life and took
revenge by doing his father to death through suffocation in a heated bath. Ibrahim Adil Sah, who
was still at Ausa, was horror
1Harris' Voyages and Travels, I, 207-280. Hakluyt's Voyages, I, 385, Jangigny's Inde, 384.
HISTORY – MEDIAEVAL PERIOD 193
struck at this parricide. He wrote strongly to Miran Husain upbraiding him for this dastardly crime.
Miran Husain's reign was shortlived. He was murdered and his cousin Ismail was raised to the
throne. Power in Ahmadnagar now passed into the hands of Jamal Khan, who belonged to the
Mehedvi sect. He persecuted both the ,Sunnis and the Siahs. Ibrahim Adil Sah was not expected to
tolerate with equanimity these happenings in the neighbouring kingdom. The thought of the
indignities that might have been caused to his sister, the widow of the deceased Miran Husain, was
also uppermost in his mind. He, therefore, sent his minister Dilawar Khan to invade the kingdom of
Ahmadnagar. Jamal Khan, whose hands were already full with the intrigues at home, did not desire
to make the situation more complicated. He arrived at a compromise with his adversary by the
surrender of Khadija, Ibrahim's sister and the payment of 70,000 hons as war indemnity.
Ahmadnagar was, however, faced with a more serious threat from the north when Burhan, Ismail
Nizam Sah's father invaded the kingdom with the connivance of Emperor Akbar. He secured the
assistance of Raja Ali Khan of Khandes and appealed to Ibrahim Adil Sah for help. Ibrahim Adil
readily responded by sending a division of Bijapur army under Dilawar Khan. The Bijapur army
crossed the frontiers of the Ahmadnagar kingdom from the south but suffered a reverse at the hand
of Jamal Khan at Dharasiv. The situation was, however, none too promising for Jamal Khan. He
was slain in an engagement with the combined forces of Khandes and Ahmadnagar, fought at
Rohankhed in May 1591, Ismail Nizam Sah was captured and deposed by his father Burhan, who
ascended the throne under title of Burhan Nizam Sah II. The defeat suffered by Dilavar Khan put his
life in jeopardy. He fled the court of Bijapur, to enter the service of Burhan Nizam Sah. The action of
Burhan Nizam Sah in taking Dilavar under his protection irked Ibrahim Adil Sah. He strongly
protested demanding the dismissal of Dilavar Khan and restitution of 300 elephants captured from
the Bijapuris, at the battle of Dharasiv. Burhan's reply was prompt. He declared war on Bijapur and
sent an army under the command of Dilavar Khan to invade the kingdom of Bijapur. This army was
met by Ibrahim in person. Ibrahim induced Dilavar Khan to come to his camp. He then ordered him
to be seized and sent as a prisoner to Satara where he died soon after1. Another
1Ferishta gives the following account of the rise to ascendency of Dilawar Khan and hjs fall
from power :—
In the year 998, the King at the request of his minister, marched from Beejapoor, in order to
wrest the crown of Ahmudnuggur from Jumal Khan, who had set up the son of Boorhan Nizam Shah
in opposition to his father. Jumal Khan, having raised a considerable army, advanced with Ismael
Nizam Shah to within sixteen miles of the King's camp, but without any intention to engage. In this
situation he sent ambassadors with great offers to Dilawur Khan, if he would grant him peace ; but
the minister refusing to listen to any terms, and many officers at the same time deserting from Jumal
Khan, the latter, in order to secure himself from any sudden attack took up a strong post surrounded
by declivities and broken ground, at some distance from his former camp, on the banks of the
Beema., Dilawur Khan thinking his enemy weak, and feeling himself secure of victory, marched to
attack him, contrary to the
194 MAHARASHTRA STATE GAZETTEER
force of the Ahmadnagar army under Burhan which had invaded the kingdom of Bijapur succeeded
in restoring the old Hindu fort to the south of Bhima. But Ibrahim's Maratha cavalry so harasssed
this force that Burhan had to retire to the frontiers of his own kingdom. He was closely followed by
the Bijapuris. A severe defeat was inflicted upon him. Peace was concluded
contd.
