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
- Internal power struggles among Deccani Muslims (local) and Afaqi Muslims (Persians & Turks).
- Wars with Vijayanagar weakened the kingdom.
- After Mahmud Gawan’s execution, administration declined.
- By 1527, the kingdom disintegrated into five Deccan Sultanates:
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
- 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
- Which city was the first capital of the Bahmani Kingdom?
- (a) Bidar
- (b) Gulbarga
- (c) Bijapur
- (d) Golkonda
- Answer: (b) Gulbarga
- 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
- 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
- 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! 🚀