CHAPTER 7 —THE QUTBSHAHI OF GOLCONDA AND THE BARIDSHAHI OF BIDAR
OF THE FIVE SUCCESSION STATES OF THE BAHAMANI KINGDOM, viz., Ahmadnagar, Bijapur, Berar,
Bidar and Golconda, Bidar and Golconda delayed the declaration of their independence. It is
proposed in this chapter to give a brief description of the political history of these two Kingdoms
from their inception till 1600 when the Moghals invaded the Deccan on a large scale. Their
subsequent history merges with that of the history of the Moghal Deccan. However, a detailed
treatment of the political history of these two dynasties for the study of the mediaeval history of
Maharastra is unnecessary for more than one reason. In the first instance, Golconda did not rule
any part of the territory of Maharastra in the mediaeval period. The rule of the Baridsahis of Bidar
covered roughly the present District of Nanded and a part of the District of Osmanabad. Secondly
as compared to the dynasties of Ahmadnagar and Bijapur which between themselves covered more
than 3/4 of Maharastra under their administrative control the dynasties of Golconda and Bidar
played relatively a subordinate role. Thirdly and lastly the Kingdom of Bidar, after the humiliating
treatment meted out to Amir Ali Barid by Adil Sah, practically ceased to exist as an independent
state. It continued as the vassal of Bijapur. This does not, however, lessen the importance of these
two
* Sooltan Koolly is said to be descended from the tribe of Baharloo Toorkmans, of the Ally
Shukur persuasion. Some of his courtiers have asserted that he was grandson to Meerza Jehan
Shah of Persia ; but I have no good authority for supporting this opinion. It is related that he was
born at Humadan, and that in the end of the reign of Mahomed Shah Bahmuny he arrived in the
Deccan, in the prime of youth. As that monarch retained a large train of Toorks in his body-guard,
he was admitted as one of the numbers. Having received an excellent education, he was
subsequently appointed to the situation of secretary in one of the public offices. Shortly after,
complaints arriving at court that the inhabitants and petty land-holders of Tulingana refused to pay
the revenues, and had rebelled, the King resolved to send an officer with a force into that country ;
but Sooltan Koolly volunteered to go without troops, and to bring matters to a favourable conclusion.
He was accordingly appointed to the duty, and succeeded so completely, that in a short time he
recovered many small districts which had been usurped by the Hindoos.
(Briggs's Ferishta, Vol. III, pp. 321-22).
@ Kasim Bereed Toork was brought by Khwaja as a Georgian slave to Sooltan Mahomed
Shah Lushkurry Bahmuny, by whom he was admitted among the Georgian attendants of that
monarch. In his reign he distinguished himself by his bravery against the rebel Marrattas residing
between Peitun and Chakun, whom he was deputed to reduce. One action in particular took place,
in which Kasim Bereed was victorious, and having slain Sabajee Marratta, the King gave the
deceased chief's daughter in marriage to Kasim Bereed's son, Ameer Bereed, as a reward for his
services. Sabajee's territory was also conferred on him.
(Briggs's Ferishta, Vol III. pp. 495-96).
214 MAHARASHTRA STATE GAZETTEER
dynasties in the mediaeval history of Maharastra. They were associated in all the offensive and
defensive wars fought on the territory of Maharastra during the mediaeval period.
We first hear of Qasim entitled Barid-ul-mamalik at the time of the coronation of Sihabuddin
Mahmud Bahamani after the death of Muhammad III. He was a Turk. For selfish reasons he allied
himself to the faction headed by Malik Naib Nizam-ul-mulk. The coronation of the Sultan was
followed by a ruthless massacre of the foreigners in Bidar leaving Nizam-ul-mulk in supreme
command. For the help rendered by Qasim to Nizam-ul-mulk, he was made the Kotval of the city of
Bidar. Nizam-ul-mulk, Qasim Barid and Imad-ul-mulk formed the triumvirate and carried on the
administration of the kingdom for four years. Vexed at the restrictions imposed upon him, Mahmud
was soon seen plotting against the three with the help of Dilavar Khan Habsi. The conspiracy,
however, came to light and the triumvirate was broken. Imad-ul-mulk left Bidar, disgusted with the
atmosphere of intrigues. Some time after this, Nizam-ul-mulk marched to Telahgana to suppress the
rebellion of Kivam-ul-mulk, the younger. Qasim Barid and Dastur Dinar entered into conspiracy
against him. They secured an order from the Sultan for putting the minister to death. The
unfortunate minister was executed by one of his own partisans, Dilapasand Khan at Bidar. Qasim
Barid now became the lieutenant of the Kingdom. Qasim paid scant respect to the wishes of the
Sultan. He now decided to seize the government of the region about the capital and subdue the
fortresses held by different officers. He succeeded in inflicting several defeats upon royal troops.
The Sultan sent Dilavar Khan Habsi against him. When Qasim Barid was on the point of being
defeated, a mad elephant rushed on Dilavar, killing him and turning defeat into victory. Qasim Barid
returned to Bidar and forced the Sultan to appoint him prime minister and grant him Daulatabad and
Balaghat as Jagir. Some writers date the foundation of the Barid Sahi dynasty from this year.
Though Qasim Barid had not the capacity to execute his plans he tried to assert his supremacy by
subdueing the so called provincial governors by setting them against each other. He first incited the
regent of Vijaya-nagar, Saluva Timma, against Yusuf Adil of Bijapur and induced Malik Ahmad and
Khvaja Jahan of Parenda to join him in an attack against Yusuf Adil. Ahmad refused to take part and
Yusuf Adil in an action fought near Gulburga defeated Qasim Barid and Khvaja Jahan. In 1493-1494
Bahadur Gilani rose in rebellion at Goa and attacked ships belonging to the Sultan of Gujarat,
Mahmud Sah Begada. The Sultan now ordered the provincial governors to send forces to suppress
the rebellion of Bahadur Gilani. In one of the actions fought near Jamkhindi, Qutb-ul-mulk DakhanI,
the governor of Telangana was killed. His title along with the fiefs enjoyed by him were conferred on
Sultan Quli, alias, Khavas Khan. Sultan Qulb was the founder of the Qutb Sahi dynasty of
Golconda.
HISTORY – MEDIAEVAL PERIOD 215
With Qutb-ul-mulk in command, the royal army gained a series of victories against Bahadur Gilani.
Bahadur Gilani now offered to negotiate but Qasim Barid who saw in him a possible rival to Yusuf
Adil, offered such favourable terms that Bahadur Gilani refused to surrender, and marched towards
the fort of Panhala. Qutb-ul-mulk was sent to cut off the retreat of Bahadur Gilani to Panhala.
Bahadur met Qutb-ul-mulk with a force composed of 2,000 Gilani, Mazenderani, Iraqi and Khurasan
cavalry and 15,000 infantry but was defeated and slain in the battlefield. On the death of Bahadur
Gilani, Qasim Barid and the Sultan visited the port of Dabhol. On the advice of Qasim Barid the
Jagirs of the late Bahadur Gilani were conferred on Ain-ul-mulk Kanani by the Sultan. Similarly
Dastur Dinar was transferred to Gulburga and his possessions of western Telahgana were
transferred to Qutb-ul-mulk. Dastur Dinar did not like the change and rebelled. Qasim Barid,
enlisting the aid of Yusuf Adil, defeated Dastur Dinar. Dastur Dinar was sentenced to death but was
immediately pardoned and restored to his fiefs in Gulburga. Yusuf Adil could not reconcile himself to
the imposition of Dastur Dinar in what he regarded to be his traditional fiefs. In 1497 when the
provincial governors had assembled at Bidar to celebrate the betrothal of the infant prince Ahmad to
Yusuf Adil's daughter, civil strife, which had become the salient feature of life in Bidar broke out.
Qasim Barld now allied with Dastur Dinar, against Yusuf Adil and Qutb-ul-mulk. But the latter
defeated the former. Qasim Barid, Dastur Dinar and Khvaja Jahan fled to Aland. Being pursued by
Yusuf Adil they fled to Ausa. Yusuf Adil, having obtained from the Sultan such grants and dignities
as he required, left for Bijapur. Qasim Barld again returned to Bidar and resumed his former
position. In the following year Yusuf Adil compelled Dastur Dinar to submit. Dastur Dinar, however,
obtained the support of Malik Ahmad and Qasim Barid. Yusuf Adil aBaridoned his enterprise against
Dastur Dinar.
The subsequent rise of Qutb-ul-mulk was phenomenal. The Sultan conferred upon him the
title of Amir-ul-umra. He was raised in rank above all the nobles of Telangana such as Jahahgir
Khan, Sanjar Khan and Qivam-ul-mulk and the fort of Golconda was added to his already extensive
fiefs. To appease Qasim Barld the Sultan gave him Ausa and Kandhar. The conduct of Qasim Barid
now became overbearing. The helpless Sultan invited Yusuf Adil and Qutb-ul-mulk to his side. The
three invaded Qasim's Jagirs at Ausa. In the thick of the engagement a large contingent of the royal
army went over to Qasim Barid. Qutb-ul-mulk and Yusuf Adil thereupon retired to their respective
charges. Qasim rode in state with the Sultan back to the capital. Later, Qasim Barid, Yusuf Adil and
Malik Ahmad agreed that they should leave the Sultan alone but visit the capital once in a year to
pay homage to him. The understanding was purely a mask to hide the real intentions of the three
and none cared to abide by it.
216 MAHARASHTRA STATE GAZETTEER
The confusion prevailing at Bidar after the death of Mahmud Gavan and the subsequent
rivalries among the provincial governors had encouraged the Ruler of Vijayanagar, Saluva Narsinha
to invade the Bahamani Kingdom. On the death of Muhammad-III he defeated the Bahamani forces
at Kandukur. The king of Orissa, Pursottam III also attacked the Bahamani kingdom and occupied
the whole of the Godavari-Krsna region right upto Bezvada. The appointment of Qutb-ul mulk to
Telangana changed the entire picture. He tried to restore the Bahamani authority over Warangal,
Raj Konda, Devarkonda and Koil Konda. It appears that in 1503 there was an expedition against
Vijayanagar led by the Sultan for the occupation of Raicur and Mudgal. Yusuf Adil and Qutb-ul-mulk
accompanied the Sultan who had set out with 5,000 horse and 70,000 infantry. The king of
Vijayanagar agreed to a truce, paid the tribute and restored Raicur and Mudgal to Yusuf Adil. In
1504 Qutb-ul-mulk defeated the combined forces of Sitab Khan also known as Sitaram the chief of
Khammammel and Warangal and Raja Ramacandra of Orissa by marching on Warangal. The river
Godavari was agreed to as the frontier between the Bahamani Kingdom and Orissa and Elore and
Bezvada were ceded to Qutb-ul-mulk1.
