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Sultan Quli
Qutb-ul-Mulk (Pillar of the Realm)
Tomb of Sultan Quli Qutb Shah 01.jpg
1st Sultan of Golconda
Reign 1518–2 September 1543
Predecessor Position established
Successor Jamsheed Quli Qutb Shah
Born 1485
Hamadan, Persia
Died 2 September 1543(1543-09-02) (aged 57–58)
Hyderabad, Sultanate of Golconda
Burial Qutb Shahi tombs, Hyderabad
Issue Qutbuddin
Jamsheed
Abdul Khadir
Abdul Karim
Husayn
Ibrahim
House Qutb Shahi dynasty
Father Uways Quli Beg
Mother Maryam Khanum
Religion Shia Islam

Sultan Quli Qutb-ul-Mulk was a powerful ruler who founded the Qutb Shahi dynasty. This dynasty ruled the Sultanate of Golconda in southern India for many years, from 1518 to 1687. Sultan Quli was born in Persia and came from a group called the Turkoman people. He started his career serving another ruler, the Bahmani sultan. Because he was a great military leader, he earned the special title "Qutb-ul-Mulk," which means "Pillar of the Realm." Eventually, he took control of the Golconda region and started his own kingdom.

Who Was Sultan Quli Qutb-ul-Mulk?

Sultan Quli was born in 1485 in a city called Hamadan in Persia. His full name was Sultan Quli. He belonged to a group known as the Shi'i Turkoman people. His father was Uways Quli Beg, and his mother was Maryam Khanum.

Sultan Quli traveled to South India, possibly for horse trading. He moved to Delhi with his relatives and friends around the early 1500s. Later, he went south to the Deccan region. There, he joined the army of the Bahmani sultan. He was a very successful leader in battles. Because of his military skills, he was given the important title "Qutb-ul-Mulk."

How Did the Qutb Shahi Sultanate Begin?

The Bahmani Sultanate eventually broke apart into five smaller kingdoms. After this happened, Sultan Quli declared his independence. He took the title of Qutb Shah and started his own kingdom, the Qutb Shahi dynasty of Golconda.

Even though some people thought he didn't officially call himself a king, the writing on his tomb clearly calls him "Sultan Quli Qutb-ul-Mulk." This shows his important status. Some historians have said the word 'Sultan' in his name meant 'Servant of the Sultan.' However, his full name was a title of honor.

Expanding the Sultanate's Lands

Sultan Quli Qutb Shah lived at the same time as two famous rulers of the Vijayanagara Empire: Krishana Deva Raya and his brother Achyuta Deva Raya. Sultan Quli worked to make his kingdom bigger. He captured important forts and areas. These included places like Warangal, Kondapalli, Eluru, and Rajamundry. He took these lands while Krishnadevaraya was busy fighting another ruler.

Sultan Quli also defeated a ruler named Sitapati Raju (also known as Shitab Khan) and captured the fort of Khammam. He made the ruler of Jeypore, Vishwanath Dev Gajapati, give up all the lands between the Krishna and Godavari rivers. In 1513, the Vijayanagar army fought against Sultan Quli's forces in Pangal. Sultan Quli's army won this battle, and they captured the Pangal fort.

The End of Sultan Quli's Reign

In 1543, Sultan Quli Qutb Shah was tragically killed. This happened while he was praying. His second son, Jamsheed Quli Qutb Shah, was responsible for his death. After this, Jamsheed Quli also blinded Sultan Quli's oldest son and chosen heir, Qutbuddin. Then, Jamsheed Quli took the throne for himself. Sultan Quli's sixth son, Ibrahim Quli Qutub Shah, managed to escape to Vijayanagara. Jamsheed Quli also killed his third brother, Abdul Quadeer, who had tried to revolt after their father's death.

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