Bahmani Sultanate facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bahmani Sultanate
1347–1527
The Bahmani Sultanate at its greatest extent in 1473 under regent Mahmud Gawan
Status	Sultanate
Capital	Gulbarga (1347–1425) Bidar (1425–1527)
Common languages	Persian (official) Marathi Deccani Urdu Telugu Kannada
Religion	Sunni Islam Shia Islam Sufism
Government	Monarchy
Sultan
• 1347–1358	Ala-ud-Din Bahman Shah
• 1525–1527	Kalim-Allah Shah
Historical era	Late Medieval
• Established	3 August 1347
• Disestablished	1527
Currency	Taka
Preceded by Succeeded by Delhi Sultanate Bijapur Sultanate Golconda Sultanate Ahmadnagar Sultanate Berar Sultanate Bidar Sultanate
Today part of	India

The Bahmani Sultanate was a powerful kingdom that ruled the Deccan Plateau in India during the late Middle Ages. It was the first independent Muslim kingdom in this region. The Sultanate started in 1347 when Zafar Khan led a rebellion against the Delhi Sultanate. He became the first ruler, establishing a new kingdom.

The Bahmani Sultanate often fought with its neighbors, especially the Vijayanagara Empire to the south. This empire lasted longer than the Bahmani Sultanate. The Bahmani rulers also supported art and building projects. For example, the Mahmud Gawan Madrasa was built by Mahmud Gawan, who was a very important chief minister. He served from 1466 until his death in 1481. The Bidar Fort was built by Ahmad Shah I, who moved the capital to Bidar. Mahmud Gawan helped the Sultanate grow to its largest size.

The Sultanate began to decline under Mahmood Shah. Because of internal disagreements and revolts by five regional governors, the Bahmani Sultanate eventually broke into five smaller states. These are known as the Deccan Sultanates. The last Bahmani rulers were like puppet kings, controlled by others. The kingdom officially ended in 1527.

How the Bahmani Sultanate Began

The Bahmani Sultanate was founded by Zafar Khan. His early life isn't fully clear, but he was a brave adventurer. Some stories say he was a servant of a Brahmin astrologer in Delhi named Gangu, which is why he was sometimes called Hasan Gangu. However, historians have not found proof for this story.

Zafar Khan's Rise to Power

Ziauddin Barani, a historian from that time, wrote that Hasan Gangu started from very humble beginnings. He was a field laborer for the first thirty years of his life. He later became a commander of a hundred horsemen for the Delhi Sultan, Muhammad bin Tughluq, who was impressed by his honesty. This quick rise was common in Muslim India during that period.

Zafar Khan was among the people forced to move from Delhi to the Deccan region. The Sultan wanted to build a large Muslim settlement there. Zafar Khan was ambitious and saw this as an opportunity. He hoped to use his horsemen in the Deccan, which was seen as a land of opportunity. He was rewarded with land for helping conquer the Kampili.

Founding the Kingdom

Before starting his own kingdom, Hasan Gangu (Zafar Khan) was a governor and commander for the Tughlaq dynasty. On August 3, 1347, during a rebellion by local leaders in the Deccan, a rebel leader named Ismail Mukh stepped down. He chose Zafar Khan to take his place. This led to the creation of the Bahmani Kingdom.

The Sultan of Delhi had surrounded the rebels at Daulatabad. But when another rebellion started in Gujarat, the Sultan left. Zafar Khan and the Deccan leaders defeated the imperial forces left behind. The rebels at Daulatabad saw Zafar Khan as the right leader. They agreed to crown him Sultan, giving him the title Zafar Khan, on August 3, 1347. His rebellion succeeded, and he created an independent state in the southern parts of the Delhi Sultanate. Its first capital was Hasanabad (now Gulbarga).

With the support of important Sufi saints, he was crowned "Alauddin Bahman Shah Sultan – Founder of the Bahmani Dynasty." These Sufi leaders helped make his rule seem rightful. They said that the land and people of the Deccan deserved the Sultanate's protection. This helped turn the region into a recognized Muslim land. Many Turkish or Indo-Turkish soldiers, explorers, and scholars moved from Delhi to the Deccan when the Bahmani Sultanate was formed.

Important Rulers and Conflicts

Early Rulers (1358–1422)

Alauddin was followed by his son Mohammed Shah I. His wars with the Vijayanagar Empire were very harsh. A historian named Ferishta wrote that the population of the Carnatic region was so reduced that it took many years to recover. The Bahmanids' strong fights with the two main Hindu kingdoms, Warangal and Vijayanagara, made them famous as warriors of their faith among Muslims.

The Vijayanagara Empire and the Bahmanids often fought over control of certain river basins and regions. They rarely needed a reason to declare war, as military conflicts were almost constant. Captured slaves from Vijayanagara were sometimes converted to Islam and joined the Bahmanid army.

Firuz Shah became Sultan in November 1397. He fought against the Vijayanagara Empire many times. The rivalry continued throughout his rule. He won battles in 1398 and 1406 but lost in 1417. One of his victories led to his marriage to the daughter of the Vijayanagara Emperor, Deva Raya.

Firuz Shah allowed Hindus to hold high positions in the government. During his reign, Sufi saints like Gesudaraz were important in the court and daily life. He was the first to write in the Dakhni dialect of Urdu. Dakhni became a common language for Muslims in the Deccan.

