Between the period 1343 AD and 1351 AD, during the
region of Muhammad-bin-Tughluq a series of revolts resulted in the vast empire
being divided into numerous independent provinces.
An Afghan or Turkish officer of the Delhi
Sultan named Hassan assumed the title of Bahman Shah and after occupation of
Daulatbad in the Deccan proclaimed independence. He was also known as Alauddin
I, the founder of the Bahmani dynasty.
His capital was at Gulbarga which was
also called as Hassanabad after the Sultan's name Hassan. He conquered large part
of the Deccan. By 1358 AD his empire included areas near the west coast , the ports of Goa and Dabhal. Alauddin I was succeeded by Muhammad Shah I. He
waged wars against the Hindu rulers of Vijayanagar and Warangal. With his policy
of subjuction he subdued countless number of rival Hindu rulers, and accumulated vast
treasures. He administered the provinces by yearly tours and was advised by a
group of eight ministers. Thus he set a pattern of administration for the
Bahmani kingdom.
He was succeeded by Alauddin Mujahid who
ruled for 3 years before,being murdered by his cousin brother Duad, which
resulted in a civil war. Ahmad Shah ascended the throne in 1422 after deposing
Firoz who was the eighth Sultan who ruled from 1397 AD to 1422 AD. He attacked
Vijayanagar and resorted to brutal subjection of his opponents who resisted his attacks. Peace was concluded with Vijayanagar. Ahmad Shah also fought against the
Sultan of Malwa and Gujarat and the Hindu chiefs of the Konkan. It was during
his reign that the capital of the Bahamani kingdom was shifted to Bidar, also
called Ahmedabad. Ahmad Shah was succeeded by his eldest son Alauddin II who
ruled from (1435-57 AD). He was succeeded by Humayun who ruled from
(1451-1461 AD). He
pursued a cruel policy of subjuction and brutal punishments till he was
succeeded by Muhammad Shah III ,who ruled from (1463-1482 AD) assisted by his able
minister Khwaja Mahmud Gawan. A series of conquest followed which involved capture of the
strong fortress of Belgaum in 1473 AD and recovery of Goa in 1472 AD from the rulers
of the Vijayanagar empire. It was during his rule that the famine of Bijapur
befell over the Deccan in 1473 AD. Kanchipuram was raided in the
course of the campaign against Vijayanagar in 1481 AD. In 1482 AD Khwaja Mahmud
Gawan
was murdered and Mahmud Shah succeeded to the throne in 1482 AD and ruled till
1518 AD. During his reign the provincial governors declared their independence
and set up five separate kingdoms.
The Imad Shahi Dynasty of Berar
This consisted of the northern part of the
Bahamani Kingdom. The Shahi Dynasty of Berar lasted for
four generations till 1574 AD.
The Barid Shahi Dynasty of Bidar
The Barid Shahi dynasty was governed by
the Barid Shahi Sultans. It was established in 1492 AD by Qasim Barid the minister
of Mahmud Shah Bahamani. This dynasty lasted till 1619 AD when it was annexed by
Bijapur.
