Adil Shahi Dynasty of Bijapur

Photographer: Martin Hürlimann
Source: ebay.com

Adil Shahi Dynasty of Bijapur was one of the five succession states that came into existence after disintegration of the Bahmani Sultanate of Deccan. Yusuf Adil Khan was the founder of the Adil Shahi kingdom whose rulers ruled Bijapur from until 1686 when Bijapur was annexed into the Mughal Empire by the last great Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb.

Yusuf Adil Khan
A protégé of the wazir of Bahmani Sultanate, Mahmud Gawan, Yusuf Adil Khan was a descendant of a scion of the Ottoman dynasty. A prominent figure in the declining years of the Bahmani Sultanate, he was appointed governor of the Bijapur province of the Sultanate. Yusuf Adil was married to a Babuji Khanam, sister of a Maratha warrior. He died in 1510 in a fight with the Vijayanagara army under their greatest ruler Krishnadeva Raya. Himself a scholar and accomplished musician Yusuf Adil was a great patron of art and literature.

Ismail Adil Khan
Yusuf Adil Khan was succeeded by his 13-year old son Ismail. As soon as he took the reigns of the kingdom, he has to cede Goa to the Portuguese under their governor Afonso de Albuquerque. Ismail Adil Shah defeated the Barid Shahi ruler and occupied Bidar for some time. However, he proved unsuccessful in withstanding the invasion of the Vijayanagar army under Krishnadeva Raya and as a result Raichur, bone of contention between Vijayanagar and Bahmani Sultanate, passed into the hands of Krishnadeva Raya.

Ibrahim Adil Shah
Ismail died in 1534 and was succeeded by his son Mallu. Mallu Adil Shah was an incapable ruler and was deposed only sixth moths after becoming Bijapur ruler. He was replaced by his younger brother Ibrahim. Ibrahim Adil Shah was  the first Bijapur ruler to assume the title of Shah. During his reign Persian was replaced by “Hindvi’ (Dakhini Urdu ) as the official language of Bijapur. Tolerant of other religions, Ibrahim Adil Shah employed the Hindus in the kingdom. Though Ibrahim Adil Shah was defeated by Rama Raya, the de facto ruler of Vijayanagar, he was able to occupy Adoni in 1535.

Ali Adil Shah

Ali Adil Shah's Tomb known as Bara Kaman

Ibrahim Adil Shah died in 1558 and was succeeded by his son Ali Adil Shah. He was in constant quarrel with the Nizam Shahis Ahmadnagar for the occupation of Sholapur. He entered into an alliance with Rama Raya and Ibrahim Qutb Shah and invaded Ahmadnagar. Hussein Nizam Shah I was forced to flee to Junnar. 

However, the haughty conduct of the Vijayanagar army instilled a sense of bitterness among the Bahmani succession states including Bijapur.  Ibrahim Adil Shah entered into a matrimonial alliance with Nizam Shahis by marrying Hussein’s daughter, Chand Bibi. Thus was formed the Muslim Confederacy which dismantled the Mighty Vijayanagar empire in 1565 at the Battle of Talikota.

Ibrahim Adil Shah II
Ali Adil Shah was murdered in 1580, and since he had no sons, his nephew Ibrahim II ascended the throne. Ibrahim Adil Shah II, who ruled for 47 years till 1627, was a great patron of art and culture. He was tolerant of other religions and affectionately called Jagadguru by his Hindu subjects. During his first twenty years of reign his aunt Chand Bibi ran the show. Chand Bibi was known for her intrepidity. When Mughal army were advancing to Ahmadnagar to annex it,  Chand Bibi returned to her place of birth and it was during her battle with the Mughals under Akbar that she was killed in 1600. Her death proved to be a blow to Ibrahim Adil Shah II who gave his daughter in marriage to Mughal Prince Daniyal. 

A man of learning, Ibrahim Ail Shah II wrote the famous book of Hindi songs, Nawras-Namah. During his reign the Tarikh- i- Ferishta was completed. He also constructed several works of architecture including the magnificent tomb he built for his wife Chand Sultana.

Muhamamd Adil Shah
Ibrahim Adil Shah II was succeeded by his son Muhamamd Adil Shah in 1627. He was able to extend the territories of Bijapur by capturing those of Ahmadnagar and Vijayanagar, and helped the Mughals in annexing the former in 1636. Muhammad Adil Shah II died in 1657 and was buried in the magnificent tomb the Gol Gumbaz, which is an architectural marvel.

Ali Adil Shah II
Muhammad Adil Shah II was succeeded to the Bijapur throne by Ali II in 1657. He ruled till 1672. Fifth Mughal emperor Shah Jahan refused to recognize Ali II as the legitimate ruler of Bijapur and sent Prince Aurangzeb to lay siege on Bijapur. However, Ali was saved from the fact that Aurangzeb had to return to the North to fight the war of succession amongst the sons of Shah Jahan. This prolonged the longevity of Bijapur kingdom to an extent. Meanwhile Shivaji came into prominence in the south. Like his predecessors, Ali was also a patron of art and literature. His half-finished mausoleum bears testimony to his fondness for art.

Sikander Adil Shah
Ali II was succeeded by Sikander, the last ruler of the Adil Shahi Dynasty of Bijapur. In 1674, Shivaji was crowned as Chhatrapati at Raigarh. In 1681, Aurangzeb moved to South India never tor return till his death and Bijapur was incorporated into the Mughal Empire on 12 September 1686. Thus the independence of Bijapur was extinguished.  Sikander Adil Shah died in 1700. at the time of his death he was just 32 years old.