express wish of the King, with thirty thousand horse, confident of taking him prisoner. Upon his arrival at the
spot where Jumal Khan was so strongly posted, he repented of his rashness, but ashamed to retire, he
halted, in hopes that all the troops would soon join. At this instant an officer from Ibrahim Adil Shah arriving,
represented that as the army was not prepared for action, the King desired he would defer it for the present,
and stay till the troops were properly organised. Dilawur Khan returned for answer that he would shortly
bring Jumal Khan bound to the presence of the King, and instantly advanced towards the enemy. Having
with great difficulty passed over much marshy ground, full of hollows, his troops, without order or proper
disposition, reached the enemy's front, when Dilawur Khan detached the Bergy cavalry to fall upon the rear,
to prevent any of the fugitives escaping. Jumal Khan seeing himself surrounded, resolved to rely on his
sword alone, and drew out his troops, prepared for a desperate resistance. In the very beginning of the
action, Ein-ool-Moolk, Ankoos Khan, and Alum Khan, who knew that Ibrahim Adil Shah was displeased with
the minister, retired with their divisions, and leaving him in the gulf of destruction, withdrew to the royal camp
at Darasun. Dilawur Khan, notwithstanding this, fought so valiantly with his own troops, that he threw the
enemy into disorder; upon which his soldiers seized the plunder of the camp, according to the loose custom
of the people of India, leaving their general with not more than two hundred horse. A party of the enemy,
who had retired in good order with their Prince, Ismail Nizam Shah, perceiving this, returned to the attack;
and Dilawur Khan, after a gallant struggle, preferring his safety to certain destruction, fled with seven
persons, among whom was the author of this history, from (he field. On his way, spies brought intelligence
that Ein-ool-Moolk with the other officers who had deserted him were hastening to the King, in hopes of
destroying his influence ; upon which he redoubled his speed, and reached Darasun before them, with three
thousand of his defeated troops, who joined him by parties on his route. Lest the victors should pursue, he
marched with the King all night towards Shahdoorg, where he arrived the next morning. Jumal Khan, after
this very unexpected success, having taken above one hundred elephants, advanced to Darasun, where the
author, who had received some wounds, and could not travel from weakness, fell into his hands, but made
his escape by a stratagem. Jumal Khan, learning that Boorhan Nizam Shah, with his allies Raja Ally Khan
and the chiefs of Berar, were advancing, moved to the northward from Darasun, followed by the Beejapoor
army, which pursued him for nearly one hundred and sixty miles. The King now thought proper to halt with
the main body, and to detach the Bergy cavalry in pursuit, in order to cut off the enemy's supplies, and to
harass him on his route. Dilawur Khan insisted that the King ought to march on without delay to the
Rohunkehra Ghat. The minister's conduct and language on this occasion gave great offence ; and Ibrahim
Adil Shah, now of an age to act for himself, and tired of being led in the trammels of the Regent, resolved to
free himself by effecting his destruction.
As all the officers of the royal household and the bodyguards were attached to Dilawur Khan, the King
was fearful of communicating his wishes to them, lest they should betray him. After much precaution, he
fixed upon two Hindoos, common servants of no note, to be his confidants on this important occasion. These
he sent privately to Ein-ool-Moolk, the Ameer-ool-Omra, to complain of the unreasonable conduct of Dilawur
Khan ; and he received in answer solemn assurances of his support and assistance. After much negotiation
conducted through the two Hindoos, it was agreed that the King should, on a certain night when Dilawur
Khan was asleep, repair suddenly to the camp of Ein-ool-Moolk, which was only a mile distant, where he
was to be joined by him, by Alum Khan, and by Ankoos Khan, who would faithfully obey his commands.
