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| 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. After a reign of twenty two years Yusuf died in 1510. He was buried in Gogi, a town in Yadgir district of Karnataka. The first three rulers of Bijapur Sultanate (excluding Mallu Adil Shahi who was deposed within six months) were buried in Gogi. Today Gogi is known for being home to reserves of uranium.
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 months 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
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| Ali Adil Shah's Tomb known as Bara Kaman |
After Ibrahim Adil Shah's death Ali Adil Shah became Bijapur ruler in 1558. Ali Adil Shah entered into a matrimonial alliance with Nizam Shahis by marrying daughter of Hussein Nizam Shah I, Chand Bibi, in 1564.
The haughty conduct of the Vijayanagar army instilled a sense of bitterness among the Bahmani succession states including Bijapur.
Thus was formed the Muslim Confederacy which dismantled the mighty Vijayanagar empire in 1565 at the Battle of Talikota, also known as that of Rakkasagi–Tangadag.
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.