Qutb Shahi Dynasty

1518 - 1687 : Qutb Shahi dynasty or Golconda or Golkonda Sultanate

Founder : Sultan Quli Khawas Khan Hamdani or Sultan Quli Qutb-ul-Mulk

Capitals : Golconda (1519 - 1591), Hyderabad (1591 - 1687)

Languages: Persian, Telugu, Deccani Urdu

Religion: Shia Islam

Qutb Shahis were descendants of Qara Yusuf from Qara Qoyunlu of Hamadan province of Persia, originally a Turkoman Muslim tribe.

The dynasty's founder, Sultan Quli Khawas Khan Hamdani was born in Hamadan Province, Iran.

1496 : He originally served the Bahmani sultan Mahmood Shah Bahmani II, and was awarded the title Qutb-ul-Mulk (Pillar of the Realm) as military chief and was made the tarafdar of Golconda in 1496.

After the collapse of Bahmani Sultanate, he eventually took control of Golconda and the Qutb Shahi dynasty was established in 1518 AD by Sultan-Quli Qutb-ul-Mulk, better known though less correctly referred to in English as "Quli Qutb Shah".

1518 AD - 1543 AD : Sultan Quli Qutb-ul-Mulk
Sultan Quli Qutb Shah was a contemporary of Krishana Deva Raya and his younger brother Achyuta Deva Raya of the Vijayanagara Empire. Sultan Quli extended his rule by capturing forts at Warangal, Kondapalli, Eluru, and Rajamundry, while Krishnadevaraya was fighting the ruler of Odisha. He defeated Sitapati Raju (known as Shitab Khan), the ruler of Khammam, and captured the fort.

In 1543, while he was offering his prayers, Sultan Quli Qutb Shah was assassinated by his second son, Jamsheed Quli Qutb Shah. Jamsheed Quli also blinded Sultan Quli's eldest son and heir, Qutbuddin, and assumed the throne. His sixth son Ibrahim Quli Qutub Shah fled to Vijayanagara. Jamsheed Quli also killed his brother (the third son of Sultan Quli), Abdul Quadeer, who had revolted after their father's death.

1543 AD - 1550 AD :  Jamsheed Quli Qutb Shah
Little is known of Jamsheed's reign, but he is remembered as having been cruel.
He died in 1550 from cancer

1550 AD - 1550 AD : Subhan Quli Qutb Shah  (1543–1550) 

was 7 years old, when he became Sultan of Golconda, after the death of his father Jamsheed Quli Qutb Shah, in 1550 was placed on the throne by Mustapha Khan. Jagadev Rao, Chief of the Naikwari, tried to place Jamsheed's brother Daulat Quli, who instead wanted Ibrahim to be the king, on the throne. This led to his imprisonment in Bala Hisar, the highest point of Golkonda fort. Some discontented elements within the kingdom summoned Ibrahim to end his exile and claim the throne for himself

Saif Khan, also known as Ainul Mulk, was sent from Ahmednagar for the performance of duties of regent during the boy's development. But Jamsheed's younger brother Ibrahim Quli Qutb Shah returned from Vijayanagara to Golconda, and ascended the throne. Subhan was deposed, and died of illness or was murdered in the same year.

1550 AD - 1580 AD : Ibrahim Quli Qutb Shah (1518 – 5 June 1580)

also known by his Telugu names Malki BhaRama and Ibharama Cakravarti, was the fourth monarch of the kingdom of Golconda in southern India. He was the first of the Qutb Shahi dynasty to use the title "Sultan". He lived for seven years in exile at the court of Vijayanagara as an honoured guest of Rama Raya. Ibrahim is known for patronizing Telugu extensively because he was moved by a genuine love for the language.

In 1565, Ibrahim took the advantage of internal conflicts in Vijayanagara, which had given him shelter in exile during 1543–1550. He became part of a cabal of Muslim rulers of small states which banded together to destroy the powerful Hindu kingdom of Vijayanagara. He thus personally betrayed Rama Raya of Vijayanagara, who had given him shelter during his exile in 1543 to 1550. In the Battle of Talikota which ensued, Rama Raya was killed and the city where Ibrahim had spent seven happy and safe years was razed to the ground; the remnants of its former glory can be seen in the lfixl of Hampi today. Following the battle of Talikota in 1565, Ibrahim was able to expand his own kingdom by taking the important hill forts of Adoni and Udayagiri, which commanded an extensive territory and which had been prized possessions of his former host

1570 AD : The term Suratrana appears in a Warangal inscription dated to about 1570 CE, for Aravidu Dynasty king Tirumala I (1565–1572) , as Urigola Suratranah meaning the "Suratranah of Urigola" or "Suratranah of Warangal". Wagoner interprets it as "Sultan of Warangal"

In Vijayanagara, Ibrahim married Bagiradhi (correctly: "Bhagirathi"), a Hindu woman, according to Hindu rites and customs. Bagiradhi was also known as "Kaavya kanyaka" and she came from a family with a legacy in music and dance rooted in Hindu, south Indian traditions. The son born to Ibrahim and Bhagirathi, Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah, would succeed his father to become the 5th ruler of the dynasty.

After a short illness, Ibrahim died in 1580

1580 AD - 1612 AD : Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah
Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah (4 April 1565 - 11 January 1612) was the fifth sultan of the Qutb Shahi dynasty of Golkonda. His contemporaries were Akbar the Great, Jagat Guru and Ibrahim Adil Shah. He faced minor rebellions on eastern and western fronts during the initial years of his rule. He lead the troops himself and defeated Ali Khan Loor and Yashwant Raj

1591 : The construction of Hyderabad was initiated in 1591, on the southern bank of the River Musi and built its architectural centerpiece, the Charminar. He was an able administrator and his reign is considered one of the high points of the Qutb Shahi dynasty. He ascended to the throne in 1580 at the age of 15 and ruled for 31 years.

Bhagamati (Hyder Mahal) was a queen of Sultan Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah, in whose honor Hyderabad was supposedly named. She is also known by the name Bhagyawati

Muhammad Quli also planned several gardens throughout the city, which came to be known as "Garden City" and the same is mentioned in several travellers' accounts.

In 1592 further disturbance was created by Shah Saheb for ascending the throne. During this time he sent Aitbar Khan with a large troop and he defeated Shah Saheb.