It may be mentioned here that during the 1503 campaign against Vijayanagar, Qasim Barid
was degraded and his charge was handed over to Khan-i-Jahan. After the return of the Sultan from
the campaign, Qasim contrived the murder of Khan-i-Jahan and assumed the prime ministership of
the Kingdom. This enraged the provincial governors Yusuf Adil, Qutb-ul-mulk and Dastur-ulmamalik.
They marched against Qasim Barid, defeated him and put him to flight. The unhappy
Sultan was at least temporarily restored to his puppet royalty. In 1505 the marriage of prince Ahmad
took place and when the Sultan was away at Tandur for the celebrations, Qasim went there and
paid homage to the Sultan. He then picked up a quarrel with Yusuf Adil in which Ain-ul-mulk, one of
Yusuf Adil's partisans died. Qasim then straightway proceeded to Bidar and besieged it. When the
Sultan returned to Bidar, Qasim again paid him respects and rode with him to the palace. The
Sultan appointed him Naib Barbek and entrusted him with the administration of the city of Bidar. In
the same year Qasim Barid died and was succeeded as prime minister by his son Amir Ali Barid.
During his lifetime Ali Barid destroyed whatever nominal power the Bahamani Sultan still enjoyed as
the head of the State. He realised that he would succeed by being nearer to Bidar than away from it.
Never during his lifetime did he loosen his grip upon the rump court of Bidar.
In the following year Yusuf Adil established the Siah sect in his dominions. Mahmud Sah
Bahamani, under instructions from Amir Barid, commanded Alauddin Imad, Khudavand
1 This is substantiated by the fact that we find Qutb Shah endowing some villages near
Kondapalli and Bezwada for a charitable purpose in 1524.
HISTORY – MEDIAEVAL PERIOD 217
Khan, Malik Ahmad and Qutb-ul-mulk to punish the heretic. Malik Ahmad and Qutb-ul-mulk
responded. Yusuf Adil, unable to face the alliance fled to Khandes. From there he detached Qutb-ulmulk
from the alliance, warning him against the evil designs of Amir Ali Barid, the fox of the Deccan.
He wrote a letter to Mahmud Sah but received an insulting reply no doubt dictated by Amir Ali Barid.
Yusuf Adil thereupon marched with Alauddin Imad and attacked Mahmud Sah and Amir Ali Barid at
Kalam. Amir Ali Barid was defeated and fled to Berar. In 1510 two great personalities on the political
scene of the Deccan, viz, Yusuf Adil of Bijapur, and Malik Ahmad Nizam Sah of Ahmadnagar died.
Sultan Quli Qutb-ul-mulk of Golconda, unable to maintain any longer the fiction of loyalty to Mahmud
Sah assumed independence in Telahgana (1512). In spite of the death of the principals who shared
in the spoils of the Bahamani kingdom, the rivalry among the various powers of the Deccan
continued. Amir Ali Barld conferred upon Jahangir Khan, the son of Dastur Dinar, the title of Dasturul-
mamalik and the governorship of Gulburga. To prevent any possible hostile action by Ismail Adil,
he formed an alliance with Quh Qutb Sah and Burhan Nizam. Taking Mahmud Sah with them the
allies invaded Bijapur. They were defeated and Mahmud Sah was captured. Amir Ali Barid fled to
Bidar. Ismail Adil sent Mahmud Sah with an escort of 5,000 cavalry to Bidar. On the approach of
Mahmud Sah, with the escort, Amir Ali fled to Ausa. Subsequently, with the help of Burhari Nizam,
he drove out the cavalry of Bijapur and once again resumed the control of government.
The unhappy Sultan now sought asylum with Alauddin Imad by fleeing to Berar. Alauddin
offered Mahmud assistance and marched with him to Bidar. Amir Barld secured the assistance of
Burhan Nizam Sah and deployed his forces to oppose Mahmud Sah who was marching against
Bidar. When the troops were battle ready, Alauddin sent an urgent dispatch to the Sultan. The
wretched Sultan, who was taking his bath at that time got extremely annoyed with this call for duty.
He shamelessly rode to Barid's camp, forgetting the hand of friendship preferred by Alauddin Imad
Sah. Alauddin had no alternative but to retreat. With a view to prevent further such attempts by
Mahmud Sah, Amir Ali Barid imprisoned him at Kamthana, a distance of two leagues from the
capital.
The last campaign on which Mahmud Sah was forced to accompany Amir Ali Barid was
against Sarza Khan, the son and successor of Khudavand Khan of Mahur. Sarza Khan, attacked
and plundered Kandhar, and Udgir. Amir Ali Barid, marching against them, slew Sarza Khan in the
field and besieged Ausa. He had, however, to retreat when Alauddin marched against him. Alauddin
allowed Ghalib Khan, a son of Khudavand, to succeed as the governor of Mahur as his vassal and
thus brought southern Berar under his control.
218 MAHARASHTRA STATE GAZETTEER
Mahmud Sah died in December 1518 and was succeeded by his son Ahmad. Ahmad died
three years later. It is said that Amir Ali brought about the death of Ahmad by deliberately leading
him into a life of debauchery and venality. Ahmad was under his firm grip and no commoner was
allowed even to sec the Sultan, except perhaps the dancers and musicians. Though he had
declared his independence, Qutb-ul-mulk used to send considerable tributes to the Sultan. When he
saw Ali Barid playing the subtle game of politics at Bidar, he stopped sending the tribute. To seek
the pleasure and funs of life Ahmad managed to dispose of the famous crown of the Bahamanis
worth over a million and half rupees. When the news was conveyed to Amir Barid he flew into a wild
rage and killed the persons responsible for the sale. Ahmad who was married to Ismail Adil's sister
wrote to his brother-in-law complaining to him of the harsh treatment meted out to him. Ismail sent
some costly presents to Ahmad. Before they could reach Bidar, the Sultan was dead. After
considering the possibility of declaring independence for himself, Amir Ali put on the throne,
Alauddin, the son of the deceased Sultan. Alauddin was a spirited lad and desired to free himself
from the shackles of bondage of his notorious regent. He detested wine and pleasure. He even
called Amir Barid to his presence and told him of the indulgence of his father in immoral pleasures
that had led to his ruin. He reminded Amir Ali Barid of his personal duties as a king and his desire to
participate in the affairs of the state. He asked Amir Ali Barid either to free him from the humiliating
and suffocating presence of his agents or allow him to retire to Mecca. Amir Ali then slightly
loosened the restrictions imposed upon Alauddin. Alauddin, courageous as he was, was also a
foolish one. He formed a plot to assassinate Amir Ali Barid when on one of his visits to the Sultan in
the palace, by hiding the assassin behind the throne. As Amir Ali Barid entered the palace, one of
the assassins sneezed. Getting suspicious, Amir Ali Barid sent his bodyguards to search the
apartment. The assassins were found and were cruelly executed. The unfortunate prince was
imprisoned and later put to death.
For reasons best known to himself, Amir Ali Barid still continued the farce of royalty by placing
on the throne Waliullah, the son of Mahmud Sah. He was, however, detected by Amir Ali Barid of
plotting against him. Amir Ali Barid lost no time in imprisoning the hapless king. Amir Ali married the
widow of Ahmad Sah and later cast his covetous eyes upon the Queen, the wife of Waliullah. The
Sultan naturally protested. For this he was poisoned in 1526. Amir Ali now placed on the throne
Kalimullah, the brother of the dead Sultan. Kalimullah was destined to be the last of his line.
Kalimullah, who had seen the atrocities perpetrated by Amir Ali Barid and his villainous nature
in cruelly executing two of his brothers, submitted meekly. At that time, Babar, the founder of the
Moghal dynasty had captured Delhi by defeating Ibrahim
HISTORY – MEDIAEVAL PERIOD 219
Lodi on 22 April, 1526. Kalimullah foolishly wrote to him to extricate him from his present
predicament and restore his entire Kingdom to him. In return, he promised the cession of Berar and
Daulatabad to Babar. No answer was received. Amir Ali Barid realised the extent to which the
wretched prince had gone. Filled with terror at the consequences of his action, Kalimullah fled first
to Bijapur and from thence to Ahmadnagar where he died shortly afterwards.
Amir Ali Barid now declared his independence, and assumed the royal insignia. The tale of
the five succession states of the Bahamani Kingdom was complete.
Henceforward the history of Bidar and Golconda is the story of the willing or unwilling
association of Bidar and Golconda in the endless conflicts among Ahmadnagar, Bijapur and Berar.
In 1527 Amir Ali Barid aided Burhan Nizam Sah of Ahmadnagar in capturing the fortress of
Pathri which Alauddin Imad Sah had taken with the help of Ismail Adil and Sultan Quli Qutb Sah.
The allied armies also took the fortress of Mahur and ravaged Berar. When Sultan Bahadur of
Gujarat was invited by the Sultans of Berar and Khandes to help them, Ahmadnagar, Bijapur and
Bidar formed an alliance amongst themselves. The advance of Bahadur could not be checked and
Burhan and Amir Ali Barid retired to Parenda. Bahadur retired after inflicting humiliating terms upon
Burhan.
