By which name did French traveller Jean-Baptist Tavernier call the capital city of Golconda?
Bhagnagar
Understanding Jean-Baptist Tavernier and Golconda's Capital
The question asks for the name used by the French traveller Jean-Baptist Tavernier for the capital city of Golconda. Jean-Baptist Tavernier was a famous French gem merchant and traveller who made six voyages to Persia and India between 1630 and 1668. His detailed accounts of his travels provide valuable insights into the regions he visited, including the Sultanate of Golconda.
Golconda Sultanate and its Capital
The Golconda Sultanate was a significant kingdom in the Deccan region of India. Its original center was the Golconda Fort. However, the capital city was later moved to a newly built city nearby.
The Founding of Hyderabad (Bhagnagar)
The city that became the capital was founded by Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah, the fifth sultan of the Qutb Shahi dynasty, in 1591. This city was initially named Bhagnagar. Later, it was renamed Hyderabad.
Tavernier's Account of the Capital City
Jean-Baptist Tavernier visited the Golconda Sultanate during his travels. In his writings, he refers to the capital city, which was Hyderabad, by its earlier name, Bhagnagar. He described its wealth and grandeur, particularly its diamond trade.
Analyzing the Options
- Golconda: Golconda was the name of the fort and the sultanate itself, not the new capital city built by Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah.
- Bhagnagar: This was the initial name of the city founded near Golconda Fort, which later became Hyderabad. Tavernier used this name in his accounts.
- Falaknuma: Falaknuma is the name of a palace built much later (in the late 19th century) in Hyderabad, not the name of the capital city during Tavernier's time.
- Hyderabad: This is the later name for the city initially called Bhagnagar. While it was the capital during parts of Tavernier's visits, he is known to have referred to it by its earlier name, Bhagnagar.
Based on historical accounts and Tavernier's own writings, he referred to the capital city of Golconda, which was the city now known as Hyderabad, as Bhagnagar.
Conclusion
The name by which the French traveller Jean-Baptist Tavernier called the capital city of Golconda was Bhagnagar.
| City Name | Period / Reference | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bhagnagar | Founded 1591 onwards / Tavernier's accounts | Original name of the city |
| Hyderabad | Later period | Renamed city |
| Golconda | Fort and Sultanate | Not the capital city itself |
Revision Table: French Travellers in India
| Traveller | Period in India | Key Work(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jean-Baptist Tavernier | Multiple visits (1630s-1660s) | Les Six Voyages de J. B. Tavernier (The Six Voyages) |
Known for accounts of diamond trade, wealth of India. |
| Francois Bernier | 1658-1668 | Travels in the Mogul Empire (Voyages dans les États du Grand Mogol) |
Physician and philosopher, observed Mughal court. |
| Jean de Thévenot | 1666-1667 | Voyages de M. de Thevenot aux Indes Orientales |
Travelled widely in the Middle East and India. |
Additional Information: Golconda Sultanate and Hyderabad
The Golconda Sultanate was one of the five Deccan Sultanates. It was founded in 1518 by Sultan Quli Qutb-ul-Mulk. The Qutb Shahi dynasty ruled Golconda for nearly 170 years.
The capital was initially at Golconda Fort, a formidable structure known for its acoustic system and defensive architecture. The city of Hyderabad was founded to alleviate water shortages and congestion around the fort. It was planned with broad streets and public gardens.
The renaming from Bhagnagar to Hyderabad is often attributed to the sultan's favorite courtesan, Bhagmati, who upon converting to Islam took the name Hyder Mahal. However, historical debate exists regarding the exact circumstances and timing of the name change.
Golconda was renowned worldwide for its diamond mines. Famous diamonds like the Koh-i-Noor, Hope Diamond, and Regent Diamond are believed to have originated from the mines near Golconda.
Important Questions from Travellers of Medieval India
Foreign traveller Ibn Battuta, who came to India during the medieval period, had come from?
Francisco Pelsart was a _____ traveller.
Who among the following foreign travelers wrote that the Vijayanagara Empire had an estimated "90,000 men fit to bear arms"?
Pick the right sequence as per chronological order in terms of visits of the following foreign travelers in India
A. Marco Polo
B. Duarte Barbosa
C. Nikitin
D. Peter Mundy
E. Francois Bernier
Choose the correct answer from the options given below
Who among the following travellers visited a "Hospital of Birds" at Cambay in 1623-24, where he saw some lame, sick and mateless birds and some tiny orphan mice. He writes, "A venerable old man with a white beard was keeping them in a box amongst cotton, with his spectacles on his nose, giving them milk to eat with a bird's feather, because they were so little that as yet they could eat nothing else, and as he told us, he intended when they are grown up to let them go free whither they please".
