Bahmani Kingdom (Bahmanids) | History Optional for UPSC (Notes) PDF Download

The Bahmani Kingdom—Its Growth and Disintegration

Formation and Early Capital:

• The Bahmani Empire was established by Ala-ud-Din Hassan Bahman Shah, who rebelled against the Delhi Sultanate led by Muhammad bin Tughlaq.
• The initial capital was Ahsanabad(present-day Gulbarga), from 1347 to 1425.

Capital Shift:

• In 1425, the capital was moved to Muhammadabad(now Bidar).

Conflicts with Vijayanagar:

• The rise of the Bahmani kingdom involved conflicts with the Vijayanagar Empire.
• This conflict period continued until the death of Deva Raya II in 1446.

Firuz Shah Bahmani(1397-1422)

Firuz Shah Bahmani (1397-1422) was a notable ruler in the Bahmani kingdom.

• He was well-versed in religious sciences like Quran commentaries and jurisprudence, and had a keen interest in logic and natural sciences such as botany and geometry.
• Firuz Shah was also a skilled calligraphist and poet, often composing verses spontaneously.
• He was proficient in Persian,Arabic,Turkish,Telugu,Kannada, and Marathi, and had a diverse harem with many wives from different regions, including Hindu wives, with whom he conversed in their native languages.
• Firuz Shah aimed to establish the Deccan as India's cultural center, benefiting from the decline of the Delhi Sultanate, which led to an influx of learned individuals from Delhi, as well as scholars from Iran and Iraq.
• He spent his evenings engaging with divines,poets, and learned courtiers, and was respectful of all religions, despite being an orthodox Muslim with a fondness for wine and music.
• One of his significant contributions was the large-scale inclusion of Hindus in administration, leading to the dominance of Deccani Brahmins in governance. This inclusion helped balance the influence of foreign immigrants, particularly Persians, who brought Persian culture and Shia doctrines.
• The Bahmani rulers were generally tolerant in religious matters, with most being Sunnis but not persecuting Shiism. The jizyah tax on Hindus was not levied during the early phase of Bahmani rule and was likely collected later as part of land-revenue.
• Firuz Shah promoted astronomy and established an observatory near Daulatabad. He also focused on major ports like Chaul and Dabhol, which attracted trade from the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea, bringing in luxury goods from around the world.
• Firuz Bahmani initiated Bahmani expansion towards Berar by defeating Gond Raja Narsingh Rai of Kherla. Narsingh was restored to Kherla and made an amir of the kingdom.
• Firuz Shah's marriage to a daughter of Deva Raya I and his conflicts with Vijayanagar are noted. The struggle for control over the Krishna-Godavari basin continued, but in 1419, the Bahmani kingdom faced a setback when Firuz Shah Bahmani was defeated by Deva Raya I. This defeat weakened Firuz's position, leading to his abdication in favor of his brother Ahmad Shah I.

Ahmad Shah I

Ahmad Shah's Legacy and Campaigns:

• Ahmad Shah is revered as a saint (wali) due to his connection with the renowned Sufi saint, Gesu Daraz. Interestingly, he was also regarded as a saint by Hindus, to the extent that his urs (death anniversary) was celebrated jointly by both communities until recent times.
• He continued to contest for dominance over the eastern seaboard of South India. Ahmad Shah remembered that in the last two battles where the Bahmani Sultan was defeated, the ruler of Warangal had allied with Vijayanagar. Seeking revenge, he invaded Warangal, defeated and killed its ruler in battle, and annexed most of its territories.
• To consolidate his control over the newly acquired lands, Ahmad Shah moved the capital from Gulbarga to Bidar.
• After securing his new territories, he focused his efforts on Malwa, Gondwana, and the Konkan regions.

Age of Mahmud Gawan (1463-1482)

Rise of Bahmani Kingdom (15th Century):

• The Bahmani kingdom emerged as the dominant power in southern India, following the conquest of Warangal by Ahmad Shah, indicating a shift in the balance of power.
• After the death of Deva Raya II, Vijayanagar faced confusion, allowing the Gajpati rulers of Orissa to expand their influence. The Bahmanids seized this opportunity to consolidate their power and expand northwards and westwards, leading to conflicts with the rulers of Malwa and Gujarat.
• Internal strife between the Afaqis (Newcomers) and Deccanis (Oldcomers) created turmoil until Mahmud Gawan rose to prominence.

