Qutb Shahi dynasty: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Rulers of Golconda Fort}}
{{use dmy dates|date=January 2016}}
{{use dmy dates|date=January 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2016}}
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| p1                    = Bahmani Sultanate
| p1                    = Bahmani Sultanate
| flag_p1                =  
| flag_p1                =  
| s1                    = Mughal Empire
| p2                    = Qara Qoyunlu
| flag_s1                = Alam of the Mughal Empire.svg
| flag_p2                = Flag of Kara Koyunlu dynasty.png
| s1                    = Hyderabad Subah
| flag_s1                =  
| image_flag            = Qutbshahi Flag.svg
| image_flag            = Qutbshahi Flag.svg
| flag_type              = Flag of the Qutb Shahis
| flag_type              = Flag of the Qutb Shahis
| image_map              = A map of Golconda region from 1733, published by Homann Heirs Nuremberg.jpg
| image_map              = A map of Golconda region from 1733, published by Homann Heirs Nuremberg.jpg
| image_map_caption      = Golconda in 1733 CE.<ref>For a map of their territory see: {{cite book |last1=Schwartzberg |first1=Joseph E. |title=A Historical atlas of South Asia |date=1978 |publisher=University of Chicago Press |location=Chicago |page=147, map XIV.4 (l)|isbn=0226742210 |url=https://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/schwartzberg/pager.html?object=186}}</ref>
| image_map_caption      = Golconda in 1733 AD.<ref>For a map of their territory see: {{cite book |last1=Schwartzberg |first1=Joseph E. |title=A Historical atlas of South Asia |date=1978 |publisher=University of Chicago Press |location=Chicago |page=147, map XIV.4 (l)|isbn=0226742210 |url=https://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/schwartzberg/pager.html?object=186}}</ref>
| religion              = [[Shia Islam]]
| religion              = [[Shia Islam]]
| capital                = [[Golconda]] (1519–1591) <br /> [[Hyderabad]] (1591–1687)
| capital                = [[Golconda]] (1519–1591) <br /> [[Hyderabad]] (1591–1687)
| common_languages      = [[Persian language|Persian]] (<small>official</small>)<ref>Brian Spooner and William L. Hanaway, ''Literacy in the Persianate World: Writing and the Social Order'', (University of Pennsylvania Press, 2012), 317.</ref><br /> [[Telugu language|Telugu]]<ref>{{cite journal
| common_languages      = [[Persian language|Persian]] (<small>official</small>)<ref>Brian Spooner and William L. Hanaway, ''Literacy in the Persianate World: Writing and the Social Order'', (University of Pennsylvania Press, 2012), 317.</ref><br /> [[Telugu language|Telugu]] (<small>official after 1600</small>)<ref>{{cite journal
| last      = Alam
| last      = Alam
| first      = Muzaffar
| first      = Muzaffar
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| issue      = 2
| issue      = 2
| pages      = 317–349
| pages      = 317–349
|quote = "Ibrahim Qutb Shah encouraged the growth of Telugu and his successor Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah patronized and himself wrote poetry in Telugu and in Dakhni. Abdullah Qutb Shah instituted a special office to prepare the royal edicts in Telugu (dabiri-ye faramin-i Hindavi). While administrative and revenue papers at local levels in the Qutb Shahi Sultanate were prepared largely in Telugu, the royal edicts were often bilingual.'06 The last Qutb Shahi Sultan, Abul Hasan Tana Shah, sometimes issued his orders only in Telugu, with a Persian summary given on the back of the farmans."
|quote = "Ibrahim Qutb Shah encouraged the growth of Telugu and his successor Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah patronized and himself wrote poetry in Telugu and in Dakhni. Abdullah Qutb Shah instituted a special office to prepare the royal edicts in Telugu (dabiri-ye faramin-i Hindavi). While administrative and revenue papers at local levels in the Qutb Shahi Sultanate were prepared largely in Telugu, the royal edicts were often bilingual. '06 The last Qutb Shahi Sultan, Abul Hasan Tana Shah, sometimes issued his orders only in Telugu, with a Persian summary given on the back of the farmans."
| doi=10.1017/s0026749x98002947}}</ref><br />[[Deccani Urdu]]
| doi=10.1017/s0026749x98002947| s2cid = 146630389
}}</ref><br />[[Deccani Urdu]]
| government_type        = Monarchy
| government_type        = Monarchy
| title_leader          = Qutb Shah
| title_leader          = Qutb Shah
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}}
}}


The '''Qutb Shahi dynasty''' ruled the '''Golconda Sultanate''' in northern [[Deccan Plateau]] ([[Telangana]]) from 1512 AD to 1687 AD, a [[Persianate society|Persianate]]<ref>Farooqui Salma Ahmed (2011). ''A Comprehensive History of Medieval India: From Twelfth to the Mid-Eighteenth Century''. Pearson Education India. pp. 177–179. [[ISBN (identifier)|ISBN]] [[Special:BookSources/9788131732021|<bdi>9788131732021</bdi>]].</ref><ref>Satish Chandra, ''Medieval India: From Sultanat to the Mughals'', Part II, (Har-Anand, 2009), 210.</ref><ref>Christoph Marcinkowski, ''Shi'ite Identities: Community and Culture in Changing Social Contexts'', 169-170;"''The Qutb-Shahi kingdom could be considered 'highly Persianate' with a large number of Persian-speaking merchants, scholars, and artisans present at the royal capital.''"</ref> Shia Islamic dynasty, the Qutb Shahis were descendants of [[Qara Yusuf]] from [[Kara Koyunlu|Qara Qoyunlu]] of Hamadan province of Persia, originally a [[Turkoman (ethnonym)|Turkoman]] Muslim tribe. After the collapse of [[Bahmani Sultanate]], the "Qutb Shahi" dynasty was established in 1512 AD by [[Quli Qutb Mulk]] who assumed the title of "Sultan". In 1636, [[Shah Jahan]] forced the Qutb Shahis to recognize Mughal suzerainty and pay periodic tributes. The dynasty came to an end in 1687 during the reign of its seventh Sultan [[Abul Hasan Qutb Shah]], when the [[Mughal Emperor]] [[Aurangzeb]] arrested and jailed him for the rest of his life in Daulatabad, absorbed Golconda into the Mughal empire.<ref>{{cite book|title=Iran and the Deccan: Persianate Art, Culture, and Talent in Circulation, 1400–1700|year=2020|isbn=9780253048943|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=_yHXDwAAQBAJ|author=Keelan Overton|page=82|publisher=Indiana University Press|access-date=1 July 2020}}</ref><ref name="Farooqi">{{cite book|title=A Comprehensive History of Medieval India: From Twelfth to the Mid-Eighteenth Century|author=Farooqui Salma Ahmed|pages=177–179|publisher=Pearson Education India|year=2011|isbn=9788131732021}}</ref><ref name="Bosworth" /> The kingdom extended from the parts of modern-day states of [[Karnataka]], [[Andhra Pradesh]], [[Odisha]] and [[Telangana]].<ref name="sen2">{{Cite book |last=Sen |first=Sailendra |title=A Textbook of Medieval Indian History |publisher=Primus Books |year=2013 |isbn=978-9-38060-734-4 |pages=118}}</ref> The Golconda sultanate was constantly in conflict with the [[Adilshahi sultanate|Adil Shahis]] and [[Nizam Shahi dynasty|Nizam Shahis]].<ref name="Bosworth">C.E. Bosworth, ''The New Islamic Dynasties'', (Columbia University Press,  1996), 328.</ref>
The '''Qutb Shahi dynasty''' ([[Persian language|Persian]]: {{lang|fa|قطب‌‌شاهیان}} ''Qotb-Šâhiyân''; {{lang-ur|قطب شاہی خاندان}} {{transl|ur|Qutb Shāhī Khāndān}}) was a [[Persianate society|Persianate]]<ref>Christoph Marcinkowski, ''Shi'ite Identities: Community and Culture in Changing Social Contexts'', 169-170; "''The Qutb-Shahi kingdom could be considered 'highly Persianate' with a large number of Persian-speaking merchants, scholars, and artisans present at the royal capital.''"</ref> [[Shia Islam|Shia Islamic]] dynasty of [[Turkoman (ethnonym)|Turkoman]] origin<ref>{{cite book |last1=Syed |first1=Muzaffar Husain |title=Concise History of Islam |date=2011 |publisher=Vij Books India Private Limited |isbn=978-9-382-57347-0 |page=258 |quote=The Qutb Shahi dynasty was the ruling family of the sultanate of Golkonda in southern India. They were '''Shia Muslims''' and belonged to a '''Turkmen tribe'''.}}</ref><ref>Siddiq, Mohd Suleman. [https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781315141664-12/da-irat-ul-ma-arif-unique-language-institute-hyderabad-mohd-suleman-siddiq "The Da’irat-ul-Ma’arif: A Unique Language Institute of Hyderabad."] In Languages and Literary Cultures in Hyderabad, pp. 203-216. Routledge, 2017.</ref> that ruled the '''Sultanate of [[Golconda Fort|Golkonda]]''' ({{lang-fa|سلطنت گلکنده}} {{transl|fa|Saltanat-e Golkonde}}; {{lang-ur|سلطنت گولکنڈہ}} {{transl|ur|Saltanat-e Golkunḍa}}) in [[South India|southern India]].<ref>{{cite book | last=Farooqui | first=Salma Ahmed | title=A comprehensive history of medieval India : twelfth to the mid-eighteenth century | publication-place=India | date=2011 | isbn=978-81-317-3202-1 | oclc=991819668 | pages = 177–179}}</ref><ref name="Chandra"/><ref>{{cite book | last1=Schimmel | first1=Annemarie | last2=Attwood | first2=Corinne | last3=Waghmar | first3=Burzine K. | last4=Robinson | first4=Francis | title=The empire of the great Mughals : history, art and culture | publication-place=London | date=2004 | isbn=1-86189-185-7 | oclc=61751123}}.</ref><ref>Peacock, Andrew CS, and Richard Piran McClary. Turkish History and Culture in India: Identity, Art and Transregional Connections. Brill, 2020.</ref> After the collapse of [[Bahmani Sultanate]], the Qutb Shahi dynasty was established in 1512 AD by Sultan-Quli Qutb-ul-Mulk, better known though less correctly referred to in [[English language|English]] as "[[Quli Qutb Shah]]".  


