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{{For|other people of the same name|Muzaffar Shah (disambiguation){{!}}Muzaffar Shah}}
{{short description|14th-century Islamic governor of Gujarat}}
{{Infobox royalty
|name = Muzaffar Shah I
|title = Governor of [[Gujarat under Delhi Sultanate|Gujarat, Delhi Sultanate]] Sultan of Gujarat
|image =
|caption =
|reign1 =1391–1403
|reign2 =1404–1411
|coronation =
|full name =
|predecessor1 = [[Farhat-ul-Mulk Rasti Khan]]
| successor1 = [[Muhammad Shah I]]
|predecessor2 = [[Muhammad Shah I]]
| successor2 = [[Ahmad Shah I]]
|spouse =
|issue =
|royal house =
|dynasty =[[Muzaffarid dynasty of Gujarat]]
|father = Wajih-ul-Mulk
|mother =
|birth_date =
|birth_place =
|death_date = 1411
|death_place =
|date of burial = 1411
|place of burial = [[Patan, Gujarat|Anhilwada Patan]]
|religion = [[Islam]]
}}
[[File:002Muzaffir-1.JPG|thumb|Copper coin of Muzaffar Shah]]
{{Gujarat Sultanate}}
'''Muzaffar Shah I''', born '''Zafar Khan''', was the founder of the [[Muzaffarids (Gujarat)|Muzaffarid dynasty]] in [[Medieval India]], reigning over the [[Gujarat Sultanate]] from 1391 to 1403 and again from 1404 to 1411.

He was appointed the governor of Gujarat by [[Tughluq dynasty]] of the [[Delhi Sultanate]] and later declared the independence of the Gujarat Sultanate while there was chaos in Delhi following [[Timur]]'s invasion. He was deposed by his ambitious son [[Muhammad Shah I|Tatar Khan]] but he regained the throne shortly after, when he died.

==Ancestors==
Zafar Khan's father was Wajīh-al-Mulk, a noble in the court of the [[Delhi Sultanate|Sultan of Delhi]], [[Firuz Shah Tughlaq]]. The dynasty was founded by Zafar Khan.