Mahmud Gawan's Rise to Power:

• Mahmud Gawan, an Iranian, first appeared in 1456 when he was tasked with dealing with a pretender against the sultan. He gained influence and became a member of the council of regency after the sultan's death in 1461.
• In 1463, a new prince appointed Mahmud Gawan as prime minister (wakil-i-sultanat) with the title Khwaja-i-Jahan and Malik-ut-Tajjar, despite never being a trader.

Mahmud Gawan's Administration:

• Gawan dominated state affairs for twenty years, attempting to expand the kingdom's frontiers east and west.
• He allied with Vijayanagar to oust the Gajpati ruler of Orissa and made further conquests at Orissa's expense.
• His major military achievement was the conquest of western coastal areas, including Dabhol and Goa, which significantly impacted Vijayanagar and boosted overseas trade.

Conflict with Malwa and Gujarat:

• Gawan sought to stabilize the kingdom's northern frontiers, contending with the Khalji rulers of Malwa over Gondwana, Berar, and Konkan.
• With the help of Gujarat, he engaged in battles against Mahmud Khalji of Malwa over Berar, successfully securing the territory.

Interconnected Struggles:

• The conflicts in the south were driven by political, strategic, and trade considerations rather than religious divisions.
• The struggles in north and south India were interconnected, with Malwa and Gujarat involved in Deccan affairs and Orissa engaged in conflicts with Bengal and eyeing the Coromandel coast.

Conflict with Vijayanagar:

• The expansion of the Bahmani kingdom led to renewed conflict with Vijayanagar, which by this time was weaker.
• Mahmud Gawan annexed the Tungabhadra doab and conducted raids deep into Vijayanagar territory, reaching as far south as Kanchi.

Mahmud Gawan's Character and Legacy:

• Despite the prevalent drinking and indulgence of the time, Gawan was known for his high character and avoidance of low pursuits.
• A lover of justice, he treated the poor and rich equally, showing no favoritism to his own Irani group.
• His devotion to his masters and dedication to helping the poor were notable traits. He lived simply, distributing much of his income to the needy and eschewing pomp and show.

Internal reforms, art and architecture of Mahmud Gawan

Mahmud Gawan's Administrative Reforms:

• He divided the old provinces into eight instead of four, with governors appointed directly by the sultan.
• Nobles had fixed salaries and obligations, paid in cash or through jagirs, which covered land revenue collection expenses.
• A tract of land called khalisa was set aside in each province for the Sultan's expenses, with efforts to measure land and fix cultivator payments to the state.
• Gawan organized the army systematically, raising salaries and providing facilities while enforcing strict discipline. He centralized military power, previously held by Jagirdars, under the Sultan's control, improving efficiency and revitalizing the army.
• He managed the nobles' rivalries, particularly between the Dakhani and Iranian Amirs, maintaining strict control without favoring either group.
• Agricultural improvements were made through irrigation projects, and burdensome taxes on peasants were abolished.
• Gawan organized finances effectively, reducing unnecessary expenses to ensure the state's smooth functioning, establishing peace and order.
• He was a patron of the arts, building a madrasa in Bidar, accommodating 1,000 teachers and students, and attracting renowned scholars from Iran and Iraq.

Downfall an death of Mahmud Gawan

Strife Among Nobles in the Bahmani Kingdom:

• The Bahmani kingdom faced significant problems due to conflict among the nobles.
• The nobles were divided into two groups:old-comers (Deccanis) and newcomers (Afaqis).
• Mahmud Gawan, a newcomer, struggled to gain the trust of the Deccanis.
• Despite his efforts for conciliation, party strife continued.
• Gawan was eventually executed in 1482 by the young Sultan, influenced by his opponents, despite being over 70 years old.

