Malik Ambar, Ethiopian Commander of Ahmadnagar

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                                  Malik Ambar / Wikimedia Commons

Malik Ambar was the regent of the Ahmadnagar Sultanate, known more famously as the Nizam Shahi Dynasty, from 1607 to 1626. He was a thrice manumitted Ethiopian slave who is known in the medieval period as a great statesman and able administrator.

Malik Ambar installed Murtaza II as ruler of Nizam Shahi dynasty with his capital at Parenda. He is known for instituting the innovative techniques in guerrilla warfare known as bargigiri which was later perfected by the Marathas.  He employed this warfare tactic with great effect against the Mughals.

However, his gallant resistance to the Mughal forces ended when he was defeated by Mughal prince Khurram first in 1617 and again in 1621.

This victory earned Prince Khurram the title of Shah Jahan (King of the World) from his father Jahangir, the fourth Mughal Emperor.

He founded the city of Khirki, which was later named Aurangabad by the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. He is credited with the construction of its canal called Nahr-i-Ambari.

Malik Ambar died in 1626. His death was the last nail in the Ahmadnagar’s coffin. Murtada III, the last Nizam Shahi ruler, was captured by Aurangzeb during the reign of Shah Jahan in 1636. The Nizam Shahi territories were divided between the Mughals and the Adil Shahi kingdom of Bijapur.

The tomb of Malik Ambar is located in Khuldabad near Aurangabad in Maharashtra. 

“In warfare, in command, in sound judgment, and in administration he had no rival or equal," wrote Mughal court chronicler Mu’tamad Khan. "History records no other instance of an Abyssinian slave arriving at such eminence.” 

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