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History Medieval India

Bahmani Kingdom: Culture, Administration, and Decline

The Bahmani Kingdom (1347–1527) was the first independent Muslim kingdom in the Deccan, India, founded by Alauddin Hasan Bahman Shah. It expanded culturally and territorially under notable rulers like Muhammad Shah III. Internal strife and conflicts with Vijayanagar led to its decline and fragmentation into five Deccan Sultanates by 1527.

The Bahmani Kingdom (1347–1527) was the first independent Muslim kingdom in the Deccan region of India. It played a crucial role in medieval Indian history and later split into the five Deccan Sultanates.


1. Establishment of the Bahmani Kingdom

  • Founded in 1347 by Alauddin Hasan Bahman Shah after revolting against the Delhi Sultanate (Tughlaq dynasty).
  • The capital was initially Gulbarga (Kalaburagi, Karnataka) and later shifted to Bidar.
  • The kingdom covered Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh.

2. Important Bahmani Rulers

1. Alauddin Hasan Bahman Shah (1347–1358)

  • Founder of the Bahmani kingdom.
  • Established Gulbarga as the capital.

2. Muhammad Shah I (1358–1375)

  • Expanded the kingdom.
  • Strengthened military and administration.

3. Firoz Shah Bahmani (1397–1422)

  • Encouraged Persian culture, architecture, and learning.
  • Built Mahmud Gawan Madarsa in Bidar.
  • Fought against Vijayanagar but failed.

4. Ahmad Shah I (1422–1436)

  • Shifted capital to Bidar.
  • Patronized art and architecture.

5. Muhammad Shah III (1463–1482)

  • The kingdom reached its greatest territorial extent.
  • Prime Minister Mahmud Gawan played a crucial role in administration and expansion.
  • Mahmud Gawan was executed in 1481 due to court conspiracies.

3. Decline of the Bahmani Kingdom


4. Administration & Culture

  • Persian was the official language.
  • Adopted Mansabdari-like system for military recruitment.
  • Developed Indo-Islamic architecture, seen in Bidar Fort, Gol Gumbaz, and Mahmud Gawan Madarsa.
  • Cultural fusion of Persian, Arabic, and local Deccan traditions.

5. Impact of the Bahmani Kingdom

Strengthened Muslim rule in the Deccan.
Promoted Indo-Persian culture in South India.
Influenced the architecture of the later Deccan Sultanates.
✅ Played a major role in Deccan-Vijayanagar conflicts.


6. MCQs on the Bahmani Kingdom

  1. Who was the founder of the Bahmani Kingdom?
    • (a) Muhammad bin Tughlaq
    • (b) Alauddin Hasan Bahman Shah
    • (c) Mahmud Gawan
    • (d) Firoz Shah Bahmani
    • Answer: (b) Alauddin Hasan Bahman Shah
  2. Which city was the first capital of the Bahmani Kingdom?
    • (a) Bidar
    • (b) Gulbarga
    • (c) Bijapur
    • (d) Golkonda
    • Answer: (b) Gulbarga
  3. Who shifted the capital from Gulbarga to Bidar?
    • (a) Firoz Shah Bahmani
    • (b) Ahmad Shah I
    • (c) Muhammad Shah III
    • (d) Mahmud Gawan
    • Answer: (b) Ahmad Shah I
  4. Which Bahmani ruler encouraged Persian culture and built the Mahmud Gawan Madarsa?
    • (a) Alauddin Hasan Bahman Shah
    • (b) Firoz Shah Bahmani
    • (c) Ahmad Shah I
    • (d) Muhammad Shah III
    • Answer: (b) Firoz Shah Bahmani
  5. The Bahmani Kingdom disintegrated into how many Deccan Sultanates?
    • (a) Three
    • (b) Four
    • (c) Five
    • (d) Six
    • Answer: (c) Five

This is a crisp and factual resource for competitive exams. Let me know if you need a timeline or mind map! 🚀

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