CHAPTER 6—THE IMADSHAHI OF BERAR

FATHULLAH IMAD SHAH.


FATHULLAH IMAD-UL-MULK WAS THE FOUNDER OF THE IMADSAHI DYNASTY OF BERAR1. Of a very

quiet disposition and always reluctant to take a hasty decision, Fathullah Imad-ul-mulk had royalty

thrust upon him by the force of circumstances when the process of disintegration set in, in the

Bahamani Kingdom of the Deccan. Imad Sah, as he was later called, had under his jurisdiction the

province of Berar which then included the present district of Akola, Buldhana, Amravati, Yavatmal,

most of the Parbhani district and parts of Nanded and Aurangabad districts. Fathullah was the

subordinate of Khvaja-i-Jahan Turk, one of the Triumvirate appointed by Sultan Humayun Sah

Bahamani at the time of his death, to look after his infant son Nizamuddin Ahmad III. In the reign of

Samsuddin Muhammad III, Khvaja-i-jahan was assassinated and Mahmud Gavan became the

prime minister. He appointed Fathullah, the Sarlaskar of Berar and created him Imad-ul-mulk. In all

the campaigns against Malva, Orissa and the Ray as in the Konkan region, undertaken by Mahmud

Gavan, Fathullah Imad-ul-mulk participated. It was in the campaign of Belgahv against its chief

Parketa that Imad-ul-mulk, under the command of Mahmud Gavan, fought conspicuously and led

the final assault on the fort. When in about 1473 Mahmud Gavan redistributed the Bahamani

Kingdom into eight administrative divisions, Fathullah Imad-ul-mulk was confirmed as the Sarlaskar

of Berar In 1481 a plot to destroy Mahmud Gavan was formed. At that time Mahmud Gavan was

away on a campaign against Vijaya-nagar. The mastermind behind this plot was the most hated

Nizam-ul-mulk, the father of Malik Ahmad, the founder of the Nizam Sahi Dynasty of Ahmadnagar.

The circumstances leading to the assassination of Mahmud Gavan have been narrated elsewhere.

When Sultan Muhammad realised the nature of the conspiracy against Mahmud Gavan, he was full

of remorse. He

1 This is what Ferishta has to say about the antecedents of Imad-ul-mulk—

The first person who became distinguished in this family was descended from the Canarese

infidels of Beejanuggur. Having been taken prisoner in the wars with that country, when a boy, he

was admitted among the body-guard of Khan Jehan, the commander-in-chief, and governor of

Berar. As he grew up he discovered abilities and courage, which attracted the notice of his master,

who ultimately became so much attached to him, that he nominated him to offices of distinction.

After the death of Khan Jehan, he repaired to the court at Mahomedabad Bidur, and in the reign of

Mahomed Shah Bahmuny, through the influence of Khwaja Mahmood Gawan, he received the title

of Imad-ool-Moolk, and was subsequently raised to the office of commander of the forces in Berar.

A. H. 890.

In the year 890, he declared his independence. (Briggs' Ferishta, A. D. 1484. Vol. III, pp. 485-

86).

202 MAHARASHTRA STATE GAZETTEER

punished the perpetrators of this dastardly crime. By now the entire nobility had lost its faith in the

Sultan except of course the Sultan's closest advisers. The first reaction was displayed by Imad-ulmulk

who withdrew four miles away from the royal camp along with Khudavand Khan, the Sarlaskar

of Mahur in South Berar. They stated in very clear terms to the Sultan that they saw no safety to

their lives when a person of the stature of Khvaja-i-Jahan Mahmud Gavan could be so treacherously

murdered and that they did not desire to attend on the Sultan in person unless they had consulted

Yusuf Adil in the matter. On the arrival of Yusuf Adil, the three together forced the Sultan to accept

their own terms about the redistribution of provincial governments. Under the new administrative set

up Fathullah Imad-ul-mulk was confirmed in his possession of Berar. Fathullah then followed the

Sultan up to Bidar but instead of entering the capital, he pitched his camp outside the city gates. A

few days after he left for Berar. After a few months Fathullah Imad-ul-mulk accompanied the Sultan

along with Khudavand Khan in his tour of the western provinces. They, however, did not accompany

Yusuf Adil in his campaign towards Goa which was threatened by Virupaks of Vijayanagar. Leaving

the royal camp they returned to their provincial capitals. Shortly after, Sultan Muhammad died.

