Sultanate of Bijapur
The Sultanate of Bijapur was an early modern kingdom in the western Deccan and South India, ruled by the Muslim Mohammed Adil Shah (or Adilshahi) dynasty. Bijapur had been a taraf (province) of the Bahmani Kingdom prior to its independence in 1490 and before the kingdom’s political decline in the last quarter of the 15th century. It was one of the Deccan sultanates, the collective name of the kingdom’s five successor states. The Sultanate of Bijapur was one of the most powerful states on the Indian Subcontinent at its peak, second to the Mughal Empire which conquered it in 1686 under Aurangzeb.
After emigrating to the Bahmani Sultanate, Yusuf Adil Shah rose through the ranks to be appointed governor of the province of Bijapur. In 1490, he created a de facto independent Bijapur state which became formally independent with the Bahmani collapse in 1518.
The Bijapur Sultanate’s borders changed considerably throughout its history. Its northern boundary remained relatively stable, straddling contemporary southern Maharashtra and northern Karnataka. The sultanate expanded southward, its first major conquest the Raichur Doab after defeating the Vijayanagara Empire at the Battle of Talikota in 1565. Later campaigns in the Karnatak and Carnatic extended Bijapur’s borders and nominal authority as far south as Tanjore. For most of its history, Bijapur was bounded on the west by the Portuguese state of Goa, on the east by the Sultanate of Golconda, on the north by the Ahmednagar Sultanate and on the south by the Vijayanagara Empire and its succeeding Nayaka dynasties.
The sultanate clashed incessantly with its neighbours. After the allied victory against Vijayanagara at Talikota in 1565, the state expanded through its conquest of the neighbouring Bidar Sultanate in 1619. The sultanate was then relatively stable, although it was damaged by the revolt of Shivaji (who founded an independent Maratha kingdom which become the Maratha Confederacy). From the late 16th century, the greatest threat to Bijapur’s security was the expansion of the Mughal Empire into the Deccan. Agreements and treaties imposed Mughal suzerainty on the Adil Shahs, by stages, until Bijapur’s formal recognition of Mughal authority in 1636. The influence of their Mughal overlords and continual strife with the Marathas sapped the state of prosperity until the Mughal conquest of Bijapur in 1686.
The former Bahmani provincial capital of Bijapur remained the sultanate’s capital throughout its existence. After modest earlier developments, Ibrahim Adil Shah I and Ali Adil Shah I remodelled Bijapur with a citadel, city walls, and a congregational mosque. Their successors, Ibrahim Adil Shah II, Mohammed Adil Shah and Ali Adil Shah II, added palaces, mosques, a mausoleum and other structures (considered some of the finest examples of Deccani and Indo-Islamic architecture) to the capital.
The Adil Shahi dynasty was a prominent Muslim ruling family that reigned over the Sultanate of Bijapur in the Deccan region of India, from 1489 to 1686. They are known for their resistance against the Mughal Empire, particularly during the 17th century, and for their patronage of art and culture. The dynasty was founded by Yusuf Adil Shah, who was said to be a son of the Ottoman Sultan Murad II according to Britannica.
Founding and Early History:
- Yusuf Adil Shah, the founder, established the Sultanate of Bijapur after the decline of the Bahmanī Sultanate.
- He introduced Shia Islam but practiced religious tolerance.
- The dynasty initially faced challenges, including the loss of Goa to the Portuguese in 1510 according to Britannica.
Key Rulers and Events:
- Ibrahim Adil Shah II (1579-1626): Considered the greatest ruler of the dynasty, he expanded the kingdom’s territory and was a notable administrator and patron of the arts. He also reverted to Sunni Islam but maintained tolerance.
- Military Conflicts: The Adil Shahis were involved in constant wars with neighboring kingdoms and the Portuguese.
- Battle of Talikota (1565): Bijapur, along with other Deccan sultanates, defeated the Vijayanagara Empire.
- Mughal Encroachment: The Adil Shahi kingdom faced increasing pressure from the Mughal Empire, particularly during the reign of Aurangzeb.
Decline and Annexation:
- Internal conflicts, weak successions, and economic struggles contributed to the dynasty’s decline.
- The kingdom was eventually annexed by the Mughal Empire in 1686, with the capture of Bijapur by Aurangzeb.
Cultural Contributions:
- The Adil Shahi period saw a flourishing of art, architecture, and literature.
- Bijapur became a center of cultural synthesis, with influences from Persian, Turkish, and Indian traditions.
- Ibrahim Adil Shah II was a significant patron of music and the arts, and the city attracted many musicians and dancers during his reign according to Wikipedia.
- The Gol Gumbaz, a mausoleum of Mohammed Adil Shah, is a notable example of Adil Shahi architecture according to Getty Images.
In summary, the Adil Shahi dynasty was a powerful force in the Deccan region, leaving behind a legacy of both military strength and cultural achievements.
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[1] https://www.britannica.com/topic/Adil-Shahi-dynasty
[2] wikipedia/en/Yusuf_Adil_Shah
[3] https://historyunravelled.com/kingdoms/the-adilshahi-kingdom-of-bijapur
[4] wikipedia/en/Adil_Shahi%E2%80%93Portuguese_conflicts
[5] wikipedia/en/Ibrahim_Adil_Shah_II
[6] https://oldror.lbp.world/UploadedData/13035.pdf
[7] https://www.facebook.com/historytv18ind/videos/the-story-of-bijapur-and-its-rulers/337875992651824/
[8] wikipedia/en/Ibrahim_Adil_Shah_II
[9] https://www.iosrjournals.org/iosr-jhss/papers/Vol.25-Issue12/Series-1/K2512017781.pdf
[10] https://www.gettyimages.com/photos/adil-shahi
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