The Bahamani Kingdom

The Bahamani Kingdom (CE 1347-1527)

1. Daulatabad or Devagiri became independent under Hasan Gangu during the reign of Muhammad-bin Tughlaq in CE 1347. 

2. Hasan Gangu assumed the title Ala-ud-din Hassan Shah Bahman, His name led to the title of the new empire as the Bahamani kingdom.

3. Gulbarga was the capital of this Kingdom which included the whole of Northern Deccan up to the Krishna river.

4. The Bahamani rulers ruled for almost 180 years.

5. Firoz Shah Bahmani and Mahmud Gawan were the most powerful rulers of the dynasty.

6. Firozshah Bahamani (1397 – 1422)

   1. He conquered the Raichur Doab and defeated the king of Vijayanagara.

   2. He patronised art and culture.

7. Mahmud Gawan (1463 – 1481) 

   1. He was the Wazir or the Prime Minister of Muhammad Shah II and led strong and successful fights against the rulers of Vijayanagara, Konkan, Orissa and Sangameshwar.

   2. He helped reformation in agriculture, trade, administration and learning.

   3. He built the magnificent Madrasa in Bidar and welcomed students from different parts of the world to study.

   4. Conspicuous nobles killed him in CE 1481.

8. Administration in Bahamani Kingdom:

   1. The administration was looked after by Wazirs.

   2. Kingdoms were divided into provinces for effective administration which were governed by the appointed governors; they supported the kings in war by sending troops during the war time.

   3. Persian and Arabic were the court languages.

9. Architecture during Bahamani Kingdom:

   1. The Bahamani rulers built mosques, libraries, and madrasas.

   2. The Jama Masjid of Gulbarga (Kalaburgi) Fort, The Gol Gumbaj of Bijapur (Vijapur) and the Chand Minar at Bidar are some of the superb structures raised by them.

   3. Strong forts were also built for the purpose of defense. The Bijapur Fort and the Golconda Fort are great specimens of fine art and architecture.

   4. Golconda was the capital of the Qutubshahi dynasty. There is a citadel and fort. The Fort complex is 11 km of total area, with a boundary. The fort is evidence of an advanced acoustic system.

   5. Percy Brown said about the Gol Gumbaj of Bijapur, “It is one of the largest and most remarkable single Muslim building in India” 

   6. Gol Gumbaj was built by Muhammad Adil Shah II, the sultan of Bijapur in 1660 during his reign.

   7. General post Office and prince of Wales Museum at Mumbai are built following the archytectural form of the Gol Gumbaj which is in a 18000sq. feet area with a dome (which is the largest dome in the world), a combination of 8 arches have been used to support this dome. there are four towers at four corners, each tower or turret has seven storeys with a small dome at the top.

   8. Gol Gumbaj has no pillar to support it, sound palys multiple echo i the dome.

   9. Apart from Gol Gumbaj, fortress of Daulatabad, Madarasa of Mahmud Gawan, Jama Masjid at Bidar, tomb of mahmud Gawan were built durng this time.

10. Downfall of the Bahamani Kingdom:

    1. The war with the neighbouring states specially Vijayanagara rulers took the financial strenght.

    2. Later rulers of the Bahamani kingdoms were weak and incapable after the death of Mahmud Gawan.

    3. By CE 1527 after the death of Mahmud Gawan the Bahamani kingdom disintegrated and divided into 5 different independent states:

       1. Bidar – ruled by Barid Shahi

       2. Berar – ruled by Imad Shahi

       3. Bijapur – ruled by Adil Ahahi

       4. Ahmednagar – ruled by Nizam Shahi

       5. Golconda – ruled by Qutub Shahi.

    4. After several internal and external wars the kingdom was absorbed into the Mughal empire.