Ibrahim Adil Shah I

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Ibrahim Adil Shah I (1534-1558), the younger brother of Mallu became the next Sultan through the machinations of the afaqi faction at the court. He was the first Adil Shahi ruler to assume the royal title of SHAH.

On his accession, he deleted the names of the twelve Shi’ah Imams from the Khutbah and restored the exercise of the Sunni practices. He deviated from the traditions of his predecessors and introduced many innovations in the political and religious policies. He struck a fatal blow to the afaqi faction by degrading them (with a few exceptions); and in their place enrolled the Deccani (including Marathas) and Habashis to the services and retained only four hundred afaqi troops as his bodyguard. Consequently, many Marathas acquired great influence at his court and it is noteworthy that public accounts began to be maintained in Marathi.

Ibrahim’s anti-afaqi policy, however, considerably weakened the kingdom as the dismissed personnel joined the service of the neighbouring rulers. This exposed the kingdom to a series of invasions. Yet it was the veteran afaqi leader Asad Khan Lari (Buried in Belgaum), who acting as a diplomatic counselor to Ibrahim, saved the kingdom in the hour of crisis.

The reign of Ibrahim, which lasted twenty-four years and a few months, was full of alliances and counter-alliances with and against Ahmadnagar, Bidar, Berar, Golkonda and Vijayanagar. Although there were continuous expeditions much territorial expansion was not made, for gains in one direction were compensated by loss on the other side. Thus while Bidar was conquered, Solapur and Kalyani were lost to Ahmadnagar. On the other hand considerable acquisitions were made in the south along the west-coast. The fartherest point of Bijapur territory now extended south of Goa. Further, though Golkonda was not subdued, Bijapur arms were able to reach the walls of Golkonda fort and return triumphantly. He was buried near the famous Sufi saint Hazrat Chandah Hussaini Ashrafi in Gogi, where his father, Ismail and grandfather Yusuf were also buried.

[edit] References

• Wakiyate Mamlakate Bijapur by Basheeruddin Dehelvi.
• Tareekhe Farishta by Kasim Farishta
• External Relation of Bijapur Adil Shahis.

Preceded by Mallu Adil Shah

Adil Shahi Rulers of Bijapur 1558

Succeeded by Ali Adil Shah I