Ibrahim Adil Shah, relying on these promises, on the night of fourteenth of Rujub 998, came out of his
private apartments, and commanded Kufshdar Khan to bring him a horse. The keeper of the stables refused
obedience, saying that he dared not comply without the orders of Dilawur Khan. Kufshdar Khan, provoked at
this insolence, gave him several blows ; upon which the grooms of the stables became terrified, and brought
horses immediately. The King, mounting, issued forth, attended by his servants from his tents. On the way
Elias Khan, his nurse's son, who was upon guards, running up to him, asked the cause of his movement,
and received for answer that the present was not a time for explanation, but he should know if he chose to
attend him; which he immediately did, with rather
HISTORY – MEDIAEVAL PERIOD 195
between Bijapur and Ahmadnagar at the intercession of Muhammad Quli Qutb Sah of Golconda
and Raja Ali Khan of Khandes. Burhan agreed to the humiliating condition of Ibrahim Adil of
personally supervising the demolition of the works he had constructed at Mangalvedha in the district
of Solapur. With his power now established Ibrahim turned his attention to the spread of his
kingdom.
In 1594, Ismail, the elder brother of Ibrahim Adil Sah revolted. Burhan Nizam Sah, returning
from his unsuccessful campaign against the Portuguese decided to take advantage of the
confusion. He invaded the kingdom of Bijapur with a view to support the cause of Ismail. He
advanced as far as Parenda. In the meanwhile, however. Ibrahim had defeated and killed his
brother before any help could be rendered to him by Burhan
contd.—
less than a hundred horse. When he arrived within a short distance of the camp of Ein-ool-Moolk he halted,
till that nobleman, with Alum Khan, and Ankoos Khan, joined him. As soon as the King's march became
known, several officers, among whom was myself, with about three thousand soldiers, hastened to join him
during the night.
Dilawur Khan, though above eighty years of age, had devoted that night to a beautiful virgin of the
Deccan, whom he had long sought to gain, so that, though several emissaries frequently requested
admittance to inform him of the King's flight, his attendants, who had received the strictest orders not to
disturb him, refused to tell him ; a circumstance which gave full time for Ibrahim Adil Shah to complete his
designs. Towards sunrise, the minister was roused from his dream of pleasure, and with his sons and six
thousand horse, with many elephants, followed his sovereign in hopes that on his arrival, the King would be
deserted by his friends, and be again obliged to throw himself into his hands, when he came in sight of the
royal army; the King ordered Ein-ool-Moolk to prepare to oppose him ; but that nobleman sent word privately
to the minister, offering to stand neutral while he attempted to carry off the King. Dilawur Khan, encouraged
by this assurance, stopped his followers at a little distance, and coming on with a hundred horse and four
elephants close to the King, addressed him, saying that marching at night was extremely improper, but
hoped the King would now return to his encampment. Ibrahim, enraged at this insolence, exclaimed, "Will no
one punish this traitor." Upon which an inferior officer of the bodyguard, named Adeena Khan, spurring his
horse up to Dilawur Khan, gave him a wound with his sabre, and was preparing to inflict another stroke,
when the minister's horse, rearing at the flashing brightness of the weapon, threw him; and his elephant
drivers rushing between him and Adeena Khan, he had time to escape to his own troops, whom he
endeavoured to lead on against the King ; but they hesitated to assault their sovereign, and many of them
even deserted to him. Dilawur Khan, overwhelmed with confusion, effected his escape to Ahmudnuggur; but
his son Kumal Khan was overtaken at Darasun by the royalists, and put to death.
