The Adil Shahi (also known as Adilshahi) was a powerful dynasty founded by Yusuf Adil Shah. It reigned over the Bijapur Sultanate from 1489 to 1686. The kingdom’s base, as the name suggests, was in the present-day Vijayapura District in Karnataka.
Bijapur was a province of the Bahamani Sultanate before it declined politically in the last quarter of the 15th Century and eventual break-up in 1518. Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb conquered the Bijapur Sultanate and absorbed it into the Mughal Empire on September 12, 1686. In this article, we will take a look at the rule of the influential Adil Shahi Dynasty.
Origin of the Adil Shahi:
The founder of the Adil Shahi dynasty was Yusuf Adil Shah and there is much confusion about his origin. According to some accounts, Yusuf was a Georgian slave who was purchased by Mahmud Gawan from Iran while some accounts state that Yusuf was a son of the Ottoman Sultan Murad II. According to the historian Mir Rafi-uddin Ibrahim-i Shirazi or Rafi, Yusuf’s full name was Sultan Yusuf ‘Adil Shah Savah or Sawah’i, the son of Mahmud Beg of Sawa in Iran. Rafi wrote the history of the Adil Shahi dynasty at the request of Ibrahim Adil Shah II.
During the reign of the Adil Shahi dynasty, the capital city of Bijapur was among the most important cities in India. It was a thriving centre of culture, trade and commerce, education and learning, etc. It was known for its own culture called, Bijapur Culture. People from all over the country went and settled there, and Bijapur became a place where different communities with their own traditions and culture living together.
Bijapur flourished especially after the accession of Sultan Ali Adil Shah I in 1558. His victory in the Battle of Talikota in 1565 and further campaigns in the Krishna-Tunghabhadra regions brought enormous wealth, and he used it to massively beautify the city. His successor Ibrahim II added Ibrahim Rouza to enhance the beauty of Bijapur, and Mohammed Adil Shah crowned it with the Gol Gumbaz.
“After the decline of the Bahamani Kingdom the Adil Shahis rule began in Bijapur. The disintegration of the Bahamani Kingdom led to the growth of five Muslim Shahi Kingdoms known as the Adil Shahis of Bijapura, the Barid Shahis of Bidar, the Qutub Shahis of Golkonda, the Nizam Shahis of Ahmadnagar and Imad Shahis of Berar. The Adil Shahis dynasty also produced a number of illustrious rulers like Yusuf Adil Shah, Ismail Adil Shah, Ali Adil Shah I, Ibrahim Adil Shah II and Mohammad Adil Shah. They evolved an indigenous culture and contributed richly to the field of architecture and literature. They occupied major parts of Karnataka after the collapse of the Vijayanagara empire. Yusuf Adil Shah of Turkish origin was the founder of the dynasty followed by many important rulers who ruled upto 1686 A.D. Finally the glory of the dynasty famously known as Queen of the Deccan, Bijapura was captured by Aurangazeb in 1686 A.D. They greatly contributed to the growth of literature, music, paintings, art and architecture. They developed their own Deccani style of architecture. Jami Masjid, Gagan Mahal, Saath Manzil, Mehatar Mahal, Anand Mahal, Sangeet Mahal, Golgumbaz, Ibrahim Roza, Baraha Kaman, and Bijapura fort are the important architecture buildings belong to the period of Adil Shahis. Golgumbaz undoubtedly was the zenith of Indian architecture in marvel, Ibrahim Roza, Taj Mahal of the Deccan with its wonderful construction. Domes are round in shape and they are placed on the petals like construction, which was their uniqueness in architecture,” said Dr. Sanmathi Kumar, HOD & Assistant Professor, Department of History, SDM College (Autonomous), Ujire.
Famous Kings of Adil Shahi:
Yusuf Adil Shah
Ismail Adil Shah
Ali Adil Shah I
Ibrahim Adil Shah II
Mohammed Adil Shah
The main features of Adil Shahi and to a certain extent Quth Shahi architecture are emphasis on minarets in prference to multiple or large domes, beautifying of monuments through surface decoration and artistic parapets. The new style of architecture is visible in the buildings constructed during the reign of Ali I (A.D. 1558-A.D. 1580) such as Jami Masjid, Gagan Mahal and Anand Mahal. However, rubble and plaster used in these early constructions were soon replaced by polished stone and the indigenous or local ideas particularly in the building of caves were adopted. While retaining the grandiose style of architecture of later Bahmani Buildings some improvements were made and new ideas adopted. In the tomb architecture, for example, the square type continued but with a pyramidal outline which admitted a greater play of light and shade.