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Sikandar Adil Shah
Sultan of Bijapur
A painting of "The House of Bijapur" was completed in the year 1680, during the reign of Sikandar Adil Shah the last ruler of the Adil Shahi dynasty.
Adil Shahi Sultan
Reign1672–1686
PredecessorAli Adil Shah II
SuccessorAdil Shahi dynasty absolished; Bijapur annexed by Mughal Empire
Bornc.1668
Diedc.1700 (aged 31–32)
Bijapur
Burial
Sikandar Bag
SpouseDaughter of Abul Hasan Qutb Shah
IssueOne son Sultan Muhammad and a daughter
Names
Sultan Sikandar Qadari
HouseAdil Shahi
DynastyAdil Shahi
FatherAli Adil Shah II
MotherKhursheeda Khanum
Religionshia Islam[1][2][3]

Sikandar Adil Shah was the last Sultan of Bijapur, who reigned between 1672 and 1686. Placed on the throne at five years of age, his reign was marked by the collapse of the Bijapur Sultanate.[4]

His reign ended when the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb annexed the city of Bijapur, putting an end to the Adil Shahi dynasty. The Sultan was captured and imprisoned at the Daulatabad Fort, where he died in 1700.

Reign

He was placed on the throne of Bijapur in 1672 at five years of age. Therefore, his reign (1672–1686) is one of regents and ministers and was marked by chronic civil war among factious nobles, independence of provincial governors, paralysis of the central administration, Mughal invasions, secret alliances but pretend hostilities with the Maratha Empire and other neighbors, and the final absorption of Bijapur into the Mughal Empire in 1686.

The prestige of Bijapur was so seriously damaged by internal disruptions that the Mughal General Diler Khan almost coerced and humiliated Sikandar. Despite several sacrifices and desperate attempts on the part of Sikandar, he could not satisfy the growing greed of the Mughals. Sikandar's alliance with Sambhaji (who was Hindu) further aggravated Mughal-Bijapur relations.

Siege of Bijapur

See also: Siege of Bijapur

At last, Emperor Aurangzeb himself marched out in 1685 with a large army to fulfill the ambition of his life. After desperately defending his capital and withstanding the prolonged siege of Bijapur in 1685–1686, Sikandar was unable to halt the Mughal assault led by Aurangzeb. On 12 September 1686, Bijapur was occupied, its garrison surrendered and Bijapur Fort was annexed by the Mughal Empire.[5]

Sikandar Adil Shah was captured bound in silver chains and brought before the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, to whom he bowed three times. Aurangzeb then sent him and his followers to Daulatabad fort, where he died during captivity.[6] Sikandar Adil Shah was eventually buried at foot side of his spiritual teacher Naimullah Hashmi in the open yard in the New Market Place of Bijapur.[7] The Adil Shahi dynasty thus came to an end.

References

  1. ^ Muhammad Qasim Firishta's Tarikh-e-Firishta.
  2. ^ Busateenus-Salateen a Persian Manuscript of Mirza Ibrahim Zubairi.
  3. ^ Mirza Ibrahim Zubairi, Rouzatul Auliya-e-Bijapur.
  4. ^ Cousens, Henry (1916). Bijapur and it's Architectural Remains. p. 119.
  5. ^ Cousens, Henry (1916). Bijapur and it's Architectural Remains. p. 17.
  6. ^ Lal, Muni (1 December 2002). Aurangzeb - Muni Lal - Google Books. ISBN 9780706940176. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
  7. ^ Cousens, Henry (1916). Bijapur and it's Architectural Remains. p. 119.
Preceded byAli Adil Shah II Adil Shahi Rulers of Bijapur 1672–1686 Succeeded byAurangzeb captured Bijapur