In this confronation. Amir Ali Barid had tampered with the loyalty of the Bijapur troops. To
punish him, Ismail Adil marched to Bidar. Amir Ali Barid was now an old man. He retired and sought
the help of Qutb Sah. Ismail, however, defeated the relieving force from Golconda. Amir Ali now
retreated to Udgir and appealed to Alauddin for help. Alauddin arrived with a force but declined to
fight against Ismail and interceded on Amir Ali's behalf with him. Ismail refused to negotiate till Bidar
was surrendered. Frustrated, Amir Ali gave himself up to drink, his army following their master's
example. When he was informed of these happenings, Ismail sent his general Asad Khan to attack
Amir Ali's camp. Amir Ali Barid was captured, while still under the influence of wine, and taken
before Ismail Adil Sah. Ismail Adil ordered Amir Ali Barid to be chained and fettered and threatened
him with death if Bidar was not given up. Amir Ali Barid sent a message to his sons, who held Bidar,
to surrender the city. They rejected the demand for surrender of Bidar, in their official reply. Secretly
they informed Amir Ali Barid that if all other means failed, they would, to save his life, surrender
Bidar. When Amir Ali Barld was on the point of being trampled to death under the feet of an
elephant, the city was surrendered. After the sons of Amir Ali Barid had left Bidar, Ismail Adil
entered the capital and sat on the famous turquoise throne of the Bahamanis. Amir Ali Barid was
made a noble of the kingdom. He promised to aid Adil Sah in recovering the Raicur doab, and later,
Mahur and Pathri for Alauddin Imad Sah.
220 MAHARASHTRA STATE GAZETTEER
The following episode would reveal the extent to which the Sultans would go and humiliate
one of their kith and kin. The episode relates to Amir Ali Barid. Soon after the surrender of Bidar,
Ismail reduced Raicur and Mudgal. To celebrate the event, Ismail, Alauddin and Asad Khan Lari
indulged in a drinking bout and on the suggestion of Alauddin and Lari, Amir Ali Barid was invited to
join the group. When he entered, Ismail uttered in Arabic a verse from the Qoran meaning 'their
dog, the fourth of them. This unbecoming joke invited a peel of laughter from Alauddin and Lari.
Amir Ali Barld could not understand Arabic. But he knew that he was the poor victim of the joke. He
wept in humiliation and resentment. Perhaps the picture of the humiliated and distressed Amir
softened the arrogance of Ismail who promised to restore Bidar to Amir Ali. This was done after
some time on condition that Amir Ali Barid would cede Kalyani and Kandhar to Bijapur. Later, Ismail
demanded the cession of these two places from Amir Ali Barid. Amir Ali Barld sought the help of
Burhan Nizam Sah but the allies were defeated at Naldurg. Bijapur and Ahmadnagar soon came to
terms and in 1532 entered into an understanding. This provided for the annexation of Berar by
Ahmadnagar and of Golconda by Bijapur. Bidar was already claimed by Bijapur.
In pursuance of this treaty, Ismail Adil and Amir Ali marched and besieged Nalgunda, about
60 miles south of Golconda. A relieving force sent by Qutb Sah was defeated. However, the
campaign had to be aBaridoned due to the sickness and subsequent death of Ismail Adil Sah.
In 1540 Burhan Niziam Sah, who now professed the Siah faith, declared war on Bijapur.
Taking Amir Ali Barid with him he marched to Parenda, annexed Solapur and advanced towards
Belganv. Ibrahim Adil Sah, who had succeeded Ismail Adil Sah, getting suspicious of his general
Asad Khan, fled Bijapur1.
1 Following is an account of the attack by Ibrahim Adil Shah upon the kingdom. of Golconda
immediately after accession.
Subsequent to the death of Ismael Adil Shah, his elder son Mulloo was proclaimed King; but
shortly afterwards the minister, Assud Khan Lary, conspired against him, and in conjunction with his
younger brother, the Prince Ibrahim, dethroned Mulloo, put out his eyes, and raised Ibrahim to the
throne under the title of Ibrahim Adil Shah. While Sooltan Koolly was engaged in the siege of
Koheer, Ibrahim Adil Shah, in conjunction with Kasim Bereed, had attacked part of the Tulingana
territories; and Sooltan Koolly, having now returned to his capital, resolved to revenge himself for
the insult and injury done to him. He accordingly led an army against the fort of Etgeer, belonging to
the King of Beejapoor, and also sent different detachments to recover the districts of Kakny,
Gorowly, and Nargy, which had been usurped by Ismael Adil Shah during the time Sooltan Koolly
Kootb Shah was engaged in war with Ramchundur and Seetaputty. The several detachments in a
short time succeeded in reducing those districts, and occupied them in the name of Sooltan Koolly;
after which the King invested the fortress of Etgeer, and at the same time sent an ambassador to
Kasim Bereed Shah, demanding the cession of the towns of Meduk and Kowlas. Kasim Bereed
Shah, aware that he could not resist the forces of Sooltan Kolly, deputed an ambassador to
Boorhan Nizam Shah, of Ahmudnugur, begging him to ward off the impending blow. Boorhan Nizam
Shah, who was engaged in a war with Ibrahim Adil Shah concerning the district of Sholapoor', was
glad of the opportunity of opening a negotiation with Sooltan Koolly Kootb Shah, whose favour he
wished to conciliate. He accordingly deputed his minister, Shah Tahir, to the Kootb Shahy camp;
and it was stipulated that
HISTORY – MEDIAEVAL PERIOD 221
Burhan and Amir Ali then marched towards Bijapur. They sacked and plundered the city. They then
left the city in pursuit of Ibrahim Adil. On their way to Gulburga, Asad Khan deserted them. Ibrahim
Adil who had now sought the assistance of Darya Imad Sah of Berar1, (who had succeeded his
father Alauddin Imad Sah) defeated Burhan and Amir Ali Barid. Burhan and Amir Ali retired towards
Bid. Being closely
contd.
Kasim Bereed Shah should deliver up the fort of Meduk to Sooltan Koo'ly Kootb Shah, who on his
part, was to forgive past injuries. When Shah Tahir reached Golconda, he learned that Sooltan
Koolly, in consequence of the rains, had raised the siege of Etgeer, and was on his return to his
capital. Shah Tahir was received with all due respect, and he easily procured the signature of the
treaty with Kasim Bereed Shah. He also induced Sooltan Koolly to send a force of five thousand to
assist Boorhan Nizam Shah in the reduction of the fort of Sholapoor. The ambassador having been
presented with twenty thousand hoons received his audience of leave.
(Briggs's Ferishta, Vol. III, pp. 375-76).
1 Following is an account given by Ferishta about the confrontation between Alauddin Imad
Shah and Quli Qutb Shah and other exploits of Sultan Quli Qutb Shah.
During the absence of Sooltan Koolly Kootb Shah in his late campaign, his northern districts
had been attacked and laid waste by Kowam-ool—Moolk Toork, an officer of the Bahmuny
Government, who, during the late convulsions, had rendered himself master of the forts of Elgundel,
Mulungoor, and some other districts, and collecting a force of six thousand horse and about ten
thousand infantry, invaded the countries of his neighbours.
On the return of Sooltan Koolly, he received accounts of Kowam-ool-Moolk's incursions. He
accordingly addressed letters of advice to him, and demanded restitution of the property he had
plundered in the Kootb Shahy territories. The ambassadors who waited on Kowam-ool-Moolk were
directed to inform him, that their master was sorry to hear what had happened ; and that it Was his
wish to be on terms of friendship with all his Mahomedan neighbours, since it is written in the Koran,
that " all the faithful are brethren ". Kowam-ool-Moolk, elated with his success in declaring his
independence, and despising the power of Sooltan Koolly, shortly afterwards sent his troops again
into his territories to plunder. Sooltan Koolly Kootb Shah could no longer restrain his rage, and
immediately ordered his army into the field, and marched towards Elgundel. He was met by Kowamool-
Moolk at the distance of one day's march from that place at the head of his army. On the
following day an action ensued, which lasted from dawn till noon, when the King charged in person,
at the head of two thousand cavalry, and defeated Kowam-ool-Moolk, who fled in confusion, and
threw himself into the fort of Elgundel. To this place the King proceeded, and invested it; but
Kowam-ool-Moolk, finding himself unable to contend with his enemy, fled to Berar, and solicited
assistance from Alla-ood-Deen Imad Shah. Elgundel, shortly after, fell into the hands of the King,
and many of the Mahomedan troops of Kowam-ool-Moolk entered his service. Having now occupied
the forts of Elgundel and Mulungoor with his own soldiers, the King returned to his capital.
Kowam-ool-Moolk, who had fled to Berar, persuaded Alla-ood-Deen Imad Shah to espouse
his cause, and to march to recover his country. When Kootb Shah heard of this movement, he sent
an ambassador to that monarch, relating the obstinacy of Kowam-ool-Moolk, and reminding him,
also, that the Imad Shahy troops had lately usurped the country of the seven tuppas, which the late
Mahmood Shah Bahmuny had bestowed upon Sooltan Koolly; he, therefore, demanded the
restitution of the seven tuppas, and required, also, that Imad Shah should not give protection to
Kowam-ool-Moolk within his territories.
Alla-ood-Deen Imad Shah, however, so far from yielding to any of the above demands, sent
back an answer full of indignation, which induced Sooltan Koolly to march with his army towards his
dominions ; and Imad Shah moved from Elichpoor, and opposed the Kootb Shahy troops near the
fortress of Ramgeer. On the day following an action ensued which lasted till the afternoon. The Imad
Shahy army outflanked Sooltan Koolly's which was in the act of giving way on all sides, when he, as
usual charged through the centre of his own army with the reserve of two thousand cavalry in
armour, broke the enemy's line, and completely defeated them. Alla-ood-Deen Imad Shah fled to
Berar, and Sooltan Koolly directed his army to occupy the district of the seven tuppas; after which
he returned to Golconda. Here he heard that Seetaputty, the Raja of Cumamett, had presumed to
Jay hands on some of the Kootb Shahy districts which lay contiguous to his country.
222 MAHARASHTRA STATE GAZETTEER
pursued they took to the hills above Daulatabad. There Amir Ali Barid and Burhan were forced to
purchase peace with Ibrahim Adil by the retrocession of Solapur. Ali Barid now succeeded his father
Amir Ali Barid under the title of Ali Barid Sah (1542).
contd.
This raja possessed the strong forts of Cumamett, Belumconda, Wurungole, and others, and had in
his service twelve thousand infantry, noted as good marksmen. The King in the first place, marched
against Belumconda, which he closely invested. The siege lasted a considerable time , till at length
the King determined to make an attempt to take it by escalade, which he effected by a general
assault on all sides at once, in which effort, after losing many men, he at length succeeded.
When Seetaputty heard of the capture of Belumconda, which he considered as impregnable,
he immediately marched with an army to oppose the King in the field, who also prepared to receive
him. The two armies met, and a battle was fought, wherein the Mahomedans lost many brave
officers and soldiers from the well-directed fire of the enemy's infantry, which withstood several
charges of the Mahomedan cavalry; but they were at length broken, and fled, leaving Sooltan Koolly
in possession of all the Raja's treasures and heavy baggage; after which the King returned to
Golconda.