1600 A.D : The Qutb Shahis were patrons of Persianate Shia culture.The official and court language of the Golconda sultanate during the first 90 years of its existence (c. 1512 – 1600) was also Persian. In 1600, however, the Telugu language was elevated to the status of the Persian language, while towards the end of the Qut Shahis' rule, it was the primary court language with Persian used occasionally in official documents. According to Indologist Richard Eaton, as Qutb Shahis adopted Telugu, they started seeing their polity as the Telugu speaking state, with the elites of the sultanate viewing their rulers as "Telugu Sultans"

Die 11 January 1612 (aged 46) Daulat Khan-e-Ali Palace, Hyderabad (now in Telangana, India)

1612 AD  - 1626 AD : Sultan Muhammad Qutb Shah
He was the nephew and son-in-law of Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah, having married Muhammad's only daughter Hayat Bakshi Begum in 1607.

1626 AD - 1672 AD : Abdullah Qutb ShahAbdullah, son of Sultan Muhammad Qutb Shah, was a polyglot (Multilingualism), and a lover of poetry and music. He invited to his court and respected Kshetrayya, a famous lyric writer. Kshetrayya is known for his romantic poetry

1633: His reign was full of sorrow and trouble. His only success was demolishing the decayed Vijayanagara Empire by capturing Vellore, last capital of it in 1633 with the help of his wazir Mir Jumla.

In 1636, Aurangzeb under the command from Shah Jahan took over Hyderabad by surprise and restricted Abdullah within the Golconda fort. Abdullah worked hard to negotiate reasonable terms of surrender but the Mughals forced him into accepting severe conditions. However, the severe terms were sweetened by a matrimonial alliance between the two families: Abdullah's second daughter, known as Padshah Bibi Sahiba, was married to Aurangzeb's eldest son, Muhammad Sultan Mirza.

This unhappy monarch died in 1672 and was succeeded by his son-in-law, Abul Hasan Qutb Shah.

1672 AD - 1686 AD : Abul Hasan Qutb Shah also known as Abul Hasan Tana Shah
Eighth and last ruler of the Qutb Shahi dynasty.
Tana Shah is remembered as an inclusive ruler. Instead of appointing only Muslims as ministers, he appointed Brahmin Hindus such as Madanna and Akkanna brothers as ministers in charge of tax collection and exchequer. Towards the end of his reign, one of his Muslim generals defected to the Mughal Empire, who then complained to Aurangzeb about the rising power of the Hindus as ministers in his Golconda Sultanate. Aurangzeb sent a regiment led by his son, who beheaded Tana Shah's Hindu ministers and plundered the Sultanate.

Rock inscription found a few years ago in a remote village called Nagulavancha in Khammam district led to the discovery of a Dutch business hub that existed between 1669 and 1687. “The inscription looked like English and we later learned it was Dutch. The village here used to be a link between the Golconda Kingdom and Machilipatnam on the east coast. The Dutch company produced high-quality yarn here but had to leave in 1687 after the villagers led an uprising against it as they felt they were being exploited. This could be one of the earliest incidents of locals fighting foreigners in our country,” Srinivas said.

The dynasty came to an end in 1687 during the reign of its seventh sultan Abul Hasan Qutb Shah, when the Mughal ruler Aurangzeb arrested and jailed Abul Hasan for the rest of his life in Daulatabad, incorporating Golconda into the Mughal empire

Administration

The sultanate in 1670 comprised 21 sarkars (provinces) which in turn are divided into 355 parganas (districts). 

Administrative divisions of Golconda sultanate

1. Muhammadnagar (Golconda) 22
2. Medak 22
3. Melangur 3
4. Elangandel 21
5. Warangal 16
6. Khammamet 11
7. Devarkonda 13
8. Pangal 5
9. Mustafanagar 24
10. Bhongir 11
11. Akarkara 6
12. Kovilkonda 13
13. Ghanpura 8
14. Mutaza Nagar 39
15. Machilipatnam 8
16. Ellore 12
17. Rajahmundry 24
18. Chicacole
19. Kaulas
20. Karnataka taraf 16
21. Arcot taraf 16

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Kaulas Fort

Kaulas or Kowlas Fort is located in Kaulas Village, Jukkal mandal, Kamareddy District, Telangana State, India , at the border of three states – Telangana, Karnataka and Maharashtra.

Kaulas or Koulas village, which holds the illustrious past like a jewel in the crown, presently a gram panchayat, falls under Jukkal mandal. However, locals say that the fort has been empty for decades now but sees many visitors.

In the past there kingdoms Kaulas, Bodhan and Nizamabad were called Indur.

Spread across 6 sq km with two entrances, Kaulas is perhaps one of the largest royal forts in the state. The mega fort sits majestically on the outskirts of Kaulas village, less than 1 km from the main village, and is surrounded by the Kaulas nala (stream).

According to historians, it was built in Indra IV’s period of the Rashtrakuta dynasty in their political capital and was later captured by the Chalukyas of the Kalyani dynasty in the third quarter of the 10th century before it was captured by the Kakatiyas in the 12th century.

According to the state Heritage department, the Kakatiya insignia is inscribed on the fort’s gateways.

The Kakatiya kingdom, which ruled from present day Warangal, held the Kaulas Fort till 1323 AD, a period more or less parallel to the one and only Kakatiya woman ruler, Rani Rudrama Devi. Later, the Kaulas region is said to have come under the rule of the Bahmanis, Qutb Shahis, Yadavas, Naikwaries, Mughals, Devagiri, Kalyani, Marathas, etc and finally under the Asaf Jahis (Nizams) (1724 to 1948)

The main gate of the fort can be reached by traversing a path through agricultural fields and then crossing the Kaulas nala. As one takes the wide stairs, a cannon welcomes us in less than 3 feet. Multi-tier rock cut layers and several bastions in each corner is said to have made the fort unassailable by enemies.

The massive fortress is home to more than 50 bastions, with Hussaini, Mallika, Mula and Kadika Burj being the prominent ones. Three temples (Venkateswara, Ramalayam and Ganapati Mahadev temple) in the complex, which were constructed under different dynasties, have rare sculptures of goddesses.

A strong defence mechanism is visible at the fort; multi-layered walls, tall bastions and moats along the fort shows how unconquerable it once must have been.