Division of the Bahmani Kingdom:

• After Gawan's execution, party strife intensified.
• Governors of the Bahmani kingdom became independent.
• The kingdom eventually split into five principalities: Golconda, Bijapur, Ahmadnagar, Berar, and Bidar.
• Ahmadnagar, Bijapur, and Golconda became prominent in Deccan politics until absorbed by the Mughal Empire in the seventeenth century.

Cultural Bridge and Influence:

• The Bahmani kingdom served as a cultural bridge between northern and southern India.
• It established strong ties with West Asian countries, including Iran and Turkey.
• The resulting culture had unique features distinct from northern India.
• These cultural traditions were carried on by successor states and influenced the development of Mughal culture.

Bahmani Administrative System 

Foundation and Key Figures of the Bahmani Kingdom:

• The Bahmani kingdom was founded by Alauddin Bahman Shah, also known as Hasan Gangu, in the year 1347.
• The initial capital of the kingdom was Gulbarga.
• Later, the capital was moved to Bidar by Ahmad Wali Shah.
• A total of fourteen Sultans ruled the Bahmani kingdom.
• Among these Sultans,Alauddin Bahman Shah,Muhammad Shah I, and Firoz Shah were particularly important.

Insights from Foreign Traveler Nicolo Conti:

• The administrative aspects of the Bahmani kingdom are known from the observations of the foreign traveler Nicolo Conti.

Central Administration 

Bahmani Kingdom Administration:

• Sultan: The head of the Bahmani Kingdom.

Central Offices:

• Wazir or Wakil-us-Sultanate: Equivalent to a Prime Minister, responsible for issuing all orders.
• Amil-ul-Umra: Head of the military office, noted by the traveler Nicolo Conti.
• Bakshi: Commander of the army.
• Sadar-i-Jahan: Judicial head.
• Al-Qazi: Judicial officer.
• Wazir-i-Ashraf: Head of external affairs.
• Qilladar: In charge of forts.

Peshwa: Role not clearly defined, possibly the head of a council of ministers consisting of eight ministers established by the Bahmani king.

Provincial Administration 

Muhammad Bin Tughluq divided his territories in the Deccan into four provinces (Tarafs), which were later maintained by Bahman Shah with his own officers.

• Bahmani kingdom was divided into four Tarafs with capitals at Daultabad,Berar,Bidar, and Gulbarga.
• Mahmud Gawan increased the number of Tarafs from four to eight.
• Tarafdars, with significant administrative and military powers, were appointed in each province to collect revenue, organize the provincial army, and appoint civil and military officers.
• Mahmud Gawan reformed the system by curbing the power of Tarafdars, establishing khalisa land managed by central government officers, and bringing forts under direct control.
• Regular royal tours and transfer of Tarafdars were implemented to check provincial governance.
• Land measurement and revenue assignment based on land measurement were promoted.
• Inam System of land grants to religious and learned individuals was common in the Bahmani kingdom.
• Tarafs were divided into Sarkars, and Sarkars into Paraganas for administrative ease.

Local Administration 

Institutions of Got Sabha/Majlis at the Pargana Level:

• Established as autonomous bodies responsible for various local functions.
• Had administrative, fiscal, and judicial responsibilities.
• Managed local affairs effectively.
• The village was the lowest administrative unit.

Balutedari System:

• At the village level, this system involved different service providers.
• Balutedars: These were village service providers, including artisans such as:
• Barbers
• Potters
• Blacksmiths
• Washermen
• Carpenters, etc.
• There were typically 12 Balutedars, and their occupations were hereditary in nature.

Village Elites:

• Included village officials such as the Patil(village head) and the Kulkarni(accountant).

Military Administration 

Introduction to the Military Organization of the Kingdom:

• The information mainly comes from the account of Nicolo Conti.

Amir-ul-Umra:

• The Amir-ul-Umra was the commander of the army.

Soldiers and Troops:

• The army consisted of soldiers, cavalry, elephants, and bodyguards.

Silahdars:

• Silahdars were responsible for the king's personal armory.

Barbardar:

• Barbardar were mobile troops that used gunpowder.

Gawan's Administrative Reforms:

• Gawan placed one fort under the jurisdiction of a Tarafdar and the rest under central command.
• He also fixed a rate for every 500 troopers maintained by an officer.