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.