Seetaputty, subsequently to his defeat, fled to Cumamett, and despatched messages to the
neighbouring rajas, such as those of Condapilly, Indraconda, Warapully, and Etgeer inviting them to
form a confederacy against Sooltan Koolly Kootb Shah, who had already reduced the greatest part
of Tulingana, and was every day gaining such ground that in a short time no Hindu chiefs would
remain to oppose his ambitious views. The rajas all united accordingly, and formed a rendezvous at
Gumamett. When Sooltan Koolly heard of this league, he marched to oppose them; and a
sanguinary action ensued in the neighbourhood of that place, when the Mahomedans, as usual,
gained the victory; and the Raja Seetaputty fled, and took protection with Ramchundur Dew. The
Mahomedan forces took possession of Condapilly, Indraconda, and Etgeer, while the King
proceeded to reduce Cumamett, then one of the strongest forts in Tulingana; but as he was
unwilling to spill human blood wantonly, he sent a message to the commandant of the place,
informing him of the defeat of his master, and requiring him to surrender the fort to the Mahomedans
which he refused to do. Several unsuccessful attacks were made in consequence, in which the
Mahomedans lost many men; till at length the King resolved, at the last resource, to make a general
assault on all sides at once. Sooltan Koolly led the principal attack in person; the Mahomedans,
covering their heads with their shields, and being well supplied with scaling ladders, rushed on
simultaneously, and, although their loss was severe, they succeeded in gaining the ramparts, and
drove the garrison before them. On this occasion they gave no quarter, killing every man, woman
and child in the place, excepting the females of the family of Seetaputty, who were reserved for the
King's seraglio.
When Seetaputty was defeated he fled, as before related, to Raja Ramchundur, the son of
Gujputty, who held his court at Condapilly, and who was king of the land and the sea-coast of
Tulingana and Orissa, as far as the confines of Bengal. Seetaputty had represented to him that
Sooltan Koolly Kootb Shah had, by his persecution, at length succeeded in expelling him from his
country, that he had now subdued almost the whole of Tulingana, and that his next step would be to
invade the country of Ramchundur, which lay contiguous to his own. Guja Ramchundur, convinced
of the truth of these observations and relying on the numerous forces he could bring into the field,
wrote orders to his adherents to repair with their respective armies to Condapilly, where he collected
a host of three hundred thousand foot, and thirty thousand horse, all bearing lances, accompanied
by Seetaputty, Vidiadry, and Hurry Chundur, as well as other rajas of note. These, having sworn to
stand by each other, marched to attack Sooltan Koolly, he prepared to oppose them with only five
thousand horse, and met them at the river near Palunchinoor.
The Hindoos drew up their forces on the next day into the following order:—
Guja Ramchundur, with ten thousand horse, one hundred thousand foot, and three hundred
elephants, in the centre.
On the right his nephew Vidiadry, with ten thousand horse, one hundred thousand foot, and
two hundred elephants.
On the left Hurry Chundur, with Seetaputty, in the command of ten thousand horse, one
hundred thousand foot, and two hundred elephants :—the whole of the elephants bearing several
men with bows and arrows.
Sooltan Koolly Kootb Shah, in spite of the disparity of numbers, determined to give the
Hindoos battle. He placed his son, Heidur Khan, with fifteen hundred horse, on the right, and
Futtehy Khan, with an equal number, on the left, himself
HISTORY – MEDIAEVAL PERIOD 223
Sultan Quli Qutb Sah, the veteran of many distinguished battles, had outlived all his
colleagues, the founders of the dynasties of Bijapur, Ahmadnagar, Berar and Bidar. He had reached
the ripe age of ninety-eight. His son Jamsid who expected to succeed him could no longer wait and
had his father murdered in September, 1543. He ascended the throne under the title of Jamsid Qutb
Sah. Burhan now persuaded Jamsid to revive the treaty which his father Sultan Quli had entered
into with Burhan. They formed an alliance to invade Bijapur and invited Sadasivraya, the Raja of
Vijayanagar, to join them. Ali Barid too became a party to the alliance. Bijapur was invaded. Jamsid,
occupying Gulburga, besieged Hippargi. Ali Barid Sah besieged Solapur. Ibrahim, however,
succeeded in gaining over Sadasivaraya and Burhan, and dealt severely with Jamsid, defeating and
driving him to the very gates of Golconda1.
contd.
taking post in the centre with two thousand horse. According to custom he dismounted in front of the
army and going down on his knees, suplicated the great Disposer of events to give up the host of
the infidels into the hands of the faithful ; after which he mounted, and charged the enemy, driving
the affrighted Hindoos before him like sheep. The Raja Ramchundur was taken prisoner, and his
nephew Vidiadry killed by the prince Heidur Khan's own hand ; the capture, also, of all the enemy's
elephants and treasures, as well as of Raja Ramchundur, ensured to the King the whole of the
country as far as the sea-coast. From thence he proceeded to Condapilly, which he reduced ; and
afterwards went to Ellore and Rajmundry, in the former of which places many Hindoos were slain.
Upon the arrival of the Mahomedan forces at Rajmundry, they encamped on the banks of the
Godavery, where the King received intimation that the enemy had assembled in great numbers in
the woods and hills with the intention of attacking him by night. The King accordingly detached his
generals, Futtehy Khan and Ropstoom Khan, to watch their motions, and to endeavour to cut them
off. The two parties engaged, and the Hindoos, after they had lost two thousand men, fled to the
forests, leaving the Mahomedans in possession of the field of action.
Vusnad (properly Veija Nat) Dew, commonly called Gujputty, who possessed the countries of
Bengal along the sea-coast as far as the confines of Tulingana, hearing of the discomfiture of Raja
Ramchundur, sent ambassadors to Sooltan Koolly. A treaty was forthwith concluded, by which it
was agreed that the river Godavery should be the boundary between the Mahomedan kingdom of
Tulingana and the Hindoo territory of Orissa ; after which the seals of the King and Vusnad Dew
were affixed, and the district of Ellore was made over to the Mahomedans.
(Briggs's Ferishta, Vol. III, pp. 358—64.)
1 Following is the account given by Ferishta in this context.
Sometime after, a war breaking out between the Adil Shahy and Nizam Shahy sovereigns,
Jumsheed Kootb Shah collected his forces in support of the latter, and marched to Kakny, where he
built a strong fort. Adil Shah, being fully engaged at that moment in opposing the united forces of
Ramraj and Boorhan Nizam Shah, could not spare troops to oppose Kootb Shah, so that the latter
monarch marched from Kakny to the fort of Etgeer, which he invested; but in the mean time, Ibrahim
Adil Shah having concluded a peace with his other enemies, Assud Khan Lary was detached with a
considerable force to raise the siege of Etgeer. Jumsheed Kootb Shah now wrote to Boorhan Nizam
Shah, stating, that he had only acted in concert with him and Ramraj, and upbraided him for making
peace without consulting him or advising him of the transaction. Boorhan Nizam Shah said, that he
had only done so as a temporary measure of policy; and recommended Jumsheed Kootb Shah to
keep a good garrison in Kakny, promising that after the rains he would act in concert in attacking the
Adil Shahy territory, and would occupy all the country east of the Beema. He proposed that Etgeer,
Sagur, and Koolburga, should belong to Kootb Shah, and Nuldoorg and Sholapoor to Nizam Shah.
Jumsheed Kootb Shah, aware of the intriguing character of his ally, not only retained Kakny, but laid
closer siege to Etgeer. The Beejapoor general, in the first instance, attacked and carried by storm
the fort of Kakny, after a siege of three months, putting the whole garrison to the sword, and from
thence proceeded by forced marches to Etgeer. On his approach, Jumsheed Kootb Shah raised the
siege and retreated to his own
224 MAHARASHTRA STATE GAZETTEER
Burhan tried to renew the confederacy1. This time Ali Barid Sah refused to join. He insulted
Burhan's envoy, Sah Tahir, who had gone to Bidar on that mission. Burhan attacked the kingdom of
Bidar and reduced the fortresses of Ausa, Udgir and Kandhar2. At this time a plot was hatched to
depose Ibrahim
contd.
territories, pursued by Assud Khan, the Beejapoor general, who in several actions which took place
was always victorious. (Briggs's Ferishta, Vol. III, pp. 325-26).
1 Following is an account of the confrontation between Bidar and Golconda as given by
Ferishta.
After the departure of Kasim Bereed Shah from Golconda, and on the near approach of
Boorhans Nizam Shah of Ahmadnuggur Jumsheed Kootb Shah, relieved from all apprehensions for
his capital, marched to meet his ally. Boorhan Nizam Shah offered to confer the royal insignia on
Jumsheed, and to crown him in due form ; but the latter declined the ceremony, by saying that if he
could not maintain his right to the crown in the field he was unworthy of wearing it. After this,
Boorhan Nizam Shah having induced Jumsheed Kootb Shah to unite with him and Alla-ood-Deen
Imad Shah against the King of Beejapoor, the allied armies marched to reduce the fortress of
Sholapoor. When Ibrahim Adil Shah heard of this attack, he moved, accompanied by Kasim Bereed
Shah, towards Purenda, on the Nizam Shahy frontier, in order to create a diversion, as he was
unable to cope with the three confederate armies. On his arrival, he laid siege to that fortress. This
measure had the desired effect of withdrawing the allies from Sholapoor, and causing them to
march to Purenda. Ibrahim Adil Shah, hearing of this movement attacked them unexpectedly at the
village of Khaspoor, where a bloody action ensued, in which Jumsheed Kootb Shah distinguished
himself greatly. The King of Beejapoor was defeated, and aBaridoned to the confederates all his
heavy baggage and camp equipage. Jumsheed Kootb Shah availed himself of this opportunity to
take revenge on Kasim Bereed, whom he pursued to the very gates of Bidur, and enriched himself
and his troops by the plunder of his enemy, after which he returned direct to Golconda.
