Bahmani Kingdom, Map, Rulers List, Founder, Administration

Bahmani Kingdom, established in 1347 by Turkish Governor Alauddin Bahman Shah (Zafar Khan), marked the rise of the first independent Islamic rule in South India. It arose during political turmoil as a challenge to the Delhi Sultanate under Muhammad Bin Tughlaq. Over time, the Bahmani Kingdom evolved into a cultural and administrative hub, blending Indo-Persian art and architecture. 

The Bahmani Kingdom reached its peak under Mahmud Gawan, whose significant reforms and territorial expansion enhanced its power and influence. However, persistent internal strife and mounting external pressures ultimately led to its fragmentation into five successor states.

Bahmani Kingdom Overview 

Bahmani Kingdom (Bahmani Sultanate) a powerful kingdom in South India, emerged in the 14th century alongside the Vijayanagara Empire. It was established in 1347  as an independent state in the Deccan, following conflicts between Deccan officers and the Delhi Sultanate. 

• Founder: The founder, Hasan Gangu, took the title Alauddin Hasan Bahman Shah, tracing his lineage to the mythical Iranian hero, Bahman Shah, from whom the kingdom derived its name. 
• Capital and Expansion: With its capital at Gulbarga in Andhra Pradesh, the Bahmani Sultanate expanded its influence, annexing key territories, including the vital port of Dabhol on the west coast, as Delhi’s control over the Deccan waned after Mohammad bin Tughlaq’s reign.

Bahmani Kingdom Important Rulers

The Bahmani Kingdom, ruled by fourteen kings over two centuries (1347–1527), remains a symbol of this influential dynasty’s history, art, and legacy. Some of the notable rulers include:

• Alauddin Hasan Bahman Shah (1347–58): The founder of the Bahmani Sultanate (Hasan Gangu), was an Afghan adventurer. Throughout his reign, he frequently clashed with the Vijayanagara Empire and the Warangal state.
  • By the end of his reign, the Bahmani Sultanate had expanded significantly, stretching from the Wainganga River in the North to the Krishna River in the South and from Bhongir to Daulatabad in the East and West.
• Muhammad Shah I (1358–1375): He succeeded his father Alauddin Bahman Shah. A skilled administrator and general, he defeated Bukka I of Vijayanagar and Kapila Nayaks of Warangal.

• Taj ud-Din Firuz Shah (1397-1422): Considered the most remarkable figure in the Bahmani Sultanate and the greatest of them all. He started the Bahmani expansion towards Berar by defeating the Gond Raja Narsing Rai of Kherla.
  • Later, he invaded Vijayanagar with victories in 1398 and 1408 but faced a defeat in 1420 at the hands of Deva Raya I.
  • He was well acquainted with the religious sciences (commentaries on the Quran, jurisprudence) and natural sciences too (such as botany, geometry, logic, etc.)
  • He encouraged the pursuit of astronomy and built an observatory near Daultabad. 
  • He included many Hindus in his administration, with Deccan Brahmins gaining prominence during his reign.

• Ahmad Shah Al Wali (1422–1435): He continued fighting for control over the southeastern seaboard, invading Warangal, defeated and killed its ruler, and annexing most of its territory. He shifted the capital from Gulbarga to Bidar.

• Muhammad Shah III (1463–1482): In 1463 AD, Muhammad Shah III became the Sultan at the age of nine, with Mahmud Gawan serving as regent. Under Gawan’s leadership, the Bahmani kingdom reached its peak of power. He was succeeded by his son, Mahmood Shah Bahmani II, the final Bahmani ruler with genuine authority.

Bahmani Kingdom Mahmud Gawan

Mahmud Gawan was the Prime Minister of Muhammad Shah III (who ascended to the throne at the age of nine) and took on the full responsibility of governance. An Iranian trader, Mahmud Gawan rose through the ranks of the Bahmani Sultanate, earning the title Malik-ul-Tujjar (Chief of Merchants), and dominated the kingdom’s affairs for nearly two decades (1458 to 1481).

• Expansion: His Military genius expanded the kingdom by annexing eastern territories, defeating the ruler of Orissa, and invading Vijayanagara up to Kanchi, while capturing Dabhol and Goa, which boosted trade with Iran and Iraq.
• Administrative Reforms: He implemented numerous administrative reforms and reorganized the kingdom into eight provinces, known as tarafs, with each overseen by a tarafdar.
• Use of Gunpowder: He introduced gunpowder in the war against Vijayanagar and enlisted Persian chemists to train his soldiers in its preparation and use.

