Map of India division of Bahamani dynasty, Map of Bijapur

Bahamani Dynest of Deccan India

Hasan Gangu declared his independence in 1347 [ Dr. Kunte, Bahamani Rajyacha Itihas, p. 5], and made Gulbarga his capital. He seized the frontier fortresses of Karnataka and Telingana. The new kingdom which he founded comprised the Maratha country, and was divided into the following four provinces; Daulatabad and Berar on the north, and Gulbarga and the ceded districts of Telingana on the south. Daulatabad province included the country between Junnar, Daulatabad, Bid and Paithan on the north and Poona and Caul on the south. For nearly a century the Bahamani kings were engaged in wars against Vijayanagar, which rose out of the ruins of the kingdom of Karnataka, and became the greatest Hindu state of Southern India. In 1357 Hasan Gangu was invited to occupy Gujarat, and advanced with a large army for that purpose, but fell ill and returned to Gulbarga, where he died on February 11, 1358.

His successor, Muhammad Shah, invaded Telingana and captured Golkonda, the Raja of which sued for peace and promised to pay tribute. He next sent an order on the treasury of the Raja of Vijayanagar, probably in token of his suzerainty. This was resented as an insult, and in 1372 a war ensued in which the Raja of Vijayanagar was defeated and reduced to the position of a tributary. While Muhammad Shah was absent on these expeditions, an insurrection broke out in Daulatabad, which originated in false news of his death. Bahrain Khan, the son-in-law of the late king Hasan Gangu, was governor of Daulatabad, and as he had a dispute with Muhammad Shah, he invited Sultan Firoz of Delhi to occupy his province. The Hindu Rajas of Southern India also offered to become tributaries to Sultan Firoz, as they found that they only obtained a change of masters by having assisted Hasan Gangu. Sultan Firoz was in Gujarat preparing for a second campaign against Thatta, but he does not appear to have responded to their call, as he returned to Delhi when the campaign was over. In the meantime Muhammad Shah, after having reduced the Hindu Rajas, proceeded to Daulatabad and quelled the insurrection [Bahamani Rajyacha Itihas pp. 30-31].

The successors of Muhammad Shah were often enaged in wars with Vijayanagar. In 1398 the Hindu king Dev Rai, invaded the Raicur Doab. Firoz Shah Bahamani marched against him, and detached a portion of his army to check Narsing Rai, the chief of Gondvana, who had been incited by the Musalman Sultans of Malva and Khandes to invade Berar. Dev Rai was easily overcome, and the king marched against Narsing Rai, who was driven back into Gondvana, and the chief fort. Kherla, was captured. The Raja became a tributary. In the same year Timur invaded India, and Firoz Shah offered to be his vassal. The Sultans of Malva and Gujarat were suspicious of this embassy, and intrigued with Dev Rai of Vijayanagar to attack Firoz Shah.

On September 22, 1422, Ahmad Shah Wali succeeded Firoz Shah, and having reduced Vijayanagar and Warangal, turned his attention towards the Sultans of Malva and Gujarat, who were getting troublesome. He remained a year at Ellicpur, and in 1425 repaired the Narnala fort and completed the fortifications of Gawilgad. In the following year Sultan Husang of Malwa tried to prevail on Narsing Rai of Kherla to invade Berar, and when the latter declined, the Sultan marched on Kherla. Ahmad Shah went to the assistance of Narsing Rai, and Sultan Husang was severely repulsed. In 1427 the Bahamani king removed his capital to Bidar [Bahamani Rajyacha Itihas, p. 68], so as to be nearer to his Muhammedan neighbours, and married his eldest son, Ala-ud-din, to a daughter of the Sultan of Khandes, in order to strengthen himself against the Sultans of Malwa and Gujarat [The fort of Bidar was completed in 1432. In 1428 the Bahamani king was induced by the Sultan of Khandesh to espouse the cause of a fugitive king of Gujarat. Ahmad Shah occupied Tanna (Thana) near Bombay, but after some severe struggles, his troops were driven out by the son of the reigning king of Gujarat. In 1433 he was again defeated in Khandesh].

