The mighty Bahmani dynasty was founded by Alauddin Hasan Bahman Shah which lasted for two centuries from 1347 to 1518. He is thought to be descended from Bahman Shah, an Iranian half-mythical figure. He created it by revolting against the Delhi Sultanate's Muhammad bin Tughlaq with the help of other military leaders. Between 1347 through 1425, the Bahman capital was Ahsanabad (now Gulbarga), and after that, Muhammadabad (now Bidar). The sultanate was at its peak under Mahmud Gawan, who was a prime minister of this dynasty between 1461 and 1481. In this article, we will discuss the Bahmani Kingdom which will be helpful for UPSC exam preparation.

Bahmani Kingdom - Background

• The Bahmani Kingdom came to power in August 1347 AD, led by Turkish Governor Ala-ud-din Hassan Bahman Shah.
• He rebelled against the Sultan of Delhi Sultanate, Muhammad Bin Tughlaq, and was supported by Nazir uddin Ismail Shah.
• The revolt's success resulted in the formation of an independent Deccan state, which included sections of modern-day Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Andhra Pradesh that had previously been part of the Delhi Sultanate's dominion.
• Between 1347 to 1425 AD, the capital was established in Ahsanabad (Gulbarga), and was afterwards shifted to Muhammadabad (Bidar).
• In constant conflict with the Hindu Vijayanagar Empire in the south,
• The sultanate was at its peak under Mahmud Gawan (served as prime minister and general under multiple sultans) between 1461 and 1481.
• He expanded his dominion by conquering Goa, which had previously been ruled by the Vijayanagar Empire.
• He also instituted administrative reforms and had direct control over numerous districts.
• A sultan ordered his execution, and the Empire began to crumble after the death of Mahmud Gawan.

Important Rulers of Bahmani Kingdom

Alauddin Hasan Bahman Shah (1347 – 1358 CE)

• Alauddin Hasan Bahman Shah was the founder of Bahmani Dynasty.
• He was a nobleman in the court of Muhammad bin Tughluq.
• He took the throne and established Gulbarg as his capital which was renamed to Hasanabad.
• He was also known as Hasan Gangu, and he was an Afghan adventurer.
• He was an excellent administrator, dividing his realm into four provinces: Gulbarg, Daulatabad, Berar, and Bidar.
• Military confrontations between the Vijayanagara and Bahmani kingdoms were almost constant, lasting as long as these kingdoms existed.
• In around 1350 CE, Hasan Gangu led his first war against Warangal, forcing its king Kapaya Nayaka to hand over the citadel of Kaulas to him.
• The kingdom stretched east to west from Bhongir to Daulatabad at the conclusion of his reign, from the Wainganga river to Krishna.

*For detailed notes of this topic, check this link Alauddin Hasan Bahman Shah (1347 – 1358 CE)

Muhammad Shah I (1358 – 1377 CE)

• Muhammad Shah I ascend to the throne in 1358.
• When he inherited the newly formed sultanate from his father Alauddin Bahman Shah, the region was still overrun with thieves and robbers.
• As a result, he spent the majority of his reign building law in his kingdom.
• He also sat on the takht—firoza, or Turquoise throne, which Kapaya Nayaka had given him.
• In 1367, he collaborated with a Persian architect named Rafi of Qazvin to construct the Grand Mosque of Gulbarga.
• Mohammed, like his father, fought many wars with the Vijayanagara and Warangal kingdom.
• Mohammed died in 1375 from excessive drinking.

*For detailed notes of this topic, check this link Muhammad Shah Ⅰ (1358 – 1377 CE)

Taj-ud-din Firoz Shah (1397-1422 CE)

• Taj-ud-din Firoz Shah was the grandson of the first sultan, Ala-ud-Din Bahman Shah and the son of the fourth sultan, Daud Shah.
• Muhammad Shah II reared him along with his brother Ahmed.
• Firuz was named as the heir apparent to the throne.
• Muhammad declared Ghiyas-ud-din the heir to the throne after his birth.
• Firuz pledged his allegiance to the new Sultan.
• A Turkish aristocrat, however, blinded and imprisoned Ghiyas-ud-din and established Shams-ud-din as a puppet monarch.
• Firuz and Ahmed marched to Gulbarga, declaring Firuz the Sultan.
• Shams-ud-din was blinded and Taghalchin was slain.

*For detailed notes of this topic, check this link Taj-ud-din Firoz Shah (1397 – 1422 CE)

Ahmad Shah Wali (1422 – 1435 CE)

• In 1422, Ahmad Shah Wali, son of Bahman Shah, rose to the throne.
• He invaded Warangal (1424– 1425 CE) to punish the ruler of Warangal for supporting Vijaynagar in the previous battle.
• The Bahmani capital was transferred to Bidar during Ahmed Shah's rule in 1432.
• Muslims consider him a Wali (friend of God) due to his good deeds and association with Sufi saints.
• His religion was Sufism and he followed Islamic practices.
• He built a tomb for Gesu Daraz, a Sufi saint with ties to the Gulbarga Bahmani empire.