The King, having successfully got rid of his dangerous enemy, sent orders to all his nobility to hasten
from their jageers without delay, and to make preparations to march against Boorhan Nizam Shah II. He first
sent the Bergy chiefs, with six thousand horse, to cut off all communication and supplies from the enemy's
camp ; and in the month of Shaban, having appointed Roomy Khan Deccany, commander of his army,
detached him at the head of ten thousand horse, and soon after Elias Khan was sent to reinforce him with
three thousand of the household troops. The Bergy cavalry greatly distressed the enemy, defeating several
detachments sent against them; till at last Boorhan Nizam Shah proceeded in person to attack them. Unable
to oppose regular troops the Bergies recrossed the Beema, which was then fordable, and a lucky flood of
the torrents from the mountains having swelled the river immediately after, prevented their being pursued ;
upon which Boorhan Nizam Shah returned to his lines. A famine and pestilence now prevailed to a great
extent in the enemy's camp, carrying off great numbers of men and animals, and obliged him to retire some
marches towards his own country in order to obtain relief. When he had received supplies of provisions, and
the pest had somewhat abated, Boorhan Nizam Shah moved again with a design to lay siege to the fortress
of Sholapoor but was opposed on his march by Roomy Khan and Elias Khan, who defeated a principal part
of his army under Noor Khan, Ameer-ool-Omra of Berar, and took a hundred elephants and four hundred
horses. (Briggs's Ferishta, Vol. III, pp. 163-169 and pp. 173-174)
196 MAHARASHTRA STATE GAZETTEER
Nizam Sah. Ibrahim was now free to march against Burhan Nizam Sah. He engaged the
Ahmadnagar troops at Parenda and inflicted a crushing defeat upon them1. Burhan Nizam Sah died
shortly afterwards. Ibrahim, his elder son, who succeeded him, under the advice of Ikhlas Khan,
declared war on Bijapur. The Ahmadnagar armies marched towards the frontiers of Bijapur and in
spite of the efforts of Miyan Manju to avoid actual hostilities, a severe action was fought with the
Bijapuris. The Bijapuris overwhelmed the Ahmadnagar armies. Ibrahim Nizam Sah was killed. This
defeat closed the hostilities between the two kingdoms for the time being. Ibrahim Adil Sah returned
in triumph to Bijapur.
The death of Ibrahim Nizam Sah caused serious trouble in the kingdom of Ahmadnagar. They
are interesting in connection with Bijapur as they first led to the Moghal intervention in the affairs of
the Deccan. The kingdom of Ahmadnagar was now divided into two factions one headed by Cand
Bibi who espoused the cause of Bahadur, the infant son of Ibrahim Nizam Sah. The other party
headed by Ikhlas Khan supported Ahmad, who was alleged to be the son of Khudabanda, the son
of Burhan Nizam Sah I. On August 16, 1595 Ikhlas Khan proclaimed him Sultan of Ahmadnagar. He
was proved to be an imposter.
1Ferishta has given the following account of the confrontation between Ahmadnagar and
Bijapur:—
Not long after these events, Boorhan Nizam Shah, entering into alliance with the Ray of
Penkonda, resolved again to invade the territories of Ibrahim Adil Shah, and accordingly despatched
Moortuza Khan Anjoo, at the head of ten thousand horse with orders to reduce Shahdoorg and
Sholapoor, while his ally laid siege to some of the forts on the frontiers of the Carnatic. Moortuza
Khan Anjoo advanced as far as Purenda, when finding that the Ray of Penkonda had not yet begun
his march, he thought proper to halt; but sent out detachments to lay waste and plunder the
adjacent country. These troops received a severe check from those of Ibrahim Adil Shah; and their
commander, Oozbuk Khan, was killed in the action, which struck the rest of the army with terror,
and stopped their operations. In the month of Rujub, Boorhan Nizam Shah was taken dangerously ill
of dysentery. The news of this event occasioned great commotions in the army at Purenda, where
dissensions arose among the chiefs ; and Moortuza Khan, with many of his friends, fearing
assassination from the mutinous officers, left his command and retired to Ahmudnuggur. At the
same time Khuleefa Arab and Kuzilbash Khan fled for refuge to Ibrahim Adil Shah. Boorhan Nizam
Shah, wasted in body by illness, and in mind by the dissensions of his officers, died. He was
succeeded by his son Ibrahim, and Meean Munjoo Deccany became regent of the kingdom. The
young king's mother, however, who was an Abyssinian, gave so much encouragement to the chiefs
of her own nation, that the power of the minister's office was withheld from him; and the upstart
Abyssinians behaved so disrespectfully to the Beejapoor ambassadors, as to make them quit
Ahmudnuggur in disgust.
Ibrahim Adil Shah was so much offended at this affront' that he resolved to be revenged on
Ibrahim Nizam Shah for which purpose, on the 20th of Saban, having marched from his capital, he
encamped at Bahmunhully, and moved from thence towards Shahdoorg. Being, however, not fond
of unnecessary war, he had determined in his own mind, if ambassadors should be sent from
Ahmudnuggur with apologies for the conduct of the ministers, and professing a wish for peace, to
lay aside his expedition, and in this hope he made, designedly, but very slow marches to
Shahdoorg, where he fixed his headquarters.