The Qutb Shahis were patrons of [[Persianate]] Shia culture.<ref name="Farooqi"/><ref name="Chandra" /> Over the first 90 years of their rule (c. 1512 – 1600), their official edicts and court language was in Persian only. In early 17th-century, these were in both Persian and Telugu. Towards the end of the dynasty, these were primarily in Telugu with a summary in Persian. As they adopted Telugu, they saw their territory as the Telugu speaking region, states Indologist Richard Eaton, with their elites considering the rulers as "Telugu Sultans".<ref name="Eaton" /> The ruling elites, court officials, the police and the army of the Sultanate were predominantly Muslims in a region whose population was predominantly Hindu. The exception were last two Sultans, when Brahmin Hindus such as [[Madanna and Akkanna]] rose to be ministers, with their portfolio being tax collection and the exchequer. In the 1680s, a Muslim general of the dynasty defected to the Mughal empire, which then attacked the Golconda Sultanate, Madanna and Akkanna were beheaded by Muslim soldiers, the Sultan thereafter imprisoned, thus ending the Qutb Shahi dynasty.<ref name=Kruijtzer>Gijs Kruijtzer (2002), ''Madanna, Akkanna and the Brahmin Revolution: A Study of Mentality, Group Behaviour and Personality in Seventeenth-Century India'', Journal of the Economic and Social History of the Orient, Vol. 45, No. 2, pp. 231-267, {{JSTOR|3632842}}</ref><ref name=aiyangar1>S. Krishnaswami Aiyangar, "Abul Hasan Qutub Shah and his Ministers, Madanna and Akkanna." Journal of Indian History (August 1931): 91-131</ref>
In 1636, [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] emperor [[Shah Jahan]] forced the Qutb Shahis to recognize Mughal suzerainty and pay periodic tributes. 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 Fort|Daulatabad]], incorporating Golconda into the Mughal empire.<ref>{{cite book|title=Iran and the Deccan: Persianate Art, Culture, and Talent in Circulation, 1400–1700|year=2020|isbn=9780253048943|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=_yHXDwAAQBAJ|author=Keelan Overton|page=82|publisher=Indiana University Press|access-date=1 July 2020}}</ref><ref name="Farooqi">{{cite book|title=A Comprehensive History of Medieval India: From Twelfth to the Mid-Eighteenth Century|author=Farooqui Salma Ahmed|pages=177–179|publisher=Pearson Education India|year=2011|isbn=9788131732021}}</ref><ref name="Bosworth" /> The kingdom extended from the parts of modern-day states of [[Karnataka]], [[Andhra Pradesh]], [[Odisha]] and [[Telangana]].<ref name="sen2">{{Cite book |last=Sen |first=Sailendra |title=A Textbook of Medieval Indian History |publisher=Primus Books |year=2013 |isbn=978-9-38060-734-4 |pages=118}}</ref> The Golconda sultanate was constantly in conflict with the [[Adilshahi sultanate|Adil Shahis]] and [[Nizam Shahi dynasty|Nizam Shahis]].<ref name="Bosworth">C.E. Bosworth, ''The New Islamic Dynasties'', (Columbia University Press,  1996), 328.</ref>
 
The Qutb Shahis were patrons of [[Persianate]] Shia culture.<ref name="Farooqi"/><ref name="Chandra" /> The official and court language of the Golconda sultanate during the first 90 years of its existence (c. 1512 – 1600) was also Persian. In the early 17th century, 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 [[Indology|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".<ref name="Eaton" />


==History==
==History==
[[File:Tomb of Sultan Muhammad Qutb Shah 01.jpg|thumb|right|Tomb of [[Sultan Muhammad Qutb Shah]] in [[Hyderabad]].]]
The dynasty's founder, [[Sultan Quli Qutb-ul-Mulk|Sultan Quli Khawas Khan Hamdani]] was born in [[Hamadan Province]], Iran. He belonged to the [[Kara Koyunlu|Qara Qoyunlu]], an [[Turkoman (ethnonym)|Iranian Turkmen]] Muslim tribe and therefore a descendant of [[Qara Yusuf]].<ref name="jstor1">{{cite journal|title=The Qara-qoyunlu and the Qutb-shāhs (Turkmenica, 10)|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/609229|volume=17|year=1955|pages=50–73|publisher=Cambridge University Press|jstor = 609229|access-date=20 November 2020|last1 = Minorsky|first1 = V.|journal = Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London|issue = 1|doi = 10.1017/S0041977X00106342|s2cid=162273460 }}</ref><ref name="Masud">{{cite book|title=Mohammad Quli Qutb Shah|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=v4UKJFLZVcEC|year=1996|page=2|first=Masud Husain|last=Khan|publisher=Sahitya Akademi|isbn=9788126002337|access-date=20 November 2020}}</ref> In the 16th century, he migrated to [[Delhi]] with his uncle, Allah-Quli, some of his relatives and friends. Later he migrated south, to the [[Deccan Plateau|Deccan]] and served the [[Bahmani Sultanate|Bahmani sultan]], [[Mahmood Shah Bahmani II]], who was of [[Deccanis|Deccani Muslim]] ethnicity.<ref>{{cite book |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=p159EAAAQBAJ&dq=Alauddin+Ahmad+II++Chand+Minar&pg=PT26 |title= Water and Historic Settlements:The Making of a Cultural Landscape |author= Yaaminey Mubayi |date= 2022 |isbn= 9781000641639 }}</ref><ref name="Michell">George Michell, Mark Zebrowski, ''Architecture and Art of the Deccan Sultanates'', (Cambridge University Press, 1999), 17.</ref> He declared the independence of Golconda, after the disintegration of the Bahmani Kingdom into the five [[Deccan sultanates]].<ref name="Michell" /> Soon after, he declared independence from the Bahmani Sultanate, took the title ''Qutub Shah'', and established the Qutb Shahi dynasty of Golconda. He was later assassinated in 1543 by his son, [[Jamsheed Quli Qutb Shah|Jamsheed]], who assumed the sultanate.<ref name="Michell" /> Jamsheed died in 1550 from cancer.<ref name="Khan">Masʻūd Ḥusain Khān, ''Mohammad Quli Qutb Shah'', Volume 216, (Sahitya Akademi, 1996), 2.</ref> Jamsheed's young son reigned for a year, at which time the nobility brought back and installed Ibrahim Quli as sultan.<ref name="Khan" />
The dynasty's founder, [[Sultan Quli Qutb-ul-Mulk]] was a descendants of [[Qara Yusuf]] (from [[Kara Koyunlu|Qara Qoyunlu]], a [[Turkoman (ethnonym)|Turkic]] Muslim tribe). He migrated to [[Delhi]] with his uncle, Allah-Quli, some of his relatives and friends in the beginning of the 16th century, from [[Hamadan Province]]—(now in [[Iran]] then it was ruled by his ancestral Turkic tribe).<ref name="jstor1">{{cite journal|title=The Qara-qoyunlu and the Qutb-shāhs (Turkmenica, 10)|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/609229|volume=17|year=1955|pages=50–73|publisher=Cambridge University Press|jstor = 609229|access-date=20 November 2020|last1 = Minorsky|first1 = V.|journal = Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London|issue = 1|doi = 10.1017/S0041977X00106342}}</ref><ref name="Masud">{{cite book|title=Mohammad Quli Qutb Shah|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=v4UKJFLZVcEC|year=1996|page=2|first=Masud Husain|last=Khan|publisher=Sahitya Akademi|isbn=9788126002337|access-date=20 November 2020}}</ref> Later he migrated south, to the [[Deccan Plateau|Deccan]] and served the [[Bahmani Sultanate|Bahmani sultan]], [[Mahmood Shah Bahmani II]].<ref name="Michell">George Michell, Mark Zebrowski, ''Architecture and Art of the Deccan Sultanates'', (Cambridge University Press, 1999), 17.</ref> He conquered Golconda, after the disintegration of the Bahmani Kingdom into the five [[Deccan sultanates]].<ref name="Michell" /> Soon after, he declared independence from the Bahmani Sultanate, took the title ''Qutub Shah'', and established the Qutb Shahi dynasty of Golconda. He was later assassinated in 1543 by his son, [[Jamsheed Quli Qutb Shah|Jamsheed]], who assumed the sultanate.<ref name="Michell" /> Jamsheed died in 1550 from cancer.<ref name="Khan">Masʻūd Ḥusain K̲h̲ān̲, ''Mohammad Quli Qutb Shah'', Volume 216, (Sahitya Akademi, 1996), 2.</ref> Jamsheed's young son reigned for a year, at which time the nobility brought back and installed Ibrahim Quli as sultan.<ref name="Khan" />  


