Sultan Quli Qutb Mulk
Encyclopedia
Sultan Quli Qutb Shah (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.
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
, he declared independence and took title Qutb Shah, and established Qutb Shahi dynasty of Golconda.
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 river
s. 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.
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.
, 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.
Qutb Shahi dynasty
The Qutb Shahi dynasty was a Turko-Persian dynasty ; its members were collectively called the Qutub Shahis. They were the ruling family of the kingdom of Golkonda in modern-day Andra Pradesh, India. They were Shia Muslims and belonged to Kara Koyunlu...
, which ruled the Sultanate of Golconda in southern India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
from 1518 to 1687. He died in 1543.
Early days
A Kara KoyunluKara Koyunlu
The Kara Koyunlu or Qara Qoyunlu, also called the Black Sheep Turkomans , were a Shi'ite Oghuz Turkic tribal federation that ruled over the territory comprising the present-day Armenia, Azerbaijan, north-western Iran, eastern Turkey and Iraq from about 1375 to 1468.The Kara Koyunlu Turkomans at one...
Shia Muslim, Quli Qutb Shah migrated to Delhi
Delhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
with some of his relatives and friends in the beginning of the 16th century. Later he migrated south to Deccan and served Bahmani sultan
Bahmani Sultanate
The Bahmani Sultanate was a Muslim state of the Deccan in southern India and one of the great medieval Indian kingdoms...
Setting up Qutb Shahi Sultanate
After the disintegration of the Bahmani Sultanate into the five Deccan sultanatesDeccan sultanates
The Deccan sultanates were five Muslim-ruled late medieval kingdoms—Bijapur, Golkonda, Ahmadnagar, Bidar, and Berar—of south-central India. The Deccan sultanates were located on the Deccan Plateau, between the Krishna River and the Vindhya Range. These kingdoms became independent during the breakup...
, 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 KrishnadevarayaKrishnadevaraya
Śrī Kriṣhṇa Devarāya , , , and also known as Krishna Devarayulu in some inscriptions was the famed Emperor of the Vijayanagara Empire who reigned from 1509–1529 CE.He is the third ruler of the Tuluva Dynasty. Presiding over the empire at its zenith, he is regarded as an icon by many Indians...
and Achyutaraya of the Vijayanagara empire
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...
. Quli extended his rule by capturing forts at 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,...
, Kondapalli
Kondapalli
Kondapalli is an industrial town near Vijayawada city, Andhra Pradesh, India with population of nearly 38000. It is 16 km by road from Vijayawada on National Highway 221 and on Hyderabad–Vijayawada railway line.....
, Eluru
Eluru
Eluru is a city and a municipal corporation in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India. It is the headquarters of West Godavari district and has a population of 5,15,343 approximately. Eluru is situated on the national highway NH 5 connecting Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam and about east of state...
, and Rajamundry, while Krishnadevaraya was busy fighting the ruler of Orissa
Orissa
Orissa , officially Odisha since Nov 2011, is a state of India, located on the east coast of India, by the Bay of Bengal. It is the modern name of the ancient nation of Kalinga, which was invaded by the Maurya Emperor Ashoka in 261 BC. The modern state of Orissa was established on 1 April...
. He defeated Sitapati Raju (known as Shitab Khan), the ruler of Khammam
Khammam
Khammam , is the headquarters of the Khammam District in Andhra Pradesh state of India and is located about east of state capital, Hyderabad...
, and captured the fort. He forced Orissa's ruler to surrender all the territories between the mouths of Krishna
Krishna River
The Krishna River , is one of the longest rivers in central-southern India, about . It is also referred to as Krishnaveni in its original nomenclature...
and Godavari river
Godavari River
The Godavari is a river that runs from western to southern India and is considered to be one of the big river basins in India. With a length of 1465 km, it is the second longest river in India , that runs within the country and also the longest river in South India...
s. He was able to occupy Eluru
Eluru
Eluru is a city and a municipal corporation in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India. It is the headquarters of West Godavari district and has a population of 5,15,343 approximately. Eluru is situated on the national highway NH 5 connecting Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam and about east of state...
, Rajamundry and Machilipatnam
Machilipatnam
Machilipatnam is a city and a special grade municipality in the Krishna district, Andhra Pradesh, India. It is located south east of state capital, Hyderabad.-History:...
extending his rule to Coastal Andhra
Coastal Andhra
Coastal Andhra or Kosta, is a region of India's Andhra Pradesh State. This region was part of Madras State before 1953 and Andhra State from 1953 to 1956. According to the 2011 census, it has an area of and a population of 3,41,93,868...
. Quli's campaign against Krishnadevaraya continued until Timmarusu
Timmarusu
Saluva Timmarusu or simply Timmarasa was Prime minister of Krishna Deva Raya. He had also served as prime minister under Viranarasimha Raya. He belonged to a Niyogi Telugu Brahmin family....
, the Prime Minister of Krishnadevaraya, defeated the Golconda army.
Patron of Telugu language and people
Though TeluguTelugu language
Telugu is a Central Dravidian language primarily spoken in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India, where it is an official language. It is also spoken in the neighbouring states of Chattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Orissa and Tamil Nadu...
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 ShahJamsheed Quli Qutb Shah
Jamsheed Quli Qutb Shah was the second ruler of the Sultanate of Golkonda under the Qutb Shahi dynasty. He ruled from 1543 to 1550....
, 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.