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Kingdom of Golconda - Qutb Shahi dynasty 1512-1687

The Qutb Shahs of Golconda-Hyderabad traced the genesis of their imperial legacy to the Bahmani Kingdom which flourished in the Deccan from 1347 to 1525, with its capital first at Gulbarga and at Bidar. During the twilight period of the Bahamani realm, with gradual disintegration from the last quarter of the fifteenth century, there evolved five independent kingdoms in the Deccan. Qutb Shahi kingdom (1512-1687) was one of them with its capital at Golconda at first and later Hyderabad. The other kingdoms were: Imad Shahi of Herar (1484-1568) with its capital at Ellichpur; the Adil Shahi (1489-1686) with its capital at Bijapur; the Nizam Shahi (1490-1633) with its capital at Ahmednagar and the Barid Shahi (1492-1609) with its capital at Bidar.

The Kingdom of Golconda (1518-1687) played a vital role in the political, diplomatic, commercial and cultural history of south India. In the development of architecture, town-planning, literature, fine arts, social pattern, religious lif e and ritual, the observance of Moharram festival with eleborate ramifications it had made significant contributions. The Kingdom was founded and established by the genius of an Afaqi adventurer who had risen to the apex of political and military power by sheer dint of merit and sincerity of purpose and loyalty to the Bahmani Sultans. He made wi de conquests and firmly laid the foundations of his state on a secure basis. The city of Hyderabad was founded on the River Musi five miles east of Golconda, the capital of the Qutub Shahi rulers in 1591-92 by Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah. The city has a history of nearly 400 years. The capital Bhagyanagar was named after a royal beloved Bhagyamati, who later as the wife of Quli Qutub Shah became Hyder Mahal and thus was born Hyderabad.

The Qutb Shahi dynasty founded the Kingdom of Golconda, one of the five kingdoms that emerged after the break up of the Bahamani Kingdom. The Qutb Shahis ruled the Deccan for almost 171 years. All the seven rulers were patrons of learning and were great builders. They contributed to the growth and development of Indo-Persian and Indo-Islamic literature and culture in Hyderabad. During the Qutb Shahi reign Golconda became one of the leading markets in the world of diamonds, pearls, steel for arms and also printed fabric.

Sultan Kuli Kutb Shah of Golconda, who had proclaimed himself independent in 1512, was for many years troubled by a Turk entitled Kivam-ul-Muik who had been appointed by Mahmud Shah Bahmani governor of eastern Telingana and resisted Sultan Kuli's claims to dominion over that tract. He maintained a guerilla warfare for years, with intermittent encouragement from Bidar and perhaps from Berar also, until he was defeated by Sultan Kuli at Gelgandal when he fled and took refuge with Ala-ud din Imad Shah in Berar. Sultan Kuli sent an envoy to Berar to demand the delivery of the fugitive and also the restoration of certain districts of south-eastern Berar which in the time of the Bahmanids had belonged to Telingana.

On Ala-ud-din's refusal to satisfy these demands Sultan Kuli marched northwards and Ala-ud-din marched from Ellichpur to meet him. A battle was fought near Ramgiri and the Beraris were utterly defeated. Ala-ud-din fled to Ellichpur and Sultan Kuli possessed himself of the disputed territory and returned to Golconda. Unfortunately the date of these operations is not given, but it appears probable that they took place after the departure of Bahadur Shah of Gujarat from the Deccan. The date of the death of Ala-ud-din Imad Shah is not certain, but he probably died in 1529 and was succeeded by his son Darya Imad Shah.

Sultan Quli's successors were essentially men of peace who were chiefly concerned with maintaing a balance of power in the troubled Deccan* Their political policy was based on the cardinal principle of peace at home and cordiality abroad. The foreign relations of the Qutb Shah were guided by the dictum of 'live and let live'.