Ahmad Shah died in 1435, and was succeeded by Ala-ud-din Shah II. In the same year the king's brother Muhammad Khan was sent to demand arrears of tribute from Vijayanagar, but he rebelled, and the king proceeded in person against Muhammad Khan, who was defeated and forgiven. An expedition was despatched into the Konkan in the following year, and some of the Rajas were reduced to the status of feudatories. It was here that the king received the beautiful daughter of the Raja of Sangamesvar in marriage, and neglected his Musalman queen for the Hindu princess. This led to a war with his father-in-law Nasir Khan, the Sultan of Khandes, who invaded Berar, assisted by the king of Gujarat and the Raja of Kherla. Khan Jahan, the governor, was besieged in Narnala, but escaped and joined the army which 'Ala-ud-din had despatched under Malik-ut-Tujar to oppose the invaders. He was then sent with a portion of the force towards Ellicpur to cut off the contingent of the Raja of Kherla, while the main army routed the forces of Khandes and Gujarat at the foot of the Rohankheda pass, which leads up to the Ajanta hills. Malik-ut-Tujar followed up the enemy's forces, plundered Burhanpur, and again defeated them at Lulling in Khandes. Nasir Khan died of vexation in 1437, and Malik-ut-Tujar returned in triumph to Bidar [Bahamani Rajyacha Itihas, p. 96]. There was another war with Vijayanagar in 1443, and three severe engagements were fought in a month. The Raja eventually submitted, and the peace which followed was not broken for many years. A second expedition was sent into the Konkan in 1453 under the command of Malik-ut-Tujar, but after a few successes, the force was ensnared into a narrow pass and the whole of it destroyed [Ibid, p. 102]. In 1455 Ala-ud-din inarched against the king of Gujarat, who had invaded his dominions but the latter retired, and the Bahamani king returned to Bidar, where he died in 1457.

The next king, Humayun, entered on a campaign into Telingana in 1459, and during his absence an insurrection broke out at Bidar. He returned, and having quelled the disturbance, put his brothers to a cruel death and was very severe with the insurgents. Humayun died in 1461.

Nizam Shah, his son, was a minor, and a council of regency was appointed, consisting of the queen-mother assisted by Khwaja Mahmud Gawan and Khwaja Jahan Turk [Khwaja Mahmud Gawan was governor of Berar, having succeeded Khwaja Jahan Turk, who held that appointment before him, in 1460]. The Rajas of Orissa and Warangal, thinking the government would be weak because the king was a minor, invaded the country, but were driven back. The Sultan of Malwa also became hostile and marched upon Bidar, where he defeated the Bahamani army and invested the fort. The queen-mother carried the young king to Firozabad on the Bhima, and solicited the aid of the Sultan of Gujarat. The latter responded with an army of 80,000 horse, and was met by Mahmud Gawan, governor of Berar, who had cut off the communications of the enemy. The siege was raised, and the Malwa army suffered greatly in its retreat through the mountainous country of Gondwana. The invasion was renewed in the following year by way of Daulatabad, but the Sultan of Gujarat again interfered, and the enemy was forced to fall back. Nizam Shah returned to Bidar, where he died on July 30, 1463.