Bahmani Kingdom Conflict with Vijayanagara Kingdom

Bahmani Kingdom and the Vijayanagara Empire were locked in continuous conflict due to overlapping territorial and economic interests. Despite their rivalry, their clashes were not solely religious but rather centred around control of fertile lands, key trade routes, and valuable resources.

• Raichur Doab: The fertile region between the Krishna and Tungabhadra rivers was crucial for both kingdoms, with the Bahmanis temporarily gaining control in 1504 but later losing it to Krishna Deva Raya’s forces.
• Krishna–Godavari Basin: This area was vital for its fertility and its strategic ports, which were key to controlling foreign trade, including exports from the Deccan.

The prolonged warfare drained the resources of both states, weakening their ability to confront external threats, particularly from the Portuguese.

Bahmani Kingdom Administration

The Bahmani administrative system was well-organized, with the Sultanate initially divided into four provinces or tarafs, including Daultabad, Bidar, Berar, and Gulbarga. Later, Gawan reorganized the Sultanate into eight administrative tarafs.

• Every province was under a tarafdar, who was also called a subedar. A portion of land, known as Khalisa, was excluded from the jurisdiction of the Tarafdar and reserved to cover the expenses of the king and the royal household.
• Nobles received fixed salaries, paid either in cash or through jagirs, and were classified into Deccanis (old settlers) and Afaqis (newcomers).
• Key Terminology: Wazir-i-kul (Prime Minister), Amir-i-kul (Finance head), Wazir Ashraf (Foreign affairs and royal court), Sadar-i-jahan (Head of judiciary and charities), Tarafdar (Head of province)

Bahmani Kingdom Military

The Bahmanis were skilled in the use of firearms, employing Turkish and Portuguese experts to train their soldiers in advanced weaponry. Military support relied on the amirs, who were divided into two groups: 

• Deccanis, long-established Muslim immigrants in the region;
• Afaqis or Pardesis, were recent settlers from Central Asia, Iran, and Iraq.

Bahmani Kingdom Art and Architecture

The Bahmani Sultans commissioned several architectural works, though many have since been destroyed. Their architecture, heavily influenced by Persian styles through architects from Persia, Turkey, and Arabia, contributed to the development of the Persianate Indo-Islamic style, which was later adopted by other Deccan sultanates.

• Key Constructions: They built mosques, tombs, and madrasas in their capitals, Bidar and Gulbarga, alongside forts in Daulatabad, Golconda, and Raichur.
  • Later, Sultans were buried in the Bahmani Tombs, many of which are adorned with coloured tile exteriors and feature inscriptions in Arabic, Persian, and Urdu.

• Notable contributions: It includes the Gulbarga Fort (built by Alauddin Bahman Shah), Gol Gumbaz, Jama Masjid in Gulbarga, Bidar Fort, Madrasa Mahmud Gawan in Bidar, and the Chand Minar in Daulatabad.
• Bidriware: A metal handicraft from Bidar in Karnataka, originated in the 14th century under the Bahmani Sultans. Known for its inlay work on copper and silver, the craft uses white brass, which is blackened and inlaid with silver.
• Recognized as a native art form, Bidriware received a Geographical Indication (GI Tag) in 2006.

Bahmani Kingdom Literature

The Bahmani Kingdom was a patron of the Persian language, culture, and literature, with several members of the dynasty becoming proficient in Persian and contributing to its literary heritage. Mohammad Gawan wrote poems in the Persian language, with works like Riyaz-ul-Insha and Manazir-ul-Insha.

• During this time, a new dialect called “Dakhini Urdu” gained prominence. The famous Sufi saint of Gulbarga, Khwaja Bande Nawaz Gesu Daraj, also wrote in this language.

Bahmani Kingdom Decline

The Bahmani Kingdom declined after Muhammad Shah III’s death in 1482, with the last Sultans reduced to figureheads under the control of the Barid Shahi ministers. By 1518, Krishnadeva Raya of the Vijayanagar Empire defeated the last Bahmani ruler, leading to the kingdom’s fragmentation into the Deccan Sultanates: Adil Shahi of Bijapur (1490), Nizamshahi of Ahmednagar (1490), Imad Shahi of Berar (1490), Qutb Shahi of Golconda (1518), Barid Shahi of Bidar (1528)

• These small kingdoms engaged in frequent wars, allowing the Mughals to incorporate them into their empire. 

However, the kingdoms of Golconda, Bijapur, and Ahmednagar remained influential in Deccan politics until their absorption into the Mughal Empire in the seventeenth century.