Sultan Sahabuddin Mahmud ascended the throne. At the coronation, Fathullah Imad-ul-mulk was

conspicuous by his absence. Subsequently, Nizam-ul-mulk, who had been appointed as prime

minister, dispatched Adil Khan Dakhani to Fathullah Imad-ul-mulk after receiving the report of the

march of Yusuf Adil to the capital in full strength. Fathullah arrived in the capital shortly after and

paid his respects to the Sultan. He, however, adopted a neutral attitude in the confrontation between

Yusuf Adil and Nizam-ul-mulk. After Yusuf Adil left the capital he agreed to participate in the civil

administration of the state along with Nizam-ul-mulk. He was appointed Vazir and Amir-i-Jumla and

his son Alauddin was made his deputy in the government of Berar. Affairs continued peacefully till

1486 when the Sultan plotted the overthrow of Nizam-ul-mulk and Imad-ul-mulk, with the help of

Dilavar Khan Habsi. The plot failed. Imad-ul-mulk got disgusted with the palace intrigues. Sensing

danger in his association with Nizam-ul-mulk he left Bidar for his provincial charge of Berar. He

never came to Bidar again, nor did he participate directly or indirectly in the administration of the

kingdom in the succeeding years. When, after the murder of Nizam-ul-mulk, there was utter

confusion in the capital and lack of centralized control, he quietly assumed the titles of royalty along

with, Malik Ahmad of Ahmadnagar and Yusuf Adil of Bijapur.

In 1491 Bahadur Gilani, who had usurped the governorship of Goa and assumed control of

many places on the western coast, rebelled. He looted many ships belonging to Sultan Mahmud

Begada of Gujarat. Sultan Mahmud Bahamani wrote to all the

HISTORY – MEDIAEVAL PERIOD 203

provincial governors to help suppress the rebellion of Bahadur Gilani. Fathullah Imad-ul-mulk sent a

large force which participated in the suppression of Bahadur Gilani's rebellion.

Fathullah Imad-ul-mulk died in 1510 at Ellicpur and was succeeded by his son Alauddin under

the title of Alauddin Imad Sah1. He was also known by the name of Alauddin Darya Khan. Sayyad

Ali, the author of Burhan-i-Masir, states that Sultan Mahmud Bahamani conferred the title of Imadul-

mulk upon his son Darya Khan and bestowed upon him all the fiefs held by his father. After the

death of Malik Ahmad Nizam Sah, his son Burhan Nizam Sah ascended the throne. The affairs of

the kingdom fell into the hands of Mukammil Khan, a Deccani noble. The foreigners in the court

conspired to put on the throne Rajaji, the brother of Burhan Nizam Sah but were foiled in their

attempts. The foreigners fled to Berar and took refuge with Alauddin Imad Sah. Alauddin supported

them and invaded the Kingdom of Ahmadnagar. He was, however, defeated by Mukammil Khan at

Rahuri. He was, pursued through Berar and forced to flee to Khandes. The Ahmadnagar troops laid

waste the territory of Berar and returned to their capital. Some time after this, Yusuf Adil established

the Siah faith in his dominions. Sultan Mahmud Bahamani, then under the influence of Amir Barid,

invited the provincial governors to put down the heretic. Alauddin Imad Sah and Khudavand Khan,

the governor of Mahur, although Sunnis, refused to obey the summons, coming as it did from Amir

Barid, whose ascendency to power at Bidar, they deeply resented. The other provincial governors

responded to the call and Yusuf Adil, unable to withstand the combined might of Golcohda,

Ahmadnagar and Bidar fled to Berar and took refuge with Alauddin Imad Sah. Though

sympathetically disposed towards Yusuf Adil, Imad Sah did not give him any active assistance. He

advised him to go to Khandes. From Khandes, Yusuf Adil marched against the alliance. Alauddin

Imad Sah joined him. Both of them attacked Amir Ali Barid and Sultan Mahmud Sah, Bahamani at

Kalam in Berar. They defeated Amir Ali Barid, who fled, leaving the camp in the hands of Yusuf Adil

and Alauddin Imad.