The early Qutb Shahi sultans prohibited Hindus from observing their religious festivals, states [[Annemarie Schimmel]] – a scholar of Islamic studies. During the reign of Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah (1580–1611), who was a more tolerant ruler, the Hindus were allowed to observe their religious festivals like [[Diwali]] and [[Holi]] in open.<ref>Annemarie Schimmel, ''Classical Urdu Literature from the Beginning to Iqbāl'', (Otto Harrassowitz, 1975), 143; Quote: "[Muhammad Quli ... was an enlightened and tolerant ruler...] Hindus enjoyed good positions at court and were again allowed to celebrate some of their religious festivals, such as Holi and Diwali, prohibited by the previous Muslim kings" – Annemarie Schimmel</ref> Later Sultans such as Tana Shah, appointed Brahmin Hindus such as [[Madanna and Akkanna]] as ministers in charge of tax collection and exchequer. However, this led to significant factionalism between the Muslim elites and the rising power of the Brahmin Hindus. The Muslim faction reached out to Aurangzeb, who sent a regiment led by his son to attack Golconda. They beheaded Madanna and Akkanna, along with plundering the property and killing many more Hindus in administrative positions of the Qutb Shahi dynasty. Shortly thereafter, the last Sultan of dynasty was jailed in Daulatabad by Aurangzeb, and the Qutb Shahi dynasty came to an end.<ref name=Kruijtzer/><ref name=aiyangar1/>
The early Qutb Shahi sultans prohibited Hindus from observing their religious festivals, states [[Annemarie Schimmel]] – a scholar of Islamic studies. During the reign of Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah (1580–1611), who was a more tolerant ruler, the Hindus were allowed to observe their religious festivals like [[Diwali]] and [[Holi]] in open.<ref>Annemarie Schimmel, ''Classical Urdu Literature from the Beginning to Iqbāl'', (Otto Harrassowitz, 1975), 143; Quote: "[Muhammad Quli ... was an enlightened and tolerant ruler...] Hindus enjoyed good positions at court and were again allowed to celebrate some of their religious festivals, such as Holi and Diwali, prohibited by the previous Muslim kings" – Annemarie Schimmel</ref> Later Sultans such as Tana Shah, appointed Brahmin Hindus such as [[Madanna and Akkanna]] as ministers in charge of tax collection and exchequer. However, this led to significant factionalism between the Muslim elites and the rising power of the Brahmin Hindus. The Muslim faction reached out to Aurangzeb, who sent a regiment led by his son to attack Golconda. They beheaded Madanna and Akkanna, along with plundering the property and killing many more Hindus in administrative positions of the Qutb Shahi dynasty. Shortly thereafter, the last Sultan of dynasty was jailed in Daulatabad by Aurangzeb, and the Qutb Shahi dynasty came to an end.


Golconda, and with the construction of the [[Charminar|Char Minar]], later [[Hyderabad, India|Hyderabad]], served as capitals of the sultanate,<ref name="Michell" /> and both cities were embellished by the Qutb Shahi sultans. The dynasty ruled Golconda for 171 years, until the [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] emperor [[Aurangzeb]] conquered the [[Deccan Plateau|Deccan]] in 1687.<ref name="Chandra2">Satish Chandra, ''Medieval India: From Sultanat to the Mughals'', Part II, (Har-Anand, 2009), 331.</ref>
Golconda, and with the construction of the [[Charminar|Char Minar]], later [[Hyderabad, India|Hyderabad]], served as capitals of the sultanate,<ref name="Michell" /> and both cities were embellished by the Qutb Shahi sultans. The dynasty ruled Golconda for 171 years, until the [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] emperor [[Aurangzeb]] conquered the [[Deccan Plateau|Deccan]] in 1687.<ref name="Chandra2">Satish Chandra, ''Medieval India: From Sultanat to the Mughals'', Part II, (Har-Anand, 2009), 331.</ref> The territory of the Golconda Sultanate was made into a Mughal imperial province, [[Hyderabad Subah]].<ref name=":02">{{Cite journal |last=Richards |first=J. F. |date=1975 |title=The Hyderabad Karnatik, 1687-1707 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/311962 |journal=Modern Asian Studies |volume=9 |issue=2 |pages=241–260 |doi=10.1017/S0026749X00004996 |jstor=311962 |s2cid=142989123 |issn=0026-749X}}</ref>


== Economy ==
== Economy ==
The Golconda Sultanate was notoriously wealthy. While its primary source of revenue was land tax,<ref>{{Citation|last=Eaton|first=R. M.|title=Ḳuṭb S̲h̲āhī|date=2012-04-24|url=https://referenceworks.brillonline.com/entries/encyclopaedia-of-islam-2/kutb-shahi-SIM_4584?s.num=47&s.f.s2_parent=s.f.book.encyclopaedia-of-islam-2&s.start=40&s.q=deccan|work=Encyclopaedia of Islam, Second Edition|publisher=Brill|language=en|access-date=2021-12-26}}</ref> the sultanate greatly profited from its monopoly on diamond production from mines in the southern districts of the kingdom. The sultanate also had control over the [[Krishna Delta|Krishna]] and [[Godavari Delta|Godavari deltas]], giving it access to craft production in the villages of the area, where goods like textiles were produced. The town of [[Masulipatnam]] served as the Golconda Sultanate's primary seaport for the export of diamonds and textiles. The kingdom reached the peak of its financial prosperity in the 1620s and 1630s.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Eaton|first=Richard Maxwell|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/58431679|title=A social history of the Deccan, 1300-1761 : eight Indian lives|date=2005|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=0-521-25484-1|location=Cambridge, UK|pages=157|oclc=58431679}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Kanakarathnam|first=N.|date=2014|title=MARITIME TRADE AND GROWTH OF URBAN INFRASTRUCTURE IN PORT CITIES OF COLONIAL ANDHRA: A STUDY OF MASULIPATNAM|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/44158449|journal=Proceedings of the Indian History Congress|volume=75|pages=691|issn=2249-1937}}</ref>
[[File:Tomb of Sultan Muhammad Qutb Shah 01.jpg|thumb|right|Tomb of [[Sultan Muhammad Qutb Shah]] in [[Hyderabad]].]]
The Golconda Sultanate was notoriously wealthy. While its primary source of revenue was land tax,<ref>{{Citation|last=Eaton|first=R. M.|title=Ḳuṭb Shāhī|date=2012-04-24|url=https://referenceworks.brillonline.com/entries/encyclopaedia-of-islam-2/kutb-shahi-SIM_4584?s.num=47&s.f.s2_parent=s.f.book.encyclopaedia-of-islam-2&s.start=40&s.q=deccan|encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of Islam, Second Edition|publisher=Brill|language=en|access-date=2021-12-26}}</ref> the sultanate greatly profited from its monopoly on diamond production from mines in the southern districts of the kingdom. The sultanate also had control over the [[Krishna Delta|Krishna]] and [[Godavari Delta|Godavari deltas]], giving it access to craft production in the villages of the area, where goods like textiles were produced. The town of [[Masulipatnam]] served as the Golconda Sultanate's primary seaport for the export of diamonds and textiles. The kingdom reached the peak of its financial prosperity in the 1620s and 1630s.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Eaton|first=Richard Maxwell|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/58431679|title=A social history of the Deccan, 1300-1761 : eight Indian lives|date=2005|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=0-521-25484-1|location=Cambridge, UK|pages=157|oclc=58431679}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Kanakarathnam|first=N.|title=Maritime Trade and Growth of Urban Infrastructure in Port Cities of Colonial Andhra: A Study of Masulipatnam |date=2014|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/44158449|journal=Proceedings of the Indian History Congress|volume=75|pages=691|jstor=44158449 |issn=2249-1937}}</ref>


=== Cotton-Weaving ===
=== Cotton-Weaving ===
During the early seventeenth century, a strong cotton-weaving industry existed in the Deccan region. Large quantities of cotton cloth were produced for domestic and exports consumption. High quality plain and patterned cloth made of muslin and calico was produced. Plain cloth was available as white or brown colour, in bleached or dyed variety. This cloth was exported to Persia and European countries. Patterned cloth was made of prints which were made indigenously with indigo for blue, chay-root for red coloured prints and vegetable yellow. Patterned cloth exports were mainly to Java, Sumatra and other eastern countries.<ref name=":2" />
During the early seventeenth century, a strong cotton-weaving industry existed in the Deccan region. Large quantities of cotton cloth were produced for domestic and exports consumption. High quality plain and patterned cloth made of muslin and calico was produced. Plain cloth was available as white or brown colour, in bleached or dyed variety. This cloth was exported to Persia and European countries. Patterned cloth was made of prints which were made indigenously with indigo for blue, chay-root for red coloured prints and vegetable yellow. Patterned cloth exports were mainly to Java, Sumatra and other eastern countries.<ref name=":2" /> Golconda had a strong trading relationship with Ayutthaya Siam.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Marcinkowski |first=Christoph |title=Persians and Shi'ites in Thailand: From the Ayutthaya Period to the Present |url=https://www.iseas.edu.sg/images/pdf/nscwps15.pdf}}</ref>