Kasim Bereed Shah, on finding that Jumsheed Kootb Shah had aBaridoned the confederacy,
and gone to his capital, marched with a force of eight thousand cavalry, besides a large body of
infantry, to attack him. It was not before Kasim Bereed arrived at Chilkoor, a village situated at four
coss distant from Golconda, that Jumsheed received any intimation of his approach. Panic struck
with this news, he evacuated his capital, leaving a garrison for its defence, while he endeavoured to
collect his nobles, who were residing on their different estates. In order to distract the attention of
the enemy also, he made a movement towards Bidur and having reached Kumtana, plundered the
surrounding district. The moment Bereed Shah heard of this circumstances he aBaridoned the siege
of Golconda, and retreated to protect his own capital. Jumsheed Kootb Shah met him on his return
towards Bidur, with three hundred cavalry, and attacked his camp in the neighbourhood, of
Puttuncheroo, which ended in the two kings mutually agreeing to retire to their respective capitals.
On Jumsheed Kootb Shah's arrival at Golconda, he spent some time in raising money, and in
collecting troops from all quarters ,when he again marched towards Bidur. On reaching Kowlas, he
dispersed his army to plunder and to lay waste the country. Kasim Bereed Shah moved out from
Bidur with eight thousand cavalry, besides infantry, to oppose him. Jumsheed Kootb Shah consulted
his officers as to his future operations. Jugdew Row Naigwary proposed to take possession of the
heights above Kowlas, and fortify them as a depot, from whence it might be easy to prosecute the
predatory warfare. Jumsheed Kootb Shah, adopting this advice, left a strong party with Jugdew Row
to build the depot, and marched to oppose Kasim Bereed Shah at Narainkehra where an action took
place, which terminated in a drawn battle ; and the two armies encamped for some time within sight
of each other, till a messenger from Jugdew Row arrived, announcing the completion of the fort, to
which place the King proceeded with a small escort. In the meantime, Kasim Bereed Shah falling on
the Golconda camp, completely sacked it, and the fugitives joined the King at Kowlas. Kasim
Bereed Shah.; neglecting to follow up his success, retreated to Bidur, while Jumsheed Kootb Shah
took quiet possession of the districts of Kowlas, Narainkehra, arid Ahsunabad, which were made
over in charge to Jugdew Row.
(Briggs's Ferishta, Vol. III, pp. 382—84).
2 The details about the reduction of these fortresses as given by Ferishta are as under.
During the late war, Jumsheed Kootb Shah had always kept his ally Boorhan Nizam Shah
acquainted with the events as they occurred ; and after the defeat of
HISTORY – MEDIAEVAL PERIOD 225
Adil. Taking advantage of the disturbed atmosphere in. Bija. pur, Burhan and Jamsid marched
towards that city. But Ibrahim succeeded in crushing the plot against him. He forced Burhan and
Jamsid to retire.
In 1547, Burhan again allied with Vijayanagar and on the advice of Sadasivraya, attacked Ali
Barid, besieging Kalyani. In spite of the help from Bijapur, Kalyani fell.
Sometime after this, there was a conspiracy at Golconda aimed at deposing Jamsld and
putting on the throne his brother Haider. The conspiracy was discovered and Haider fled to Bidar.
The Sultan's youngest brother Ibrahim fled to Sadasivraya, the King of Vijayanagar. In 1550 Jamsid
died and the foreign nobles of his court raised to throne, Subhan Quli, his son, a boy of two years.
But the existence of a strong Deccani party in the court forced the foreigners to alter their decision.
Considering that without royal support they might not be able to deal with the Dcccanis, they invited
Ibrahim from Vijayanagar. Ibrahim came to Golconda and deposing his nephew ascended the
throne under the title of Ibrahim Qutb Sah.
In 1558 Ibrahim Adil Sah died and Ali, his son, ascended the throne. Ali formed an alliance
with Vijayanagar for the recovery of Solapur but his kingdom was attacked by Husain Nizam Sah
who had succeeded Burhan Nizam Sah, and Ibrahim Qutb Sah. However, Ibrahim deserted Husain
Nizam Sah. He feared that the destruction of Bijapur would serve the interests of Ahmadnagar and
would prove detrimental to him. He, therefore, retired to his own Kingdom.
Husain Nizam Sah, deserted by his ally, sought the assistance of Darya Imad Sah. Now Ali Adil Sah
aided by Sadasivraya and Ibrahim Qutb Sah invaded the Ahmadnagar Kingdom.
contd.
his troops, during his absence at Kowlas, he wrote to that monarch informing him of the
circumstance, and inviting him to join in the war. Boorhan Nizam Shah, ever ready to avail himself of
such an opportunity immediately marched towards Qwsa and Oodgeer, informing Jumsheed Kootb
Shah that his own troops and those of Berar were on the road to join, and recommended him, in the
meantime, to attack such places belonging to the enemy as lay contiguous to his kingdom.
Jumsheed Kootb Shah, accordingly, marching by the route of Kowlas, joined the allies while in the
act of besieging Owsa. It was now agreed that the siege of Owsa should be continued by the allies,
while Jumsheed Kootb Shah should recover the fort of Meduk, of which Kasim Bereed Shah had
lately obtained possession. Upon his arrival at Maduk, Jumsheed Kootb Shah closely invested the
lower fort, which, after a long siege, he carried by storm, and the governor of the hill-fort
surrendered at discretion. Meanwhile the allies were successful in reducing both Owsa and
Oodgeer. These events induced Kasim Bereed Shah to apply for assistance to the court of
Beejapoor; and Ibrahim Adil Shah despatched Yekhlas Khan with five thousand cavalry to his
support. With this reinforcement, Kasim Bereed Shah moved from Bidur to Kowlas. Jumsheed
Kootb Shah intercepted him at Narain-kehra, and thus disposed his troops. He himself took post in
the centre, and gave command of the right wing to Seif Khan Ein-ool-Moolk, and the left to Jugdew
Row. Kasim Bereed also remained in the centre of his army, placing the Adil Shahy auxiliaries on
the right wing, and confiding the left wing to his own brother Khan Jahan. After a long and
sanguinary contest, the victory was gained by the gallantry of Seif Khan Ein-ool-Moolk, who turned
the enemy's left. On this occasion Kasim Bereed Shah lost many of his bravest officers and
soldiers, who were either made prisoners or killed. After the action Jumsheed Kootb Shah returned
in triumph to Golconda.
(Briggs's Ferishta, Vol. III, pp. 385-86).
226 MAHARASHTRA STATE GAZETTEER
Husain was forced to flee to his capital. Ibrahim Qutb Sah was again in a quandary. He had foolishly
joined Ali Adil to crush Ahmadnagar. He corresponded with Husain Nizam Sah and was upbraided
for this act by Ali Adil. Upon this, Ibrahim deserted the camp at night and retired hastily to Golconda.
The war resulted in an abject surrender of Husain Nizam Sab. to the humiliating conditions imposed
by Sadasivraya1.
To avenge his recent defeat he again conspired with Ibrahim Qutb Sah. The forces of
Ahmadnagar and Golconda marched against Kalyani and invested the fort. Ali Adil and Sadasivraya
marched to raise the siege and were joined by the forces of
1 Following is an account of the happenings given by Ferishta.
It appears from history, that shortly after the meeting which took place between Ramraj,
Ibrahim Kootb Shah and Ibrahim Adil Shah, at the junction of the Beema and Krishna rivers, the
latter monarch, on his return to Beejapoor, died and was succeeded by his son Ally Adil Shah, then
a youth. Hoossein Nizam Shah of Ahmudnuggur, taking advantage of the circumstance of his
minority, made war upon him, and Ally Adil Shah, unable to defend himself, evacuated his capital;
and attended only by a small bodyguard proceeded in person to Beejanuggur to court the alliance of
Ramraj, who was induced to march with his whole army, accompanied by Ally Adil Shah, towards
Ahmudnuggur. At the same time, these two sovereigns sent a letter to Ibrahim Kootb Shah, calling
upon him, in pursuance of the late treaty, to join them. Ibrahim Kootb Shah, however, unwilling to
act against Hoossein Nizm Shah considered it politic not to incur the imputation of a breach of the
treaty, and, perhaps, draw on himself the vengeance of the allies, whom he accordingly joined at the
city of Koolburga, from whence the whole marched to Ahmudnuggur. The Beejanuggur troops laid
waste all the towns and villages on their route. Hoossein Nizam Shah, unable to resist their united
forces, having left a strong garrison and plenty of provisions in his capital retired to Dowlutabad. In
the meantime, Ibrahim Kootb Shah wrote to him privately, informing him of the political necessity
which had induced him to join the allies ; but at the same time, assured him, that his endeavours
should be exerted to assist him, and do all in his power to induce his enemies to retreat, and
aBaridon the war. He also made the same communications to the officer commanding in the fort of
Ahmudnuggur, advising him to make every possible resistance, and to hold out till the last. The
allies besieged the place with vigour for two months, and the garrison were beginning to lose their
spirits, when Ibrahim Kootb Shah, with seasonable donations, bought over some of the principal
nobles of Beejanuggur, and induced them to propose the return of the troops to their respective
capitals. They represented that the rains were fast approaching ; that the army was at a great
distance from Beejanuggur ; and that if the wet season completely set in, it would be nearly
impossible to recross the numerous rivers that lay on the march. Ramraj, convinced of the truth of
these remonstrances, consented to retreat; by Ally Adil Shah, who knew that the besieged were
suffering for want of provisions, had a conference with Ramraj, and begged him not to think of
withdrawing till the place fell, promising to cede to him the district of Indgy if he would only continue
the siege for one month longer. Ramraj consented, and the siege was prosecuted with redoubled
vigour. Meanwhile Ibrahim Kootb Shah permitted supplies for the garrison and a number of artillerymen
from the King at Dowlutabad, to pass through his camp into the place. The approaches of the
allies were brought close to the walls ; and the speedy reduction of the fort appeared so certain, that
Ibrahim Kootb Shah was induced to try, if possible, to avert that extreme evil. He accordingly
deputed his minister and commander-in-chief, Moostufa Khan, to wait on Ramraj, and endeavour to
persuade him to raise the siege, but at.all events to acquaint him, that the Kootb Shahy troops must
return immediately to Golconda. Moostufa Khan, in his conference with Ramraj, made use of every
argument he could devise in order to gain his end. The scarcity of provisions in the camp, the
approach of the rainy season, the advance of the kings of Guzerat and Boorhanpoor, who he stated,
had entered into an alliance with Hoossein Nizam Shah, and were collecting their armies to march
to his assistance, were all adduced as reasons for that measure. Moostufa Khan also engaged
secretly, on the part of the King his master, to cede the fort and district of Condapilly to Ramraj, if he
would return to his capital. This last motive was, perhaps, the most weighty ; for Ramraj immediately
consented to retreat, and sent a message to Ally Adil Shah to that effect, and the three kings
repaired to their respective capitals.
