Taj ud-Din Firuz Shah

Taj ud-Din Firuz Shah
Taj ud-Din Firuz Shah
Sultan of the Bahmani Sultanate
Reign	24 November 1397 to 1 October 1422
Successor	Ahmad Shah I Wali
Died	1 October 1422
Burial	Haft Gumbaz

Taj ud-Din Firuz Shah (died 1422), also known as Firuz Shah Bahmani, was the ruler of the Bahmani Sultanate from 24 November 1397 to 1 October 1422. Firuz Shah is considered an important ruler of the Bahamani Sultanate. He expanded his kingdom and even succeeded in conquering the Raichur Doab from Vijaynagara kingdoms.^[1]^[2]

Firuz Shah fought against the Vijayanagara Empire on many occasions and the rivalry between the two dynasties continued unabated throughout his reign, with victories in 1398 and 1406, but a defeat in 1419. One of his victories resulted in his marriage to Deva Raya's daughter.^[2]

Early life and background[]

He was the son of Daud Shah, the fourth sultan, and a grandson of Ala-ud-Din Bahman Shah, the first sultan.^[3] He, along with his brother Ahmed, was raised by Muhammad Shah II. Muhammad II married his daughters off to the two brothers. Firuz was deemed the heir presumptive to the throne.^[4]

After the birth of Ghiyas-ud-din, Muhammmad deemed him the successor to the throne. Firuz swore fealty to the new sultan. However, Ghiyas-ud-din was blinded and imprisoned by a Turkish nobleman who installed Shams-ud-din as a puppet ruler. Firuz and Ahmed marched to Gulbarga and Firuz declared himself the sultan. Taghalchin was killed and Shams-ud-din was blinded.^[4]

Reign[]

Taj ud-Din Firuz Shah of the Bahmani Sultanate's Firman.

Tomb of Firuz Shah within the Haft Gumbaz

At the beginning of his reign, Harihara II of the Vijayanagar Empire had advanced as far as the Raichur Doab and posed a threat to the Bahmanis. This threat was thwarted by a calculated and incisive attack by Firuz.^[3]

In 1406, he defeated the Vijayanagara Empire. A peace treaty was signed and the daughter of Deva Raya was married off to him.^[3]

Firuz led a successful expedition against Narsingh Rai of Kherla who had to surrender forty elephants and married his daughter to Firuz.^{[citation needed]} In 1420, an attack on Pangal, which had been taken by Vijayanagar, proved disastrous. Firuz was trounced by Vijayanagar and he retreated, surrendering the southern and eastern districts of his kingdom. This defeat had a deep impact on his morale and he was henceforth a broken man. He spend his final two years in asceticism and piety.

During his reign, Firuz was successful in integrating Hindus into the Bahmani office and army. He also formed alliances with Telugu warriors.^[5]

He was determined to make the Deccan region the cultural centre of India. He also paid much attention to the ports Chaul and Dabhol, which attracted trade ships from the Persian Gulf and Red Sea.

He founded Firozabad, a few kilometers south of Gulbarga.^[4]

He abdicated the throne to his younger brother Ahmad, "considered a saint by both the Muslims and Hindus."^[2]

Personality[]

Firuz Shah was a particularly intellectual king. He was proficient in several languages and gave lectures in subjects like mathematics and geometry. He was also respectful of other faiths, and read the Christian and Jewish scriptures.^[5]

Death and burial[]

Firuz Shah died on 1 October 1422 in Gulbarga. He was buried in a large tomb in the Haft Gumbaz, that was constructed during his lifetime.^[4]

References[]

^ Allan, John Andrew; Thomas Wolseley Haig; Henry Dodwell (1934). The Cambridge Shorter History of India. Cambridge University Press. pp. 286–287.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c Sen, Sailendra (2013). A Textbook of Medieval Indian History. Primus Books. pp. 106–108. ISBN 978-9-38060-734-4.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c Prasad, Ishwari (1933). History Of Medieval India. pp. 423–428.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c ^d Sherwani, Haroon Khan (1946). The Bahmanis Of The Deccan. pp. 127, 132, 150, 169.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b M., Eaton, Richard. A Social History of the Deccan, 1300-1761 : Eight Indian Lives. p. 48. ISBN 978-1-139-05390-7. OCLC 921054505.

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[1] Allan, John Andrew; Thomas Wolseley Haig; Henry Dodwell (1934). The Cambridge Shorter History of India. Cambridge University Press. pp. 286–287.

[sen2-2] Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c Sen, Sailendra (2013). A Textbook of Medieval Indian History. Primus Books. pp. 106–108. ISBN 978-9-38060-734-4.

[:0-3] Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c Prasad, Ishwari (1933). History Of Medieval India. pp. 423–428.

[:1-4] Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c ^d Sherwani, Haroon Khan (1946). The Bahmanis Of The Deccan. pp. 127, 132, 150, 169.

[:2-5] Jump up to: ^a ^b M., Eaton, Richard. A Social History of the Deccan, 1300-1761 : Eight Indian Lives. p. 48. ISBN 978-1-139-05390-7. OCLC 921054505.

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