The early years of Darya Imad Shah's reign were uneventful and his kingdom enjoyed a much needed rest. In 1554 Husain Nizam Shah succeeded, not without opposition, to the throne of Ahmadnagar. His younger brother, Abdul Kadir, was induced to make a fight for the throne but was overcome and took refuge with Darya Imad Shah, under whose protection he remained until his death. Shortly after Miran Abdul Kadir's flight Saif Ain-ul-Mulk, who had been commander-in-chief of the army of Ahmadnagar in the latter part of the reign of Burhan Nizam Shah and on his death had espoused the cause of Abdul Kadir, became apprehensive lest Husain Nizam Shah should punish him for his defection, and fled to Ellichpur, where he took refuge with Darya Imad Shah. He did not remain long in Berar but took service under Ibrahim Adil Shah of Bijapur, who interested himself in plots to dethrone Husain Nizam Shah.

Ibrahim's interference brought about a war between Bijapur and Ahmadnagar and Husain sent a Brahman envoy named Viswas Rao to Darya Imad Shah to ask him for aid. Darya sent 7000 cavalry to his neighbour's assistance and Husain then advanced to Sholapur, which place Ibrahim was besieging. In the battle which ensued the armies of Ahmadnagar and Berar were on the point of fleeing when Ibrahim Adil Shah was attacked by doubts of the loyalty of Saif Ain-ul-Mulk, who commanded a large body of his cavalry, and suddenly returned to Bijapur, leaving the allies in possession of the field. Husain then returned to Ahmadnagar and sent the cavalry of Berar back to Ellichpur.

After the death of Ibrahim Adil Shah I in 1557 Husain Nizam Shah persuaded Ibrahim Kutb shah of Golconda to join him in an attempt to capture Gulbarga and the eastern districts of the Bijapur kingdom. The attempt failed owing to Ibrahim Kutb Shah's distrust of his ally, and Ali Adil Shah, who had succeeded to the throne of Bijapur, resolved to revenge himself on Husain Nizam Shah, who sought strength in an alliance with Darya Imad Shah. In 1558 the kings of Berar and Ahmadnagar met at Sonpet on the Godavari where Daulat Shah Begam, Darya's daughter, was married to Husain, Sonpet receiving the name of Ishratabad in honour of the event.

Lying to the west of Hyderabad city at a distance of 11 km, the historic Golkonda Fort derives its name from a Telugu word ‘Golla Konda’ which means Shepherd’s Hill. With its extensive and elevated fortifications it was a landmark that governed the destiny of the south. The fort originally belonged to the Kakatiyas of Warangal. This is testified by the over-door carvings and relief work in stucco consisting of lions, peacocks, griffins and lotus at the entrance of Balahisar. In AD1363 it was ceded to the Baihmanis. After their downfall in AD1518 it became the capital of the Qutb Shahi kings (AD 1518-1687). The fort was extended and substantially strengthened by these kings with massive fortification walls having bastions and battlements. Subsequently Aurangazeb annexed it to the Moghal Empire (AD 1687) during the reign of Abul Hasan Tana Shan, the last ruler of the Qutb Shahi dynasty and appointed Asaf Jah as the Subedar of the Deccan province. Asaf Jah declared independence in AD1713 as Nizam-ul-Mulk and the Nizams held sway over Hyderabad until AD 1948.

Golkonda fort, one of the most famous and the biggest fortress in the Deccan plateau, is a majestic monument, which lies on the western outskirts of Hyderabad city in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. Golconda is built on a granite hill 120 m / 400 ft. high. The fort was founded originally by the Kakatiyas in the 13th century AD, However, the existing structure was expanded by the first three Qutub Shahi kings, over a span of 62 years, starting from 1525 AD.

It has three lines of massive fortification walls one within the other and rise to a height of over 12 m. The inner rampart, about 5 km in circumference, protected the palaces and garrison, which were located on the Golconda hill. The outer rampart, surrounding the entire township of Golconda, is about 11 km long, and this was also strongly fortified. The outer most wall was provided with a deep moat all around covering a vast area of the town. It has 8 imposing gateways and is buttressed with 87 bastions rising to a height of 15 to 18 meters. Each of these bastions was surmounted by cannons of varying caliber rendering the fort impregnable and strong among the forts of the medieval Deccan.