(Briggs's Ferishta, Vol. III, pp. 402-05).
HISTORY – MEDIAEVAL PERIOD 227
Berar and Bidar. Husain raised the siege of Kalyani and marched to meet the combined forces of
Bijapur, Vijayanagar, Berar and Bidar. He was, however, forced to retire to his camp as he lost his
entire train of artillery in marshy lands during his march. More than 600 and odd guns fell into the
hands of the enemy. Ibrahim Qutb Sah fled the field of battle. The allied armies advanced on
Ahmadnagar but suffered heavily in the rains of 1563. Ali Adil and Sadasivraya returned to their
respective Kingdoms.
The growing power of Sadasivraya was not to the liking of the Deccan states. He demanded
extensive tracts of territory from both Bijapur and Golconda for the help rendered by him to both.
Husain Nizam Sah now took the lead in bringing the Deccan states together in a confederacy
against the Hindu Kingdom of Vijayanagar.
It should have been possible for Sadasivaraya to deal separately with each of the
quarrelsome Sultans of the five kingdoms of the Deccan. Their affairs were complicated enough,
what with quarrels of succession and with court intrigues. None among them had come to the throne
without bloodshed. The only contribution they had made to the Deccan was a succession of
fratricidal wars, massacre of innocents and destruction and desolation of huge prosperous tracts.
But Sadasivraya allowed these states to form a confederacy against him, and thus brought about
his own destruction. To return to the narrative: Husain allied himself with Ibrahim Qutb Sah. Ibrahim
mediated between Ahmadnagar and Bijapur which were brought together by a matrimonial alliance.
Ali Barid Sah was also drawn into the alliance. The issue was fought out on 7 January, 1565 in a
decisive battle south of Talikota. It resulted in the complete defeat of Vijayanagar. The Sultans
sacked and plundered the city of Vijayanagar and returned with rich spoils to their respective
Kingdoms1. No sooner had the objective of confederacy been realised than the petty minded
Sultans returned to their
1 The account of what followed after the battle of Talikota as given by Ferishta is as under:¾
After which the three monarchs deputed severally their generals Moostufa Khan, on the part
of the King of Golconda ; Mowlana Inayut Oolla, on the part of Hoossein Nizam Shah ; and Kishwur
Khan, on the part of Ally Adil Shah to attack Moodkul and Rachore, which places were easily
reduced. Moostufa Khan, without waiting for further orders, delivered over the keys of the forts to
Kishwur Khan, which so incensed Hoossein Nizam Shah, that he wrote to the King of Golconda,
informing him of the circumstance, and requiring that Moostufa Khan should suffer death. Ibrahim
Kootb Shah, unwilling to slay a descendant of the prophet, sent for Moostufa Khan, and taxed him
with treachery. The latter was not allowed to make any defence, but was directed to quit the
kingdom and proceed to Mecca, there to repent of his sins. The King caused letters to be written to
Golconda to send all the family and property of Moostufa Khan to one of the western sea-ports, to
be ready to accompany him ; and it is a well authenticated fact, that his wealth and family required
seven hundred carriages and five thousand porters to transport it. Moostufa Khan left the King's
presence, and proceeded direct to the court of Ally Adil Shah, by whom he was honourably
received, and became his prime minister; after whose death he was assassinated, in the year 988
(A. D. 1580), in the country of Malabar, a country which he had previously reduced, and of which he
was governor.
228 MAHARASHTRA STATE GAZETTEER
own bickerings and mutual jealousies. War broke out between Ahmadnagar and Bijapur due to the
incursions made by the latter into the former's territory. Ibrahim Qutb Sah joined Murtaza Nizam
Sah, who had succeeded his father in 1565. and both invaded the territory of Bijapur. Ibrahim Qutb
Sah, fickle minded as he was, wrote a friendly letter to Ali Adil Sah. When Murtaza heard the news,
he attacked his ally's camp, plundered it and sent Ibrahim Qutb Sah in headlong retreat to
Golconda1.
The Sultans of Ahmadnagar and Bijapur had subsequently an adventure with the Portuguese.
The Sultans were however, defeated in spite of their superiority in men and material over the
Portuguese, largely due to the latter's skill, better equipment and the technique of fighting the war.
Afterwards. Ali Adil Sah of Bijapur captured Adoni and other districts of Vijayanagar. Murtaza
growing suspicious of the motives of Ali Adil formed an alliance with Ibrahim Qutb Sah. They
invaded the Kingdom of Bijapur. But an open conflict was avoided by the diplomacy of Cangiz Khan
of Ahmadnagar and Sah Abul Hasan of Bijapur2. The compromise was arrived at under the terms of
1 Moortuza Nizam Shah, now coming of age, was induced, from motives of self-preservation,
to confine his mother in a fort; and he deputed Khan Khanan with a force to reduce Dharoor, at the
same time inviting Ibrahim Kootb Shah to assist him; but before that monarch reached the place, it
had fallen to the Nizam Shahy forces, and the allies marched on together into the Beejapoor
territory. Ibrahim Kootb Shah, at this period, wrote a letter full of friendship to Ally Adil Shah,
proposing terms of peace for himself alone. The latter sent his communication direct to Moortuza
Nizam Shah, who, on discovering his treachery, sent a party of horse to attack his camp. Ibrahim
Kootb Shah fled without opposition to Golconda, and lost one hundred and fifty elephants in his
retreat, besides a number of his best officers and men.
(Briggs's Ferishta, Vol. III, pp. 331-32).
2 This is what Ferishta has to say about this event.
Let'us now return to the affairs of the kings of the Deccan. The Queen-dowager of
Ahmudnuggur had by her conduct excited universal discontent among all the officers of the
government, who conspired against her, and persuaded the young King, Moortuza Nizam Shah, to
seize and confine her in the fort of Dowlutabad; while her two brothers, the King's uncles, Ein-ool-
Moolk and Taj Khan, fled from the capital. Their departure created utmost confusion, and the young
King was not of an age or a temper to act with much discretion. Ally Adil Shah, the ancient enemy of
the Kingdom, deputed his general Kishwur Khan Lary, with twenty thousand horse, to lay waste and
occupy as much of the Ahmudnuggur territory as he could seize. He first of all devastated the
country of Kondana, and then proceeded to Dharore ; which place he took, and ordered it to be
strongly fortified, placing a garrison of Adil Shahy troops within it. From thence he wrote a letter to
Moortuza Nizam Shah, telling him that he had left him the fort of Dowlutabad to repair to; but that if
he did not immediately evacuate his capital and proceed thither, he would march to Ahmudnuggur,
and oblige him to do so. Moortuza Nizam Shah instantly despatched his general, Khwaja Meeruk
Dubeer Isfahany, entitled Chungiz Khan, with ten thousand cavalry, to resent this insulting
language, and he accordingly marched and invested the fort of Dharore. The sudden arrival of the
Nizam Shahy troops so alarmed the Adil Shahy garrison that Ein-ool-Moolk, Ankoos Khan, and
Azeez-ool-Moolk, three of the principal officers of Kishwur Khan's force, fled without drawing their
swords ; while Kishwur Khan, seeing he had no alternative but to fight, resolved to defend the place
against the Nizam Shahy troops, who escaladed it on the next morning, and Kishwur Khan was
killed in the assault. Ally Adil Shah no sooner heard of the fate of his general than he detached Noor
Khan, Ein-ool-Moolk, and Zureef-ool-Moolk, to the borders, to invade the Nizam Shahy territories,
and plunder and devastate the country, while he himself, with fifty thousand horse, took the field,
with the determination, if possible, of conquering the Ahmudnuggur dominions. Moortuza Nizam
Shah, unable alone to cope with Ally Adil Shah, had recourse to Ibrahim Kootb Shah for aid, who
proceeded with his army first to,
HISTORY – MEDIAEVAL PERIOD 229
which Ahmadnagar was to annex Berar and Bidar and Bijapur was to annex the equivalent of this
territory in Karnatak1.
Murtaza now demanded of Tufal Khan, the regent of the Berar Sultan, Burhan Imad Sah,
restoration of power and authority to the rightful Sultan. Burhan Imad Sah had now come of age.
Tufal Khan refused and sought the assistance of Ali Barid of Bidar and Ibrahim Qutb Sah of
Golconda. He expected help from Ali Barid who was equally threatened. He marched to Bidar to
gain some reinforcement. Ali Barid showed his disinclination. After a short skirmish Tufal Khan
retired to
contd.
Bidur, and having induced Ally Bereed Shah to unite in the confederacy, they marched together to
join Moortuza Nizam Shah, whom they met at the town of Nagdurry, where they swore to stand by
each other. The oaths were taken upon a Koran in the possession of the latter, said to be written by
Ally, the cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet. On this occasion it was agreed that they should
proceed and attack the Beejapoor territories without delay. Ally Adil Shah suspecting that his
minister, Shah Abool Hussun, the son of the late famous Shah Tahir of Ahmudnuggur, had
promoted this confederacy, put him into confinement. Syud Moortuza, a nobleman of the Nizam
Shahy court, was at this time in the Beejapoor camp. He had fled during the late revolution from
Ahmudnuggur, and came over to Ally Adil Shah, where he renewed his friendship with Shah Abool
Hussun. On the present occasion, Syud Moortuza, desirous of effecting the release of the minister,
applied to Ally Adil Shah to be allowed to proceed in character of envoy to the confederates, and
through his influence negotiate a peace, a measure which the King had at heart. Syud Moortuza
was accordingly deputed to proceed to the Nizam Shahy camp, and having had an audience of
Moortuza Nizam Shah, laid his head on the King's feet, and vowed he would not rise till his Majesty
promised to obtain the release of the son of the late Shah Tahir, to whom the house of
Ahmudnuggur was under such obligations ; declaring, at the same time, that nothing but concluding
a treaty of peace with Ally Adil Shah could effect this object. Moortuza Nizam Shah at once forgot
his enmity to Ally Adil Shah, and consented to listen to terms, on condition that Shah Abool Hussun
should be released, and be employed' as ambassador to conclude the treaty. Shah Abool Hussuan
accordingly proceeded with magnificent presents to the camp of the confederates. While in the
camp, he persuaded Moortuza Nizam Shah to attack Ibrahim Kootb Shah's forces as well as those
of Ally Bereed Shah, and by thus making a bold stroke at first, follow it up, and reduce the countries
of Tulingana and Bidur. Moortuza Nizam Shah, young, thoughtless, and impetuous, eagerly adopted
the proposition, and attacked his allies, who defended themselves with bravery, and contrived to
retreat to Bidur, whence Ibrahim Kootb Shah proceeded to Golconda.