Prince Muhammad, the brother of the late king succeeded to the throne, and as he was only nine years of age, the council of regency was maintained. Khwaja Jahan Turk contrived to keep Mahmud Gawan employed at a distance, while he usurped the queen-mother's authority and greatly misused it; in consequence of which, Muhammad Shah denounced him in public durbar. and Nizam-ul-mulk put him to death. His colleague Mahmud Gawan was called to Bidar, and assumed executive charge, while Nizam-ul-Mulk was appointed governor of Berar. In 1465 Mahmud Gawan was appointed Prime Minister [Bahamani Rajyacha Itihas, p. 141].
In 1468 a force was sent against the troublesome little Gond state on the northern frontier, which in conjunction with Malwa, was a constant source of irritation. The expedition was successful, but Nizam-ul-Mulk, who commanded it, was treacherously killed by some of the enemy after Kherla was taken. The king of Malwa then invaded Berar. and Ellicpur was captured by his general. Makbul Khan. A peace soon followed, by which Kherla was given to the king of Malwa, who in his turn renounced all claim to Berar or any part of the Bahamani kingdom. Mahmud Gawan next marched into Konkan, while Yusuf Adil Khan, the governor of Daulatabad, was sent against the independent chief-tains of the mountains bordering on Khandes [According to Ferishta, Yusuf was the son of Amurath, the Sultan of the Turks and was saved by his mother, when the king's sons were strangled in order to secure the succession to the eldest. He was taken to Persia and then to India, where he was sold as a Georgian slave to Mahmud Gawan at Bidar. Yusuf rose to be master of the horse, and became attached to Nizam-ul-Mulk, who procured him the title of 'Adil Khan.' He took part in the campaign against Kherla, and on the death of Nizam-ul-Mulk succeeded to the command of the forces. Yusuf was adopted as a son by Mahmud Gawan; and when the latter was put to death in 1481 he retired to Bijapur, declared his independence in 1489 and was the founder of the Adil Shahi dynasty.]. Both these expeditions were successful, and in 1471 the king entered on a campaign against Telingana. The prime minister, Mahmud Gawan, carried out many judicial reforms, and in 1480, reorganised the administration of the country, and substituted eight divisions for the four provinces into which it was originally divided. This was done with the view of weakening the governors, who were becoming too powerful; but it led to a strong combination against him, of which Nizam-ul-Mulk Bahari was at the head. Mahmud Gawan was falsely accused of having written a letter inviting the king of Orissa to march on Bidar, and was put to death in 1481 [Bahamani Rajyacha Itihas, p. 160]. "With him departed all the cohesion and power of the great Bahamani kingdom [See Meadows Taylor's Manual of History]." Yusuf Adil Khan was hastily summoned, and ordered to proceed towards Goa against Bahadur Khan Gilani; but the governors of the provinces reluctantly took the field, and when the campaign was over, Imad-ul-Mulk and Khudavand Khan returned to their respective capitals [Fata-ula-Imad Khan was taken as a prisoner in the wars with Vijayanagar, and was brought up as a Muhammedan by Khan Jahan, governor of Berar. He distinguished himself in the wars of the Bahmani kings, and Mahmud Gawan procured him the title of Imad-ul-Mulk. After the death of Nizam-ul-Mulk, he was made Governor of Berar; but in 1480 his province was divided, and Khudawand Khan was appointed to Mahur and Ramgir. Imad Khan threw off his allegiance in 1484 and was the founder of the Imad Shahi dynasty of Berar. He was the first of the great military commanders to declare his independence, but died in the same year, and was succeeded by his eldest son, Ala-ud-din Imad-Shah.].

The king died at Bidar in 1482, and as his successor Mahmud was a minor. Nizam-ul-Mulk was appointed regent. Yusuf 'Adil Khan had a feud with Nizam-ul-Mulk and declined to take office but retained his military command. He retired to Bijapur, and never afterwards returned to Bidar. Nizam-ul-Mulk commenced to look about his own independence, and sent his son Malik Ahmad with some of the royal treasure to his seat of government at Junnar [According to one account, Nizam-ul-Mulk Bahari was the son of a Brahman patwari or hereditary accountant of Pathri in the Parbhani district, and according to another, he was the son of a Brahman of Vijayanagar. He was taken prisoner while young, and brought up as a Muhammedan. He possessed great abilities and became governor of Daulatabad province, but when that was divided in 1480, he removed his seat of government to Junnar]. He also left the king's camp and arrived at Bidar, intending to join his son with more treasure, but was murdered by the governor, Dilpasand Khan. Malik Ahmad was at this time successfully engaged in reducing Northern Konkan, where he found the Marathas in a state of rebellion, and when he heard of his father's death, declared his independence [While the governors of provinces rebelled and the kingdom was dismembered, the Bahamni king save himself up to pleasure and was a puppet in the hands of his Turkish minister, Kasim Barid. Kutb-ul-Mulk, governor of Golkonda, declared his independence in 1512, and was the founder of the Kutb Shahi dynasty. The last of the Bahamani kings Kalim Aula Shah, escaped from Bidar and went to Bijapur in 1526. Amir Barid assumed the style and title of king, and was the founder of the Bari Shahi dynasty of Berar].

The foundation of this historic city was laid during the reign of the Chalukya dynasty of Kalyani between the tenth and Eleventh centuries. They called it Vijayapure, the “City of Victory”, from which comes its present name Bijapur. The history of Bijapur as indicated above is quite ancient. As during the period of the Ramayana. When Badami was destined to be the capital of a large kingdom for nearly 200 years achieved by the Chalukyas. There after the place was virtually in oblivion. It was only during the reign of Chalukya Vikramaditya 6th Bijapur again had the fortune of becoming the 2nd capital of his kingdom.

As a local legend narrates, some seven villages namely :

. Gajakanhalli
. Bajakanahalli
. Chandanakeri
. Kyadagi
. Katarakeri
. Kurubanhalli
. Kujanakuti

All together constituted into Bijjanahalli. In course of time Bijjanahalli was sanskritised into Vijayapura, Vidayapura, later Vijapura, Bijapur in the common tongue. There are many inscriptions of the subsequent periods relating to Bijapur. As stated in an inscription a Mandalika got built Bijapur city and named it Vijayapura in 1199. The city, which is the land of five rivers—also Bhima, Krishna, Doni, Malaprabha and Ghataprabha.

