Hasan Gangu
Encyclopedia
Abu'l Muzaffar Ala-ud-Din Bahman Shah (r. 3 August 1347 - 1358), whose original name was Hasan Gangu or Hansan Kanku and also bore the title of Zafar Khan was the founder of the Bahmani sultanate
.
emphatically asserts that this genealogy was fabricated after Hasan's accession to the throne by the flatterers and poets though he has seen the same genealogy in the royal library at Ahmadnagar. He believes that his origin was too obscure to admit or being traced. He thinks that Hasan was an Afghan by birth. He was servant of an astrologer Brahmin named Gangu(Gangadhar Shastri Wabale) of Delhi and was blessed by him as one day he was working at his farm when he found wealth which he returned to Gangu and by this act of him Gangu was pleased with him some experts also think and according to main library of Ahmednagar as being an astrologer Gangu had already read his astrology as he was very sharp and started giving him lessons and use his power at sultanate to make him sardar at Deccan . Gangu began his career as a general serving under the Sultan Muhammad bin Tughluq
. He received the title of Zafar Khan after becoming a governor. In 1347 he was made commander of an army in Daulatabad
. On 3 August 1347 Nasir-ud-Din Ismail Shah (Ismail Mukh, whom the rebel amirs of the Deccan placed on the throne of Daulatabad in 1345) abdicated in his favour and he set up the Bahmani Kingdom with its headquarters at Ahsanabad (Gulbarga
).
, which also lead to the dynasty and kingdom having the name Bahmani. He gave Ismail Mukh a jagir near Jamkhandi and later conferred to him the highest title of his kingdom, Amir-ul-Umara. But Narayana, a local Hindu chieftain still succeeded in turning Ismail against Bahman Shah for a short period before he poisoned Ismail.
Bahman Shah led his first campaign against Warangal
in 1350 and forced its ruler Kapaya Nayaka to cede to him the fortress of Kaulas. His kingdom was divided into four provinces and he appointed a governor for each province. During his reign Hasan fought many wars with Vijayanagar
. By the time of his death the kingdom streched from north to south from the Wainganga River
to Krishna and east to west from Bhongir
to Daulatabad
.
He was succeeded by his son Muhammad Shah I after his death in 1358.
Bahmani Sultanate
The Bahmani Sultanate was a Muslim state of the Deccan in southern India and one of the great medieval Indian kingdoms...
.
Ancestry and early life
Early historians, Tabataba and Nizam-ud-Din Ahmad believe that Hasan was descended from the Persian king Bahman, son of Isfandiyar. But FirishtaFirishta
Firishta or Ferishta, full name Muhammad Qasim Hindu Shah , was born in 1560 and died in 1620 and he was a Persian historian. The name Firishta means angel or one who is sent in Persian.-Life:...
emphatically asserts that this genealogy was fabricated after Hasan's accession to the throne by the flatterers and poets though he has seen the same genealogy in the royal library at Ahmadnagar. He believes that his origin was too obscure to admit or being traced. He thinks that Hasan was an Afghan by birth. He was servant of an astrologer Brahmin named Gangu(Gangadhar Shastri Wabale) of Delhi and was blessed by him as one day he was working at his farm when he found wealth which he returned to Gangu and by this act of him Gangu was pleased with him some experts also think and according to main library of Ahmednagar as being an astrologer Gangu had already read his astrology as he was very sharp and started giving him lessons and use his power at sultanate to make him sardar at Deccan . Gangu began his career as a general serving under the Sultan Muhammad bin Tughluq
Muhammad bin Tughluq
Muhammad bin Tughluq was the Turkic Sultan of Delhi from 1325 to 1351. He was the eldest son of Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq.He was born in Kotla Tolay Khan in Multan. His wife was daughter of the raja of Dipalpur...
. He received the title of Zafar Khan after becoming a governor. In 1347 he was made commander of an army in Daulatabad
Daulatabad
Daulatabad , is a 14th century fort city in Maharashtra, India, about 16 kilometers northwest of Aurangabad...
. On 3 August 1347 Nasir-ud-Din Ismail Shah (Ismail Mukh, whom the rebel amirs of the Deccan placed on the throne of Daulatabad in 1345) abdicated in his favour and he set up the Bahmani Kingdom with its headquarters at Ahsanabad (Gulbarga
Gulbarga
Gulbarga is a city in the Indian state of Karnataka. It is the administrative headquarters of Gulbarga District. It was formerly part of Nizam's Hyderabad state...
).
The reign
On establishing an independent kingdom Gangu took the title of Abu'l-Muzaffar Ala-ud-din Bahman Shah. The name Bahmani Kingdom was derived after the Brahmin caste of Gangu (who had blessed Hasan)Hasan also gave Gangus son a jagir and title of Deshmukh (chief of local villages)at Ahmednagar. Another theory was that the name Bahman came from Hasan's claim of descent from the Iranian hero BahmanBahman
Bahman may refer to:* Bahman, the Zoroastrian Amesha Spenta* Bahman, the 11th month of the year in Zoroastrian & Iranian calendars, named after the Zoroastrian concept* Kai Bahman, a mythological king of Iran...
, which also lead to the dynasty and kingdom having the name Bahmani. He gave Ismail Mukh a jagir near Jamkhandi and later conferred to him the highest title of his kingdom, Amir-ul-Umara. But Narayana, a local Hindu chieftain still succeeded in turning Ismail against Bahman Shah for a short period before he poisoned Ismail.
Bahman Shah led his first campaign against Warangal
Warangal
Warangal is a city and a municipal corporation in Warangal district in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. Warangal is located northeast of the state capital of Hyderabad and is the administrative headquarters of Warangal District. This district is a combination of three cities: Warangal,...
in 1350 and forced its ruler Kapaya Nayaka to cede to him the fortress of Kaulas. His kingdom was divided into four provinces and he appointed a governor for each province. During his reign Hasan fought many wars with Vijayanagar
Vijayanagara Empire
The Vijayanagara Empire , referred as the Kingdom of Bisnaga by the Portuguese, was an empire based in South Indian in the Deccan Plateau region. It was established in 1336 by Harihara I and his brother Bukka Raya I of the Yadava lineage. The empire rose to prominence as a culmination of attempts...
. By the time of his death the kingdom streched from north to south from the Wainganga River
Wainganga River
The Wainganga is a river of India, which originates about 12 km from Mundara village of Seoni district in the southern slopes of the Satpura Range of Madhya Pradesh, and flows south through Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra in a very winding course of approximatedly 360 miles...
to Krishna and east to west from Bhongir
Bhongir
Bhongir, Bhongiri or Bhuvanagiri is a Mondal and largest municipality in Nalgonda district, Andhra Pradesh, India. It is located in the of Bhongir, Bhongiri or Bhuvanagiri is a Mondal and largest municipality in Nalgonda district, Andhra Pradesh, India. It is located in the of Bhongir, Bhongiri or...
to Daulatabad
Daulatabad
Daulatabad , is a 14th century fort city in Maharashtra, India, about 16 kilometers northwest of Aurangabad...
.
He was succeeded by his son Muhammad Shah I after his death in 1358.