“The different structures in the fort show semi-Dravidian and Indo-Islamic architecture as the fort was ruled by different dynasties,” Kumaraswamy says about fort’s architecture.

A view from any bastion of the fort shows the entire Kaulas nala and the miles of forests that the fort is situated amidst.

The RamaTemple, built of black and white basalt stone in the 17th century, is adorned with exquisite carvings and was restored in the past decade. The Kasikund Temple, built by Rajput kings, has a fresh water spring. There are also temples dedicated to Hanuman and Balaji. It is said that there were about 10 cannons inside the fort though later, most were shifted to police stations in Nanded and Bichkunda. However, four still remain – the most notable amongst which is the exquisitely crafted Navgazi tope (Hindi for cannon) atop a bastion. There are two natural reservoirs inside the fort, which once provided water to its inhabitants.

There is an Ashtabuji Mata (also known as Jagadamba Mata) Temple behind the fort, where the Rajput rulers went for benediction before embarking on a battle. There are also two mosques in the surrounding forest. As you exit to the main highway near Koulas Fort and drive towards Hyderabad, you will come across a picturesque lake, a few kilometres ahead, on your left. The desolate water body is a pleasant place to break a long journey.

Rashtrakutas

Chalukyas of Badami

Kakatiyas

In 1303, the Delhi Sultanate launched a military campaign against the Kakatiya kingdom. This resulted in the capture of the strategic fortress of Kaulas.

1325 AD – 1368 AD : Musunuri Nayaks

In 1347 the Bahmani kingdom was established by Allauddin Bahman Shah and soon Kapaya was involved in a struggle with that kingdom over the fort of Kaulas

In 1361, he gifted to the Bahmani Sultan Mohammed Shah I the Turquoise throne of Warangal, made during the Delhi rule, as part of a treaty agreement

Many battles were fought between the Bahmanis and Musunuri Chiefs in this village . 

1350 AD - 1518 AD : Bahmani Sultanate 
1350 AD : Bahman Shah led his first campaign against Warangal in 1350 and forced its ruler Kapaya Nayaka to cede to him the fortress of Kaulas which was added to Bidar district, currently known as Kalaburagi.

1355 AD : Vinayaka Deva, the son of Kaapaya was sent to free the fort of Kaulas helped by Bukka Raya, the king of Vijayanagar. However, eventually he was killed in a disastrous manner by Bahmani Force under Bahadur Khan

Rachakonda Recherla Nayaks as subordinates of Bahmani Sultanate    

1361 AD - 1383 AD : Anavotha nayaka
Capital : Rachakonda

1518 AD – 1687 AD : Qutbshahis / Golconda Sultanate

1518 AD - 1543 AD : Sultan Quli Qutb-ul-Mulk

While Sooltan Koolly was engaged in the siege of Koheer, Ibrahim Adil Shah, in conjunction with Kasim Bereed, had attacked part of the Telingana territories; and Sooltan Koolly, having now returned to his capital, resolved to revenge himself for the insult and injury done to him. He accordingly led an army against the fort of Etgeer, belonging to the King of Beejapoor, and also sent different detachments to recover the districts of Kakny, Gorowly, and Nargy, which had been usurped by Ismael Adil Shah during the time Sooltan Koolly Kootb Shah was engaged in war with Ramchundur and Seetaputty. The several detachments in a short time succeeded in reducing those districts, and occupied them in the name of Sooltan Koolly; after which the King invested the fortress of Etgeer, and at the same time sent an ambassador to Kasim Bereed Shah, demanding the cession of the towns of Meduk and Kowlas. 

1543 AD - 1550 AD : Jamsheed Quli Qutb Shah

1543 AD : Jagadeva Rao

Under Jamsheed’s rule, Jagdeva Rao rose to an eminent position. Jamshed acquired the tract round the fort of Kaulas , pushed Ali Barid into the Kaulas fort which was then ruled by Jagadeva Rao the chief of Naikwaris (Hindu soldiery).

1687 - 1724 A.D : Mughal Empire

1701 AD : Venkata Rao

During 1701 CE, Zamindar Venkata Rao accepted Aurangazeb’s rule and gave away his army. For this, he was given the position of ‘mansabdar’ in Mughal emperor’s army. Thus Venkat Rao became the first Telugu Zamiindar to join the mughal army.

Aurangzeb appointed two Kiladars, Khuni Khan and Ikhlas Khan who constructed two big mosques at the fort.

Two mosques and temples are seen in a dilapidated condition and covered by large, overgrown bushes. Rani mahal, Elephant well (Enugula bavi) and other wells are the highlights of the fort. Several bastions are in a damaged or deteriorating situation.

1724 - 1948 : Asaf Jahis 

1724 A.D - I748 A.D: Asaf Jah I - Mir Kamar-ud-din / Nizam-ul-Mulk

1724 AD : Raja Gopal Singh Gaur

The Nizams appointed Raja Gopal Singh Gaur, a Kshatriya or Rajput, as the Chief of Kaulas in the 1720s and his successors held this fort till 1948 when the Indian Union over took Hyderabad state. It was during this time that the Jagdamba Bhawani cannon or the Navgarji tope, which was the largest (10 feet long) cannon in the world of its time, was said to have made by Raja Gopal Singh in the year 1728.

While there are tales about Raja Gopal Singh’s bravery and warfare tactics, there is also ambiguity about his identity.

1748 A.D - 1750 A.D: Mir Ahmed Khan, Nasir Jung

1750 A.D -1751 A.D: Muzaffar Jung

1751 A.D - 1761 A.D: Salabat Jung

 

1857 AD - 1900 AD : Raja Deep Singh

Kaulas was always a crucial region irrespective of who was ruling. It’s also said that from a military point of view as well the Kaulas samsthanam (dominion) was strong. A successor of Raja Gopal Singh, Raja Deep Singh, is said to have participated in the 1857 Indian Rebellion from this fort and was persecuted for the same.

Raja of Kowlas , Convict No. 558 , pleaded his ignorance about the agent of Nana . He , however , confessed that Kasi Ram , Convict No. 560 , stayed at Kowlas for 21/2 months and that Shaikh Madar , Convict No. 559 , visited Kowlas

1900 AD - 1915 AD : Raja Durjan Singh
The last chief, Raja Durjan Singh, died prematurely and childless. In 1915 it came directly under the rule of the Nizam.The annual revenue of the fiefdom was then 22,517 rupees.