(Briggs's Ferishta, Vol. III, pp. 426—29).
1 The details of what followed this compact as given by Ferishta, are as under :—
After this event, Ally Adil Shah made secret overtures of alliance to Moortuza Nizam Shah,
and proposed they should meet at the fort of Owsa. Here they entered into a compact, by which it
was agreed that Moortuza Nizam Shah should reduce the kingdom of Berar, and Ally Adil Shah
those of Bidur and Tulingana. In the first place, however, the combined forces marched to the
northward against Toofal Khan, who, unable to resist them, fled to Gavulgur, which after a
considerable time was on the point of surrendering, when Toofal Khan paid two lacks of hoons, and
agreed to present fifty elephants to Ally Adil Shah, in order to induce him to raise the siege. In
consequence of this secret engagement, Ally Adil Shah sent a person to Moortuza Nizam Shah,
saying, that it was shameful for two armies like theirs to throw away their time in the reduction of a
fortress, and that it would be more profitable for them both to march and reduce Tulingana. On
which Moortuza Nizam Shah raised the siege, and went southward ; having, in the first instance,
detached a force under Yekhlas Khan on his own part, and another under Ein-ool-Moolk on the part
of Ally Adil Shah, to reduce Kowlas ; but on the road an accident occurred which saved the kingdom
of Tulingana from destruction. One day six thousand Marratta cavalry belonging to the Beejapoor
army made a sudden attack on the rear guard of the Nizam Shahy troops, in order to plunder the
baggage. Munsoor Khan, the commander of the rear-guard, opposed them, and many troops on
both sides were killed, among whom was Munsoor Khan himself. This circumstance caused a
dispute between the monarchs, and brought on the dissolution of the alliance ; when each returned
to his own capital.
230 MAHARASHTRA STATE GAZETTEER
Mahur. Murtaza followed in pursuit but kept a contingent at Kandhar to counter any attack from
Golconda. After a long and arduous campaign, Murtaza Nizam Sah succeeded in defeating Tufal
Khan. He annexed the Kingdom of Berar
contd.
Upon the arrival of Moortuza Nizam Shah at Ahmudnuggur, he, in order to be revenged on
Ally Adil Shah, sent an envoy to Golconda, inviting Ibrahim Kootb Shah to form an alliance against
the King of Beejapoor ; while at the same time an envoy had been previously despatched for the
same purposeto Ahmudnuggur, by the King of Golconda, proposing that they should march to the
river Krishna, when Yeltumraj, the brother of the late Ramraj, might be invited to join with his forces
when they could all proceed to the reduction of Beejapoor. After reaching the Krishna, the kings of
Golconda and Ahmudnuggur wrote to Yeltumraj, requiring him to become a member of the
confederacy ; but a circumstance occurred, which tended to dissolve this union as suddenly as it
had been formed.
On the accession of Moortuza Nizam Shah to the throne, he had scarcely attained his twelfth
year ; and the affairs of his Government were conducted by his mother, the Qeen-dowager, Khonza
Hoomayoon. At that time she had been induced by illadvised persons about her to demand from
Yeltumraj two lacks of hoons for aid to be afforded to him by the allies against the encroachments of
the King of Beejapoor. Yeltumraj, who rather expected that allies would restore the countries taken
by Ally Adil Shah from Ramraj instead of applying to him for money, sent a message to Ibrahim
Kootb Shah, informing him of the circumstance. The King of Golconda immediately deputed a
person to wait on the Queen-dowager expressing his astonishment at this unexpected demand and
observing that it appeared very impolitic, in the present posture of affairs, to make demands of
money on Yeltumraj, instead of conciliating one who was a useful ally at the head of ten thousand
men, and who had reason to bear great enmity towards the powerful state which they were on the
point of attacking. Instead of attending to this remonstrance, the demand was again urged by the
Queen with threats ; and Yeltumraj not only refused to pay the money, but prepared to treat the
allies as enemies. Ibrahim Kootb Shah, finding that matters were assuming an unfavourable
appearance, sent to Yeltumraj, advising him to retreat to this country, and promising that his own
troops should also move at the same time. On the following day, Ibrahim Kootb Shah struck his
camp and retreated to Golconda, and Yeltumraj marched to Penkonda. Moortuza Nizam Shah, thus
suddenly deserted by his allies and surrounded by the Adil Shahy cavalry, who had occupied the
route by which he came, commenced his retreat through the kingdom of Tulingana ; and his army
laid waste the districts of Kovilconda and Gunpoora. Ibrahim Kootb Shah detached Sulabut Khan,
with three thousand horse to protect the country from the depredations of the Nizam Shahies; and
orders were issued to the Munewars and Havaldars to throw every obstacle in the way of their
march, to shut the gates of the towns, and to secure the property of the peoples, as far as was
practicable, from their hands. The village magistrates were very active during the nights, and kept
the enemy on the alert by incessant firing in small parties all round the camp. The Nizam Shahies
suffered so much from these irregular attacks, that they were induced to dig a trench round the
camp for their protection as well as to prevent the approach of the Kootb cavalry, which constantly
hovered round them. The Nizam Shahies continued to plunder; and Sulabut Khan, finding
remonstrances of no avail, charged the rear of their army, and completely routed them. Moortuza
Nizam Shah halted his line, and sent a large body of cavalry under Moatimid Khan to attack the
Kootb Shahy detachment. In, this latter engagement, the Nizam Shahy commander was killed, and
Kamil Khan another general, was wounded. The Kootb Shahy army also lost one general
(Mookurrib Khan). Night put an end to the contest; and on the following morning the Nizam Shahies
marched and did not halt till they arrived on the Bereed Shahy territories.
(Briggs's Ferishta, Vol. III, pp. 417-21).
HISTORY – MEDIAEVAL PERIOD 231
(1574). Ibrahim Qutb Sah who had responded to the appeal from Tufal Khan sent a force to invade
the Kingdom of Ahmadnagar in 1573. However, the Qutb Sahi forces were defeated and expelled
from the territory of Ahmadnagar1.
The conquest of Berar by Murtaza and the possible eastward expansion of the Ahmadnagar
Kingdom by the absorption of Bidar roused the hostility of Ibrahim Qutb sah and Muhammad II of
Khandes. Murtaza overcame the hostility of Khandes by invading that Kingdom and forcing upon
Muhammad severe terms. But Ibrahim forestalled the invasion by allying himself with Murtaza
against Bijapur. Venkatadri of Vijayanagar joined hands with the allies. He sent an envoy Sah Mirza
to Ahmadnagar to prevent Murtaza from attacking Bidar during his invasion of Bijapur. He proposed
to achieve this by bribing Murtaza's general Cangiz Khan. The latter, however, refused to accept the
bribe. Sah Mirza, however, succeeded in creating suspicion in the mind of Murtaza Nizam Sah,
about his general. This led to the death of Cangiz Khan by poisoning at the hands of his own
master. Later Murtaza Nizam Sah realised his folly and retired, overcome with grief and shame.
After some time Murtaza again allied himself with Ibrahim Qutb Sah in the invasion of Bidar. On
receipt of the news of the invasion of his Kingdom by 20,000 Ahmadnagar cavalry, Ali Barid
appealed to Ali Adil Sab for assistance. Such was the fabric of the moral character of these
depraved Sultans that Ali Adil agreed to help Ali Barid on condition of the surrender of two
handsome eunuchs of Ali Barid whom Ali Adil had seen and with whom he was infatuated. Ali Barid
agreed to surrender his eunuchs. Ali Adil Sah, thereupon, sent reinforcements to Bidar which had
been besieged by the Ahmadnagar troops. Though he resented the violation of the former treaty
between Ahmadnagar and Bijapur by Ali Adil, Murtaza was forced to raise the siege and retire to
Ahmadnagar. Soon after Ali Barid died (1579) and was succeeded by his son Ibrahim under the
1 This is how Ferishta narrates the event:
On the return of Ibrahim Kootb Shah to his capital, he resolved to take revenge on Moortuza
Nizam Shah for his late treachery ; and as thelatter always obtained assistance from the Berarcourt,
he determined to anticipate that step by sending an envoy to Toofal Khan, the Regent of Berar,
inviting him to an alliance against Moortuza Nizam Shah, to whom he could owe no friendship, since
the invasion of his country, and the siege of Gavul. Toofal Khan, glad of an opportunity of revenging
himself on Moortuza Nizam Shah, readily acceded to the proposed alliance, and despatched his
son, Shumsheer-ool-Moolk, with three thousand cavalry to join Ibrahim Kootb Shah; who having
collected his own army, proceeded, under the pretence of hunting, towards Bidur, when he was
joined, between that city and the town of Kowlas, by the Berar auxiliaries, as well as by Ally Adil
Shah, inviting him, also to join the confederacy. Moortuza Nizam Shah, far from being idle, also
collected his army, and determined to prevent the junction of Ally Adil Shah, either by force or
stratagem. He accordingly moved towards Beejapoor with his whole force, deputing his minister,
Chungiz Khan, with large presents, to the Adil Shahy camp, in order to prevent its union with the
confederates ; but, at any rate, to make such good use of his money among the courtiers as to
detain the King of Beejapoor for some time, till he should hear of the approach of the Nizam
Shahies. Chungiz Khan overtook Ally Adil Shah at the fort of Nuldoorg, where he displayed so much
diplomatic skill as to induce the King to give up the idea of joining the allies at all, and to consent to
meet Moortuza Nizam Shah on friendly terms. Ibrahim Kootb Shah, alarmed at this sudden
alteration in the measures of the Adil Shahy court, broke up the Confederacy, dismissing
232 MAHARASHTRA STATE GAZETTEER
title of Ibrahim Barid Sah. In Bijapur, Ali Adil died as a result of stabbing by his eunuchs1. He was
succeeded by his nephew Ibrahim Adil Sah II.