There are multiple theories of origin of Muzaffar Shah. One theory says that Wajih-ul-Mulk and his brother were influential [[Chaudhary|Chaudharis]] who were agriculturists by profession but could also muster thousands of fighting men on their call. <ref>{{Cite web |title=The Rise of Muslim Power in Gujarat. A history of Gujarat from 1298 to 1442. [With a map.] {{!}} WorldCat.org |url=https://www.worldcat.org/title/752803447 |access-date=2023-02-24 |website=www.worldcat.org |page=138 |language=en |quote=The two brothers were chaudharis of a rather numerous agrarian community, tilling the soil, not high in the caste hierarchy but not without strength in the neighborhood}}</ref> Some scholars state he was a [[Khatri]] from [[Punjab]],<ref>* {{Cite book |last=Wink |first=André |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nyYslywJUE8C&q=muzaffar+khan+tank+khatri&pg=PA143 |title=Indo-Islamic society: 14th - 15th centuries |date=2003 |publisher=BRILL |isbn=978-90-04-13561-1 |pages=143 |language=en |quote=Similarly, Zaffar Khan Muzaffar, the first independent ruler of Gujarat was not a foreign muslim but a Khatri convert, of low subdivision called Tank.}}
* {{Cite book |last=Khan |first=Iqtidar Alam |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pzZFUcDpDzsC&q=muzaffar+shah+tank+khatri&pg=PA107 |title=Historical Dictionary of Medieval India |date=25 April 2008 |publisher=Scarecrow Press |isbn=978-0-8108-5503-8 |pages=107 |language=en |quote=The founder of the Gujarat Sultanate he was a convert from a sect of Hindu Khatris known as Tanks.}}
* {{Cite book |last=Misra |first=S. C. (Satish Chandra) |url=https://archive.org/details/riseofmuslimpowe0000unse |title=The rise of Muslim power in Gujarat; a history of Gujarat from 1298 to 1442 |date=1963 |publisher=New York, Asia Pub. House |others=Internet Archive |pages=137 |quote=Zafar Khan was not a foreign muslim. He was a convert to Islam from a sect of the Khatris known as Tank.}}
* {{Cite book |last=Khan |first=Iqtidar Alam |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=s4PfAAAAMAAJ |title=Gunpowder and Firearms: Warfare in Medieval India |date=2004 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-566526-0 |pages=57 |language=en |quote=Zafar Khan (entitled Muzaffar Shah) himself was a convert to Islam from a sub-caste of the Khatris known as Tank.}}</ref> on the basis of the work Mirat-i-Sikandari by Shaikh Sikandar Ibn Muhammad who was a contemporary of [[Muzaffarids (Gujarat)|Gujarat Sultans]]<ref>{{Cite book |last=Kapadia |first=Aparna |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qrxsDwAAQBAJ&q=in+praise+of+kings,+rajputs |title=Gujarat: The Long Fifteenth Century and the Making of a Region |date=2018-05-16 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-1-107-15331-8 |pages=120 |language=en |quote=the Gujarati historian Sikandar does narrate the story of their ancestors having once been Hindu 'Tanks', a branch of Khatris}}</ref> while others state he was a Rajput.<ref>* *{{Cite book |last=Chandra |first=Satish |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=L5eFzeyjBTQC&q=Sadharan&pg=PA70 |title=Medieval India ( From Sultanat to the Mughals), PART ONE Delhi Sultanat ( 1206-1526) |publisher=Har-Anand Publications |year=2004 |isbn=9788124110645 |pages=218 |language=en |quote=Sadharan a Rajput who converted to Islam}} *{{Cite book |last=Saran |first=Kishori Lal |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hxZuAAAAMAAJ&q=kishori+saran+lal+wajih-ul-mulk |title=The legacy of Muslim Rule in India |publisher=Aditya Prakashan |year=1992 |isbn=9788185689036 |pages=233}} *{{Cite book |title=Journal of Oriental Studies, Volume 39 |year=1989 |pages=120 |language=en |quote=Wajih- al - Mulk was by birth a Hindu Rajput of Tanka}} *{{Cite book |last=Jutta |first=Jain-Neubauer |title=The Stepwells of Gujarat: In Art- Historical perspective |year=1981 |pages=62}} *{{Cite book |last=Kapadia |first=Aparna |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qrxsDwAAQBAJ&q=aparna+kapadia+tank+rajput&pg=PA8 |title=Gujarat: The Long Fifteenth Century and the Making of a Region |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=2018 |isbn=9781107153318 |pages=8}}</ref> According to Misra, Tank were Khatris who were agrarian people belonging to South Punjab. Misra states that Sikandar vaguely knew the Tanks were vintners but claimed they were of "noble and high spirit". Sikandar states that originally the Tanks and Khatris were brothers, but the former had taken a liking to drinking alcohol and were expelled and thus called "Tank". Misra states that Sikandar does not mention that the Tanks were Rajputs and is of the opinion that probably the Tanks were considered as Rajputs by virtue of their association with Khatris and claimed descent from Kṣatriyas and did not belong to any major houses of Rajputs.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Misra |first=S.C. |title=The Rise of Muslim in Gujarat: A History of Gujarat from 1298 to 1442 |publisher=Asia Publishing House |year=1963 |pages=137–139}}</ref> But as per writer Aparna Kapadia, the two brothers Saharan and Sadhu who are regarded as ancestors to Zafar Khan, founder of the dynasty were probably Tank Rajputs from [[Thanesar]] in modern-day [[Haryana]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Kapadia |first=Aparna |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qrxsDwAAQBAJ |title= In Praise of Kings Rajputs, Sultans and Poets in Fifteenth-century Gujarat |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=2018 |isbn= 9781107153318 |pages=8|quote= These men, a certain Saharan and his brother Sadhu, were, mostly likely peasants or pastoralists, non-Muslim Tank Rajputs from [[Thanesar]] in northwestern India (modern-day [[Haryana]]).}}</ref> Writer [[Burton Stein]] mentions the dynasty's ruler [[Ahmad Shah I]] as a "converted Rajput" who as governor had made the province ( till then part of Delhi Sultanate) an independent sultanate in 1411.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Stein |first=Burton |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=a369DwAAQBAJ&q=burton+stein+History+of+India |title=A History of India |date=2010-04-12 |publisher=John Wiley & Sons |isbn=978-1-4051-9509-6 |pages=142 |language=en|quote=Ahmedabad in Gujarat received its great congregational mosque in 1423, though it had been a province of Delhi since 1297. It was built by Ahmad Shah, a converted Rajput, who, when governor, declared the province an independent sultanate in 1411.}}</ref> Other historians such as Dr. V.K Agnihotri and [[Saiyid Athar Abbas Rizvi]] even wrote that Sadhāran was a [[Jat Muslim|Jat]] convert to Islam.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MazdaWXQFuQC&dq=Zafar+Khan%27s+father+Sadharan%2C+was+a+Jat+convert+to+Islam.&pg=RA1-PA131| pages=B-131| title=Indian History| last1=Agnihotri| first1=V.K| date=1988 | isbn=9788184245684 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/TheWonderThatWasIndiaVol2SAARizvi/page/n113/mode/2up| pages=69| title=The Wonder That Was India| last1=Rizvi | first1=S.A.A| date=1987| quote=The independent kingdom of Gujarat was founded by Zafar Khan, son of Sadharan, a Jat convert to Islam. | isbn=9788184245684 }}</ref> Firuz ennobled Sāhāran after he had given the sultan warm hospitality, his sister's hand in marriage, and converted to Islam.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Watson |first1=J. W. |last2=Faridi |first2=Fazlullah Lutfullah |date=1896 |title=History of Gujarat, Musalman Period (1297–1760) |journal=Gazetter of the Bombay Presidency |volume=1 |page=232}}</ref>