Later Rulers (1422–1482)

Firuz Shah's younger brother, Ahmad Shah I Wali, became the next Sultan. After moving the capital to Bidar in 1429, Ahmad Shah I converted to Shi'ism. His rule was marked by many military campaigns and expanding the kingdom. He attacked Vijayanagara and captured the remaining parts of Warangal.

Alauddin Ahmad II became Sultan in 1436. The Chand Minar, a tall tower in Daulatabad, was built during his rule. It was built in 1445 to celebrate his victory against Deva Raya II of Vijayanagara in 1443. This was the last major conflict between the two powers.

Over time, the Bahmani Sultans started to recruit more foreigners from overseas to work in their government. This led to disagreements between the local Muslim nobles (called Dakhanis) and the foreign Muslim nobles (called Afaqis). In 1446, the Dakhanis convinced the Sultan that the Persians (Afaqis) were to blame for a failed invasion. This led to a large attack on Persian Shi'a nobles by the Sunni Dakhani nobles and their Abyssinian slaves. Some survivors escaped and convinced the Sultan of their innocence. The Sultan then punished the Dakhani leaders responsible.

Mahmud Gawan Madrasa, built by Mahmud Gawan as a center for religious and general education

The sons of Humayun Shah, Nizam-Ud-Din Ahmad III and Muhammad Shah III Lashkari, became rulers while they were still young boys. The chief minister, Mahmud Gawan, ruled as a regent during this time. He is famous for building the Mahmud Gawan Madrasa, a center for both religious and general education. He also helped the Sultanate reach its largest size. Gawan was known as a great leader and a poet.

Mahmud Gawan tried to bring peace between the Dakhanis and Afaqis, but it was difficult. The Afaqis were often Shi'a Muslims, while the Dakhanis were Sunni. The Dakhanis also spoke Dakhni, while the Afaqis preferred Persian. Mahmud Gawan's enemies, led by Nizam-ul-Mulk Bahri, created a fake letter to make it seem like Gawan was a traitor. Sultan Muhammad Shah III ordered Mahmud Gawan's death, an act he regretted until his own death in 1482.

Decline of the Sultanate

Muhammad Shah III Lashkari was followed by his son Mahmood Shah Bahmani II. He was the last Bahmani ruler to have real power. In 1490, the governors of Ahmednagar, Bijapur, and Berar declared their independence. They formed their own Sultanates but still showed some loyalty to the Bahmani Sultan. The Sultanates of Golkonda and Bidar also became independent. In 1501, Mahmood Shah Bahmani tried to unite his nobles to fight against Vijayanagara every year, but these expeditions were very costly.

The last Bahmani Sultans were puppet kings. They were controlled by their chief ministers from the Barid Shahi dynasty. After 1518, the Sultanate officially broke into five separate states: Nizamshahi of Ahmednagar, Qutb Shahi of Golconda, Barid Shahi of Bidar, Imad Shahi of Berar, and Adil Shahi of Bijapur. These are known as the Deccan Sultanates.

Culture and Achievements

Bidriware

Bidriware is a special metal craft from the city of Bidar. It started in the 14th century during the Bahmani Sultanate's rule. The name "bidriware" comes from Bidar, which is still the main place where it's made. The craftspeople of Bidar were famous for their inlay work on copper and silver. The metal used is white brass, which is then blackened and decorated with silver.

Architecture

Gateway to Bidar Fort

The Bahmani Sultans supported many building projects. Some of their important buildings include the Gulbarga Fort, Haft Gumbaz, and Jama Masjid in Gulbarga. In Bidar, they built the Bidar Fort and the Mahmud Gawan Madrasa. The Chand Minar in Daulatabad is another example.

The later Sultans were buried in a special burial ground called the Bahmani Tombs. The outside of one tomb is decorated with colorful tiles. Inside the tombs, there are writings in Arabic, Persian, and Urdu.

The Bahmani Sultans built many mosques, tombs, and schools in their two capitals, Bidar and Gulbarga. They also built many forts in places like Daulatabad, Golconda, and Raichur. Their architecture was greatly influenced by Persian architecture. They invited architects from Persia, Turkey, and Arabia. The style of architecture developed during this time was later used by the Deccan Sultanates.

Turquoise Throne

The Turquoise Throne was a royal throne covered in jewels. It was mentioned by the historian Firishta. This throne was used by the Bahmani Sultans starting with Mohammed Shah I (1358–1375). It was a gift from a Telugu king named Musunuri Kapaya Nayaka. Firishta wrote that this throne replaced an earlier silver throne used by the first Bahmani Sultan.

Gunpowder Weapons

The Bahmani Sultanate was likely the first state to invent and use gunpowder artillery and firearms in India. Their firearms were very advanced for their time. The first recorded use of firearms in South Asia was at the Battle of Adoni in 1368. Here, the Bahmani Sultanate, led by Mohammed Shah I, used artillery against the Vijayanagara Empire. After this first use in 1368, gunpowder weapons became a key part of the Bahmani army.

Some scholars believe that both the Delhi Sultanate and other Indian states might have had gunpowder weapons before the Bahmanis used them in 1368. They suggest that the Bahmanis got these weapons from the Delhi Sultanate. However, the use of gunpowder for fireworks was known in the Delhi Sultanate. The Battle of Adoni in 1368 is considered the first time gunpowder weapons were used in a military battle in India.

List of Bahmani Rulers

Images for kids

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  Chand Minar at Daulatabad fort complex

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  A royal order (Firman) from Taj ud-Din Firuz Shah of the Bahmani Sultanate