1915 : Kiladar Maulvi Muhammad Jamaluddin Sheikh

Kiladar (Kiladar-e-Kaulas) Maulvi Muhammad Jamaluddin Sheikh, a zamindar (landlord) of Turkish descent belonging to the Barlas clan and a descendant of Muhammad Sheikh who was the great-great-grandson of Emir Timur through his son Umar Sheikh Mirza. His sons held the position of Kiladar until the 1947 Partition of India. 

Maulvi Jamaluddin Sheikh had 3 sons named Moinuddin Cowlas, Khwaja Karimuddin Sheikh & Khwaja Nizamuddin Sheikh who after Partition of India moved to Pakistan.

Situated around 200 km from Hyderabad, one can reach the fort by taking National Highway 161 to Jukkal, from where Kaulas village is less than 20 km. The fort can also be approached via NH44 through Kamareddy and Banswada.

https://www.thenewsminute.com/telangana/slice-telangana-history-exploring-once-impregnable-kaulas-fort-109363

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Mughal Empire in Telangana

1687 AD - 1724 AD : Mughal Empire (1526–1857)
Founder : Babur (reigned 1526–1530), a Central Asian ruler who was descended from the Turco-Mongol conqueror Timur (the founder of the Timurid Empire) on his father's side, and from Genghis Khan on his mother's side.

Capitals: Agra (1526–1530; 1560–1571; 1598–1648), Delhi (1530–1540; 1554–1556; 1639–1857), Lahore (1586–1598), Fatehpur Sikri (1571–1585)

The four sons of Shah Jahan (ruled 19 January 1628 –31 July 1658) all held governorships during their father's reign.

In 1632, Shah Jahan captured the fortress at Daulatabad, Maharashtra and imprisoned Husein Shah of the Nizam Shahi Kingdom of Ahmednagar. Golconda submitted in 1635 and then Bijapur in 1636. 

1636 : Shah Jahan appointed Aurangzeb as the viceroy of the Deccan in 1636 and forced the Qutb Shahis to recognize Mughal suzerainty, 

In 1644, Aurangzeb's sister, Jahanara, was burned when the chemicals in her perfume were ignited by a nearby lamp while in Agra. This event precipitated a family crisis with political consequences. Aurangzeb suffered his father's displeasure by not returning to Agra immediately but rather three weeks later. Shah Jahan was outraged to see Aurangzeb enter the interior palace compound in military attire and immediately dismissed him from his position of viceroy of the Deccan

Aurangzeb became viceroy of the Deccan again after he was replaced by Dara Shukoh in the attempt to recapture Kandahar.

In 1655, Aurangzeb under the command from Shah Jahan took over Hyderabad by surprise and restricted Abdullah within the Golconda fort. Abdullah worked hard to negotiate reasonable terms of surrender but the Mughals forced him into accepting severe conditions. However, the severe terms were sweetened by a matrimonial alliance between the two families: Abdullah's second daughter, known as Padshah Bibi Sahiba, was married to Aurangzeb's eldest son, Muhammad Sultan Mirza. 

In 1656, a general under Qutb Shahi dynasty named Musa Khan led an army of 12,000 musketeers to attack Aurangzeb, who was besieging Golconda Fort. Later in the same campaign, Aurangzeb, in turn, rode against an army consisting of 8,000 horsemen and 20,000 Karnataki musketeers.

On 10 August 1659, Dara was executed on grounds of apostasy and his head was sent to Shahjahan. The first prominent execution of Aurangzeb was that of his brother Prince Dara Shikoh, who was accused of being influenced by Hinduism although some sources argue it was done for political reasons.Aurangzeb had his allied brother Prince Murad Baksh held for murder, judged and then executed.Aurangzeb is accused of poisoning his imprisoned nephew Sulaiman Shikoh. Having secured his position, Aurangzeb confined his frail father at the Agra Fort but did not mistreat him. Shah Jahan was cared for by Jahanara and died in 1666.

 

In1687 when the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb conquered the Golconda sultanate. Sultan Abul Hasan Tana Shah was captivated and imprisoned at Daulatabad fort in 1699 CE, where he died after some time

Between 1687 and 1724, the Deccan was under the authority of the Mughal Viceroys.

1687 - 1707 : Aurangzeb 

Governor: Rahulla Khan

Aurangazeb appointed Rahulla Khan as a temporary representative of the Mughal emperor in Golconda before leaving for Delhi. Rahulla khan Failed to control the Maratha attacks in outskirts of Hyderabad, He took shelter in the Golconda fort due to Maratha attacks

Subedar : Zansifar Khan
Aurangazeb then handed over the responsibility of ruling Hyderabad to subedar Zansifar Khan. Zansifar Khan worked as the subedar of Bijapur in 1687 CE . Zansifar Khan was an efficient military general and an able ruler, he protected Hyderabad from the Maratha attacks.

Zansifar khan made repairs of the forts of Kaulas, Elgandal, Koilkonda, Warangal, Pangal etc., and also made a stationary military force at these forts.Zansifar Khan continued the fauzadar’s appointments as present in the Qutb Shahi period. Most of them were Dakkani muslims. Fauzadars had the authority to impose and collect taxes from the lands that were within the radius of 10kms from the Haveli Paraganas.

For easy administration, Circar region was divided into several of districts. Each district was placed under the headship of a”deshmukh’.

Collecting various taxes from the people, Fauzdars, Deshmukh and Havaldars were appointed, Taxes were collected from the people with help of local zamindars.

Zamindars had tiles such as ‘ manne-sultan”

Zamindars took advantage of Maratha attacks in the Deccan. After 1687 CE they declared independence. Some Zamindars declined to accept the Mughal superiority and revolted against them.

Some importants Zamindars from telangana revolted against Mughal viceroy were from Kaulas, Palvnacha, Jataprolu and Noorkoel. The most famous among the Vasireddi Zamindars were Venkatadri Naidu.

1700 - Subedar : Khambaksh 

In 1700, Khan Sifar khan, subedar of Hyderabad died, succeeded by prince kambaksh as the subedar of Hyderabad. Aurangazeb decided to make kambaksh as the ruler of Hyderabad and bijapur.

