The Bahmani Kingdom was a Persian Sunni Muslim empire in South India's Deccan. It was the Deccan's first independent Muslim kingdom, and it was known for its never-ending wars with its Hindu rivals, Vijayanagara, who would outlast the Sultanate. Ala-ud-Din Bahman Shah established the sultanate in 1347. The Kingdom was later divided into five successor states known as the Deccan sultanates, which eventually sacked the Vijayanagar capital after the Battle of Talikota. In this article, we will discuss Bahmani - Regional States of North and South India which will be helpful for UPSC exam preparation.

Bahmani - Political History

• Alauddin Hassan Gangu Bahaman Shah established the Bahamani Sultanate in 1347 AD.
• Rivalry with the Vijayanagar kingdom over the fertile region of Raichur doab began during his reign and lasted until the end of Bahaman rule.
• He frequently clashed with the Warangal state, as well as the Rajhmundry and Kondavidu reddy kingdoms. All of these expeditions were won by Bahman Shah, who was given the title Second Alexander on his coins.
• Bahman Shah was succeeded by Mohammed I.
• His attack on Warangal in 1363 resulted in a large indemnity, including the important fortress of Golkonda and the prized turquoise throne, which later became the throne of the Bahmani kings.
• The next hundred years saw the succession or usurpation of a number of Sultans. They all fought their southern neighbour, but without gaining much ground.
• Warangal was conquered in 1425, and their progress eastward was thwarted by the Orissan rulers.
• Ahmed Shah al Wali changed the capital city from Gulbarga to Bidar in 1429.

Bahmani - Administration

• The kingdom was divided into four administrative units known as "taraf," or provinces. Daultabad, Bidar, Berar, and Gulbarga were the provinces involved.
• Every province was led by a tarafdar, also known as a subedar.
• From the tarafdar's jurisdiction, some land was converted into Khalisa land.
• Khalisa land was the plot of land used to fund the king's and royal household's expenses.
• Nobles used to be paid in cash or in the form of a grant of land or 'jagir.'

Mahmud Gawan

• Under Prime Minister Mahmud Gawan's leadership, the Bahmani kingdom reached its pinnacle. He was a Persian trader.
• He knew a lot about Islamic theology, Persian, and mathematics. He was also a poet and a writer of prose.
• He was a military genius as well. He won wars against Vijayanagar, Orissa, and sea pirates in the Arabian Sea. He constructed a Madarsa in the Persian architectural style in Bidar.
• This madarasa was an excellent learning centre, housing a collection of 3000 manuscripts from around the world.
• Native Muslim leaders did not approve of Gawan's progress. They made false claims. They forced Sultan to sentence him to death. After the execution of Gawan, the Bahamani Sultanate began to decline.
• After a few years, the Sultanate disintegrated into five independent kingdoms: Bijapur, Ahmednagar, Berar, Golkonda, and Bidar.

Division of Bahmani

• Following the dissolution of the Bahmani kingdom, three powerful states emerged as independent states: Ahmednagar, Bijapur, and Golconda.
• All three states banded together in 1565 to defeat the Vijayanagara Empire at the Battle of Bannihatti, near Tallikota.
• Following their victory at Bannihatti, the Deccani states returned to their old ways. Sholapur, a rich and fertile tract at the time, was claimed by both Ahmednagar and Bijapur.
• Gujarat rulers actively supported Berar ruler against Ahmednagar and later fought a war against Ahmednagar.
• Bijapur and Golconda, on the other hand, clashed over control of Naldurg (located in Maharashtra).
• The Mughal emperor Akbar conquered Gujarat in 1572, ushering in a new era. Gujarat was only the beginning of the Mughal conquest of the Deccan. However, Akbar was preoccupied with other matters at the time and did not pay attention to Deccan affairs.
• Berar was conquered by Ahmednagar. Furthermore, Ahmednagar and Bijapur agreed that Bijapur would be free to expand its territory in the south at the expense of Vijayanagara, while Ahmednagar would rule Berar.
• The Marathas began to take an interest in Deccan affairs as well.
• The Deccani Brahmans were in charge of revenue matters at the local level in the south.
• The rulers of the Deccan states relied on a policy of winning over the Marathas to their side during the middle of the sixteenth century.
• The Maratha chiefs were given services and positions in all three major Deccan states. The leading proponent of this policy was Ibrahim Adil Shah (ruler of Bijapur), who ascended the throne in 1555.
• Ibrahim Adil Shah most likely introduced Marathi in all revenue accounts. A few other families rose to prominence in Bijapur, including the Bhonsales, who had the surname Ghorpade, the Dafles (or Chavans), and others.
• Kankoji Narsi, a Brahmana, was given the title of 'Peshwa' by Ahmednagar's ruler.

