Ismail, son of Yousef Adil
Shah , was still a minor. Punji Khatoon widow
of Yousef Adil Shah took charge of the affairs.She
wore in male attire valiantly defended him from
a coup to grab the throne.
Ismail Adil Shah thus became
the king of Bijapur. His minor son Ismail Adil
Shah ascended the throne and Kamalkhan began
to look to the affairs of the State. Then there
was a move on the part of some scheming courtiers
at Bijapur and also at Ahmednagar -to remove
the existing ruling Badashahs from their thrones
with the view of usurping the throne. Amir Barid
succeeded in imprisoning his master Nizamshaha
at Nagar. Here at Bijapur, Kamalkhan imprisoned
the young Ismail and his mother Punji Khatoon,
and marched towards Sholapur with a great army.
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Islamil Adil Shah with his loyal Commander
and Raja Ghorpade of Mudhol standing
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The fort of Sholapur fell into the
hands of Kamalkhan for want of timely aid from Ahmednagar
and Kamalkhan returned victorious to Bijapur. He held
a grand Durbar in the name of young Ismail, but all
the while was planning to kill or dethrone the Emperor.
He dismissed the bodyguard of the Emperor which was
five thousand strong and demobilised peremptorily the
whole of the foreign army in the Bijapur service. But
the hands of the slave engaged by Ismail’s mother Punji
Khatoon murdered Kamalkhan. Thus Kamalkhan's plan was
nipped in the bud. Kamalkhan's people, however, continued
their efforts to murder the Emperor in the palace, while
outside the citadel skirmishes were going on between
the military partisans of the Emperor and Kamalkhan's
Deccanees. Kamalkhan's party was eventually defeated
and had to run away from the field of action.
After these events, Ismail became
the de facto Emperor and conferred honours on all the
followers who had helped him. Amir Barid, the Minister
of the Nizamshahas, combined with the other Muslim dynasties
in the Deccan and marched against Bijapur in Hijari
920 (A.D. 1514·) Ismail, though young, allowed the enemies'
forces to come as far as Bijapur without any hindrance.
Then he marched against them with a select cavalry of
12,000. The enemy was completely defeated. It is remarkable
that the Bijapur forces during this battle consisted
only of foreigners, because Kheloji was since the rebellion
of Kamalkhan, the Emperor had made it a point not to
employ the Deccanee or the Shidhi forces. It was in
this battle with Amir Barid that Kheloji Ghorpada lost
his life.
The Emperor showed his feeling of obligation to those
that helped him and so Mahaloji, the son of Kheloji,
was installed in the place of his brave father. In the
year A.D. I52o (H. 927), the Emperor marched against
Vijayanagar. While the Bijapur army was camping on one
side of the Krishna river, the Emperor with a few followers
was found on the other bank of the river and surprised
by a sudden attack of a large number of the enemy's
forces.
The men in attendance fought to the last, but they could
not hold their own before the large number of the enemy.
There was no chance of any succour from behind. In this
jeopardy, the Emperor retreated with a few men, while
the others facing and fighting the enemies covered his
retreat. The Emperor's elephant passed safely to the
other side of the river. It was during this fight that
Mahaloji's bravery was manifested. As a mark of favour
Mahaloji was much honoured by the Emperor after his
safe return from the fight. The Emperor showed his readiness
to give whatever was asked for by Mahaloji; and he in
return humbly requested the Emperor to keep unadulterated
the affection and favour towards the family of Ghorpadas.
Early
years
Isamail Adil Shah succeeded his father Yusuf Adil Shah
as the king of Bijapur as a minor. The affairs of the
state were managed by the minister Kamal Khan. During
this phase Kamal Khan imprisoned the young king and
tried a coup. Punji Khatun the mother of Ismail hatched
a counter plot and Kamal Khan was stabbed to death in
the royal palace.
After
the death of Kamal Khan, his son Ismail Khan laid siege
to the palace in order to arrest Punji Khatun and Ismail
Adil Shah. However Ismail Khan was killed in the fight
at the gates to the palace. Ismail started to manage
the affairs of the state with the help of his mother.
Ismail was a follower of Shiah faith and declared it
to be the faith of the state.
Conquest of Bidar
He invaded Kasim-Barid of Bidar. Later Kasmim Barid
with the mohemadean kings of Ahmednagar, Golconda and
Berar invaded Bijapur, however Ismail Adil Shah was
able to defend himself and his territory. In this battle
Mahumdshah of Bidar and his son Ahmed were taken as
prisoners.
Bibi
Sali, the sister of Ismail Adil Shah was married to
AhmedShah of Ahmednagar and thus the hostilities were
converted to friendship.
Ismail
ruled peacefully only before waging a war against Nizamshah
of Ahmednagar, who did not aid Ashad Khan during his
conquest against Timraj of Vijayanagar. Nizamshah was
unhappy because he was promised the fort of Sholapur
as dowry when he married Ismail's sister Mariam, which
was never handed over. Nizamshah later tried to take
Solapur by force. However he had to taste failure when
Ismail marched and captured forty elephants.
Establishing the Dynasty
For some reason Ismail invaded Bidar, while Kutubshah
was coming to help Amir Birad, Ismail sent his trusted
General Asad Kahan to obstruct Kutubshah, which he did
successfully and later captured Amir Birad when he was
drunk. As a treaty Amir Birad agreed to give Umnabad
and Bidar. He entered the fort of Bidar with pomp and
seated himself on the throne, the same throne under
which his father had served. After a while Amir Birad
regained the favour of Ismail Adil Shah and got back
the fort.
Ismail
Adil Shah seldom faced defeat and his army with the
artillery was a force to reckon with.
Final Days
During his campaign against Golconda he fell ill and
died in 1534 A.D. He was buried at the Gogi village.
A mahal and a mosque are ascribed to him. After his
death his son Mallu, the eldest was crowned however
he was deposed through the efforts of his grandmother
and General Asad Khan. His younger brother Ibrahim Adil
Shah was declared as the king.
References
Wakiyate Mamlakate Bijapur by Basheeruddin Dehelvi.
Tareekhe Farishta by Kasim Farishta
External Relation of Bijapur Adil Shahis.