During 1701 CE, Zamindar Venkata Rao accepted Aurangazeb’s rule and gave away his army. For this, he was given the position of ‘mansabdar’ in Mughal emperor’s army. Thus Venkat Rao became the first Telugu Zamiindar to join the mughal army.

In 1702 CE, nearly 50,000 Marathas under the leadership of Tarabai, attacked Hyderabad and plundered it for 3 days. Rustum kkhan helped maratha in attack

From 1701-1702, severe drought conditions prevailed in the hyderabad, According to the contemporary European accounts, nearly 20,000 people died.

Aurangazeb appointed Qasim khan, the fauzdar of kolanupak to suppress Sarvai papanna. In the battle between the forces of Papanna and Mughal fauzdar Qusim Khan at kolanupak lost his life. Thus, the rise of Papanna in Telangana has become an important issue for the Mughal empire.

In 1702 CE, the deputy governor of Hyderabad suba, ‘Rustumdil khan’ confronted Papanna with a huge army. Papanna and his key follower ‘Sarvadu’ escaped

By 1704 CE, the Hyderabad people lost faith on the Mughal emperor as the marathas attacks on outskirt areas of Hyderabad.

Aurangzeb died in the year 1707 CE at the age of 99 years. After his death war of succession broke among his sons, kambaksh (Deccan Subedar), Azam Shah (viceroy of Gujarat) and Shah Alam (Viceroy of Kabul). All the three princes fought with each other to occupy the throne.

1707 - 1709 : Khambaksh

After ascending the throne by defeating Muhammad Azam Shah at the battle of Jajau near Agra in 1707, Bahadur Shah I ascended the throne. During this time, Kambaksh declared himself as the sultan of Golconda in Hyderabad. 

In May 1708, Shah wrote a letter to Kam Bakhsh informing him of the happenings. Shah I thought that this incident would "be a warning" to him, so that he could not declare himself an independent sovereign.

In 1708 CE, an independent Golconda Kingdom was reestablished with previous territories of the Qutub Shahi Kingdom were brought together again under the rule of Kambaksh.

Khambaksh imposed ‘Jizia’ in hyderabad and raised the taxes. The merchants and traders of Hyderabad were feared by the atrocities of kambaksh.

Subedar Jan Sipar Khan

28 June 1708: When Shah reached Hyderabad on 28 June 1708, he received the news of Kam Bakhsh attacking Machhlibandar. Actually, there were thirty-two lakhs of treasure hidden in the fort which he wanted to seize for further campaigns. The subedar of the province Jan Sipar Khan refused to hand over the money. Enraged by the refusal, he confiscated the property and ordered that four thousand men to be recruited for the attack

On 5 November 1708, Shah's camp reached Bidar which is 67 miles north from Hyderabad. Historian William Irvine writes that as his "camp drew nearer desertions from Kam Bakhsh became more and more frequent". On 1 November Kam Bakhsh captured Pam Naik's (the zamindar of Wakinkhera) belongings after he had left his army

On 20 December 1708, Kam Bakhsh marched towards Talab-i-Mir Jumla, on the outskirts Hyderabad with "three hundred camels, twenty thousand rockets" for the war against Bahadur Shah I. Shah made his son Jahandar Shah the commander of the vanguard, but was replaced by Khan Zaman. On 12 January 1709, Shah finally reached Hyderabad and set up his tent training his troops.

On 13 January, Shah's army charged towards him. The troops were divided in two bodies – one was under the commandant of Mumin Khan and was assisted by Rafi-ush-Shan and Jahan Shah and the second under Zulfikar Khan.

With his soldiers being outnumbered and unable to resist the attack, Kam Bakhsh himself started shooting arrows at the enemy, finishing two quiverfuls of arrows. Irvine writes that when he was "weakened by loss of blood" the opposition surrounded him and took him and his son Bariqullah as prisoners. However a dispute rose among Mumin Khan and Zulfikar Khan about who had actually captured him. Rafi-us-Shan solved the matter by attributing it to the latter

The next morning on 14 January 1709, Kam Bakhsh died. 

1709 - 1712 : Bahadur Shah I (Shah Alam I)  (1707 - 1712)

The emperor Bahadur shah I, recognized Sarvai Papanna as a king and honored him by gifting ‘Robe of Honor’.In return, Papanna offered to the emperor vast wealth.

1712 - 1713 : Jahandar Shah 

Bahadur Shah I died in 1712, and his successor Jahandar Shah was assassinated on the orders of the Sayyid Brothers. In 1713, Jahandar's nephew Farrukhsiyar (r. 1713–1719) became the emperor with the brothers' help. 

The term Sayyid brothers refers to  Syed Abdullah Khan and Syed Husain Ali Khan, who were two powerful nobles during the decline of the Mughal Empire.

1713 - 1719: Farrukh-Siyar 

His reign marked the ascendancy of the Sayyid brothers, who monopolised state power and reduced the Emperor to a figurehead. The brothers conspired to send Nizam-ul-Mulk to Deccan, away from the Mughal Court, to reduce his influence. 

During the rule of Farukh siyar that the Deccan suba and Hyderabad were placed under two efficient Sardars namely, Mubrezkhan and Mir khamruddin Chin Qilich Khan or Nizam-ul-Mulk.

June, 1713 - Governor Mubrez Khan
Farukh siyar appointed Mubrez Khan as the governor of Hyderabad in June 1713.  As governor of Hyderabad, Mubrez Khan received several Privileges and concessions from the emperor Farukh siyar.

Mubrez occupied Elgandal fort and defeated Venkata Naidu. 

1713 - 1719 : Viceroy of the Deccan

Mir Qamar-ud-din Khan Siddiqi (11 August 1671 – 1 June 1748) also known as Chin Qilich Qamaruddin Khan, Nizam-ul-Mulk, Asaf Jah and Nizam I was appointed as the subedar of 6 provinces in the Deccan in the year 1713. But in 1715, Sayyed brothers forced the Mughal emperor to remove Nizam-ul-mulk from the position of subedar of the Deccan.

In 1719, the Brothers blinded, deposed and murdered Farrukhsiyar.