Mughal’s Movement Towards Deccan

• Following the fall of the Delhi Sultanate, many Sufi saints and other people seeking employment migrated to the court of the Bahmani rulers.
• After conquering Malwa and Gujarat in the 1560s and early 1570s, Akbar gradually shifted his focus to Deccan politics.
• In 1576, a Mughal army invaded Khandesh and forced the Khandesh rulers to surrender.
• However, because Akbar was absent from India for 12 years (from 1586 to 1598) (he lived in Lahore during this time), affairs in the Deccan deteriorated.
• Politics in the Deccan states was extremely volatile. Warfare between the various Deccan states was common.
• Religion (particularly Shia and Sunni) was the primary source of contention.

Foreign Power

• Akbar was concerned about the Portuguese's growing power, which had been interfering with pilgrim traffic (to Mecca), even imprisoning royal ladies.
• The Portuguese were proselytising in their territories, which Akbar despised.
• Akbar apparently believed that by coordinating and pooling the resources of the Deccani states under Mughal supervision, the Portuguese threat would be mitigated, if not eliminated.

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.

FAQs

MCQs

1. Who was the founder of the Bahmani Sultanate?

A) Muhammad bin Tughlaq
B) Ala-ud-Din Bahman Shah
C) Qutb-ud-Din Aibak
D) Ibrahim Adil Shah

2. What caused the rise of the Bahmani Sultanate in South India?

A) Decline of the Delhi Sultanate
B) Strengthening of the Vijayanagara Empire
C) Expansion of the Mughal Empire
D) Decline of the Maratha Empire

3. Which of the following was a major contribution of the Bahmani Sultanate?

A) Introduction of the Rajputana style of architecture
B) Promotion of Persian culture and art
C) Establishment of Hindu temples
D) Development of the Mughal miniature painting

4. The Bahmani Sultanate eventually fragmented into how many smaller sultanates?

A) Two
B) Three
C) Four
D) Five

5. Who was the last ruler of the Bahmani Sultanate before its disintegration?

A) Mahmud Gawan
B) Ahmad Shah
C) Ibrahim Shah II
D) Firuz Shah

GS Mains Questions and Model Answers

Q1: Discuss the political and cultural contributions of the Bahmani Sultanate to the Deccan region.

Answer: The Bahmani Sultanate significantly influenced the political and cultural landscape of the Deccan region. Politically, it provided a regional alternative to the Delhi Sultanate and created a strong military presence in South India. Culturally, the Bahmani rulers promoted Persian language and culture, impacting literature, art, and architecture. The sultans built architectural marvels like the Gol Gumbaz and supported the development of Deccan painting. The Bahmani Sultanate's establishment of regional autonomy also contributed to the fragmentation of larger empires, leading to the formation of independent sultanates in the Deccan region, which continued to shape the region’s political and cultural dynamics for centuries.

Q2: Analyze the factors that led to the decline and fragmentation of the Bahmani Sultanate.

Answer: The decline of the Bahmani Sultanate was primarily due to internal conflicts, including succession disputes and division among the nobility. The weakening of central authority and the rise of powerful regional chieftains led to the fragmentation of the sultanate. Additionally, external threats, such as invasions by the Vijayanagara Empire and the Mughal Empire, further destabilized the sultanate. The lack of a strong administrative structure and financial difficulties contributed to its downfall. By the late 15th century, the sultanate was effectively divided into five smaller independent states, each with its own ruler and political agenda, marking the end of the unified Bahmani Sultanate.

Q3: Evaluate the role of the Bahmani Sultanate in the development of regional Islamic states in the Deccan.

Answer: The Bahmani Sultanate played a critical role in the formation of regional Islamic states in the Deccan. Its rise as a regional power created a vacuum that allowed for the establishment of smaller sultanates like Bijapur, Golconda, Ahmednagar, and Bidar. The decline of the Bahmani Sultanate contributed to the spread of Islamic culture and political influence in the Deccan. These successor states continued many of the Bahmani Sultanate’s policies, particularly in promoting Persian culture, Islamic architecture, and military organization. The fragmentation of the Bahmani Sultanate also allowed for the emergence of a more decentralized political system in the Deccan, which persisted for centuries, influencing the region's history and politics.

Previous Year Questions on Bahmani Sultanate

1. UPSC CSE Prelims 2017:

Question: The Bahmani Sultanate was established in which year?

A) 1327
B) 1336
C) 1347
D) 1352

Answer: (C)

Explanation: The Bahmani Sultanate was established in 1347 by Ala-ud-Din Bahman Shah after breaking away from the Delhi Sultanate.

2. UPSC CSE Mains 2020 (GS Paper 1):

Question: Examine the cultural impact of the Bahmani Sultanate on the Deccan region. How did it influence regional architecture and literature?

Answer: The Bahmani Sultanate had a lasting cultural impact on the Deccan, especially in architecture and literature. The rulers promoted Persian culture and language, leading to the development of Deccan Persian literature. Architecturally, they built mosques, tombs, and palaces in the Indo-Saracenic style, with the most famous example being the Gol Gumbaz in Bijapur. These contributions helped shape the artistic and cultural heritage of the Deccan region, influencing future dynasties and cultures.