*For detailed notes of this topic, check this link Ahmad Shah Wali (1422 – 1435 CE)

Humayun Shah (1458 – 1461 CE)

• Ala-ud-din Ahmed Shah was succeeded by his eldest son Humayun Shah in 1458 after a bid by the opponent to put his younger brother Hasan on the throne.
• Humayun Shah named Mahmud Gawan as the kingdom's Prime Minister.
• Sikandar, Humayun's cousin, asserted his claim to the throne and demanded the division of the empire.
• After a tough battle, the rebels were destroyed thanks to the timely assistance of Mahmud Gawan and Khwaja-i-Jahan Turk.
• Sikander was killed during the battle.
• Humayun executed the rebels in a most heinous manner and is known throughout history as Zalim, or dictator.
• His own servants of the royal palace assassinated him while he was drunk on 4th September, AD 1461.

*For detailed notes of this topic, check this link Humayun Shah (1458 – 1461 CE)

Mahmud Gawan (1461 – 1481 CE)

• Mahmud Gawan, also known as Khawaja Mahmud Gilani, was an important nobleman of the Bahmani kingdom, and served Shahabuddin Mahmud III as his prime minister for almost 20 years from 1463 to 1481.
• He was a Persian trader who arrived in India (Deccan) at the age of 42 and entered the Bahmani kingdom's service.
• Humayun Shah, the Bahmani king, bestowed upon him the title of Malik-ul-Tujjar, or "Chief of the Merchants."
• He was gradually promoted to wazir (prime minister) and granted the title of 'Khwaju-i-Jahan' due to his personal attributes.
• He was a major supporter of the arts and donated funds to create a college in Bidar that was designed in the Persian style.
• Due to court intrigues, Mahmud Gawan was sentenced to death by Muhammad Shah Bahmani III.
• The Bahmani Kingdom's splendor faded after his death, and it was eventually divided into five Shahi Deccan kingdoms.

*For detailed notes of this topic, check this link Mahmud Gawan (1461 – 1481 CE)

Administration of Bahmani Kingdom

• The Bahmani kingdom followed a Feudal type of administration.
• The kingdom was split into eight tarafs, or provinces, each of which was ruled by a tarafdar.
• In each of these eight 'Tarafs,' some areas were set aside for the Central Government's supervision, and officials were appointed by the Center to oversee their administration.
• For administrative purposes, provinces were divided into Sarkars, and Sarkars were divided into Parganas.
• Just one fort in each province is under the direct supervision of the provincial tarafdar in order to limit the tarafdar's military capabilities.
• The province's remaining forts were assigned to a Qiladar, or fort commander.

*For detailed notes of this topic, check this link Administration of bahmani kingdom

Military Structure of Bahmani kingdom

• The Bahmani kingdom had to have a big standing army since it was always fighting against Hindu nations.
• After the Sultan, the army's commander was known as the Amir-ul-umra.
• The Sultan had his own bodyguards, known as the Khas-i-Khel.
• In addition to cavalry, infantry, and war-elephants, the Bahmani kingdom had artillery.
• In the army, Shihabuddin Ahmad instituted the Mansabdari system, in which military leaders were assigned jagirs based on their mansabs or ranks in order to pay for the armies they raised.
• Mansabs were frequently assigned to civilian officials in order to raise their pay. Jagirdars, on the other hand, were compelled to present a revenue and expenditure statement to the central government.
• Kiledars, the commanders in control of forts, were directly accountable to the central authority.

Art and Architecture of Bahmani kingdom

• The Bahmanis loved art and architecture and admired a variety of styles from throughout the world.
• Bahmani kings generously supported art, science, and education.
• Hasan Gangu built various structures, including the Jama Masjid and Bala Hisar.

Jama Masjid at Gulbarga

• In 1472, Gawan, the Bahmanis' greatest military commander and administrator, constructed the well-known Madrasa, which has three stories, a lecture hall, a library, a mosque, and residential houses.

Mahmud Gawan Madrasa

• Gulbarga fort, Daulatabad fort, Parendah fort, Raichur fort, and others were built at strategic sites throughout the Sultanate.
• In the sphere of art and craft, they were likewise affected by the Delhi Sultanate's aesthetic.
• Poets, scholars, and artists from all over the world congregated at the Bahmani court.
• The influence of European military architecture and Persian civil architecture was noted by art critics and architectural historians.

Conclusion

The Bahmani Empire arose as a prominent kingdom in Medieval India, making significant contributions to building, culture, and politics. The period is marked by a persistent war with the Vijayanagara Kingdom and a succession of rulers to keep the empire strong. The Bahmani kingdom served as a cultural link between India's north and south. The kingdom stretched from the Wainganga river to Krishna in the north, and from Bhongir to Daulatabad in the east during its peak. The Bahmani Empire reached its pinnacle during the reign of Mahmud Gawan and the last ruler of Bahmani dynasty was Kalimullah.