=== Diamonds ===
=== Diamonds ===
Line 90: Line 96:
The Qutb Shahis were patrons of [[Persianate]] Shia culture.<ref name="Farooqi"/><ref name="Chandra" /> Over the first 90 years of their rule (c. 1512 – 1600), they championed Persian culture. Their official edicts and court language was in Persian only.<ref name="Eaton" /> Quli Qutb Mulk's court became a haven for Persian culture and literature.<ref name="Bosworth" />  In early 17th-century, with Sultan [[Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah]] (1580–1612) a change began. He began to patronize the Telugu language and culture as well. Edicts began to be issued both in Persian and Telugu. Towards the end of the dynasty, these were primarily in Telugu with a summary in Persian. As they adopted Telugu, they saw their territory as the Telugu speaking region, states Indologist Richard Eaton, with their elites considering the rulers as "Telugu Sultans".<ref name="Eaton">Richard M. Eaton (2005), A Social History of the Deccan, 1300-1761: Eight Indian Lives, Vol. 1, Cambridge University Press, 142-143</ref>
The Qutb Shahis were patrons of [[Persianate]] Shia culture.<ref name="Farooqi"/><ref name="Chandra" /> Over the first 90 years of their rule (c. 1512 – 1600), they championed Persian culture. Their official edicts and court language was in Persian only.<ref name="Eaton" /> Quli Qutb Mulk's court became a haven for Persian culture and literature.<ref name="Bosworth" />  In early 17th-century, with Sultan [[Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah]] (1580–1612) a change began. He began to patronize the Telugu language and culture as well. Edicts began to be issued both in Persian and Telugu. Towards the end of the dynasty, these were primarily in Telugu with a summary in Persian. As they adopted Telugu, they saw their territory as the Telugu speaking region, states Indologist Richard Eaton, with their elites considering the rulers as "Telugu Sultans".<ref name="Eaton">Richard M. Eaton (2005), A Social History of the Deccan, 1300-1761: Eight Indian Lives, Vol. 1, Cambridge University Press, 142-143</ref>


Sultan [[Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah]] (1580–1612) wrote poems in Dakhini Urdu, Persian and Telugu.<ref name="Chandra" /> Subsequent poets and writers, however wrote in Urdu, while using vocabulary from Persian, Hindi and Telugu languages.<ref name="Chandra" /> During the reign of [[Abdullah Qutb Shah]] in 1634 CE, an ancient Sanskrit text on love and sex ''[[Ratirahasya]]'' by Kokkoka was translated into [[Persian language|Persian]] and named ''Lazzat-un-Nisa'' (Flavors of the Woman).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/lazzat-un-nisa-hyderabads-own-kamasutra-back-in-focus/articleshow/67391978.cms|title=Lazzat-Un-Nisa: Hyderabad's own Kamasutra back in focus - Times of India|last=Akbar|first=Syed|date=2019-01-05|website=The Times of India|access-date=2019-01-05}}</ref>
Sultan [[Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah]] (1580–1612) wrote poems in Dakhini Urdu, Persian and Telugu.<ref name="Chandra" /> Subsequent poets and writers, however wrote in Urdu, while using vocabulary from Persian, Hindi and Telugu languages.<ref name="Chandra" /> During the reign of [[Abdullah Qutb Shah]] in 1634 AD, an ancient Sanskrit text on love and sex ''[[Ratirahasya]]'' by Kokkoka was translated into [[Persian language|Persian]] and named ''Lazzat-un-Nisa'' (Flavors of the Woman).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/lazzat-un-nisa-hyderabads-own-kamasutra-back-in-focus/articleshow/67391978.cms|title=Lazzat-Un-Nisa: Hyderabad's own Kamasutra back in focus - Times of India|last=Akbar|first=Syed|date=2019-01-05|website=The Times of India|access-date=2019-01-05}}</ref>


=== Architecture ===
=== Architecture ===
The Qutb Shahi architecture was [[Indo-Islamic architecture|Indo-Islamic]], a culmination of Indian and Persian architectural styles.<ref name="Farooqui1">Salma Ahmed Farooqui, ''A Comprehensive History of Medieval India: From Twelfth to the Mid-Eighteenth Century'', (Dorling Kindersley Pvt. Ltd, 2011), 181.</ref> Their style was very similar to that of the other [[Deccan sultanates|Deccan Sultanates]]. The Qutb Shahi rulers built the [[Charminar|Char Minar]].<ref name="Chandra">Satish Chandra, ''Medieval India: From Sultanat to the Mughals'', Part II, (Har-Anand, 2009), 210.</ref>  
The Qutb Shahi architecture was [[Indo-Islamic architecture|Indo-Islamic]], a culmination of Indian and Persian architectural styles.<ref name="Farooqui1">Salma Ahmed Farooqui, ''A Comprehensive History of Medieval India: From Twelfth to the Mid-Eighteenth Century'', (Dorling Kindersley Pvt. Ltd, 2011), 181.</ref> Their style was very similar to that of the other [[Deccan sultanates|Deccan Sultanates]]. The Qutb Shahi rulers built the [[Charminar|Char Minar]].<ref name="Chandra">Satish Chandra, ''Medieval India: From Sultanat to the Mughals'', Part II, (Har-Anand, 2009), 210.</ref>


Some examples of Qutb Shahi Indo-Islamic architecture are the [[Golkonda|Golconda Fort]], [[Qutb Shahi Tombs|tombs of the Qutb Shahis]], [[Charminar|Char Minar]] and the [[Char Kaman]], [[Mecca Masjid]], [[Khairtabad Mosque]], [[Hayat Bakshi Mosque]], [[Taramati Baradari]] and the [[Toli Masjid|Toli Mosque]].<ref name="Farooqui1" /><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/5573/|title=The Qutb Shahi Monuments of Hyderabad Golconda Fort, Qutb Shahi Tombs, Charminar - UNESCO World Heritage Centre|last=Centre|first=UNESCO World Heritage|website=whc.unesco.org|language=en|access-date=2018-09-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180201205635/https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/5573/ |archive-date=1 February 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>
Some examples of Qutb Shahi Indo-Islamic architecture are the [[Golkonda|Golconda Fort]], [[Qutb Shahi Tombs|tombs of the Qutb Shahis]], [[Charminar|Char Minar]] and the [[Char Kaman]], [[Mecca Masjid]], [[Khairtabad Mosque]], [[Hayat Bakshi Mosque]], [[Taramati Baradari]] and the [[Toli Masjid|Toli Mosque]].<ref name="Farooqui1" /><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/5573/|title=The Qutb Shahi Monuments of Hyderabad Golconda Fort, Qutb Shahi Tombs, Charminar - UNESCO World Heritage Centre|last=Centre|first=UNESCO World Heritage|website=whc.unesco.org|language=en|access-date=2018-09-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180201205635/https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/5573/ |archive-date=1 February 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>


== Administration ==
== Administration ==
The Qutb Shahi Kingdom was a highly centralized state. The sultan enjoyed absolute executive judicial and military powers. When he was away, a regent carried to carry on the administration on behalf of the king. The ''Peshwa'' (Prime Minister) was the highest official of the sultanate. He was assisted by a number of ministers, including ''Mir Jumla'' (finance minister), ''Kotwal'' (police commissioner), and ''Khazanadar'' (treasurer).{{cn|date=September 2021}}
[[File:The Bahmani Kingdom, Kandesh, and the Five Sultanates.jpg|thumb|The Bahmani Kingdom, Kandesh, and the Five Sultanates]]
The Qutb Shahi Kingdom was a highly centralized state. The sultan enjoyed absolute executive judicial and military powers. When he was away, a regent carried to carry on the administration on behalf of the king. The ''Peshwa'' (Prime Minister) was the highest official of the sultanate. He was assisted by a number of ministers, including ''Mir Jumla'' (finance minister), ''Kotwal'' (police commissioner), and ''Khazanadar'' (treasurer).{{citation needed|date=September 2021}}


For most of their reign, the Qutb Shahi sultanate had a system of jagirs, who would provide troops as well as collect taxes. They were allowed to keep a portion of the taxes and give the sultan the rest. Tax collection was through auction farms, the highest bidder used to get the Governorship. While the Governors enjoyed luxurious life style, they had to bear the brunt of severe punishments for default, consequently they were harsh on the people.<ref name=":2" /> Tana Shah – the last Sultan, with advice from his Brahmin ministers responsible for tax collection, introduced a reform whereby all taxes were collected by civil professionals for a region. The soldiers, government workers, court officials and all the Muslim elites were paid allowances from the Sultan's treasury. These reforms brought a large increase in revenues.<ref>Gijs Kruijtzer (2002), ''Madanna, Akkanna and the Brahmin Revolution: A Study of Mentality, Group Behaviour and Personality in Seventeenth-Century India'', Journal of the Economic and Social History of the Orient, Vol. 45, No. 2, pp. 231-267, {{JSTOR|3632842}}</ref>
For most of their reign, the Qutb Shahi sultanate had a system of jagirs, who would provide troops as well as collect taxes. They were allowed to keep a portion of the taxes and give the sultan the rest. Tax collection was through auction farms, the highest bidder used to get the Governorship. While the Governors enjoyed luxurious life style, they had to bear the brunt of severe punishments for default, consequently they were harsh on the people.<ref name=":2" /> Tana Shah – the last Sultan, with advice from his Brahmin ministers responsible for tax collection, introduced a reform whereby all taxes were collected by civil professionals for a region. The soldiers, government workers, court officials and all the Muslim elites were paid allowances from the Sultan's treasury. These reforms brought a large increase in revenues.