Soon after Ali Adil's death, factions developed in the Bijapur court. One was headed by Kamil
Khan and the other by Haji Kisvar Khan. The latter was supported by Cand Bibi, the widow of the
late Sultan. Taking advantage of the troubles in Bijapur, Salabat Khan who was in charge of the
administration at Ahmadnagar sent an army to besiege Naldurg. He persuaded Ibrahim Qutb Sah to
send a contingent of 8,000 cavalry. But before this contingent could reach Naldurg it was put to
flight by a Bijapuri force sent to intercept it. Another Bijapuri army defeated the besieging forces of
Ahmadnagar.
Murtaza Nizam Sah's campaign against Naldurg was again undertaken next year when a
force under Sayyad Murtaza Sabzavari besieged Naldurg. A reinforcement of 20,000 cavalry was
received from Golconda where Muhammad Quli Qutb Sab. had succeeded his father Ibrahim Qutb
Sah in June 1580. 2a b2.
contd.
the Berar auxiliaries with handsome rewards, and recommending Ally Bereed Shah to repair to the
fort of Bidur ; at the same time promising his aid in case of invasion and attack. Upon his arrival at
Golconda, he pitched the royal pavilion on the plain, and directed all the Naigwary infantry of the
realm to repair to his standard. These preparations were not unnecessary ; for Moortuza Nizam
Shah having made a convert of Ally Adil Shah to his cause, they both marched with the
determination of reducing the kingdoms of Tulingana and Bidur ; to which latter city they proceeded,
the Adil Shahies encamping in the neighbourhood of the Houz-i-Kumt' hana, while the Nizam
Shahies invested the fort of Bidur. Ibrahim Kootb Shah no sooner heard of the attack on Bidur than
he made preparations for the defence of Golconda. On this occasion he ordered pavilions to De
pitched on the bastions, and adorned them with rich brocades and silks from China and with velvets
of European manufacture giving himself up to the gratification of listening "to the enchanting vocal
and instrumental music of heart alluring damsels and fairy-faced virgins." At the same time he
detached a force of four thousand cavalry and ten thousand light infantry, under Sulabut Khan, to
hover round the enemy, and to make night-attacks on the besiegers at Bidur. The Munewar infantry
were eminently successful in all directions, and at all hours, bringing nightly between three and four
hundred noses and ears from the enemy's lines ; and they received for each nose a hoon, and for
each ear a purtab. During the day, the cavalry made their attacks at favourable moments on the
besiegers, who were distressed for want of sleep, owing to the constant assaults both of the cavalry
and infantry. Determined to raise the siege, but apprehensive lest Ibrahim Kootb Shah should attack
them if they separated, Ally Adil Shah deputed Kamil Khan with fifteen thousand horse, and
Moortuza Nizam Shah sent Mirza Yadgar with an equal number, to remain in the neighbourhood of
Kowlas. Moortuza Nizam Shah then proceeded to punish Toofal Khan for the assistance he had
given in the preceding year to Ibrahim Kootb Shah; and Ally Adil Shah marched to the south against
Bunkapoor and the Hindoo territories dependent on Beejanuggur.
(Briggs's Ferishta, Vol. III, pp. 429—32).
1 A. H. 987. A. D. 1579.
In the year987, Moortuza Nizam Shah made an attack upon the remaining part of the Bidur
territories, and laid close siege to the capital itself. Ally Bereed, thus straitened, sent an envoy to
Ally Adil Shah, who replied, that if he would make him a present of two eunuchs, whom he named,
he would send him assistance. Ally Bereed assented; and two thousand Beejapoor cavalry marched
to raise the siege of Mahomedabad Bidur. Moortuza Nizam Shah, hearing of the approach of the
Adil Shahies, and also of the rebellion of his brother Boorhan Nizam Shah at Ahmudnuggur
retreated to his capital, and left Mirza Yadgar with a body of Kootb Shahies, who had joined from
Golcon'da, to prosecute the siege; but as soon as the Beejapoor detachment arrived within a few
miles of the place, Mirza Yadgar retreated; and Ally Bereed delivered over the two eunuchs,
contrary to their own inclination, to the Beejapoories. These two youths were so stung with shame
on being transferred from one king to another, that shortly after their arrival at Beejapoor one of
them put Ally Adil Shah to death.
(Briggs's Ferishta, Vol. III, pp. 498-99)
Foot notes 2a and 2b continued on the next page.
HISTORY – MEDIAEVAL PERIOD 233
The besieging army suffered heavily. Once again there were turmoils in the court of Bijapur. Cand
Bibi was imprisoned at Satara by Kisvar Khan. Later, he himself lost power and had to flee to
Golconda. He was slain there by a native of Ardistan. Cand Bibi got her release from Satara and
assumed control by appointing Afzal Khan to head the administration. He was, however, slain by the
Africans whose party now assumed control of administration. These reports encouraged the
besieging troops to advance towards Bijapur and besiege the city. However, the foreigners came
from their fiefs to the defence of the city with a force of 60,000 under the command of Ankus Khan
and Ain-ul-mulk. They, however, joined hands with Sayyad Murtaza of Ahmadnagar to demonstrate
that, without them the city of Bijapur would be rendered helpless. This did the trick and the Africans
submitted their resignation to Cand Bibi. The foreigners now persuaded Sayyad Murtaza Sabzavari
who was himself a foreigner to raise the siege and withdraw to Ahmadnagar. The siege was
accordingly raised. The Ahmadnagar troops retired to Ahmadnagar unmolested but the Golconda
army was attacked and defeated and driven from Gulburga, which it had occupied. The next few
years were full of turmoil in the Deccan, the worst affected Kingdoms being Ahmadnagar and
Bijapur. After the death of Murtaza Nizam Sah, Husain II and Ismail succeeded in that order. In
1591 Burhan, the brother of Murtaza and father of Ismail, invaded the Kingdom with the help of Raja
Ali Khan of Khandes and deposing his son ascended the throne under the title of Burhan Nizam Sah
II. War broke out between Ahmadnagar and Bijapur on the employment of Dilavar Khan. He was
formerly in the employ of Bijapur. But peace was obtained at the intercession of Muhammad Quli
2a. Ibrahim was succeeded by his third son, Mahomed Koolly, who assumed the family title of
Kootb Shah. The first act of his reign was to proceed and join his army, then engaged in the siege of
Nuldoorg, with a large reinforcement. He commenced his approaches on that side of the fort where
the ditch was dry, but the governor making several sallies prevented the batteries from being
completed, and little progress was made during two months. At length, a breach was reported
practicable, and attempts were made to storm the place. The garrison repelled several attacks by
hurling boxes filled with gunpowder and stones down the breach and over the walls. In this state of
affairs, news arrived that an army of twenty thousand Marratta cavalry had arrived in the skirts of the
camp, so that the besiegers were compelled to defer their attacks on the fort for the present. Shortly
after this, the allies received overtures for peace from Ibrahim Adil Shah, to which the King of
Golconda assented, and raised the siege ; and having dismissed the Nizam Shahy troops under
Syud Moortuza Khan, he returned to his capital.
(Briggs's Ferishta, Vol. III, p. 447.)
2b. In the beginning of the reign of Mahomed Koolly Kootb Shah, that young Prince became
enamoured of a public singer of the name of Bhagmutty. to whom he assigned one thousand
cavalry as an escort for her attendance ; and as the airof Golconda had become impure and
unhealthy, he built a magnificent city at a distance of eight miles, which he called Bhagnuggur, after
his favourite mistress ; but this city has since received the name of Hydurabad, although one part of
it still retains the former name of Bhagnuggur. It is ten miles in circumference ; and its principal,
streets, contrary to the other towns in India, are wide and clean ; its air is healthy and running
streams are conveyed through some of the principal markets ; on each side of which are rows of
trees planted, affording a pleasing shade and sight, and the shops are all of solid masonry. The
King's palace is described as the most beautiful and extensive in India.
(Briggs's Ferishta, Vol. III,p. 335).
234 MAHARASHTRA STATE GAZETTEER
Qutb Sah and Raja Ali Khan of Khandes. After the death of Burhan, civil war broke out in the
Kingdom of Ahmadnagar. The various factions among the nobles put forward the claims of either a
prince or an impostor. A new factor was now introduced in the politics of the Deccan when Miyan
Manju appealed to Murad, son of Akbar, the Emperor, who was now the Governor of Gujarat.
Ibrahim Adil II realised the danger arising from such an eventuality and he appealed to all the
quarrelling factions to unite against the Moghals. He sent a contingent of 25,000 cavalry under
Suhail Khan. It was accompanied by a force of 6,000 contributed by Muhammad Quli Qutb Sah.
Miyan Manju now repented of his overtures. His repentence came too late and the Moghals arrived
before the city of Ahmadnagar in December 1595.
It is not necessary to describe the progress of the siege of Ahmadnagar here. It was
protracted for nearly three months. The mutual jealousies among the officers of the besieging army
as also the harassing tactics of the contingents of Bijapur and Golconda contributed to the
prolonging of the siege. However, negotiations soon opened. The Moghals agreed to raise the siege
on condition of the cession of Berar to them. The condition was agreed upon and the Moghals
withdrew. Immediately after there was strife again in Ahmadnagar. This time Muhammad Khan, the
new minister, appealed to Khan Khanan, the Moghal general for help. Muhammad Khan was
deposed and Abhang Khan assumed control. He appealed to Ibrahim Adil Sah II to send
reinforcement against the approaching Moghal army from Berar. But Khan Khanan defeated a
combined force of Bijapur and Golconda, marching to the succour of Ahmadnagar, in the
neighbourhood of Sonpet in February 1597. From now onwards it was a sorry tale for Ahmadnagar.
Within a period of less than three years the once powerful kingdom of Ahmadnagar collapsed
against the onslaught of the mighty Moghals. In August 1600 A.D. Ahmadnagar was occupied by
Imperial troops. It was now the turn of Bijapur, Golconda and Bidar the three remaining succession
states of the Bahamani Kingdom to face the Moghals.
HISTORY – MEDIAEVAL PERIOD 235