Yekhlas Khan, and the Abyssinian chiefs of Ahmudnuggur, instead of endeavouring to make
peace, marched with Ibrahim Nizam Shah at the head of thirty thousand men and a great train of
artillery, to their borders, upon which Ibrahim Adil Shah, thinking delay no longer advisable,
despatched Humeed Khan with other officers of distinction against them at the same time giving
instructions that if Ibrahim Nizam Shah did not attempt marching into his country, they should refrain
from
HISTORY – MEDIAEVAL PERIOD 197
Still, he received support. Miyan Manju espoused his cause. The party supporting Ahmad,
however, soon developed differences and the Africans now proclaimed Moti, an unknown person as
Sultan. It was under these circumstances that Miyan Manju appealed to Sultan Murad, Akbar's son
and the governor of Gujarat. Akbar swiftly responded and ordered his son Murad and his
commander-in-chief Khan Khanan to proceed to the Deccan. In the meanwhile Miyan Manju had
scored a resounding victory over the Africans. The Moghals, however, had already appeared before
Ahmadnagar. Miyan Manju repented of having invoked the aid of the Emperor. His repentence,
however, came too late. All the factions in Ahmadnagar now appealed to Ibrahim Adil Sah to face
the danger which the invasion by the Moghals posed before them. Ibrahim Adil quickly realised the
real intentions of the Moghals. He thought that any inaction on his part would be suicidal. Once the
Moghals were allowed to get victory against the faction riddled Ahmadnagar Kingdom, they were
sure to turn against him. He, therefore, gave a patient hearing to the appeals made by Miyan Manju,
Abhang Khan, Ikhlas Khan and Cand Bibi and bluntly told them to sink their differences and fight the
Moghals with a strong force. He ordered a force of 25.000 horse to go to the aid of Ahmadnagar
under the command of Suhail Khan. An appeal was also sent to Quli Qutb Sah who sent 6,000
horse
contd.
hostilities. The Nizam Shahy army passed the boundaries of Beejapoor, upon which Humeed Khan
without delay attacked them : a severe action ensued, in which the Beejapoor troops were near
being defeated. The left wing having given way fled from the field, closely pursued by the right wing
of the enemy. Humeed Khan however, resolutely continued the battle with his centre and right wing.
Ibrahim Nizam Shah, who had at first remained in the rear, to be out of danger, seeing the flight of
part of the enemy's line, advanced with his household troops, which being perceived by Soheil
Khan, a eunuch who commanded the right wing of the Adil Shahy army, he charged. At this instant
the King of Ahmudnuggur's guards begged him to retire, but he would not consent, exclaiming, that
as his brother Ismail had disdained to fly from Dilawur Khan, it would be dishonourable in him to
give way before a eunuch. Having said this he drew his sabre, and pushed on his elephant towards
Soheil Khan ; but after a short struggle he received a mortal wound from an arrow, and died
immediately; his attendants took up the body, and fled towards Ahmudnuggur. The other part of the
army, engaged with Humeed Khan, learning the fate of their king, was seized with a panic, and
hastened from the field, although they had neraly gained the victory. The fugitives left all their
baggage and artillery with most of the royal elephants, to be plundered by the Beejapoor troops,
who found themselves victors when they least expected it. While Humeed Khan was enjoying the
fruits of his success, Ibrahim Adil Shah received intelligence at Shahdoorg that his army was
defeated, as, many of the fugitives of the left wing, which had broken and dispersed in the beginning
of the action, had fled as far as the royal camp, which was thrown into great consternation by their
alarming accounts. Some said most of the nobles had been slain, and that all the elephants except
one had fallen into the hands of the enemy. For three days uncertain intelligence and alarming
reports were received; but on the fourth, full accounts were brought of the unexpected victory, and
the death of Ibrahim Nizam Shah, which changed the terrors of the multitude to the extravagance of
joy. The King, notwithstanding this signal advantage, and the confused state of the enemy's
government, would not consent to invade his territories, but recalled Humeed Khan from the borders
; and in latter part of the month marched back towards Beejapoor, but did not enter that capital till
1004. He halted on the banks of the Beema, from whence he despatched a force against one of the
zemindars of the Carnatic, who, taking advantage of the war, had besieged the fortress of Adony,
now in danger of falling from want of provisions. On the 13th of Mohurrum the King made a
triumphant entry into Beejapoor, amid the acclamations of his people, who on this occasion had
adorned the streets with gold and silver tissue, velvets, brocades, other rich cloths, and costly
ornaments. (Briggs's Ferishta, Vol. III, pp. 183-187).
