| Quli
Qutb Shahi
Sultan of Golconda
(–1543)
Other names: Bara Malik
Titles
Sultan of Golconda 1518-43†
Ghazi Malik Qutb-ul-Mulk
Amir-ul-Umra 1495
Positions Held
Governor of Telingana
Biographical
The founder of the Golconda dynasty, Quli
Qutb Shahi sprang from an ancient family of Qava Quviulu Turks
of the sect of Ali and hailed from Saidabad near Hamedan in Persia. It
is said that he was a grandson of Mirza Jehan Shah of Persia, but this
is not authenticated. When he was a youth he had to leave his country
for safety, and arrived in the Deccan about the middle of the 15th century
and joined the bodyguard of the Bahmani king at Gulbarga. Later he was
appointed Accountant-General of the Imperial Harem, a post of some importance
as the ladies held lands in Telingana and the faithful discharge of his
duties carried him forward into prominence.
Soon after Mahmud Shah Bahmani, came to the throne, Sultan Quli was fortunate
enough to save the king from assassination. For this he was made an Amir
with the title of Ghazi Malik Qutb-ul-Mulk, and received as his jagir
Golconda and the surrounding country. He was rewarded for his gallantry
in the field, and as governor of the Telingana district, his headquarters
were at Golconda. At that time the governor’s rule extended to the
eastern coast, with ports at Masulipatam and Cocanada. Sultan Quli was
a man of considerable ability. He was also loyal. When Fathullah Imad
Shah, Ahmed Nizam Shah and Yusuf Adil Shah threw off their allegiance
to their over-lord the Bahmani king, in 1490, Sultan Quli remained faithful
to his monarch until his death.
Sultan Quli’s first campaign as sultan was against Krishna Deva
Baya of Vijeynagar. He defeated the Hindus in battle near Pangal, captured
the forts at Ghanpura and Kovilkonda and returned with considerable plunder.
The Hindus in retaliation laid waste portions of the victor’s dominions.
Fortified by this success, Sultan Quli marched against 'Ismail Adil Shah
of Bijapur and during an engagement received a sword cut on the face which
disfigured him for life. He overpowered the Bijapur forces near Kovilkonda
and subsequently took Meclak, Kaulas and other forts from the Barid Shah,
king of Bidar. The Hindu chiefs of Telingana, whom Sultan Quli had partially
subdued when he was governor, afforded the new king and his army plenty
of occupation. Indeed, during his long reign the sultan was in almost
ceaseless warfare with the Telingana Hindus. And he came into conflict
with the king of Orissa, under whom a great Hindu host assembled to do
battle for their country.
A
decisive engagement took place at Palinchinur, where the Hindus were defeated.
This victory enabled Sultan Quli to add the districts of Ellore and Bezwada
to his territories. He also expelled Qivam-ul-Mulk, a Turk, who had been
appointed governor of Eastern Telingana by the Bahmani king. Masulipatam,
too, fell to him not long after it had been conquered by the Carnatic
king, Krishna Raya. It has been said that Sultan Quli, being a strict
Shia, was bigoted in his wars. He may have been, but certainly the ungenerous
attitude of the Hindu rajas did not encourage him to adopt a more tolerant
policy.
Sultan Quli beautified his fortress capital with mosques, palaces and
gardens. While he was praying in the principal mosque, the Jami Masjid,
he was murdered at the instigation of his second surviving son, Jamshed.
Jamshed had previously blinded his brother and heir to the throne, Khutb-ud-din,
and Sultan Quli fearing that Jamshed intended to kill his brother had
him imprisoned. In revenge for his incarceration Jamshed instigated Mir
Muhammad Hamidani, the governor of Golconda, to kill the sultan.
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