According to Moreland, in the earlier system, the Persian origin Muslims were paid the highest, then the other Indian Muslims. In early 17th century, the Persian origin Muslims became rich by lending money on high interest (usury) of 4-5% per ''mensem'' much to the despair of Hindus.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book|last=Moreland|first=W.H.|title=Relation of Golconda in the Early Seventeenth Century|publisher=Halyukt Society|year=1931|pages=78, 89}}</ref>
According to Moreland, in the earlier system, the Persian origin Muslims were paid the highest, then the other Indian Muslims. In early 17th century, the Persian origin Muslims became rich by lending money on high interest (usury) of 4-5% per ''mensem'' much to the despair of Hindus.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book|last=Moreland|first=W.H.|title=Relation of Golconda in the Early Seventeenth Century|publisher=Halyukt Society|year=1931|pages=78, 89}}</ref>


The Sultanate had 66 forts, and each fort was administered by a ''Nayak''.<ref>{{cite book|title=Prince;Poet;Lover;Builder: Mohd. Quli Qutb Shah - The founder of Hyderabad|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4B_iDQAAQBAJ|author=Narendra Luther|publisher=Publications Division Ministry of Information & Broadcasting|year=1991|isbn=9788123023151|access-date=13 January 2020}}</ref> In the second half of the 17th-century, the Qutb Shahi Sultan hired many Hindu Nayaks. According to Kruijtzer, these were mainly Brahmins.<ref name=Kruijtzer/> According to another account, these were mainly from the [[Kamma (caste)|Kamma]], [[Velama]], [[Kapu (caste)|Kapu]], and [[Raju]] warrior castes.<ref name=":1">Chapter III: Economics, Political, Economic, and Social Background of Deccan 17th-18th Century, p.57 [https://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/25652/10/10_chapter%203.pdf Deccan under late 17th-century Qutb Shahi]</ref> They served as civil revenue officers. After the Mughals dismissed the Qutb Shahi dynasty in 1687, these Hindu Nayaks were also dismissed and replaced with Muslim military commanders.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zdqxsas05NMC|title=Proceedings of Seminar on Industries and Crafts in Andhra Desa, 17th and 18th Centuries, A.D.|date=1996|publisher=Department of History, Osmania University|pages=57|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qJXXAAAAMAAJ|title=Readings In Society And Religion Of Medieval South India|last=Reddy|first=Pedarapu Chenna|date=2006-01-01|publisher=Research India Press|isbn=9788189131043|pages=163|language=en}}</ref>
The Sultanate had 66 forts, and each fort was administered by a ''Nayak''.<ref>{{cite book|title=Prince;Poet;Lover;Builder: Mohd. Quli Qutb Shah - The founder of Hyderabad|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4B_iDQAAQBAJ|author=Narendra Luther|publisher=Publications Division Ministry of Information & Broadcasting|year=1991|isbn=9788123023151|access-date=13 January 2020}}</ref> In the second half of the 17th century, the Qutb Shahi Sultan hired many Hindu Nayaks. According to Kruijtzer, these were mainly Brahmins. According to another account, these were mainly from the [[Kamma (caste)|Kamma]], [[Velama]], [[Kapu (caste)|Kapu]], and [[Raju]] warrior castes.<ref name=":1">Chapter III: Economics, Political, Economic, and Social Background of Deccan 17th-18th Century, p.57 [https://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/25652/10/10_chapter%203.pdf Deccan under late 17th-century Qutb Shahi]</ref> They served as civil revenue officers. After the Mughals dismissed the Qutb Shahi dynasty in 1687, these Hindu Nayaks were also dismissed and replaced with Muslim military commanders.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zdqxsas05NMC|title=Proceedings of Seminar on Industries and Crafts in Andhra Desa, 17th and 18th Centuries, A.D.|date=1996|publisher=Department of History, Osmania University|pages=57|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qJXXAAAAMAAJ|title=Readings In Society And Religion Of Medieval South India|last=Reddy|first=Pedarapu Chenna|date=2006-01-01|publisher=Research India Press|isbn=9788189131043|pages=163|language=en}}</ref>
 
=== Administrative divisions ===
{{South Asia in 1525 CE|right|The Golconda Sultanate and main South Asian polities circa 1525 AD, on the eve of the establishment of the [[Mughal Empire]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Schwartzberg |first1=Joseph E. |title=A Historical atlas of South Asia |date=1978 |publisher=University of Chicago Press |location=Chicago |page=39, 147|isbn=0226742210 |url=https://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/schwartzberg/pager.html?object=076}}</ref>|{{Annotation|130|168|[[File:Long Rectangle (plain).png|47px]]}}}}
The sultanate in 1670 comprised 21 ''[[Sarkar (administrative division)|sarkars]]'' (provinces) which in turn were divided into 355 ''[[parganas]]'' (districts).
 
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|+ Administrative divisions of Golconda sultanate<ref>{{Cite book |last=Nayeem |first=M. A. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=V48MAQAAMAAJ |title=The Heritage of the Qutb Shahis of Golconda and Hyderabad, Volume 1 |date=2016 |publisher=Hyderabad Publishers |isbn=9788185492230 |pages=22 |chapter=MARITIME TRADE AND GROWTH OF URBAN INFRASTRUCTURE IN PORT CITIES OF COLONIAL ANDHRA: A STUDY OF MASULIPATNAM}}</ref><ref name="golconda">{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aoYgAAAAMAAJ|title=History of the Qutb Shāhī Dynasty|author=Haroon Khan Sherwani|publisher=Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers|date=1974|page=655}}</ref>
!S.No.
!Name of<br>[[Circar|Sarkar]]
!Number of<br>[[Paragana|Paraganas]]
|-
| 1
| {{transliteration|ur|ISO|Muhammadnagar}}<br>(Golconda)
| 22
|-
| 2
| Medak
| 16
|-
| 3
| {{transliteration|ur|ISO|Melangūr}}
| 3
|-
| 4
| Elangandel
| 21
|-
| 5
| Warangal
| 16
|-
| 6
| {{transliteration|ur|ISO|Khammamēṭ}}
| 11
|-
| 7
| {{transliteration|ur|ISO|Dēvarkoṇḍa}}
| 13
|-
| 8
| Pangal
| 5
|-
| 9
| Mustafanagar
| 24
|-
| 10
| {{transliteration|ur|ISO|Bhoṇgīr}}
| 11
|-
| 11
| Akarkara
| 6
|-
| 12
|  {{transliteration|ur|ISO|Kovilkoṇdā}}
| 13
|-
| 13
| Ghanpura
| 8
|-
| 14
| Murtaza Nagar<br>with three ''atrafs''
| 39
|-
| 15
| Machilipatnam
| 8
|-
| 16
| Ellore
| 12
|-
| 17
| Rajahmundry
| 24
|-
| 18
| Chicacole <br>with 3 atrafs
|115
|-
| 19
| Kaulas
| 5
|-
| 20
| Nizampatnam ''Mahal''
|1
|-
| 21
| Karnatak including Arcot ''taraf''<br> (It had 16 sarkars)
| 162<ref name="golconda"/>
|}


==Religion==
==Religion==
The Qutb Shahi dynasty, like many Deccan Islamic dynasties, was a Shia Islam dynasty with roots in Persia (modern Iran). Initially they were very strict and they persecuted the Hindus who constituted the vast majority of the population. Open practice of Hindu festivals was forbidden in Golconda Sultanate. It was Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah who first reversed this policy, and allowed Hindus to practice their festivals and religion in open.<ref>Annemarie Schimmel, ''Classical Urdu Literature from the Beginning to Iqbāl'', (Otto Harrassowitz, 1975), pp. 141-152</ref><ref>''Islam in South Asia: Practicing tradition today'', Karen G. Ruffle, '''South Asian Religions: Tradition and Today''', ed. Karen Pechilis, Selva J. Raj, (Routledge, 2013), 210.</ref>  
The Qutb Shahi dynasty, like many Deccan Islamic dynasties, was a Shia Islam dynasty with roots in Persia (modern Iran). Initially they were very strict and they persecuted the Hindus who constituted the vast majority of the population. Open practice of Hindu festivals was forbidden in Golconda Sultanate. It was Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah who first reversed this policy, and allowed Hindus to practice their festivals and religion in open.<ref>Annemarie Schimmel, ''Classical Urdu Literature from the Beginning to Iqbāl'', (Otto Harrassowitz, 1975), pp. 141-152</ref><ref>''Islam in South Asia: Practicing tradition today'', Karen G. Ruffle, '''South Asian Religions: Tradition and Today''', ed. Karen Pechilis, Selva J. Raj, (Routledge, 2013), 210.</ref>