Sultan Mahmud Sah Bahamani was shorn of all his powers by Amir Ali Barid. The helpless

monarch tried to throw away the yoke of the indignity more than once. At one time, he fled to Berar

and took refuge with Alauddin Imad Sah. He begged of Alauddin to help him destroy the power of

Amir Ali Barid. Alauddin agreed and marched along with Mahmud with a considerable force. He

appeared before Bidar where Amir Ali reinforced by a contingent from Burhan Nizam Sah, drew up

his army to face Alauddin. When the armies were drawn in

1 Sometime after 1492 Qasim Barid incited the Raja of Vijayanagar to attack Yusuf Adil and

occupy Raichur and Mudgal held by him. Yusuf Adil advanced against Qasim Barid. A contingent

was sent to Yusuf Adil to help him in the battle under Darya Khan by Fathullah Imad-ul-mulk. The

battle resulted in the complete tout of Qasim Barid.

204 MAHARASHTRA STATE GAZETTEER

battle array, Alauddin urgently called upon Sultan Mahmud to be at the head of the army. The

foolish Sultan who was in the bath was annoyed at the message. He straightway joined Amir Ali

Barid's camp. Repenting for having backed such a pusillanimous and cowardly person Alauddin

withdrew from the field battle and retired to Berar.

ALAUDDIN IMAD SHAH.

Uptill now the province of Berar was composed of two divisions viz., Berar and Mahur. This

was under the eight provinces scheme of the Bahamani Kingdom as envisaged by Mahmud Gavan.

The subha of Mahur was under the charge of Khudavand Khan. Khudavand Khan was now dead

and his son, Sarza Khan, had succeeded him to the governorship of Mahur. Being of a more

stubborn character than his father he attacked and plundered, Kandhar and Udgir in the fief estates

of Amir Ali Barid. Taking Sultan Mahmud Sah with him, Amir Ali Barid attacked Sarza Khan. In the

battle that ensued, Sarza Khan and one of his brothers lost their lives. Ali Barld then invested

Mahur. On receipt of the news of Amir Barid's aggression, Alauddin Imad Sah advanced from Berar

and attacked the besiegers. He forced Amir Ali Barid to retreat and took possession of Mahur. He

appointed Ghalib Khan, another son of Khudavand Khan, to the charge of Mahur, not as an

independent governor but as his own vassal. Southern Berar was thus formally assimilated with the

rest of his Kingdom. The process of the gradual southward expansion of the Imadsahi dynasty

which had started in 1490 was thus completed. The boundaries of the Kingdom of Berar now

touched those of the Nizamsahi dynasty of Ahmadnagar1.

Burhan-i-Masir mentions that in 1517, a year before the death of Sultan Mahmud Sah, Burhan

Nizam Sah, Khvaja Jahan of Parenda, Ismail Adil Sah, Qutb Sah and Alauddin Imad Sah

assembled at Bidar. They brought their armies with them. All of them paid homage to Sultan

Mahmud Sah Bahamani.

In the year 1518 war broke out between Berar and Ahmadnagar on the question of Pathri in

Berar. The town belonged to the Hindu ancestors of Burhan Nizam Sah. With the establishment of

the independent kingdom of Ahmadnagar, the descendents of these ancestors who had fled to

Vijayanagar, due to the persecution of Muslims, appealed to Burhan Nizam Sah.

1 The account of the episode as given by Ferishta is as under:

A M. 923 A. D. 1516.

