Medieval History / Regional Dynasties
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Ala-ud-din Bahman Shah also called Hasan Gangu (Muhammad bin Tughlaq's officer) was the founder and the first Sultan of the Bahmani kingdom. He founded it in 1347 AD. The capital of Bahmani kingdom was Gulbarga. There were 14 rulers from this sultanate and they ruled for about 150 years. By 1500 AD, Bahmani sultanate was disintegrated and 5 successor Deccan Sultanates were formed.
He was a great soldier and great scholar in Arabic, Persian, Kannada and Telugu. Firoz Shah Bahmani wrote commentaries on Shariat and Quran. He built astronomical observatory at Daulatabad. Strong secular traditions were followed by Sultans of peninsular India.
He was very much influenced by the Sufi saint Khwaja Banda Nawaz Gesu Daraz, who settled in Gulbarga. He started living a pious and
spiritual life. People used to call him "Wali" (friend of Allah).
It was Ahmed Shah Wali, who shifted the capital from
Gulbarga to Bidar in 1424. In Bidar phase of Bahmani sultanate, Prime Minister (PM) became the de facto ruler.
The five Deccan Sultanates were ruling in the Deccan Plateau region between the Vindhya ranges and the Krishna river after the decline of Bahmani kingdom.
Gawilgarh was the capital city. Governor of Gawil, Fathullah Imad-ul-Mulk declared independence in 1490. This dynasty is known as
Imad Shahi dynasty.
It was also the first State to disappear. In 1574, Ahmadnagar conquered Berar and ended the Imad Shahi
dynasty.
When the last Bahmani Sultan was ruling from Bidar, the PM named Qasim Barid put the Sultan in prison and came to power. This dynasty is known as Barid Shahi dynasty. In 1619, it was conquered by Sultan of Bijapur.
Capital city was Ahmednagar. Governor of Junnar, Ahmad Nizam Shah made it an independent kingdom. This dynasty is called Nizam Shahi dynasty. In 1637, Ahmadnagar Sultanate was conquered by Shah Jahan.
Bijapur Sultanate was founded by Yusuf Adil Shah. By the name of its founder, it is called Adil Shahi dynasty.
Golkonda is the last state to declare independence from Bahmani kingdom and it is also the last state to go. In 1512, Governor Quli Qutb-ul-Mulk (a Shia from Iran) declared independence. By the name of its founder, it is called Qutb Shahi dynasty.