==Early life==
Zafar Khan was born on Muharram 25, year 743 (30 June 1342).<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Misra|first=Satish Ch.|date=1960|title=MUZAFFAR SHAH, THE FOUNDER OF THE DYNASTY OF THE SULTANS OF GUJARAT—AN APPRECIATION|journal=Proceedings of the Indian History Congress|volume=23|pages=163–167|jstor=44304056|issn=2249-1937}}</ref>

Zafar Khan was a son of Wajih-ul-Mulk. According to a legend, saint Bukhari promised Gujarat to Zafar Khan prophetically in return of food provided to Fakirs at his house. He gave him handful of dates and declared, "Thy seed like unto these in number shall rule over Gujarat". The number of seeds varied from eleven to thirteen according to various sources.{{sfn | Taylor |1902|p=2}}{{sfn | Nayak |1982|p=66}}

Muhammad Bin Tughluq was on an expedition to intervene in a war but died at [[Thatta]] on the bank of the [[Indus river]] in 1351 from fever induced by a surfeit of fish. As he had no sons, his cousin [[Firuz Shah Tughluq]] succeeded.{{sfn | Taylor |1902|pp=3}}

Firuz Shah Tughluq appointed Malik Mufarrah, also known as Farhat-ul-Mulk Rasti Khan governor of Gujarat in 1377. In 1387, Sikandar Khan was sent to replace him, but he was defeated and killed by Farhat-ul-Mulk. Firuz Shah died in 1388 and his grandson, [[Ghiyas-ud-Din Tughlaq II]] succeeded but was reign only for five months. He was succeeded by another grandson [[Abu Bakr Shah]] but after nine months he was deposed by Firuz Shah's son, [[Nasir ud din Muhammad Shah III]] who ruled for three years 1389–1392.{{sfn | Taylor |1902|pp=4}}

==Reign==
===Governor of Gujarat under Tughluqs (1391–1407)===

In 1391, Sultan Nasir ud din Muhammad Shah III appointed Zafar Khan, the son of Wajih-ul-Mulk as governor of Gujarat and conferred him the title of Muzaffar Khan. In passing [[Nagaur|Nagor]] he was met by a deputation from Cambay, complaining of the tyranny of Rásti Khán. Consoling them, he proceeded to Pátan, the seat of government, and then marched against Rásti Khán. The armies met near the village of [[Kamboi]], a dependency of Pátan, and Farhat-ul-Mulk Rásti Khán was slain and his army defeated. To commemorate the victory, Zafar Khán founded a village on the battle-field, which he named Jítpur (the city of victory), and then, starting for Cambay, redressed the grievances of the people.{{snf|Campbell|1896|p=233}} It was rumoured that Farhat-ul-Mulk was trying to establish independent rule in Gujarat. In 1392, Farhat-ul-Mulk was defeated and killed in the battle of Kambor (now [[Gambhu]]), near [[Anhilwad Patan|Anhilwada Patan]] and occupied the city of Anhilwada Patan. He founded Jitpur at the site of victory.<ref name=m1>Majumdar, R.C. (2006). ''The Delhi Sultanate'', Mumbai: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, pp. 155–7</ref>{{sfn | Taylor |1902|pp=4}}

On the death of Nasir ud din Muhammad Shah III in 1392, his son Sikandar assumed the throne but he died just after 45 days. He was succeeded by his brother [[Nasir-ud-Din Mahmud Shah Tughluq]] II but his cousin [[Nasir-ud-din Nusrat Shah Tughluq|Nusrat Khan]] also claimed similar rank in [[Firozabad|Firuzabad]].{{sfn | Taylor |1902|pp=5}}