In the final decades of their rule, the Qutb Shahi dynasty rulers patronized Shia, Sufi, Sunni Islamic traditions, as well as the Hindu traditions. Prior to their end, Tana Shah advised by Madanna and Akkanna – his Brahmin ministers, began the tradition of sending pearls to the [[Sita Ramachandraswamy temple, Bhadrachalam|Bhadrachalam Temple]] of Rama on [[Rama Navami]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IQtuAAAAMAAJ|title=Glimpses of our past--historical researches: festschrift in honour of Prof. Mukkamala Radhakrishna Sarma, former emeritus fellow|last1=Sarma|first1=Mukkamala Radhakrishna|last2=Committee|first2=Osmania University Dept of Ancient Indian History, Culture & Archaeology Felicitation|last3=History|first3=Osmania University Dept of|date=2004|publisher=Felicitation Committee, Dept. of Ancient Indian History, Culture, and Archaeology & Dept. of History, Osmania University|pages=326|language=en}}</ref>
In the final decades of their rule, the Qutb Shahi dynasty rulers patronized Shia, Sufi, Sunni Islamic traditions, as well as the Hindu traditions. Prior to their end, Tana Shah advised by Madanna and Akkanna –his Brahmin ministers, began the tradition of sending pearls to the [[Sita Ramachandraswamy temple, Bhadrachalam|Bhadrachalam Temple]] of Rama on [[Rama Navami]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IQtuAAAAMAAJ|title=Glimpses of our past--historical researches: festschrift in honour of Prof. Mukkamala Radhakrishna Sarma, former emeritus fellow|last1=Sarma|first1=Mukkamala Radhakrishna|last2=Committee|first2=Osmania University Dept of Ancient Indian History, Culture & Archaeology Felicitation|last3=History|first3=Osmania University Dept of|date=2004|publisher=Felicitation Committee, Dept. of Ancient Indian History, Culture, and Archaeology & Dept. of History, Osmania University|pages=326|language=en}}</ref>


==Rulers==
==Rulers==
The eight [[sultan]]s in the [[dynasty]] were:
The eight [[sultan]]s in the [[dynasty]] were:


{| class="wikitable" border="1"
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|-
! Rowspan="2"|Personal Name
! Rowspan="2"|Personal Name
Line 124: Line 227:
! Until
! Until
|-
|-
| ''Quli Qutb Shah''<br />قلی قطب شاہ
| ''Sultan Quli''<br />سلطان قلی  
| [[Sultan Quli Qutb-ul-Mulk]]
| [[Sultan Quli Qutb-ul-Mulk]]
| 1512
| 1512
Line 138: Line 241:
| 1550
| 1550
|
|
* Second Son of [[Quli Qutb Mulk|Quli Qutb Shah]]
* Second Son of [[Sultan Quli Qutb-ul-Mulk]]
|-
|-
| ''Subhan''<br />سبحان
| ''Subhan''<br />سبحان
Line 153: Line 256:
| 1580
| 1580
|  
|  
* Younger Son of [[Quli Qutb Mulk|Quli Qutb Shah]]
* Younger Son of [[Sultan Quli Qutb-ul-Mulk]]
* Fought the [[Battle of Talikota]] with the Alliance of [[Deccan Sultanates]]
* Fought the [[Battle of Talikota]] with the Alliance of [[Deccan Sultanates]]
|-
|-
Line 194: Line 297:
==Tombs==
==Tombs==
{{main|Qutb Shahi Tombs}}
{{main|Qutb Shahi Tombs}}
[[File:Muhammad 'Alî 001.jpg|thumb|right|[[Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah]].]]
The [[Qutb Shahi Tombs|tombs of the Qutb Shahi sultans]] lie about one kilometer north of [[Golkonda|Golkonda's]] outer wall. These structures are made of beautifully carved stonework, and surrounded by landscaped gardens. They are open to the public and receive many visitors.<ref name=":0" />
The [[Qutb Shahi Tombs|tombs of the Qutb Shahi sultans]] lie about one kilometer north of [[Golkonda|Golkonda's]] outer wall. These structures are made of beautifully carved stonework, and surrounded by landscaped gardens. They are open to the public and receive many visitors.<ref name=":0" />


==Family tree==
==Family tree==
{{Tree chart/start}}
{{Tree chart/start|align=center|style=font-size:90%}}
{{Tree chart| | | | | | | |YUS| | | | | | |YUS=[[Qara Yusuf]]<br />Ruler of the [[Kara Koyunlu|Qara Qoyunlu]]<br />1410-1420}}
{{Tree chart| | | | | | | | | | A01 | | | | | | | | | |A01='''[[Qara Yusuf]]''' <br>c. 1356-1420 <br>'''Sultan of [[Qara Qoyunlu]]''' <br>R.1389-1420 |boxstyle_ A01=border-color:#0097C4}}
 
{{Tree chart| | | | | | |,|-|-|-|^|-|-|-|.| | | | | | |}}
{{Tree chart| | |,|-|-|-|-|-|^|-|-|-|-|-|.| | | | | | | |}}
{{Tree chart| | | | | | A01 | | | | | | A02 | | | | | |A01='''[[Qara Iskander]]''' <br>?-1436 <br>'''Sultan of [[Qara Qoyunlu]]''' <br>R.1421-1429, <br>1431-1436 |A02='''[[Jahan Shah]]''' <br>1397/1405-1467 <br>'''Sultan of [[Qara Qoyunlu]]''' <br>R.1438-1467 |boxstyle_ A01=border-color:#0097C4 |boxstyle_ A02=border-color:#0097C4}}
{{Tree chart| | ISK| | | | | | | | | | JAH |ISK=[[Qara Iskander]]<br />Ruler of the [[Kara Koyunlu|Qara Qoyunlu]]<br />''First Reign''<br />1420-1429<br />''Second Reign''<br />1431-1436|JAH=[[Jahan Shah]]<br />Ruler of the [[Kara Koyunlu|Qara Qoyunlu]]<br />1436-1467}}
{{Tree chart| | | | | | |!| | | | | | | |!| | | | | | |}}
{{Tree chart| | |!| | | | | | | | | | | |!| | | | | | | |}}
{{Tree chart| | | | | | A01 | | | | | | A02 | | | | | |A01=[[Alvand Mirza (Qara Qoyunlu)|Alvand Mirza]] <br>?-1470 |A02='''[[Mirza Yusuf]]''' <br>?-1469 <br>'''Sultan of [[Qara Qoyunlu]]''' <br>R.1468-1469 |boxstyle_ A01=border-color:#0097C4 |boxstyle_ A02=border-color:#0097C4}}
{{Tree chart| | ALV| | | | | | | | | | YUS |ALV=[[Alvand Mirza (Kara Koyunlu)|Alvand Mirza]]|YUS=[[Mirza Yusuf]]<br />Ruler of the [[Kara Koyunlu|Qara Qoyunlu]]<br />1468-1469}}
{{Tree chart| | | | | | |!| | | | | | | |!| | | | | | |}}
{{Tree chart| | |!| | | | | | | | | | | |!|}}
{{Tree chart| | | | | | A01 |P|P|m|P|P| A02 | | | | | |A01=Pir Quli Beg |A02=Khadija Khatun |boxstyle_ A01=border-color:#0097C4 |boxstyle_ A02=border-color:#0097C4}}
{{Tree chart| |PIR| | | | | | | | | | KHA |PIR=Pir Quli Beg|YUS=[[Mirza Yusuf]]|KHA=Khadija Khatun}}
{{Tree chart| | | | | | | | | | |!| | | | | | | | | | |}}
{{Tree chart| | |`|-|-|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|-|-|'}}
{{Tree chart| | | | | | | | | | A01 | | | | | | | | | |A01=Uways Quli Beg |boxstyle_ A01=border-color:#0097C4}}
{{Tree chart| | | | | | | |UWA| | | | | | |UWA=Uways Quli Beg}}
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{{Tree chart| | | | | | | | |!| | | | | | | | | }}
{{Tree chart| | | | | | | | | | A01 | | | | | | | | | |A01=1. <br>'''[[Sultan Quli Qutb-ul-Mulk]]''' <br>1485-1543 <br>'''Sultan of [[Golconda Sultanate|Golconda]]''' <br>R.1518-1543 |boxstyle_ A01=border-color:#37C8AB}}
{{Tree chart| | | | | | | |QUL| | | | | | |QUL=1.<br />'''[[Quli Qutb Mulk]]'''<br />[[Sultan]] of [[Golkonda]]<br />1512-1543}}
{{Tree chart| | |dj|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|+|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|.| | |}}
{{Tree chart| | |,|-|-|-|-|-|+|-|-|-|-|-|.| | | | | | | |}}
{{Tree chart| | |:| | | | | | | A01 | | | | | | A02 | |A01=4. <br>'''[[Ibrahim Quli Qutb Shah Wali]]''' <br>1518-1580 <br>'''Sultan of [[Golconda Sultanate|Golconda]]''' <br>R.1550-1580 |A02=2. <br>'''[[Jamsheed Quli Qutb Shah]]''' <br>?-1550 <br>'''Sultan of [[Golconda Sultanate|Golconda]]''' <br>R.1543-1550 |boxstyle_ A01=border-color:#37C8AB |boxstyle_ A02=border-color:#37C8AB}}
{{Tree chart| | |:| | | | |IBR| | | | JAM |IBR=4.<br />''' [[Ibrahim Quli Qutb Shah Wali]]'''<br />[[Sultan]] of [[Golkonda]]<br />1550-1580|JAM=2.<br />'''[[Jamsheed Quli Qutb Shah]]'''<br />[[Sultan]] of [[Golkonda]]<br />1543-1550}}
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{{Tree chart| | |:| | | A01 | | | | | | A02 | | A03 | |A01=Mirza Muhammad Amin |A02=5. <br>'''[[Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah]]''' <br>1565-1612 <br>'''Sultan of [[Golconda Sultanate|Golconda]]''' <br>R.1580-1612 |A03=3. <br>'''[[Subhan Quli Qutb Shah]]''' <br>1543-1550 <br>'''Sultan of [[Golconda Sultanate|Golconda]]''' <br>R.1550 |boxstyle_ A01=border-color:#37C8AB |boxstyle_ A02=border-color:#37C8AB |boxstyle_ A03=border-color:#37C8AB}}
{{Tree chart| | |:| | |AMI| |MUH| | SUB |AMI=Mirza Muhammad Amin|MUH=5.<br />'''[[Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah]]'''<br />[[Sultan]] of [[Golkonda]]<br />1580-1611|SUB=3.<br />'''[[Subhan Quli Qutb Shah]]'''<br />[[Sultan]] of [[Golkonda]]<br />1550}}
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{{Tree chart| | |:| | | |!| | | |!| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |}}
{{Tree chart| | |:| | | A01 |P|P|m|P|P| A02 | | | | | |A01=6. <br>'''[[Sultan Muhammad Qutb Shah]]''' <br>1593-1626 <br>'''Sultan of [[Golconda Sultanate|Golconda]]''' <br>R.1612-1626 |A02=[[Hayat Bakshi Begum]] <br>?-1667 |boxstyle_ A01=border-color:#37C8AB |boxstyle_ A02=border-color:#37C8AB}}
{{Tree chart| | |:| | |SUL| |HAY
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|SUL=6.<br />'''[[Sultan Muhammad Qutb Shah|Muhammad Qutb Shah]]'''<br />[[Sultan]] of [[Golkonda]]<br />1611-1626
{{Tree chart| | |:| | | | | | | A01 | | | | | | | | | |A01=7. <br>'''[[Abdullah Qutb Shah]]''' <br>1614-1672 <br>'''Sultan of [[Golconda Sultanate|Golconda]]''' <br>R.1626-1672 |boxstyle_ A01=border-color:#37C8AB}}
|HAY=[[Hayat Bakshi Begum]]}}
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{{Tree chart| | A01 |P|P|m|P|P| A02 | | | | | | | | | |A01=8. <br>'''[[Abul Hasan Qutb Shah]]''' <br>?-1699 <br>'''Sultan of [[Golconda Sultanate|Golconda]]''' <br>R.1672-1687 |A02=Badshah Bibi |boxstyle_ A01=border-color:#37C8AB |boxstyle_ A02=border-color:#37C8AB}}
{{Tree chart| | |:| | | | |ABD| | | | | | |ABD=7.<br />'''[[Abdullah Qutb Shah]]'''<br />[[Sultan]] of [[Golkonda]]<br />1626-1672}}
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{{Tree chart| | | | | | A01 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |A01=Khuda Banda |boxstyle_ A01=border-color:#37C8AB}}
{{Tree chart| |ABU| | | |BAD| | | | | | |ABU=8.<br />'''[[Abul Hasan Qutb Shah]]'''<br />[[Sultan]] of [[Golkonda]]<br />1672-1687 |BAD= Badshah Bibi}}
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==See also==
==See also==
{{Portal|Hyderabad}}
 