The Golconda fort was captured by the Mughals in 1687 AD. The Mughals located some of their wonderfbl cast bronze cannons at strategic loca- tions along the outer fort wall. As the cast bronze cannons were provided with trunions, these were originally meant for mobile applications. However, the iron cannons located in the outer rampart of the Golconda fort do not have such provisions. It is therefore reasonable to conclude that the bronze cannons at Golconda fort are from the time of Mughal occupation, while the iron cannons were present even before the Mughals captured Golconda.

The fort has an ingeniously evolved water supply system. The water raised by Persian wheels was stored in overhead tanks at different levels. Water thus collected was effectively distributed to various mahals, other apartments, roof gardens and fountains in the citadel through stone aqueducts and a network of earthen pipes by sheer force of gravity.

The glory of the Golconda kingdom ended in 1687, when Aurangzeb, the last great Mughal ruler, captured Golconda from Abul Hasan Tana Shah, the last king of Golconda. With the conquest of the Deccan and the South, Aurangzeb succeeded in expanding the Mughal Empire to cover the entire sub-continent. However, after his death in 1707, the Empire rapidly declined.

At that time, Mir Quamaruddin, the Governor of the Deccan, who bore the title of Nizam-ul-Mulk Feroze Jung Asif Jah, declared his independence from Mughal rule in 1724. He thus became the first Nizam and the founder of the Asif Jahi dynasty.

The Emperor Aurangazeb included the province of Golconda, which remained under Asaf jah who was appointed as Subedar or Viceroy of the Deccan in 1713 with the title of Nizam-ul-Mulk. The province of Golconda comprised five Nawabs’ charges viz. Arcot, Cuddapah, Kurnool, Rajahmundry and Chicacole (Srikakulam). The Nawab of Rajahmundry ruled the country induced in the Krishna District.

After the outer wall the Fort has also a double wall that runs around the foot of the hill on which the citadel stands. Within the double wall, winding further up the hill, connecting the natural boulders with masonry walls is a third wall. An extension of the outer wall was made to enclose a small area on the northeast of the town in 1724 AD, which is now known as Naya Qila.

The well-planned township of Golconda located within the fort was one of the splendid cities famous during the medieval world for its extensive trade in gems and diamonds as attested to by foreigners like Marco Polo, an Italian traveler. The fort has a striking appearance and its higher area is covered with the remains of armories, magazines, mosques, granaries, reservoirs and audience chambers; while at the foot of the citadel are nestled the dwellings of the queens and princesses and homesteads of their retainers.

In 1769, Nizam Ali Khan Asif Jah II, shifted the capital from Aurangabad (The capital founded by Mughal rulers) to Hyderabad. The seven Nizam’s of the Asif Jahi dynasty ruled the Deccan for nearly 224 years, right up to 1948. During the Asif Jahi period, Persian, Urdu, Telugu and Marathi developed simultaneously. Persian was the official language up to 1893 and then Urdu up to 1948.

In 1611 the English founded their settlement at Masulipatnam which continued to be their headquarters until they were finally removed to Madras in 1641. The settlements of Dutch and French followed the English at Masulipatnam. Upon the death of the old Nizam-ul-Mulk in June 1748 his heirs strove for the succession with the support of the English and the French. When Nizam Ali Khan was proclaimed ruler of Golconda in 1761 the British secured at first the divisions of Masulipatnam, Nizampatnam and part of Kondaveedu and later the entire Circars. At first the district was administered by a chief and council at Masulipatnam but in 1794 Collectors, directly responsible to the Board of Revenue, were appointed at Masulipatnam.

When the British and the French spread their hold over the country, the Nizam soon won their friendship without bequeathing his power. The title “Faithfull, Ally of the British Government” was bestowed on Nizam VII.

The rule of the seven Nizam’s saw the growth of Hyderabad both culturally and economically. Hyderabad, under the Nizam’s, was the largest princely state in India.