Zafar Khán's first warlike expedition was against the Rao of [[Idar State|Idar]], who, in 1393, had refused to pay the customary tribute, and this chief he humbled. The contemporary histories seem to show that the previous governors had recovered tribute from all or most of the chiefs of Gujarát except from the Ráo of [[Junagadh]] and the Rája of [[Rajpipla State|Rajpipla]], who had retained their independence. Zafar Khán now planned an expedition against the celebrated [[Somnath temple]], but, hearing that Ádil Khán of [[Asirgarh Fort|Ásír-Burhánpur]] had invaded Sultánpur and [[Nandurbar]], he moved his troops in that direction, and Ádil Khán retired to Ásir.{{snf|Campbell|1896|p=233}}

In 1394, he marched against the Ráo of Junágaḍh and exacted tribute. Afterwards, proceeding to Somnath, he destroyed the temple, built an Jumma Mosque, introduced Islám, left Muslim law officers, and established a ''thána'' or post in the city of [[Prabhas Patan|Somnáth Pátan]] or Deva Pátan. He heard that the Hindus of [[Mandu, Madhya Pradesh|Mandu]] were oppressing the Muslims, and, accordingly, marching there, he beleaguered that fortress for a year, but failing to take it contented himself with accepting the excuses of the Rája. From Mándu he performed a pilgrimage to [[Ajmer]]. Here he proceeded against the chiefs of [[Sambhar, Rajasthan|Sambhar]] and [[Dandwana]], and then attacking the Rájputs of Delváḍa and Jháláváḍa,{{efn-ua|Identification of Delváḍa and Jháláváḍa are somewhat difficult. The context suggests either [[Jalore]] in [[Rajasthan]] or Jháláváḍa in the extreme south-east of Rajasthan, south of [[Kota, Rajasthan|Kota]]. The combination Delváḍa and Jháláváḍa seems to favour [[Saurashtra (region)|Saurashtra]] region of Gujarat since there is a [[Delvada]] in the south of the Saurashtra near [[Diu, India|Diu]] and a [[Jhalawad State|Jháláváḍa]] in the north-east. But the Delváda of the text can hardly be near Diu. It apparently is Delváda near [[Eklingji]] about twenty miles north of [[Udaipur]]. The account of [[Ahmad Shah I]]'s expedition to the same place in 1431 confirms this identification.}} he defeated them, and returned to Pátan in 1396.{{snf|Campbell|1896|p=234}}

About this time his son Tátár Khán, leaving his baggage in the fort of [[Panipat]], made an attempt on [[Delhi]]. But Iqbál Khán took the fort of Pánipat, captured Tátár Khán's baggage, and forced him to withdraw to Gujarát. In 1397, with the view of reducing Ídar, Zafar Khán besieged the fort, laying waste the neighbouring country.{{snf|Campbell|1896|p=234}}

In prevailing situation, [[Timur]] invaded India and marched on Delhi in 1398. In early 1399, he defeated Mahmud II and looted and destroyed the much of Delhi. Sultan Mahmud II escaped and after many wanderings, reached Patan. He hoped to secure Zafar Khan's alliance to march to Delhi but Zafar Khan declined. He went to Malwa where he was declined again by local governor. Meanwhile his Wazir Iqbal Khan had expelled Nusrat Khan from Delhi so he returned to Delhi but he had no longer enough authority over provinces which were ruled independently by his governors.{{sfn | Taylor |1902|pp=5}}

Before Zafar Khan had taken the Idar fort Zafar Khán received news of [[Timur]]'s conquest of Delhi, and concluding a peace with the Ídar king, returned to Pátan. In 1398, hearing that the Somnáth people claimed independence, Zafar Khán led an army against them, defeated them, and established Islám on a firm footing.{{snf|Campbell|1896|p=234}}

In 1403, Zafar Khan's son Tatar Khan urged his father to march on [[Delhi]], which he declined. As a result, in 1403, Tatar imprisoned him in Ashawal (future Ahmedabad) and declared himself sultan under the title of Muhammad Shah. He humbled the chief of [[Nandod]] in Rajpipla. He marched towards Delhi, but on the way he was poisoned by his uncle, Shams Khán Dandáni at Sinor on the north bank of the Narmada river. Some sources says he died naturally due to weather or due to his habit of heavy drinking. After the death of Muhammad Shah, Zafar was released from the prison in 1404. Zafar Khán asked his own younger brother Shams Khán Dandáni to carry on the government, but he refused. Zafar Khán accordingly sent Shams Khán Dandáni to Nágor in place of Jalál Khán Khokhar. Zafar took over the control over administration. In 1407, he declared himself as Sultan Muzaffar Shah at [[Virpur (Mahisagar)|Birpur]] or Sherpur, took the insignia of royalty and issued coins in his name.{{sfn | Taylor |1902|pp=6–7}}<ref name="m1"/>{{sfn | Nayak |1982|pp=66–73}}{{snf|Campbell|1896|p=235}}

