Bijapur, located at a distance of about 400 Km from Hyderabad was called Deccan's Florence. Its history starts somewhere in 11th-12th century. It was called 'Vijayapuram' then. The Bahamani dynasty ruled it from 1347 onwards. 'V' is pronounced as 'B' in Farsi and hence 'Vijayapuram' changed to 'Bijapur'.
The first Adilshah of Bijapur, Yusuf Adilshah (1489-1514) was related to the Ottoman dynasty which had the custom of killing the younger son at the time the elder one is crowned as the King. But Yusuf's mother could not bear to watch her younger son die and hence shipped him from Iran to India. He was raised under the care of an officer in the Bahamani dynasty in Bijapur and later ascended the throne.
At the time of his death, his son Ismail was still underage. The prime minister of the kingdom tried to usurp power but Yusuf Adilshah's wife Punji Khaatun (who was a Maharashtrian by birth) didn't let his plans come to fruition. When the prime minister's son tried to do the same Punji Khaatun defeated him and made sure that her son Ismail was crowned the king.
Ismail's son Mallu Adilshah turned out to be a weak ruler. Moreover, he was a tyrant. Finally, his relatives forced him to abdicate throne. Mallu Adilshah's brother Ibrahim and after him his son Ali Adilshah were the successive rulers. Ali Adilshah built Gagan Mahal but sadly only its remains exist now.
The Hampi kingdom was destroyed in 1565 and Bijapur had a big role to play in that. Of course, Bijapur's boundaries extended considerably as a result of this event. Ali Adilshah passed away in 1580 but had no children. So there was a mutiny which was successfully quelled by Chaand Bibi (originally a princess from Ahmednagar). Her son Ibrahim Adilshah became the 6th Adilshah. His rule is considered as the Golden Period of Bijapur's history. He was a secular ruler. The songs from his book 'Kitaab-e-Nauras' were based on Hindu instruments. During his reign, Bijapur established good relations with the Mughal empire. Akbar's son Daaniyaal was married to Ibrahim Adilshah's daughter. A lot of arisans migrated to Bijapur during this time and it started being called the Agra of Deccan. The Rauza (which means a Makavbara or a Mausoleum) that Ibrahim Adilshah built was this Agra's Taj Mahal.
His son Mohammad Adilshah was the 7th Adilshah. The Mughals had given him the sobriquet of 'Shah'. He built the famous Gol-Gumbaz. The construction techniques that were used in its construction cannot be seen in any other building in India. The structure is balanced on 8 arches and contains his grave at the center.
An eerie story, or legend, is associated with Bijapur or specifically with a place called Saath Kabar and Afzal Khan, a general in the army of the 8th Adilshah, Ali Adilshah. It is said that he was in the habit of consulting his astrologers before undertaking any assignment. When he consulted them before going to meet the Maratha King Shivaji Maharaj, they categorically told him that he will not be able to survive the meeting. Afzal Khan brought all the womenfolk in his Zananaa to this place. The well that can still be seen in his area used to have water at that time. He simply threw all of them down the well. Two of the ladies were able to see through his plan and tried to make a run for it. One was able to escape while the other one was captured again. He had 63 wives in total. As per my calculation, 63 - 2 = 61 so I wonder why the place is called Saath Kabar (60 graves).
Despite sending his army over many times, Aurangzeb was unable to conquer Bijapur. Finally, he attacked the kingdom himself in 1625. The 9th Adilshah Sikandar, who had ascended the throne at the tender age of 4 years, was still very young at that time. Though he fought back valiantly he ultimately lost to the Mughals. It is said that silver handcuffs were put onto him as he was brought before Aurangzeb. He bowed thrice before the King and then was thrown into the prison. That was the end of the Bijapur kingdom.
The mausoleum that the 8th Adilshah, Ali Adilshah, tried to build for himself but could never complete, locally known as Baaraa Kamaan or Ali Ka Rauza, still stands as a mute witness to the tale of this kingdom.
The first Adilshah of Bijapur, Yusuf Adilshah (1489-1514) was related to the Ottoman dynasty which had the custom of killing the younger son at the time the elder one is crowned as the King. But Yusuf's mother could not bear to watch her younger son die and hence shipped him from Iran to India. He was raised under the care of an officer in the Bahamani dynasty in Bijapur and later ascended the throne.
At the time of his death, his son Ismail was still underage. The prime minister of the kingdom tried to usurp power but Yusuf Adilshah's wife Punji Khaatun (who was a Maharashtrian by birth) didn't let his plans come to fruition. When the prime minister's son tried to do the same Punji Khaatun defeated him and made sure that her son Ismail was crowned the king.
Ismail's son Mallu Adilshah turned out to be a weak ruler. Moreover, he was a tyrant. Finally, his relatives forced him to abdicate throne. Mallu Adilshah's brother Ibrahim and after him his son Ali Adilshah were the successive rulers. Ali Adilshah built Gagan Mahal but sadly only its remains exist now.
The Hampi kingdom was destroyed in 1565 and Bijapur had a big role to play in that. Of course, Bijapur's boundaries extended considerably as a result of this event. Ali Adilshah passed away in 1580 but had no children. So there was a mutiny which was successfully quelled by Chaand Bibi (originally a princess from Ahmednagar). Her son Ibrahim Adilshah became the 6th Adilshah. His rule is considered as the Golden Period of Bijapur's history. He was a secular ruler. The songs from his book 'Kitaab-e-Nauras' were based on Hindu instruments. During his reign, Bijapur established good relations with the Mughal empire. Akbar's son Daaniyaal was married to Ibrahim Adilshah's daughter. A lot of arisans migrated to Bijapur during this time and it started being called the Agra of Deccan. The Rauza (which means a Makavbara or a Mausoleum) that Ibrahim Adilshah built was this Agra's Taj Mahal.
His son Mohammad Adilshah was the 7th Adilshah. The Mughals had given him the sobriquet of 'Shah'. He built the famous Gol-Gumbaz. The construction techniques that were used in its construction cannot be seen in any other building in India. The structure is balanced on 8 arches and contains his grave at the center.
An eerie story, or legend, is associated with Bijapur or specifically with a place called Saath Kabar and Afzal Khan, a general in the army of the 8th Adilshah, Ali Adilshah. It is said that he was in the habit of consulting his astrologers before undertaking any assignment. When he consulted them before going to meet the Maratha King Shivaji Maharaj, they categorically told him that he will not be able to survive the meeting. Afzal Khan brought all the womenfolk in his Zananaa to this place. The well that can still be seen in his area used to have water at that time. He simply threw all of them down the well. Two of the ladies were able to see through his plan and tried to make a run for it. One was able to escape while the other one was captured again. He had 63 wives in total. As per my calculation, 63 - 2 = 61 so I wonder why the place is called Saath Kabar (60 graves).
Despite sending his army over many times, Aurangzeb was unable to conquer Bijapur. Finally, he attacked the kingdom himself in 1625. The 9th Adilshah Sikandar, who had ascended the throne at the tender age of 4 years, was still very young at that time. Though he fought back valiantly he ultimately lost to the Mughals. It is said that silver handcuffs were put onto him as he was brought before Aurangzeb. He bowed thrice before the King and then was thrown into the prison. That was the end of the Bijapur kingdom.
The mausoleum that the 8th Adilshah, Ali Adilshah, tried to build for himself but could never complete, locally known as Baaraa Kamaan or Ali Ka Rauza, still stands as a mute witness to the tale of this kingdom.
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