In the year 923, Ameer Bereed marched from Bidur, and first took the fort of Mahoor, after

which he attacked Ramgir, and carried it by assault, and slew the governor, Khoodawund Khan

Abyssinian. Upon intimation of this invasion, Alla-ood-Deen Imad Shah began to collect his forces,

on the plea of assisting the family of Khoodawund Khan ; and Ameer Bereed, in order to avoid a

war, placed each of the sons of the deceased in the two forts of Mahoor and Ramgir, and desired

them to consider themselves tributary to Alla-ood-Deen Imad Shah. On approaching the forts, Allaood-

Deen made himself master of them by treachery. Khoodawund Khan's sons; fled for protection

to Boorhan Nizam, Shah, while Alla-ood-Deen placed his own governors and garrisons in them.

(Briggs's Ferishta, Vol. III, pp. 487-88).

HISTORY – MEDIAEVAL PERIOD 205

They requested him to restore to them their former possession of Pathri. They also expressed a

desire to be under his protection. Burhan Nizam Sah wrote to Alauddin Imad Sah requesting him to

cede the town of Pathri to Ahmadnagar in exchange for another place in the Kingdom of

Ahmadnagar. The request was rejected by Alauddin Imad Sah who, in order to prevent a surprise

attack on Pathri fortified the town. Burhan Nizam Sah prepared for a war. He advanced towards

Pathri and suddenly attacking the town, captured it.

In 1524 Bibi Mariam, the sister of Ismail Adil, was married to Burhan. The officers of Ismail

Adil promised the cession of the fortress of Solapur in dowry. Ismail Adil, however, refused to fulfil

the promise. Burhan therefore requested Alauddin Imad Sah and Amir Barid for assistance in

capturing the fortress. The allies marched against Bijapur. They were, however, defeated and had to

flee from the battlefield. Next year Ismail Adil formed an alliance with Alauddin Imad Sah by offering

his younger sister's hand in marriage to him. He then incited Quli Qutb Sah of Golconda to attack

the fort of Pathri which was in the possession of Ahmadnagar. Pathri was captured and handed over

to Alauddin Imad Sah. Alauddin Imad Sah, however, could not retain the fort for long. It was

recaptured by Burhan Nizam Sah who allied himself this time with Amir Ali Barid. The allies

advanced further into Berar and captured the strong fortress of Mahur. Alauddin had sought the help

of Muhammad Sah I of Khandes. They were defeated by the allies. Imad Sah was forced to flee with

Muhammad Sah I into Khandes. The whole of Berar was completely ravaged and devastated by the

combined armies of Ahmadnagar and Bidar. Alauddin and Muhammad Sah were reduced to great

straits. In desperation they invited Bahadur Sah of Gujarat to help them out of their predicament.

Sultan Bahadur was an ambitious monarch. He readily jumped at this opportunity of interfering into

the affairs of the Deccan Kingdoms. He advanced with a huge army, occupied Ahmadnagar and

stayed in that place. It was then that Alauddin Imad Suh and Muhammad of Khandes realised their

folly in inviting an outsider to settle their internal disputes. They deserted Sultan Bahadur and

helped Ahmadnagar to resist the invader. The approach of rainy season made Bahadur Sah

reconsider his decision of staying over in the Deccan. He withdrew from the Deccan and forced

upon Burhan the most humiliating terms of peace. Burhan agreed to make good the loss suffered by

Alauddin Imad Sah. He promised to return Pathri and Mahur to him. The promise was not fulfilled.

He retained Pathri and Mahur for himself.

During the war between Ahmadnagar and Gujarat, Ismail had sent his detachments to help

Ahmadnagar. Amir Ali Barid tried to tamper with their loyalty. When the war ended Ismail Adil Sah

marched to punish Amir Ali Barid. Amir Ali Barid fled to Udgir, He begged Alauddin to help him.

Alauddin

206 MAHARASHTRA STATE GAZETTEER

Imad Sah did not consider himself powerful enough to oppose Ismail. Instead of sending a reply he

marched to Bidar to intercede with Ismail on behalf of Amir Ali. Ismail insisted upon the

unconditional surrender of Bidar. Amir Ali Barid had no option but to accept humiliation and defeat.

