Ruknuddin Kaikaus was the independent ruler of Bengal who
ruled from 1291 to 1300 AD. He succeeded to the throne after his father Bughra Khan,
son of Delhi Sultan Balban, decided to abdicate the Bengal throne in his
favour.
This blog is a comprehensive and in-depth guide to the events, people and places throughout the history of India
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
Thursday, April 17, 2014
Futuh –us-Sulatin by Isami
Born in 1311 AD, Khwaja Abd Malik Isami has written a political history
called Futuh–us-Sulatin, dedicated to the founder of the Bahmani kingdom, Alauddin Hasan
Bahman Shah.
Composed in a form of an epic, Futuh –us-Sulatin
begins with the rise of the Ghaznavi dynasty and concludes with the reign of
Sultan Muhamamd bin Tughlaq.
According to Isami, Balban became the
ruler of the Slave dynasty by murdering his predecessor and son-in-law Nasir-ud-din Mahmud. Regarding the rationale
of shifting his capital from Delhi to Deogir (Daultabad) in the Deccan by
Muhamamd bin Tughlaq, this fourteen century
historian says that the decision was
taken as Daultabad was centrally located and consequently safe from the Mongol
invasion, a recurrent feature during the period.
Burhan-i-Ma'asir
Burhan-i-Ma'asir,
named after Burhan Nizam Shah II of Nizam Shahi dynasty of the Muslim kingdom
of Ahmadnagar, is written by Sayyid Ali Tabataba who came to India from Persia in 1580. Tabataba
started writing Burhan-i-Ma'asir in 1591-1592 and finished it in 1595-1596.
Burhan-i-Ma'asir
describes the events pertaining to the Bahmani kingdom and its subsequent
break-up into five Muslim dynasties in the South India.
Sunday, April 13, 2014
Muslim Sultanate of Madurai
No less than eighteen rebellions took place during the reign of Muhammad bin Tughlaq, the second ruler of the Tughlaq dynasty of the Delhi Sultanate. One such rebellion challenging his authority came from Jalal-ud-din Ahsan Shah, governor of Malabar, who cashing in on the Sultan's military preoccupations in Northern India, declared his independence in A.D. 1335 and struck gold and silver coins in his own name.
Thus came into being the independent Muslim Sultanate of Madurai.
The Madurai Sultanate, however, proved short-lived.
The kingdom was annexed to the resurgent Hindu kingdom of Vijayanagar in 1378. The victory has been celebrated in the Sanskrit epic poem of great merit Madura Vijayam (Conquest of Madurai) or Kamparaya-Charitam (History of Kampanna), composed by Ganga Devi, queen of Vira Kampanna, who led the Vijayanagar army. Vira Kampanna was the son of Bukka I, co-founder of Vijayanagar empire.
Jalal-ud-din Ahsan Shah was also the father-in-law of the famous Arab traveller from Morocco, Ibn Batutah who had visited the Madurai Sultanate in 1344.
William Hawkins
One of the first Englishmen to come to the Mughal court during the reign of fourth Mughal Emperor Jahangir, Captain William Hawkins was sent as ambassador by the British King James I to the Mughal court. Though favourbaly received by Jahangir, he was unsuccessful in securing the permit to settle at Surat due the opposition of the Portuguese and the merchants of Surat. He was given a mansab of 400 by Jahangir.
Hawkins
remained at the Mughal court from 1609 to 1611. He has left a valuable
account of his experiences in India.
Wednesday, April 9, 2014
Adham Khan's Conquest of Malwa
One of the powerful nobles of the Mughal empire during
Akbar’s reign, Adham Khan was the son of Maham Anaga, the foster mother of the
Mughal emperor Akabr. He was sent by Akbar to conquer Malwa in 1561 which he
accomplished with oppressive measures.
According to some school of thought, one of the causes for the invasion of Malwa was Adham Khan’s infatuation for Rupmati, the queen of Baz Bahadur, the ruler of Malwa. Baz Bahadur, who had hitherto neglected the administration of his kingdom, awoke from his slumber and faced the enemies but was defeated in the battle of Sarangpur and fled to Khandesh and Burhanpur. All his treasure and several other wives fell into the hands of Adham Khan whose methods to conquer Malwa and their oppression in the Malwa kingdom have been described by the contemporary historian Badauni, who had accompanied the Mughal army.
When it was found that Rupmati ran the risk of being
captured by Adham Khan, a eunuch of Baz Bahadur's harem caused wound to her
with a sword. She later consumed poison and killed herself.
After hearing that Adham Khan, who was known for his contumacious
spirit, had retained all the ladies, dancing girls, musicians and singers of
Baz Bahadu and other spoils, Akbar was displeased and proceeded to Malwa. His
movement was so fast that messengers sent by Maham Anaga were not able to
communicate Adham Khan about the impeding visit of Akbar.
Irked at Adham Khan’s behaviour, Akbar, who now wanted to come out of the
influence of Maham Anaga and his son, appointed Shamsu-d din Muhammad Khan Atga
as Prime Minister. This incensed Adham
Khan so much that he murdered Atga.
Unable to bear his handedness, Akbar got Adham Khan killed
in Agra in 1562. His mother Maham Anaga who exercised undue influence on Akbar,
died of anger and grief forty days after his son’s death.
Akbar, however, accorded due respect to both of them
after their death and got them respectfully buried in a tomb in Mehrauli in
Delhi.
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