They then arranged for his first cousin, Rafi ud-Darajat, to be the next ruler in February 1719. When Rafi ud-Darajat died of lung disease in June, they made his elder brother, Rafi ud-Daulah (Shah Jahan II), ruler. After Rafi ud-Daulah also died of lung disease in September 1719, Muhammad Shah (r. 1719–1748) ascended the throne at the age of seventeen with the Sayyid Brothers as his regents until 1720. 

1719 - 1724: Muhammad Shah (1719–1748)

Muhammad Shah, to take back control of his rule, arranged for the brothers to be killed with the help of Nizam-ul-Mulk Asaf Jah. 

1722 - 1724 : Asaf Jah I - Grand vizier

From 1720 to 1722 he helped the new Mughal emperor Muhammad Shah eliminate the Sayyid brothers and was rewarded by being elevated to the grand viziership from 1722 to 1724.

Syed Hussain Ali Khan was murdered at Fatehpur Sikri in 1720, and Syed Hassan Ali Khan Barha was fatally poisoned in 1722

Governor Mubariz Khan (1713 - 1724)

 He was the governor of Golconda from 1713 to 1724. His is known to have ruled Golconda with a free hand and brought it under stable rule from constant Maratha Raids to extract Chauth.

The war between Mubrez Khan and Hussian Ali Khan. At last, Mubrez khan won over Hussian Ali with Huge wealth and tried to place his son as the ruler of the Golconda fort.

1724 : Battle of ‘Shakarkhed’ in 1724 CE took place between the Mughal forces, Mubrez Khan and the armies of Nizam-ul-mulk. In this battle, the Mughal forces were defeated and Mubrez khan lost his life.

One of the most important events in Indian history was the establishment of the independent Hyderabad state in 1724 CE. This state was founded by Mir Qamruddin-chin-Qulichkhan. His successors ruled the modern Telangana, Andhra and Rayalseema regions from 1724 CE to 1948 CE.

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Thatikonda Fort

Thatikonda or Tatikonda Fort is located in Thatikonda village, Station Ghanpur mandal, Jangaon district, Telangana State, India.

Thatikonda Fort is built in the 17th century by Sardar Sarvai Papadu, popularly known as Sardar Sarvai Papanna of Quillashapur, a local leader who had then defied Mughal imperial authority and also revolted against the Golconda Nawabs. The historic Quilla i.e., hill fort is situated in survey no. 513 and the gadis are in survey no. 369. The fortifications lie on the top of the hillock. The mud fortification wall in intermittent patches runs from the top to the fort of the hill to join the gadi.

The gadi is square in plan covering an area of about 5.36 acres. The basal width of wall is 3 feet and the height is about 16-20 feet. The material used for the construction of walls from the basement until 3 feet is stone and above this, it is made of mud. The mud wall consists of pati earth, which is mixed with potsherds, gravel, coarse sand, small chips etc. The mud wall appears to be consisting of different layers. It has four bastions on four corners. The bastions are constructed with dressed stones.

Restoration

July 23, 2021: Rains cause crack in the mud wall of Thatikonda Fort

https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/telangana/2021/jul/23/rains-cause-crack-in-the-mud-wall-of-thatikonda-fort-2334008.html

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Akkanna Madanna Temple

Akkanna Madanna Temple is located in Shalibanda, Hyderabad, Telangana State, India. The presiding deity in this temple is Lord Mahankali. The temple is at a distance of 1 kilometer from Charminar

It is popular during the festival of Bonalu that is celebrated in the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad. The temple is famous for the Ghatam procession during the Bonalu festival which is majorly celebrated in the holy place. As per the records, nearly 1 lakh devotees visit the temple during Ghatam. During the festival, the devotees present an offering to Devi Mahakali.

Architecture

The beautiful temple is built in blush and coral shades of red, with pillars and ceilings of carvings and inscriptions of Hindu God and Goddess. The pillars and ceiling of this temple has carving and inscription of hindu Gods and Goddess and their related stories and tales. The temple premise is a walled complex and houses several small temples within it. The main tower has images of Gods and Goddesses in it.

History

This temple was believed to be constructed by two brothers 'Akkanna' and 'Madanna' during the rule of Abul Hasan Qutb Shah (1672 to 1686), also known as Abul Hasan Tana Shahwas the eighth and last ruler of the Qutb Shahi dynasty, sovereign of the Kingdom of Golconda in South India. 

Madanna and Akkanna both served as the Commander-in-Chief and Prime Minister, respectively. These two brothers were one of the favorite ministers of the king and stayed in a house near his own, where the temple of Mahankali existed. Being the true disciples of Goddess Mahankali, Akkanna and Madanna performed pooja every day at the holy temple before they left for the court of Golconda for their day's work. Soon after the killing of these two brothers, the temple was closed.

Madanna started as a clerk with the Golconda Sultanate and moved higher up through talent. At some point Madanna and Akkanna came into the service of Sayyid Muzaffar a nobleman of Persian descent. After sometime Sayyid Muzaffar had brought bul Hasan Qutb Shah  to the throne. He made them responsible for collecting jizya taxes from the Hindus predominant part of the Sultanate's population. Then official Madanna and brother locked him up in his house and took over the charge of the treasury. As a treasurer Madanna became more and more powerful until he practically ruled the Sultanate in all but name till his death assisted by his brother Akkanna and his nephew Rustam Rao. Akkanna was appointed General of the Army not so much to conduct military operations, but more to keep it from waging war.

By the 1680s, according to the colonial era Dutch India archives, they controlled all the tax collection and the exchequer of the Golkonda Sultanate. According to Gijs Kruijtzer – a historian specializing in Deccan Sultanates, the Madanna and Akkanna brothers can be viewed as early "nationalists" seeking the welfare of their people and the general public. They can also be viewed as "communalists" who criticized the Muslim elites as exploitative who do not care about non-Muslims, who serve the interest of their holy land in Arabia, and seek personal gain. The two brothers spent the taxes they collected in Golconda on the "welfare of the public", states Kruijtzer, which included furthering trade with the colonial Dutch, building public sarai (resting place for travelers), as well as restoring and building temples. Their remarkable rise to power and public priorities in the Golconda Sultanate, whose elite predominantly were Muslims, became a folklore among the Hindus. Muslims reached out to Aurangzeb, who in 1683 sent his army to attack Golconda Sultanate. The brothers attempted for peace with a deal to pay a large annual tribute to the Mughal empire. 

