Rise of Provincial Dynasties: Gujarat | History Optional for UPSC (Notes) PDF Download

Western India: Gujarat, Malwa and Rajasthan

Gujarat and Malwa: Prized Regions due to Size, Fertility, and Climate:

• Gujarat: Renowned for its exceptional handicrafts and bustling sea-ports, which facilitated a significant portion of north India’s sea trade.
• Malwa and Rajasthan: Served as crucial transit centers, connecting the products of the Ganga valley with the sea-ports of Gujarat.
• Control over Malwa, Gujarat, and the road link through Rajasthan was a constant concern for any imperial power in northern or southern India.

15th Century Dynamics:

• Malwa and Gujarat: Balanced each other in power and influence.
• Both attempted to dominate the border states of Rajasthan but faced challenges in making significant inroads due to the rise of Mewar under Rana Kumbha.

Early 16th Century Shift:

• The balance of power between Malwa and Gujarat began to shift and break down.

Gujarat

Foundation of Sultanate Rule in Gujarat (1299):

• In 1299, Ulugh Khan and Nusrat Khan, generals under Alauddin Khalji, overthrew Raja Karna Baghella, the Chalukya ruler, establishing Sultanate rule in Gujarat.

14th Century Supremacy:

• The Delhi Sultans maintained control over Gujarat throughout the 14th century.

Decline and Governance Changes:

• Signs of decline appeared during Feroz Shah's reign when he appointed Shamsuddin Damghani as governor of Gujarat.

Timur's Invasion and Independence:

• Timur's invasion in 1398 gave governors the chance to assert independence, leading to the de facto independence of Gujarat and Malwa.

Establishment of the Kingdom of Gujarat (1407):

• In 1407, Zafar Khan, later known as Muzaffar Shah, declared an independent kingdom in Gujarat.

Conflicts with Neighbouring Territories:

• The Kingdom of Gujarat engaged in constant conflicts with neighboring regions, including Malwa, Rajputana, Khandesh, and the Bahmani kingdoms.

Relationship with Malwa

Kingdoms of Gujarat and Malwa: A Bitter Rivalry

• The kingdoms of Gujarat and Malwa were fierce competitors from the start, constantly at odds with each other.
• Despite their conflicts, the wars between them did not result in any significant changes to their borders.
• In 1408,Muzaffar Shah of Gujarat defeated and captured Hoshang Shah, the ruler of Malwa who had taken over after Dilawar Khan.
• Although Hoshang Shah had to acknowledge Muzaffar Shah's authority, he resented Gujarat's growing power.
• To weaken Gujarat, Malwa often allied with Gujarat's enemies. However,Ahmad Shah of Gujarat was able to defeat Hoshang Shah.
• During the reign of Qutbuddin Ahmad Shah II(1451-59),Mahmud Khalji of Malwa attempted to invade Gujarat but was repelled.
• Later, Mahmud Khalji teamed up with Qutbuddin Ahmad Shah II to fight against Rana Kumbha of Mewar. However, this alliance was merely diplomatic, as Mahmud Khalji was always looking for ways to diminish Gujarat's influence.
• This intense rivalry between Gujarat and Malwa weakened both kingdoms, preventing them from having a significant impact on the broader politics of north India.

Relationship with Rajputana

Rajputana:

• The Rajput kingdom of Idar became part of Gujarat in 1426.
• Ahmad Shah conquered Dungarpur in 1433.
• Rana Kumbha of Mewar occupied Sirohi,Abu, and Nagaur.
• Qutbuddin(1451-59) and Mahmud Begarha(1459-1511) fought against Rana Kumbha.
• Rana Kumbha faced a combined attack from Gujarat,Sirohi, and Nagaur.
• Rana Kumbha was forced to sue for peace, paying a large indemnity but kept his capital Kumbhalgarh.
• Mahmud Begarha annexed the Rajput state of Champaner in 1483-84, renaming it Muhammadabad and making it his second capital.
• By Mahmud Begarha's reign, small Rajput kingdoms of Junagarh,Sorath,Kutch, and Dwarka were also subjugated.

Relationship with Bahmani and Khandesh

Relations between the Bahmani and Gujarati Rulers:

• Feroz Shah, a Bahmani ruler, had friendly relations with the rulers of Gujarat.
• After Feroz Shah's death, Ahmad Bahmani became the ruler and changed the dynamics by forming a matrimonial alliance with the ruler of Khandesh.

Conflicts and Alliances:

• When Rai Kanha of Jhalawar sought refuge in 1429, both the Khandesh and Bahmani rulers offered him asylum. This angered Ahmad Shah of Gujarat, who retaliated with a significant defeat against them.
• During the reign of Mahmud Begarha, relations improved again. When Mahmud Khalji of Malwa attacked the Bahmani kingdom, Mahmud Begarha intervened to help the Bahmani rulers.

Mahmud Begarha's Campaigns:

• Mahmud Begarha maintained friendly ties with the rulers of Khandesh. However, when Adil Khan II stopped paying tribute and allied with Ahmadnagar and Berar, Mahmud Begarha responded by attacking Khandesh.
• After defeating Adil Khan, Mahmud Begarha established his suzerainty over Khandesh but chose not to annex Khandesh or Daulatabad. Instead, he confirmed the existing rulers in power, requiring them to pay tribute.