Ismail made him a noble of his court. It was decided that for the recovery of Raicur doab Amir Ali

Barid and Alauddin Imad Sah should help Ismail Adil. Once that campaign was over, the three

should invade the Kingdom of Ahmadnagar and recover Mahur and Pathri for Alauddin Imad Sah.

The plan of reducing the Raicur doab was executed by the three. This was due to confusion in

Vijayanagar following the death of Krsna Devaraya. In the meanwhile news was received of an

impending invasion of the Deccan by Bahadur Sah of Gujarat. Ismail Adil, Amir Ali and Alauddin,

therefore, gave up the plan of reducing Mahur and Pathri. Alauddin then returned to Berar.

DARYA IMAD SHAH

It will be interesting to note that Ahmadnagar and Bijapur did not consider Berar Bidar and

Golconda as rivals deserving serious attention. The Sultans of Ahmadnagar and Bijapur had cast

their covetous eyes on these states from the very beginning of their inception. Ahmadnagar

annexed Berar in 1574 and Bijapur annexed Bidar in 1619. Ahmadnagar and Bijapur fell to the

Moghals. Golconda was the last to fall to the Moghals in 1687. The Sultans of Ahmadnagar and

Bijapur drew up a plan of annexation of these three Kingdoms in 1532, when the envoys of these

two Kingdoms met and decided that Burhan Nizam Sah should annex Berar and Ismail Adil Sah

should annex both Bidar and Golconda. Ismail Adil Sah died in 1534 A.D. and his son Ibrahim Adil

ascended the throne. Alauddin Imad Sah died in 1529. His son Darya Imad Sah ascended the

throne. In 1540 war broke out between Bijapur and Ahmadnagar. The Ahmadnagar armies

accompanied by the Barid Sahi contingents invaded the Kingdom of Bijapur. Adil Sah had a

misunderstanding with his minister Asad Khan Lari and retired to Gulburga. Bijapur was sacked by

Burhan and Amir Ali Barid. They then marched towards Gulburga. At Gulburga Darya Imad Sah

joined Ibrahim Adil. On their march towards Gulburga, Burhan and Amir Ali Barid were deserted by

Asad Khan Lari who now joined his master and Darya Imad Sah with 6,000 cavalry. Ibrahim Adil

and Darya Imad Sah then turned the tables on Burhan Nizam Sah and Amir Ali Barld and forced

them to retreat. They were pursued as far as Bid and from thence to Daulatabad when Burhan

Nizam Sah purchased peace from Ibrahim Adil and Darya Imad Sah.

For well over a decade the Imad Sahi dynasty does not figure in the political conflicts which

were taking place between the two principal kingdoms of the Deccan, viz., Bijapur and Ahmad

nagar. In 1553 when Burhan Nizam Sah died there was a struggle for succession between his sons,

Husain, and Abdul Qadir. Husain succeeded and Abdul Qadir fled to Berar to seek

HISTORY – MEDIAEVAL PERIOD 207

asylum with Darya Imad Sah. Abdul Qadir had, however, to flee that Kingdom when Husain Nizam

Sah protested to Darya Imad Sah for giving asylum to his brother. Abdul Qadir was the son-in-law of

Darya Imad Sah. Darya Imad Sah ordered his son-in-law to quit the Kingdom of Berar. Another

attempt to contest the claims of Husain Nizam Sah to the throne was made by his brother Ali. This

was supported by Ibrahim Adil Sah. Ali who was Ibrahim's nephew invaded the Ahmadnagar

territory. He was, however, defeated Husain Nizam Sah now entered into an alliance with Darya

Imad Sah. They marched to Solapur. A force sent by Ibrahim Adil under Saif Ain-ul-mulk, a former

noble of Ahmadnagar, to check the advance of the allies was surrounded. Ain-ul-mulk succeeded in

retreating safely after inflicting severe losses upon Husain Nizam Sah and Darya Imad Sah. The

allies were forced to retire to Ahmadnagar. The next few years saw a series of wars between