Bijapur came under Muslim influence, first under Allaudin Khilji, the Sultan of Delhi, towards the end of the 13th century, and then under the Bahamani kings of Bidar in 1347.Bijapur a historical city has a lot of 15th to 17th century mosques, mausoleums, palaces and forts. The world famous mausoleum the Golgumbaz built in 1659 encloses a majestic hall buttressed by seven storey towers. The magnificent dome 44 metres in diameter reputed to be the second largest cups the tomb of Mohammed Adil Shah and boasts the most sensitive echo chamber. The Ibrahim Roza Mausoleum, Juma Masjid, Aasar Mahal and Gagan Mahal, Anand Mahal are places of interest. Let us now try to know the history of Bijapur.

It was the seasonal capital of Yadavas Devgiri after Muslims. In 1312, Karimuddin, who is said to be the commander-in-chief to Allauddin Khilji, conquered the Yadava kingdom; and the Delhi sultan was appointed him governor of Bijapur. He constructed the Kareeumdin Mosque which is one of the oldest mosque in South India with Hindu Architecutral Infulance.

In the latter part of 15th century Bidar was the capital of the kingdom. Mohammed, the chief minister, the most able statesman, valiant and clever, owing to internal strives and jealousy, was put to death in 1471.Enraged at this heinous act there followed Bhairi Nizam Shah, the governor of Ahmednagar division was the first to break away from the kingdom, declared independence and thus became the founder of the Nizam Shahi kingdom. Yusuf Khan of the Turk family the then governor of the Bijapur division followed suit. Thus was founded the Adil Shahi kingdom from Bijapur in 1489. Disturbances in the Kingdom brought about the disintegration of the kingdom.

As a local legend narrates, some 7 villages namely Gajakanhalli, Bajakanahalli, Chandanakeri, Kyadagi, Katarakeri, Kurubanhalli, and Kujanakuti together constituted into Bijjanahalli. In course of time Bijjanahalli was sanskritised into Vijayapura, Vidayapura, later Vijapura, Bijapur in the common tongue. There are many inscriptions of the subsequent periods relating to Bijapur. As stated in an inscription a Mandalika got built Bijapur city and named it Vijayapura in 1199. The city, which is the land of five rivers—also Bhima, Krishna, Doni, Malaprabha and Ghataprabha.

Bijapur came under Muslim influence, first under Allaudin Khilji, the Sultan of Delhi, towards the end of the 13th century, and then under the Bahamani kings of Bidar in 1347.Bijapur a historical city has a lot of 15th to 17th century mosques, mausoleums, palaces and forts. The world famous mausoleum the Golgumbaz built in 1659 encloses a majestic hall buttressed by seven storey towers. The magnificent dome 44 metres in diameter reputed to be the second largest cups the tomb of Mohammed Adil Shah and boasts the most sensitive echo chamber. The Ibrahim Roza Mausoleum, Juma Masjid, Aasar Mahal and Gagan Mahal, Anand Mahal are places of interest. Let us now try to know the history of Bijapur.

It was the seasonal capital of Yadavas Devgiri after Muslims. In 1312, Karimuddin, who is said to be the commander-in-chief to Allauddin Khilji, conquered the Yadava kingdom; and the Delhi sultan was appointed him governor of Bijapur. He constructed the Kareeumdin Mosque which is one of the oldest mosque in South India with Hindu Architecutral Infulance.

In the latter part of 15th century Bidar was the capital of the kingdom. Mohammed, the chief minister, the most able statesman,valiant and clever, owing to internal strives and jealousy, was put to death in 1471.Enraged at this heinous act there followed Bhairi Nizam Shah, the governor of Ahmednagar division was the first to break away from the kingdom, declared independence and thus became the founder of the Nizam Shahi kingdom. Yusuf Khan of the Turk family the then governor of the Bijapur division followed suit. Thus was founded the Adil Shahi kingdom from Bijapur in 1489. Disturbances in the kingdom brought about the disintegration of the kingdom.

Towns developed during Adil Shahi Era around Bijapur ainapur Fatepur Ogapur Rambhapur Ibrahimpur Khatijapur Nauruspur Zohrapur Shahpur Afzalpur Dargha.