*[[Hyderabad Deccan]]
*[[Hyderabad Deccan]]
*[[Battle of Talikota]]
*[[Battle of Talikota]]
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==External links==
==External links==
{{Wikivoyage|Hyderabad}}{{commons category}}
 
{{wikiquote}}{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Andhra Pradesh}}
{{Andhra Pradesh}}
{{Telangana}}
{{Telangana}}
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[[Category:Dynasties of India]]
[[Category:Dynasties of India]]
[[Category:History of Telangana]]
[[Category:History of Telangana]]
[[Category:Telugu people]]
[[Category:Former countries in South Asia]]
[[Category:Former countries in South Asia]]


[[de:Golkonda]]
[[de:Golkonda]]

Latest revision as of 19:43, 14 August 2023


Golconda Sultanate

1518–1687
Flag of Qutb Shahi
Flag of the Qutb Shahis
Golconda in 1733 AD.[1]
Golconda in 1733 AD.[1]
CapitalGolconda (1519–1591)
Hyderabad (1591–1687)
Common languagesPersian (official)[2]
Telugu (official after 1600)[3]
Deccani Urdu
Religion
Shia Islam
GovernmentMonarchy
Qutb Shah 
• 1512–1543
Sultan Quli Qutb-ul-Mulk
• 1543–1550
Jamsheed Quli Qutb Shah
• 1550–1550
Subhan Quli Qutb Shah
• 1550–1580
Ibrahim Quli Qutb Shah
• 1580-1612
Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah
• 1612-1626
Sultan Muhammad Qutb Shah
• 1626–1672
Abdullah Qutb Shah
• 1672-1686
Abul Hasan Qutb Shah
History 
• Established
1518
• Disestablished
1687
CurrencyMohur
Preceded by		 Succeeded by
Bahmani Sultanate
Qara Qoyunlu
Hyderabad Subah
Today part ofIndia

The Qutb Shahi dynasty (Persian: قطب‌‌شاهیان Qotb-Šâhiyân; Urdu: قطب شاہی خاندان‎ Qutb Shāhī Khāndān) was a Persianate[4] Shia Islamic dynasty of Turkoman origin[5][6] that ruled the Sultanate of Golkonda (Persian: سلطنت گلکنده‎ Saltanat-e Golkonde; Urdu: سلطنت گولکنڈہ‎ Saltanat-e Golkunḍa) in southern India.[7][8][9][10] After the collapse of Bahmani Sultanate, the Qutb Shahi dynasty was established in 1512 AD by Sultan-Quli Qutb-ul-Mulk, better known though less correctly referred to in English as "Quli Qutb Shah".

In 1636, Mughal emperor Shah Jahan forced the Qutb Shahis to recognize Mughal suzerainty and pay periodic tributes. 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.[11][12][13] The kingdom extended from the parts of modern-day states of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Telangana.[14] The Golconda sultanate was constantly in conflict with the Adil Shahis and Nizam Shahis.[13]

The Qutb Shahis were patrons of Persianate Shia culture.[12][8] The official and court language of the Golconda sultanate during the first 90 years of its existence (c. 1512 – 1600) was also Persian. In the early 17th century, 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".[15]

History[edit]

The dynasty's founder, Sultan Quli Khawas Khan Hamdani was born in Hamadan Province, Iran. He belonged to the Qara Qoyunlu, an Iranian Turkmen Muslim tribe and therefore a descendant of Qara Yusuf.[16][17] In the 16th century, he migrated to Delhi with his uncle, Allah-Quli, some of his relatives and friends. Later he migrated south, to the Deccan and served the Bahmani sultan, Mahmood Shah Bahmani II, who was of Deccani Muslim ethnicity.[18][19] He declared the independence of Golconda, after the disintegration of the Bahmani Kingdom into the five Deccan sultanates.[19] Soon after, he declared independence from the Bahmani Sultanate, took the title Qutub Shah, and established the Qutb Shahi dynasty of Golconda. He was later assassinated in 1543 by his son, Jamsheed, who assumed the sultanate.[19] Jamsheed died in 1550 from cancer.[20] Jamsheed's young son reigned for a year, at which time the nobility brought back and installed Ibrahim Quli as sultan.[20]

The early Qutb Shahi sultans prohibited Hindus from observing their religious festivals, states Annemarie Schimmel – a scholar of Islamic studies. During the reign of Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah (1580–1611), who was a more tolerant ruler, the Hindus were allowed to observe their religious festivals like Diwali and Holi in open.[21] Later Sultans such as Tana Shah, appointed Brahmin Hindus such as Madanna and Akkanna as ministers in charge of tax collection and exchequer. However, this led to significant factionalism between the Muslim elites and the rising power of the Brahmin Hindus. The Muslim faction reached out to Aurangzeb, who sent a regiment led by his son to attack Golconda. They beheaded Madanna and Akkanna, along with plundering the property and killing many more Hindus in administrative positions of the Qutb Shahi dynasty. Shortly thereafter, the last Sultan of dynasty was jailed in Daulatabad by Aurangzeb, and the Qutb Shahi dynasty came to an end.

Golconda, and with the construction of the Char Minar, later Hyderabad, served as capitals of the sultanate,[19] and both cities were embellished by the Qutb Shahi sultans. The dynasty ruled Golconda for 171 years, until the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb conquered the Deccan in 1687.[22] The territory of the Golconda Sultanate was made into a Mughal imperial province, Hyderabad Subah.[23]

Economy[edit]

Tomb of Sultan Muhammad Qutb Shah in Hyderabad.

The Golconda Sultanate was notoriously wealthy. While its primary source of revenue was land tax,[24] the sultanate greatly profited from its monopoly on diamond production from mines in the southern districts of the kingdom. The sultanate also had control over the Krishna and Godavari deltas, giving it access to craft production in the villages of the area, where goods like textiles were produced. The town of Masulipatnam served as the Golconda Sultanate's primary seaport for the export of diamonds and textiles. The kingdom reached the peak of its financial prosperity in the 1620s and 1630s.[25][26]

Cotton-Weaving[edit]

During the early seventeenth century, a strong cotton-weaving industry existed in the Deccan region. Large quantities of cotton cloth were produced for domestic and exports consumption. High quality plain and patterned cloth made of muslin and calico was produced. Plain cloth was available as white or brown colour, in bleached or dyed variety. This cloth was exported to Persia and European countries. Patterned cloth was made of prints which were made indigenously with indigo for blue, chay-root for red coloured prints and vegetable yellow. Patterned cloth exports were mainly to Java, Sumatra and other eastern countries.[27] Golconda had a strong trading relationship with Ayutthaya Siam.[28]

Diamonds[edit]

Main article: Golconda diamonds

The Golconda Sultanate was known for its diamonds which were dubbed the Golconda diamonds. These diamonds were sought after diamonds long before the Qutb Shahi dynasty came to power, and they continued to supply this demand through the European traders.[29]

Diamonds from mines (especially the Kollur Mine presently in Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh) were transported to the city of Hyderabad to be cut, polished, evaluated and sold. Golconda established itself as a diamond trading centre and until the end of the 19th century, the Golconda market was the primary source of the finest and largest diamonds in the world.[30]

Culture[edit]

Golkonda Painting, 1650-1670 Opaque watercolor and gold on paper Overall
Music in Golkonda, 1660–1670. Musician plays a form of rubab.