Ahmadnagar and Bijapur on the question of the cession of Solapur. Ali Adil Sah had succeeded his

father Ibrahim Adil Sah. He followed the policy of his father and formed an alliance with Vijayanagar

and Golconda against Husain Nizam Sah. Husain Nizam Sah was in a quandary and looked to

Darya Imad Sah for support against the confederate alliance against him. Darya Imad agreed to join

hands with Husain Nizam Sah. Both the Sultans met at Sonpet on the banks of Godavari and the

alliance was cemented by the marriage between Husain Nizam Sah and Daulat Sah, the daughter

of Darya Imad Sah. The alliance did not prove of any help to Husain Nizam Sah. The confederates

invaded the Ahmadnagar Kingdom. Khanjahan, Ali Barid's brother, who was with Darya Imad Sah,

dissuaded Darya Imad Sah from sending any assistance to Ahmadnagar. However, Darya Imad

Sah's minister Jahangir Khan Dakhani, with a considerable Berari force under his command,

invaded the Ahmadnagar territory. When the news of this happening was.' received by Darya Imad

Sah he sent orders to Jahangir Khan to change sides and attack the allied forces which had

besieged Ahmadnagar and which were devastating the Ahmadnagar territory. Jahangir Khan

changed his tactics accordingly and started attacking the allied troops from all sides. He cut off

provisions and destroyed the foraging parties. The allies were so hardpressed that they raised the

siege of Ahmadnagar and marched to Asti. Husain Nizam Sah too was reduced to such bard straits

that he along with Darya Imad Sab sued for peace. Sadasivaraya, the principal member of the

confederacy, granted the request and peace was concluded. One of the conditions of the peace

treaty was the execution of Jahangir Khan, the Berar minister, who had so nobly fought for the

cause of Ahmadnagar. The wretched and faithless Husain agreed to the condition, arrested

Jahanglr Khan and put him to death. Darya Imad Sah, who had, by his folly, put himself entirely in

the power of Husain Nizam Sah, by agreeing to help him, could do nothing to prevent the death of

his minister. Disgusted, he left his ally's Camp and returned to Berar. From this time, the interests of

208 MAHARASHTRA STATE GAZETTEER

Ahmadnagar and Berar remained at crossroads until the annexation of Berar by Ahmadnagar in the

reign of Murtuza Nizam Sah.

BURHAN IMAD SHAH.

The confrontation between Ahmadnagar and Bijapur was again in the offing. The humiliated

Husain Nizam Sah allied himself with Ibrahim Qutb Sah with a view to avenge the insult suffered by

him. The armies of both besieged Kalyani. Ali Adil Sah and Sadasivaraya joined forces and

marched to attack the besiegers. Darya Imad Sah had died in 1561 and was now succeeded by his

son Burhan under the title of Burhan Imad Sah. He, being a minor, the affairs of Berar were looked

after by Tufal Khan, a minister of the Kingdom1. The Beraris were smarting under the sorrow of the

death of their minister Jahangir Khan. They did not lose this opportunity to join the enemies of

Husain Nizam Sah. The armies of Berar and Bidar, therefore, marched to join the combined forces

of Bijapur and Vijayanagar. This alliance proved too strong for Husain and his ally and they were

forced to raise the siege of Kalyani. Husain and his ally were completely defeated. Only the

approach, of the rainy season of 1563 could save them from total disaster.

Then followed the famous confederacy, though short lived, of the Muslim states of Bijapur,

Ahmadnagar, Bidar and Golconda against Vijayanagar. Overtures were made to Berar. The Beraris

refused to join the confederacy and informed that they would have none of it so long as Husain

Nizam Sah, the murderer of Jahangir was associated with it. The battle of Talikota need not detain

us as Berar remained completely aloof in the conflict. Berar, however, could not escape the

consequences of the defeat of Vijayanagar in the battle of Talikota. The destruction of the

Vijayanagar empire left only two powerful Kingdoms in the Deccan, viz., Bijapur and Ahmadnagar.

