Ibrahim Adil Shah I first son Ismail Adil was weak hearted and coward, but he was beloved to his father. He was crown prince and first choice for thrown . On the contrary his second son Ali Adil Shah was very intelligent and was having all the good qualities that one able King should have. Due to his abilities the enthronement of Ismail Adil Shah appeared endangered. Sensing the future danger, Ibrahim Adil Shah exiled Ali Adil Shah I, when he was seven years old to afort in Meraj which was under the Governorship of Asad Khan. The governor was given a liberty to treat him in any manner he wants. Asad Khan realized the young Ali Adil Shah's god gifted qualities. He confirmed through Astro numerology about this. He was astonished to see the good Horoscope of this young prince. He took great care of the prince Ali Adil Shah in all aspects including education, art, warrior training, literature. He became good guardian of Ali Adil Shah

Ali Adil Shah I

Ali Adil Shah I in the warrior dress in

After the death of Ibrahim Adil Shah I, Asad Khan Broght Ali Shah to Bijapur and to throne. Ali Adil Shah was against the Sunnis. This resulted in a revolt from Sunni camp. which subsequently subsided. He was a brave King like his father. He bacame a good friend of King Ram Raj Vijay Nagar. He even visited VijayNagar once to give condolances on the death of close family member of the Vijay nagar clan. With his help, Ali Adil shah I defeated Nizam Shah Wali of Ahmed Nagar.Later got his sister married to son of Nizam Shah. Ali Adil Shah I married Chand Bibi Sultana, the daughter of Nizam Shahin an attempt to foster friendship. These relationship resulted in an alliance between the four Kindoms - Bijapur, Golcunda, Ahmed Nagar and Bidar. The allies thus formed then attacked the mighty Vijay Nagar Empire. As it was the common enemy of these Kingdoms.


Ali Ka Rouza - The simple tomb of Ali Adil Shah I the last resting place

The famous battle of Talikot took place at Jangergi (at the bank of River Krishna). RamRaj got killed in this battle. The famous Malik Maidan Cannon(The King of Battle Filed ) was used in this battle. The allied forces enterd the city of Vijay Nagar, which resulted in the expansion of Adil Shahi Empire. After its deafeat in the battle of Talikot, the Vijay Nagar Empire shifted southwards and Pengunda became its new capital.

Ali Adil Shah I under the command of Kishwar Khan, again sent a huge army to capture Pengunda. Seazing this opportunity, Qutub Shah in turn sent his army to attack Bijapur. Ali Adil Shah I ordered his army back to capital Bijapur. Kishwar Khan got killed in this battle. So the King himself took over the command of the army and defeated Qutub Shah.Meanwhile the gerneral Ankus Khan of Bijapur also annexed Adhoni to the Bijapur Empire.

In the last days of Ali Adil Shah I, Those Portugise who are exiled from Goa(during the reign of Yousef Adil Shah) , started unify. In 1565 AD , the Deccani Kings met to plan stretegies to over though the Portiguse, from the Goan terotory.

Ali Adil Shah returned to Bijapur along with his army. In the year 1580 AD, A slave from Gulburga killed Ali Adil Shah I.

Character of Ali Adil Shah I

He was a secular, strong, Just, Philanthrophist. He respected Scholars and saints a lot. He was extremly intellegnt, strategist and great warior. He distributed 150 crores han among needy and others in a short period of time once he took charge the thrown. Generally he became popular among public. He was a sufi dervesh person. Like simplicty in his personal life. He has high regards for sufi saints and held them in high esteem.

He was against pomp and show. Great many scholars from as far as Iran, Iraq, Arab and Azerbiyjan came and settled in Bijapur upon his invitation. Bijapur became a center of Education and Learning during his time.

Religious Affairs

On the day of his coronation Ali abandoned the Sunni practices and reintroduced the Shi’ah Khutbah and other practices. The Persian doctors of religion were granted full freedom to preach the Shi’ah doctrine and were paid by the State for their missionary activities. The new Sultan restored back to power the afaqis while relegating the Deccanis to a position of insignificance. He subverted all the dogmatic experiments which his father had practiced.

He was married with the famous woman warrior Chand Sultana the daughter of Nizam Shahis of Ahmadnagar.

During Ali’s reign Bijapur and Vijayanagar came very close to each other and Ali actually paid a visit to Vijayanagar City, where Ramaraya received him with great pomp and honour. The greatest event of Ali’s reign was the successful formation of the confederacy of the Deccan Sultans against Vijayanagar and their victory over the latter at the Battle of Rakkasagi – Tangadagi in Talikoti in 1565. As a result of this battle Bijapur’s southern boundary was extended right up to the city of Vijayanagar, and further it opened the gates for the future expansion of Bijapur further south. Consequently, at the end of Ali’s reign, the Bijapur Kingdom extended up to port of Honavar on the west coast and southern boundary extended along the line of Varada and Tungabhadra rivers.

During Ali’s reign diplomatic relations with the Mughal Emperor Akbar were established and envoys were exchanged.

In 1579, Ali having no son, appointed his nephew Ibrahim, son of his brother Tahamasif, as his successor. In the following years 1580 Ali was assassinated and was buried in Ali Ka Rouza near Sakaf Rouza in Bijapur.

Monument consturcted during Ali Adil Shah

Bijapur Forts construction and renevation
The great Jamia Masjid - 1578
Nehar-e-Aab(Water Canels)
Fort Shahdurg by Mir Naymathulla - 1558
Pariya Mahal - 1560 AD
Gagan mahal - 1561 AD
City Forts - 1565AD
Bagh Do Azdha Imam - 1556 AD
Fort Dharwar by Kishwar Khan - 1558 AD
Bagh Fadakh - 1568
Fort of Raichur by Tahir Khan in 1570
Fort Bankapur and Sholapur 1573
Chand Bawali (Well) in 1578 AD
Anand Mahal in 1579 AD
Ali Ka Roza (Tomb of Ali Adil Shah his last resting place)


References
Wakiyate Mamlakate Bijapur by Basheeruddin Dehelvi.
Tareekhe Farishta by Kasim Farishta
External Relation of Bijapur Adil Shahis.