In 1685, Aurangzeb sent a regiment led by his son to end Golconda Sultanate, absorb it into the Mughal empire. This time the Mughal army captured and beheaded Madanna and Akkanna. The two brothers remain popular among the Hindus in the modern era Telangana, with many monuments named after them. They were also the maternal uncles of the popular Bhakti saint Bhadrachala Ramadasu.

It is believed that in 1948, Devi Kali appeared in the dream of an old lady, and asked her to find the hidden temple and re-open it. Later some people from Arya samaj were able to find the temple and revived from the debris of Hari Bowl at Shalibanda.

In the year 1998, the temple was attacked by a group of anti-social elements and partly destroyed the idol and temple belongings

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Sir Ronald Ross Building

Sir Ronald Ross Building or Heritage Building of World Medicine or Sir Ronald Ross Institute of Parasitology is a malaria research institute located in Begumpet, Secunderabad (Mandal), Hyderabad, Telangana State, India.

Major Ronald Ross (13 May 1857 – 16 September 1932) was a British Doctor born in Almora, in current Uttarakhand, India. He was the first of ten children to be born to General Sir Campbell Claye Grant Ross, a British officer stationed in Secunderabad as as Duty Medical Officer for the Military.

At the age of eight, he was sent to England to be educated and spent much of his childhood with an aunt and uncle on the Isle of Wight.

He commenced the study of medicine at St. Bartholomew’s Hospital in London in 1875; entered the Indian Medical Service in 1881. 

He served in the third Burmese War in 1885 as a member of the Indian Medical Service. After studying bacteriology in London from 1888 to 1889, he returned to India and commenced the study of malaria in 1892.  

Built in 1895, this building was surrounded by marshes which proved rather helpful for his research experiments. 

It was in this building on 20 August 1897 that he made the discovery of the malarial parasite inside the body of a mosquito. His study confirmed that mosquitoes were the carriers of malaria parasite using birds that were already sick with malaria, Ross clearly showed that the disease could be carried in the insects’ salivary glands and transmitted to healthy birds through mosquito bites.

20 August is celebrated as the World Mosquito Day.

Ross returned to England in 1899 and joined the faculty of the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. He later taught at the University of Liverpool. Ross married Rosa Bessie Bloxam in 1889. They had two sons, Ronald and Charles, and two daughters, Dorothy and Sylvia. 

For his work in demonstrating the life-cycle of the parasites of malaria in mosquitoes, and thus establishing the hypothesis of Laveran and Manson, Ross was awarded the Nobel Prize for Physiology/Medicine in 1902.

His book The Prevention of Malaria was published in 1910. 

He was knighted by the British government in 1911 for his achievements in medical research. 

In 1912 he became physician for tropical diseases at King’s College Hospital in London. When the Ross Institute and Hospital for Tropical Diseases was founded in his honor, he became its director.

His wife died in 1931, Ross survived her until a year later, when he died after a long illness, at the Ross Institute, London, on September 16, 1932.

In 1935, the Secunderabad Cantonment Board, the local civic agency, installed a marble tablet in appreciation of Ross' achievement.

In 1955, Satyanarayan Singh, a Professor of Zoology at Hyderabad's Osmania University acquired the building from the then Deccan Airlines and established the Malaria Research Institute in this building.

Research scholars from Osmania University and Osmania Medical College worked here until the building was taken over by the Airports Authority of India. 

A pilot training center was set up in this building. Former Prime Minister of India, Rajiv Gandhi, was trained in this building. 

In 1979, Osmania University took over the building and continued research here

In 1997, about 700 scientists from 30 countries gathered at this building to commemorate the centennial of Ronald Ross' discovery. On this occasion, the building was renovated at the cost of ₹4.1 million(US$51,000) by the British High Commission. Being a heritage building, the Archaeological Survey of India granted ₹ 650,000 for its further development. In addition, a plan was announced to convert the facility into a center of excellence and develop the landscape around the building. Despite spending money on renovation, the building was not properly maintained.

In 2008, the state government formed a committee for the restoration, conservation and promotion of the building as tourist destination. A grant of ₹ 4 million was to be utilised for developing a horticulture park and relocation of airport offices. Upon the completion of restoration, the local tourism department was set to promote the building and its heritage as a destination for national and international tourists. Despite several attempts to revive the facility, the building lies secluded and devoid of academic or research activity and without steady source of financial support. Lack of political will and lack of bureaucracy was blamed for its current state.

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Errum Manzil

Errum Manzil or Iram Manzil is an expansive palace s located on top of a hillock off the Irram Manzil Colony, Panjagutt, Hyderabad, Telangana State, India.

It was built around the year 1870 by Nawab Safdar Jung Musheer-ud-daula Fakhrul Mulk, a nobleman of Hyderabad state. The story goes that Errum Manzil was the result of a wager between the Nawab and Sir Vicar ul Umra as to who could build a higher palace.

One of the first palaces to come upon a hillock facing the Hussain Sagar in Hyderabad, Iram Manzil (meaning heavenly abode), has been a silent surveyor of the city ever since it was built.

The mansion is located atop a hillock known as Erragadda or "red hill" in the native Telugu language. For this reason, nawab Fakhrul Mulk decided to name the new palace "Iram Manzil" (Persian for 'Paradise Mansion'), because the Persian word 'Iram' (ايرام), meaning 'Paradise,' sounds like "Erra" (ఎర్ర), the Telugu adjective meaning "red." He also had the building painted a shade of red in order to emphasize the link, and thus the red-coloured palace can be found on top of Erragadda hill. The nawab intended that the mansion be known by two similar-sounding names: 'Iram Manzil' for the Persian-friendly Muslim nobility of the state and 'Erram Manzil' for the local Telugu people. In time, the latter name has prevailed, and "Erra Manzil" is now the official name of the palace. Alternative spellings include "Irrum Manzil" and "Irram Manzil"

Errum Manzil was used for royal banquets and other grand events. Later, the palace was taken over by the Government to be used as a records store-house. After some years it was again transferred into the hands of Public Works Department. Presently the land on which the palace is located houses offices of the Engineers-in-chief and the Chief Engineers of the Roads and Buildings and Irrigation/Command Area Development Departments.