198 MAHARASHTRA STATE GAZETTEER
to reinforce the army under Suhail Khan. The siege of Ahmadnagar dragged on in spite of the
victories scored by the Moghals over Ikhlas Khan and Abhang Khan. The advancing armies of
Bijapur and Golconda under Suhail Khan had now reached Naldurg, and were marching rapidly
towards Ahmadnagar. When Suhail Khan had reached within thirty miles of Sultan Murad, Khan
Khanan sent a message to Cand Bibi offering to raise the siege on condition of the cession of Berar.
Seeing the severe straits to which the Ahmadnagar garrison had been reduced, Cand Bibi had no
option but to agree. The Moghals retired, and proceeded to occupy their new possession of Berar.
Miyan Manju now tried to renew the civil strife by supporting Ahmad. However, he received a
summons from Ibrahim Adil Sah who foresaw dangerous possibilities in the renewal of the strife.
Surprisingly, Miyan Manju, along with Ahmad, responded to the call and went to Bijapur. At Bijapur
both were taken into the service of Ibrahim Adil Sah. The departure of Miyan Manju did not
straighten out matters at Ahmadnagar. The new minister Muhammad Khan became too
overbearing. Cand Bibi appealed for help to Ibrahim Adil Sah. Ibrahim Adil Sah again sent Suhail
Khan with a large force to Ahmadnagar, instructing him to put himself completely at the disposal of
Cand Bibi. Muhammad Khan appealed to Khan Khanan to come to his assistance. The Moghals did
not hide their intentions towards Ahmadnagar. Hostilities soon erupted between them and
Ahmadnagar. Abhang Khan, who had been appointed in place of the dismissed minister
Muhammad Khan, appealed to Ibrahim Adil Sah. It appears that Ibrahim was determined to save
the situation at Ahmadnagar at any cost, even at the risk of inviting the odium of the Moghals. There
was no doubt that Moghals were not going to take kindly to the role of Bijapur in the conflict between
them and Ahmadnagar. Ibrahim Adil Sah sent his general Suhail Khan to the aid of Ahmadnagar.
An action was fought between the Moghal troops led by Khan Khanan and the combined forces of
Bijapur and Golconda under Suhail Khan at Sonpet on 9th February 1597. Khan Khanan inflected a
crushing defeat upon the combined forces in the action which lasted for two days. However, the
dissensions in the Moghal camp prevented them from taking advantage of the victory. The struggle
continued. In the year 1599 Ahmadnagar was besieged by the Moghals. Though she made a gallant
defence Cand Bibi was murdered in a tumult which broke out in the fort. The Moghals captured
Ahmadnagar. After the defeat of the Bijapuris at Sonpet and the surrender of Ahmadnagar, Ibrahim
did not participate actively in the affairs of the Deccan. He was, however, alarmed at the growing
power of the Moghals who had started their conquest of the Deccan with the occupation of Berar.
He made overtures to the emperor Akbar with whom he concluded an alliance. The fall of
Ahmadnagar opened up a new chapter in the history of the Deccan Sultanates. A new power, and
the most powerful and ambitious one at that, had made its entry into the politics of the Deccan. The
affairs of the Deccan no
HISTORY – MEDIAEVAL PERIOD 199
longer remained those of the four existant Sultanates of the Deccan viz., Bijapur, Ahmadnagar,
Bidar and Golconda. They turned into a story of an unceasing struggle which these Sultanates
waged against the power of the Moghals and which they ultimately lost. The history of Bijapur from
1600 till its fall in 1686 to the Moghals will be dealt within the chapter dealing with the history of the
Moghal conquest of the Deccan.
