The Muzaffarid dynasty was one of the most prominent dynasties of the medieval period. These were the Muzaffarid dynasty in Gujarat, Malwa, and Mewar. The Muzaffarid dynasty in Gujarat was founded by Zafar Khan and this dynasty ruled over Gujarat from 1391 to 1583. The Dynasty of Malwa ruled from 1392 to 1562, including the present-day Indian states of Madhya Pradesh and south-eastern Rajasthan. This dynasty was established by Dilawar Khan Ghuri in 1392. The Dynasty of Mewar was established by Rana Hammira in 1314 CE. In this article, we will discuss the Muzaffarid Dynasty which will be helpful for UPSC exam preparation.

Muzaffarid Dynasty in Gujarat

• The Muzaffarid dynasty, often known as the Ahmedabad dynasty, ruled Gujarat in western India from 1391 to 1583.
• Zafar Khan (later Muzaffar Shah I), the governor of Gujarat in the Delhi Sultanate, founded the dynasty.
• Sadharan Khan, Zafar Khan's father, has been said as either a Tank Rajput or a Khatri convert to Islam.
• He came from Southern Punjab and rose to nobility in the Delhi Sultan's court.
• His Hindu forefathers were believed to be descended from Ramchandra, the Hindu God.
• When the Sultanate was devastated by Timur's sacking of Delhi, Zafar Khan used this opportunity to establish himself as the Sultan of Gujarat.
• In 1407, Zafar Khan declared himself an independent monarch and assumed the title of Muzaffar Shah after Timur's invasion.
• Sultan Mahmud Begarha was the most powerful Sultan of Gujarat Sultanate.
• Mahmud Begarha was called Begarha because he captured two important forts (Garhs) – Girnar in Saurashtra (now Junagarh) and Champaner in south Gujarat.
• Trade and commerce prospered throughout Mahmud Begarha's long and peaceful rule.

*For detailed notes of this topic, check this link Muzaffarid Dynasty in Gujarat

Muzaffarid Dynasty in Malwa

• The Muzaffarid Dynasty of Malwa or Malwa Sultanate ruled over the Malwa area from 1392 to 1562, including the present-day Indian states of Madhya Pradesh and south-eastern Rajasthan.

• Dilawar Khan Ghuri (from him Ghurid dynasty named), the governor of Malwa for the Delhi Sultanate, established it in 1392 when he stopped paying tribute to Delhi.
• After it, other dynasties like the Khalji dynasty etc ruled this region whereas the last Sultanate of Muzaffarid dynasty of Malwa was Baz Bahadur.
• Later on, he declared independence in 1401 following Timur's conquest and the dissolution of the Delhi Sultanate.
• The new kingdom's capital was initially Dhar, but it was soon moved to Mandu, which was renamed Shadiabad (the city of joy).
• He was succeeded by his son Alp Khan, who took the title of Hoshang Shah after his death.
• The Ghurid dynasty, which was created by Dilawar Khan Ghuri, was ousted in 1436 by Mahmud Shah I, who declared himself king.
• Mahmud Shah I founded the Khalji dynasty, which governed Malwa until 1531.
• Ghiyas-Ud-Din, Mahmud Khalji I's eldest son, succeeded him.
• A fight for the succession between Ghiyas-Ud-Din’s two sons plagued his final days, with Nasir-Ud-Din triumphing over Ala-Ud-Din and rising to the throne in 1500.
• After Bahadur Shah, the Sultan of Gujarat captured the fort of Mandu in 1531, Mahmud Shah II surrendered to him.
• The kingdom was ruled by Bahadur Shah from 1531 to 1537, however, it was briefly seized by the Mughal emperor Humayun in 1535-36.
• In 1537, an ex-officer of the previous Khalji dynasty rulers, Qadir Shah, reclaimed control of a portion of Malwa.
• Sher Shah Suri, however, captured the Malwa in 1542, beating him and appointing Shuja'at Khan as governor. In 1555, his son, Baz Bahadur, declared independence.

*For detailed notes of this topic, check this link Muzaffarid Dynasty in Malwa

Muzaffarid Dynasty in Mewar

• Rana Hammira (c. 1314 – 1378 CE) established the second Guhila dynasty of Chittor and became the progenitor of the Sisodia clan, a branch of the Guhilot clan to which every succeeding Maharana of Mewar belonged, in around 1335 CE.
• He was the first ruler to use the title "Rana," and he also built the Annapoorna Mata temple in Rajasthan's Chittorgarh fort.
• Rana Hammira's grandson, Maharana Mokal, was assassinated, and his son Rana Kumbha ascended to the throne of Mewar.
• Medhpaat was the original name of the Mewar (Udaipur) kingdom.
• Rana Kumbha was the Maharana of the Mewar region in India who ruled from 1433 until 1468 CE.
• He was the 48th Rana of Mewar, succeeding Rana Mokal Singh as monarch of Mewar in 1433 CE.
• Some of the temples constructed during this time period demonstrate that stone carving and sculpting were at an advanced level.
• At Chittor, Rana Kumbha ordered the construction of a nine-story tower with a height of 37 meters known as Vijay Stambha (Tower of Victory). It was built between 1458 and 1468.
• Many temples were created during Rana Kumbha’s reign, including the Ranakpur Trailokya-Dipaka Jain temple with its adornments, the Kumbhashyam and Adivarsha temples of Chittor, and the Shantinatha Jain temple.

*For detailed notes of this topic, check this link Muzaffarid Dynasty in Mewar

Conclusion

The Muzaffarid Dynasty ruled over Gujarat for around 200 hundred years from 1391 to 1583, after that it was annexed by Akbar in 1583 CE. Similarly, Malwa Sultanate ruled over the Malwa area from 1392 to 1562, and it ended when Akbar defeated Baz Bahadur in 1562. Mewar dynasty was ended by the Babur in 1527 when Rana Sanga was defeated at the Battle of Khanwa.