===Gujarat Sultanate (1407–1411)===

At this time Álp Khán, son of Diláwar Khán of Málwa, was rumoured to have poisoned his father and ascended the throne with the title of Sultán Hushang Ghori. On hearing this Muzaffar Sháh marched against Hushang and besieged him in Dhár.He had successful expedition against [[Dhar]] ([[Malwa]]) which came under his control.{{snf|Campbell|1896|p=235}}

Muzaffar handed Hushang to the charge of his brother Shams Khán, on whom he conferred the title of Nasrat Khán. Hushang remained a year in confinement, and Músa Khán one of his relations usurped his authority. On hearing this, Hushang begged to be released, and Muzaffar Sháh not only agreed to his prayer, but sent his grandson Áhmed Khán (later [[Ahmad Shah I]]) with an army to reinstate him. This expedition was successful; the fortress of Mándu was taken and the usurper Músa Khán was put to flight. Áhmed Khán returned to Gujarát in 1409–10 AD. Meanwhile Muzaffar advancing towards Delhi to aid [[Nasir-ud-Din Mahmud Shah Tughluq]], prevented an intended attack on that city by Sultán Ibráhím of [[Jaunpur Sultanate|Jaunpur]].{{snf|Campbell|1896|p=236}}

He had suppressed a rebellion or sent an unsuccessful expedition to [[Kanthkot]] in [[Kutch]]. According to ''Mirat-i-Ahmadi'', he abdicated the throne in favour of his grandson [[Ahmad Shah I]] in 1410 due to his failing health. He died five months and 13 days later. According to ''Mirat-i-Sikandari'', Ahmad Shah was going to an expedition to quell the rebellion of Kolis of Ashawal. After leaving Patan, he convened an assembly of Ulemas and asked a question that should he took retribution his father's unjust death. Ulemas replied in favour and he got the written answers. He returned to Patan and forced his grandfather Muzaffar Shah to drink poison which killed him. He was buried in Patan. [[Ahmad Shah I]] succeeded him at the age of 19 in 1411.{{sfn | Taylor |1902|pp=6–7}}<ref name="m1"/>{{sfn | Nayak |1982|pp=66–73}}{{snf|Campbell|1896|p=236}}

== Notes ==
{{notelist-ua}}

==References==
{{reflist|3}}

===Bibliography===
{{refbegin}}
* {{Cite book|url=http://www.new.dli.ernet.in/handle/2015/104269|title=The Coins Of The Gujarat Saltanat|last=Taylor|first=Georg P.|publisher=Royal Asiatic Society of Bombay|year=1902|volume=XXI|location=Mumbai|hdl=2015/104269|issue=LVIII|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170301005602/http://www.new.dli.ernet.in/handle/2015/104269|archive-date=2017-03-01}} {{PD-notice}}
* {{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/1980HistoryOfIslamicSultanateInGujarat256D|title=ગુજરાતમાંની ઇસ્લામી સલ્તનતનો ઈતિહાસ (ઇ.સ. ૧૩૦૦થી ઇ.સ.૧૫૭૩ સુધી)|last=Nayak|first=Chhotubhai Ranchhodji|publisher=[[Gujarat University]]|year=1982|location=Ahmedabad|language=gu|trans-title=History of Islamic Sultanate in Gujarat}}
* {{cite book|last=Campbell|first=James Macnabb|editor=[[James Macnabb Campbell]]|title=History of Gujarát|url=http://www.gutenberg.org/files/54652/54652-h/54652-h.htm|series=Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency|volume=I. Part II. Musalmán Gujarát. (A.D. 1297–1760.)|year=1896|publisher=The Government Central Press|chapter=Chapter I. Early Musalmán Governors.(A.D. 1297–1403.) and II. ÁHMEDÁBÁD KINGS. (A. D. 1403–1573.)|pages=230–236}} {{PD-notice}}
{{refend}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Muzaffar Shah I}}
[[Category:Gujarat sultans]]
[[Category:1411 deaths]]
[[Category:14th-century Indian monarchs]]
[[Category:1342 births]]

Muzaffar Shah I - Revision history

Ajay Kumar: Created a new article