Built in the Indo-European Baroque style of architecture, during its heyday the palace had over 150 rooms furnished with Louis XVI furniture, nine-hole golf course, polo ground, stable for horses and a dairy farm. The palace was full of stucco and ornamental works. The palace used to overlook the Hussain Sagar, but this view has now been blocked by other buildings.

The Erram Manzil building has rich architectural features exhibiting a multitude of cultural influences. The architecture is a symbiosis of Indo Persian and Saracenic features, blended with classical Greek, Roman, Gothic, Regency, and Baroque styles.

The two-storeyed palace, a listed heritage building spread over 1,13,793 square feet, was full of stucco and ornamental works, and had huge banquet halls, over 150 rooms, and was furnished lavishly with Louis XVI furniture.

Hyderabadi lore has it that Errum Manzil was the result of friendly competition between the Nawab and Sir Vicar ul Umra (The prolific Paigah aristocrat/builder from the city who also built the Falaknuma Palace) as to who could build a higher palace. Due to Fakhrul Mulk’s originality and creativity, the mansion was a blend of unique architectural styles, making it stand out from other palaces.

Dr Mir Asghar Husain, a direct descendant of Nawab Fakhrul Mulk, Former Director of Education, UNESCO-Paris, recalls his great grandfather as someone who dedicated his life to secularism, public service, and the state of Hyderabad. He adds, “A consummate builder, he always wanted to construct monuments that last, and as a heritage for the future. When the city of Hyderabad was expanding, he chose a spot (near Punjagutta) which was then at the outskirts, and being a visionary and nature lover, built a house that was in harmony with its natural environment and ecology.”

The mansion soon became the nucleus of a small village which sprung around it to cater for Fakhrul Mulk’s family, which consisted of five sons and four daughters. Soon, polo grounds, stable for horses and elephants, a dairy farm, and a tennis court were added as was a shooting range, and the Nawab held court twice a day.

Nawab Fakhrul Mulk was among the first noblemen in Hyderabad to adopt Western dress and styles while keeping the strict oriental code of conduct in domestic matters. His cultural ingenuity and openness of mind enlarged his vision to include architectural styles from Europe. A popular story goes saying that he used to explain his ideas to the architects by drawing the outline on sand with the help of his walking stick, and expected the engineers and the masons to give shape to it.

Errum Manzil was specifically placed atop a hill to stand out in its surroundings. Dr Er Ar SP Anchuri, Architect and Structural Engineer, explains, “The height of the building was about 36 feet elevated compared to the present main road level. The height was chosen to indicate the power of the area to dominate the surrounding environment, providing a peaceful environment and isolated atmosphere from the busy road and streets.”

Several entrances are seen to the building, and were used for different purposes. Each entrance of the manzil has a unique architectural character that highlights from other immediate surfaces. Anchuri adds, “The building is in U shape with a three-side enclosed courtyard towards west. The central wing acted as the barricade between the mardana and zenana. Special female servants called mamas acted as messengers between the two blocks.”

With contours which slope naturally towards eastern side, giving a magnificent view of Hussain Sagar, the best suitable structural system was adopted in construction of the palace. The staircases and balconies are made of wood. Even today, one can catch a glimpse of Romanesque semi-circular arches, Indo Saracenic rounded horseshoe openings, and elliptical Gothic arches based on Indo-Islamic architecture.

Dr Husain says that the palace was a unique futuristic model of construction, which was self-sufficient and even had its own water bodies built as a part of its estate. He adds, “Impressed by the stark beauty of Errum Manzil when they passed by during their visit to Hyderabad, Yasser Arafat and Jacqueline Kennedy asked what this impressive monument was!”

The palace was in the possession of the Nawab’s descendants till late 1940s, when it was taken over by the government, and used for storing records. Then the erstwhile Government of Hyderabad purchased the building and the surrounding land belonging to Nawab Fakhar ul Mulk Bhadur, when Sir Mirza Ismail was Sadar-i-Azam (prime minister) of the State in 1946.

In the year 1956, after the formation of Andhra Pradesh, the State government quarters were constructed in the open land, and the same is known as the Erum Manzil colony.

Later, it was transferred to the Public Works Department, and now, the Roads and Buildings and Irrigation/Command Area Development departments share it. In 2017, KCR’s government wanted to demolish the heritage building to construct a new State Legislative Assembly, and only a huge public outcry resulted in the government changing its initial proposal.

Today, the building is in a state of disuse and neglect but used for occasional heritage walks. Anuradha Reddy, Convenor, INTACH Hyderabad, says that the palace has substantial architectural and historical value, being a legacy building. Having conducted a building structural condition assessment in 2019, she calls for the adaptive reuse of the palace, and says, “The structure can be reused in a socially, environmentally, and economically sustainable manner. Well executed adaptive reuse can restore an old building not only for new use, but also for the community to continue appreciating the site's historical significance and maintain links to the past.”

Errum Manzil is one of the best examples of the time which informs the present generation of the historical, architectural, and aesthetic importance of such monuments.

Anchuri says that proper repairs and rehabilitation of the Errum Manzil can bring back its erstwhile glory. He adds, “The palace can serve a few more centuries, keeping its heritage alive. Based on the observations of the existing structure on preliminary visual inspection, the Errum Manzil building is an important heritage asset, can be structurally sound after rehabilitation, repairs, and partial reconstruction undertaken after proper in-depth analysis, and can be used for a number of probable adaptive reuses before this architectural marvel and its style disappear.”

Currently, the heritage monument is known to many only because of the metro station named after it. Husain adds, “The whole world is looking for architecturally original monuments for tourism. Erram Manzil is unique because it blends major architectural styles of the time, and there are few other buildings like it that reflect the creative originality of the Deccan. Restored, it can be a powerful magnet on the tourist circuit.”

Errum Manzil is a perfect example of the old Hyderabadi architecture which has stood the test of time. With its integrated design blending the best of structural systems, architectural style, and interiors, the need of the hour is to conserve it.

Renovation
Feb 2, 2022: Irrum Manzil Palace abuzz with film shoots

https://www.firstpost.com/art-and-culture/iram-manzil-palace-overlooking-hussain-sagar-in-hyderabad-has-been-a-silent-surveyor-of-the-city-10076191.html

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