The eastward expansion of Bijapur and northward expansion of Ahmadnagar became inevitable.

The first to fall to the aggrandisement of these two Kingdoms was Berar which Ahmadnagar

annexed in 1574.

Husain Nizam Sah died in 1565. He was succeeded by his son Murtaza Nizam Sah. In the

following year Ali Adil Sah and Murtaza Nizam Sab formed an alliance to punish Tufal, Khan for his

neutrality in the war with Vijayanagar. They invaded the kingdom of Berar advancing as far as

Ellicpur and plundering and laying waste all that came their way. This expedition had been

undertaken at the express intention of Ahmadnagar. Though it persisted in its own aggrandisement,

Bijapur did not tolerate any expansionist activities of its ally

1 This enterprising minister united in his person the grand requisites for successful ambition,

viz., undaunted courage and consummate art. His power advanced so rapidly after his usurpation;

that the kings of Ahmudnuggur and Beejapoor were induced to seek his destruction and marched

their united forces against him.

(Briggs's Ferishta, Vol. III, p. 492).

HISTORY – MEDIAEVAL PERIOD 209

Tufal Khan, now rendered helpless, fell back upon the fort of Gavil. He opened secret negotiations

with Ali Adil Sah. He informed Ali Adil that if the latter would retire to his country by deserting

Murtaza Nizam Sah, he would pay to Ali Adil 50 elephants and the equivalent of 40,000 hons in

cash as tribute. Ali Adil fell to this bait and on the pretext of the approach of the rainy season,

aBaridoned the combined operations against Tufal Khan. He then retired to his own country.

The next few years saw the embroilment of both Bijapur and Ahmadnagar with the

Portuguese and the crushing defeats inflicted upon them by the latter. These Muslim states proved

weak in the face of a tougher and. stronger opposition. Now once again they were free to fight

among themselves and terrorise their small neighbours. There was neither political expediency nor

tact in the treaty concluded by Ali Adil and Murtaza in 1572. It was decided that Ahmadnagar should

annex Berar and Bidar, while Bijapur should annex territory in Karnatak equivalent to that of Berar

and Bidar. Even in this act of aggrandisement their mutual jealousies did not end, and both took

care to insert certain conditions in the treaty of annexation. As agreed to in the terms of the treaty,

Murtaza Nizam Sah sent an envoy to Tufal Khan demanding the restoration of powers to Burhan

Imad Sah who had now come of age. Tufal Khan consulted his son, Samser-ul-mulk, about the

steps to be taken. Samser-ul-mulk told his father that Murtaza Nizam Sah had no right to interfere in

the internal affairs of Berar. He also said that the intention of Murtaza Nizam Sah was to invade

Berar and annex it. He, therefore, advised Tufal Khan to dismiss the envoy of Ahmadnagar without

appearing to reject the demand. The envoy Mulla Haidar Kasi, returned and reported what had

passed between himself and Tufal Khan to Murtaza Nizam Sah. Even when he had sent an envoy

to Tufal Khan, Murtaza invaded the Kingdom of Berar with a huge force. He now began a full scale

occupation of Berar and distributed the territory of that Kingdom among his nobles. Tufal Khan

found himself alone in his confrontation with his powerful enemy. He made feeble approaches to Ali

Barid Sah by personally going to Bidar. Ali Barid who was equally threatened by the treaty between

Bijapur and Ahmadnagar refused to co-operate with Tufal Khan. This forced Tufal Khan to retire and

fight alone with Murtaza Nizam Sah. An action was fought between the army of Ahmadnagar and a

contingent of Berar army under Samser-ul-mulk in the neighbourhood of Bidar. The day ended

indecisively. Tufal Khan, however, did not risk a general engagement. He retreated towards Mahur.