Ahmad Shah I (1411-42)

Ahmad Shah I and His Contributions to the Gujarat Sultanate:

• Founder of the Gujarat Sultanate: Ahmad Shah I (1411-42), the grandson of Muzaffar Shah, is considered the real founder of the Gujarat Sultanate. He strengthened and expanded the kingdom during his reign.
• Control and Administration: He brought the nobility under control and settled the administration, ensuring stability in the kingdom.
• Capital Shift: Ahmad Shah moved the capital from Patan to the newly founded city of Ahmedabad, which he established in 1413.
• Justice and Discipline: He was known for his strict sense of justice, exemplified by the execution of his own son-in-law for murder.
• Expansion Efforts: Ahmad Shah aimed to extend his control over Rajput states in Saurashtra and along the Gujarat-Rajasthan border.
• Conquest of Girnar: In Saurashtra, he captured the strong fort of Girnar but restored it to the Raja in exchange for tribute.
• Attack on Sidhpur: He attacked Sidhpur, a prominent Hindu pilgrim center, destroying many beautiful temples.
• Imposition of Jizyah: Ahmad Shah imposed jizyah (a tax on non-Muslims) for the first time on Hindu rulers in Gujarat, alongside peshkash (annual tribute).
• Inclusion of Hindus in Government: He appointed Hindus such as Manik Chand and Motichand, from the bania community, as ministers.
• Conflicts with Other Rulers: Ahmad Shah fought against Muslim rulers in Malwa, Khandesh, and the Deccan, and brought Rajput states like Jhalawar, Bundi, and Dungarpur under his control.

Mahmud Begarha (1459 to 1511)

Successors of Ahmad Shah and Mahmud Begarha (Gujarat Sultanate):

• The successors of Ahmad Shah continued the policy of expansion and consolidation.
• Mahmud Begarha, the great-grandson of Ahmad Shah I, became the most famous sultan of Gujarat.
• He earned the title "Begarha" by capturing two powerful forts:Girnar in Saurashtra and Champaner in south Gujarat.

Girnar:

• Mahmud Begarha annexed Girnar to bring Saurashtra under full control despite the ruler's regular tribute payments.
• Saurashtra was rich and prosperous but plagued by robbers and seapirates.
• Girnar fort was suitable for administering Saurashtra and launching operations against Sindh.
• After the fort's capture, the raja converted to Islam and served the sultan.
• Mahmud founded a new town called Mustafabad(now Junagadh) at the foot of the hill, making it the second capital of Gujarat.

Dwarka:

• Mahmud Begarha sacked Dwarka to eliminate pirates who harmed traders and destroyed famous Hindu temples.

Champaner:

• Mahmud targeted Champaner(Pavagadh fort) to bring Khandesh and Malwa under control.
• The stronghold fell in 1454 after the raja and his followers performed the jauhar ceremony and fought valiantly.
• Mahmud built a new town called Muhammadabad near Champaner, establishing it as his principal residence.

Dealing with the Portuguese:

• Mahmud Begarha dealt with the Portuguese interfering with Gujarat’s trade by seeking assistance from the rulers of Egypt and the Ottoman Empire.
• Generals Amir Hussain and Sulaiman Rais helped defeat the Portuguese at Chaul in 1508, but they were later crushed in 1509 by Albuquerque.
• In 1510, Mahmud Begarha allied with the Portuguese, ensuring the safety of Gujarati ships in the Arabian Sea.

Capturing of Bombay:

• The Sultan captured the island of Bombay from the Koli(fisherman) tribe, who were vassals of the Bahmani Sultanate.
• Later, his descendant Bahadur Shah handed the island over to the Portuguese in 1535.

Trade and Commerce:

• During Mahmud Begarha's long and peaceful reign, trade and commerce flourished.
• He built many caravan-sarais and inns for travelers' comfort, and merchants were pleased with the safety of roads.

Education:

• Although Mahmud Begarha lacked formal education, he gained knowledge through association with learned individuals.
• Many works were translated from Arabic into Persian during his reign, and his court poet Udayaraja composed in Sanskrit.

Appearance and Food:

• Mahmud Begarha was known for his striking appearance, with a long beard and a moustache tied over his head.
• According to traveler Barbosa, Mahmud was nourished on poison as a child, making him immune to certain toxins, and he was famous for his large appetite.

Matrimonial Relations with Rajputs:

• The rulers of Gujarat established matrimonial relations with subordinate Rajput rulers.
• Muzaffar Shah II's mother was a Rajput, and he married several Rajput princesses.
• Notable Hindu nobles, such as Rajya Rayan and Malik Gopi, served the Gujarati rulers, but matrimonial alliances did not significantly alter the sultans' policies or create closer political ties.

Embassies and Prestige:

• In 1508, Delhi Sultan Sikandar Lodi sent an embassy to Gujarat, enhancing the prestige of the Gujarati ruler.
• The embassies from Sikandar Lodi and Ismail Safavi of Iran elevated Mahmud Begarha's status in the national and international arena.

Gujarat Kingdom:

• The Gujarat kingdom remained a powerful, well-administered, and prosperous state, effectively defending its territories and ports from Portuguese encroachments.
• However, efforts under Bahadur Shah to dominate Malwa and Rajasthan led to conflicts with the Mughals, ultimately contributing to the kingdom's decline.