Quli Qutb Mulk

Sultan Quli Qutb Shah (Urdu: سلطان قلی قطب شاه ) (also transliterated in different ways) was the founder of the Qutb Shahi dynasty, which ruled the Sultanate of Golconda in southern India from 1518 to 1687. He died in 1543.

Early days

A Kara Koyunlu Shia Muslim, Quli Qutb Shah migrated to Delhi with some of his relatives and friends in the beginning of the 16th century. Later he migrated south to Deccan and served Bahmani sultan

Setting up Qutb Shahi Sultanate

After the disintegration of the Bahmani Sultanate into the five Deccan sultanates, he declared independence and took title Qutb Shah, and established Qutb Shahi dynasty of Golconda.

Extension of Sultanate

Quli Qutb Shah was a contemporary of Krishnadevaraya and Achyutaraya of the Vijayanagara empire. Quli extended his rule by capturing forts at Warangal, Kondapalli, Eluru, and Rajamundry, while Krishnadevaraya was busy fighting the ruler of Orissa. He defeated Sitapati Raju (known as Shitab Khan), the ruler of Khammam, and captured the fort. He forced Orissa's ruler to surrender all the territories between the mouths of Krishna and Godavari rivers. He was able to occupy Eluru, Rajamundry and Machilipatnam extending his rule to Coastal Andhra. Quli's campaign against Krishnadevaraya continued until Timmarusu, the Prime Minister of Krishnadevaraya, defeated the Golconda army.

Patron of Telugu language and people

Though Telugu was not his mother tongue, Quli learned it. He did not discriminate against Hindus but employed eligible Hindus in his court as governors and officers. He was a patron of the arts, and his dynasty became known for this. He was a good poet in Telugu and Urdu.

Death and Succession

Sultan Quli Qutb Shah died in 1543. His younger son, Jamsheed Quli Qutb Shah, assassinated him while he was offering his prayers. Jamsheed also blinded Quli's elder son and heir, Kutbuddeen and assumed the throne. His other son Ibrahim Quli Qutub Shah ran away to Vijayanagar.