Murtaza Nizam Sah himself entered the field in pursuit of Tufal Khan. He overtook Tufal Khan at the

village of Metapur. The armies of both Berar and Ahmadnagar attacked each other. The battle soon

became general. It continued for the whole day and lasted till late in the evening. Thoroughly

exhausted, both the armies returned to their respective camps. Tufal Khan, however, withdrew from

the battlefield to a

210 MAHARASHTRA STATE GAZETTEER

distance of 20 farsangs. No trace of him could be found by the commander of the Nizamsahi army,

Qizal Baskhan who had been sent in pursuit of Tufal Khan. During the campaign against Berar,

Murtaza received reinforcement from unexpected quarters which further strengthened his hands. At

that time Akbar had annexed the Kingdom of Gujarat. The cousins of Akbar, the Mirzas, who had

migrated to Gujarat had rebelled. The rebellion of the Mirzas was suppressed by Akbar. The

defeated Mirzas had fled Gujarat. Many of them took refuge with Murtaza Nizam Sah who willingly

accepted them in his service.

As related above, when no trace of Tufal Khan could be found, Murtaza dispatched a few of

his nobles to reduce the fort of Mahur. He himself marched in pursuit of Tufal Khan, his camp

always remaining one march distance behind his advanced guard. One such contingent of the

advanced guards was commanded by Khudavand Khan and Rustam Khan. Tufal Khan who kept

himself completely informed of their movements sent his son to attack the Nizamsahi nobles. He

surprised them while they were relaxing in the camp and completely routed them. Rustam Khan was

killed and the entire camp was looted by Samser-ul-mulk. Murtaza hurried up to the scene of battle

and regrouping his forces continued the pursuit of Tufal Khan. Tufal Khan had now reached the

borders of the Kingdom of Khandes. He sought asylum with Miran Muhammad of Khandes On

receiving a threatening communication from Murtaza, Miran Muhammad turned Tufal Khan away

from the borders of his kingdom. In desperation Tufal Khan retired from Khandes and took refuge in.

the fort of Narnala while his son fled to the fort of Gavil. Murtaza invested the fort of Narnala. He

sent his officers Khanzaman, Mali Khan, Bahram Khan and Bahadur Khan 'to invest the fort of

Gavil. Murtaza had put Asad Khan, his Vazir in command of the siege operations at Narnala. He

cleared the surroundings of the fort and raised battery positions to bombard the fort walls. The siege

of Narnala was prolonged for well over a year. The fort garrison grimly held on. An attempt by

Murtaza to surprise the fort by treachery failed due to the alertness of the fort garrison. Murtaza now

decided to launch an allout attack on the fort. Heavy preparations were made and the attack began

in April 1574 with continuous bombardment. Tufal Khan counterattacked the advancing troops of

Murtaza Nizam Sah. The attacks were repulsed. The Nizamsahi army succeeded in capturing the

entrances. It then rushed into the fort from all sides. The resistance of the garrison came to an end.

Tufal Khan with a few of his followers fled the fort. Sayyad Husain Jarjani, Sarnobat, was dispatched

in pursuit of Tufal Khan. Tufal Khan was overtaken by Jarjani in a village in Berar and brought

before Murtaza Nizam Sah. The news of the fall, of Narnala and of the imprisonment of Tufal Khan

was received with

HISTORY – MEDIAEVAL PERIOD 211

dismay by Samser-ul-mulk in the fort of Gavil. Murtaza advanced from Narnala to Gavil. On the

approach of the Nizamsahi army, the fort garrison lost heart, put Samser-ul-mulk under arrest and

handed over the keys of the fort to Murtaza Nizam Sah. Tufal Khan, Samser-ul-mulk, Tufal Khan's

another son, Burhan Imad Sah and all the other members of the Imadsahi family were sent in

confinement to the prison fort of Lohogad. They died shortly afterwards in the fort. It was said that

they were poisoned under the orders of Murtaza Nizam Sah. Thus came to an end the career of the

Imadsahi family. Berar became a part of Ahmadnagar Kingdom and remained so till 1596 when it

was ceded to the Moghals.