The Qutb Shahis were patrons of Persianate Shia culture.[12][8] Over the first 90 years of their rule (c. 1512 – 1600), they championed Persian culture. Their official edicts and court language was in Persian only.[15] Quli Qutb Mulk's court became a haven for Persian culture and literature.[13] In early 17th-century, with Sultan Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah (1580–1612) a change began. He began to patronize the Telugu language and culture as well. Edicts began to be issued both in Persian and Telugu. Towards the end of the dynasty, these were primarily in Telugu with a summary in Persian. As they adopted Telugu, they saw their territory as the Telugu speaking region, states Indologist Richard Eaton, with their elites considering the rulers as "Telugu Sultans".[15]

Sultan Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah (1580–1612) wrote poems in Dakhini Urdu, Persian and Telugu.[8] Subsequent poets and writers, however wrote in Urdu, while using vocabulary from Persian, Hindi and Telugu languages.[8] During the reign of Abdullah Qutb Shah in 1634 AD, an ancient Sanskrit text on love and sex Ratirahasya by Kokkoka was translated into Persian and named Lazzat-un-Nisa (Flavors of the Woman).[31]

Architecture[edit]

The Qutb Shahi architecture was Indo-Islamic, a culmination of Indian and Persian architectural styles.[32] Their style was very similar to that of the other Deccan Sultanates. The Qutb Shahi rulers built the Char Minar.[8]

Some examples of Qutb Shahi Indo-Islamic architecture are the Golconda Fort, tombs of the Qutb Shahis, Char Minar and the Char Kaman, Mecca Masjid, Khairtabad Mosque, Hayat Bakshi Mosque, Taramati Baradari and the Toli Mosque.[32][33]

Administration[edit]

The Bahmani Kingdom, Kandesh, and the Five Sultanates

The Qutb Shahi Kingdom was a highly centralized state. The sultan enjoyed absolute executive judicial and military powers. When he was away, a regent carried to carry on the administration on behalf of the king. The Peshwa (Prime Minister) was the highest official of the sultanate. He was assisted by a number of ministers, including Mir Jumla (finance minister), Kotwal (police commissioner), and Khazanadar (treasurer).[citation needed]

For most of their reign, the Qutb Shahi sultanate had a system of jagirs, who would provide troops as well as collect taxes. They were allowed to keep a portion of the taxes and give the sultan the rest. Tax collection was through auction farms, the highest bidder used to get the Governorship. While the Governors enjoyed luxurious life style, they had to bear the brunt of severe punishments for default, consequently they were harsh on the people.[27] Tana Shah – the last Sultan, with advice from his Brahmin ministers responsible for tax collection, introduced a reform whereby all taxes were collected by civil professionals for a region. The soldiers, government workers, court officials and all the Muslim elites were paid allowances from the Sultan's treasury. These reforms brought a large increase in revenues.

According to Moreland, in the earlier system, the Persian origin Muslims were paid the highest, then the other Indian Muslims. In early 17th century, the Persian origin Muslims became rich by lending money on high interest (usury) of 4-5% per mensem much to the despair of Hindus.[27]

The Sultanate had 66 forts, and each fort was administered by a Nayak.[34] In the second half of the 17th century, the Qutb Shahi Sultan hired many Hindu Nayaks. According to Kruijtzer, these were mainly Brahmins. According to another account, these were mainly from the Kamma, Velama, Kapu, and Raju warrior castes.[35] They served as civil revenue officers. After the Mughals dismissed the Qutb Shahi dynasty in 1687, these Hindu Nayaks were also dismissed and replaced with Muslim military commanders.[36][35][37]

Administrative divisions[edit]

Template:South Asia in 1525 CE The sultanate in 1670 comprised 21 sarkars (provinces) which in turn were divided into 355 parganas (districts).

Administrative divisions of Golconda sultanate[38][39]
S.No. Name of
Sarkar 		Number of
Paraganas
1 Muhammadnagar
(Golconda) 		22
2 Medak 16
3 Melangūr 3
4 Elangandel 21
5 Warangal 16
6 Khammamēṭ 11
7 Dēvarkoṇḍa 13
8 Pangal 5
9 Mustafanagar 24
10 Bhoṇgīr 11
11 Akarkara 6
12 Kovilkoṇdā 13
13 Ghanpura 8
14 Murtaza Nagar
with three atrafs 		39
15 Machilipatnam 8
16 Ellore 12
17 Rajahmundry 24
18 Chicacole
with 3 atrafs 		115
19 Kaulas 5
20 Nizampatnam Mahal 1
21 Karnatak including Arcot taraf
(It had 16 sarkars) 		162[39]

Religion[edit]

The Qutb Shahi dynasty, like many Deccan Islamic dynasties, was a Shia Islam dynasty with roots in Persia (modern Iran). Initially they were very strict and they persecuted the Hindus who constituted the vast majority of the population. Open practice of Hindu festivals was forbidden in Golconda Sultanate. It was Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah who first reversed this policy, and allowed Hindus to practice their festivals and religion in open.[40][41]

In the final decades of their rule, the Qutb Shahi dynasty rulers patronized Shia, Sufi, Sunni Islamic traditions, as well as the Hindu traditions. Prior to their end, Tana Shah advised by Madanna and Akkanna –his Brahmin ministers, began the tradition of sending pearls to the Bhadrachalam Temple of Rama on Rama Navami.[42]

Rulers[edit]

The eight sultans in the dynasty were:

Personal Name Titular Name Reign Notes
From Until
Sultan Quli
سلطان قلی 		Sultan Quli Qutb-ul-Mulk 1512 1543
Jamsheed
جمشید 		Jamsheed Quli Qutb Shah 1543 1550
Subhan
سبحان 		Subhan Quli Qutb Shah 1550 1550
Ibrahim
ابراہیم 		Ibrahim Quli Qutb Shah Wali 1550 1580
Muhammad Ali
محمد علی 		Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah 1580 1612
Sultan Muhammad
محمد سلطان 		Sultan Muhammad Qutb Shah 1612 1626
Abdullah
عبداللہ 		Abdullah Qutb Shah 1626 1672
Abul Hasan
ابُل حسن 		Tana Shah 1672 1686

Tombs[edit]

Main article: Qutb Shahi Tombs

The tombs of the Qutb Shahi sultans lie about one kilometer north of Golkonda's outer wall. These structures are made of beautifully carved stonework, and surrounded by landscaped gardens. They are open to the public and receive many visitors.[33]

Family tree[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ↑ For a map of their territory see: Schwartzberg, Joseph E. (1978). A Historical atlas of South Asia. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. p. 147, map XIV.4 (l). ISBN 0226742210.
  2. ↑ Brian Spooner and William L. Hanaway, Literacy in the Persianate World: Writing and the Social Order, (University of Pennsylvania Press, 2012), 317.
  3. ↑ Alam, Muzaffar (1998). "The pursuit of Persian: Language in Mughal Politics". Modern Asian Studies. 32 (2): 317–349. doi:10.1017/s0026749x98002947. S2CID 146630389. Ibrahim Qutb Shah encouraged the growth of Telugu and his successor Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah patronized and himself wrote poetry in Telugu and in Dakhni. Abdullah Qutb Shah instituted a special office to prepare the royal edicts in Telugu (dabiri-ye faramin-i Hindavi). While administrative and revenue papers at local levels in the Qutb Shahi Sultanate were prepared largely in Telugu, the royal edicts were often bilingual. '06 The last Qutb Shahi Sultan, Abul Hasan Tana Shah, sometimes issued his orders only in Telugu, with a Persian summary given on the back of the farmans.
  4. ↑ Christoph Marcinkowski, Shi'ite Identities: Community and Culture in Changing Social Contexts, 169-170; "The Qutb-Shahi kingdom could be considered 'highly Persianate' with a large number of Persian-speaking merchants, scholars, and artisans present at the royal capital."
  5. ↑ Syed, Muzaffar Husain (2011). Concise History of Islam. Vij Books India Private Limited. p. 258. ISBN 978-9-382-57347-0. The Qutb Shahi dynasty was the ruling family of the sultanate of Golkonda in southern India. They were Shia Muslims and belonged to a Turkmen tribe.
  6. ↑ Siddiq, Mohd Suleman. "The Da’irat-ul-Ma’arif: A Unique Language Institute of Hyderabad." In Languages and Literary Cultures in Hyderabad, pp. 203-216. Routledge, 2017.
  7. ↑ Farooqui, Salma Ahmed (2011). A comprehensive history of medieval India : twelfth to the mid-eighteenth century. India. pp. 177–179. ISBN 978-81-317-3202-1. OCLC 991819668.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 Satish Chandra, Medieval India: From Sultanat to the Mughals, Part II, (Har-Anand, 2009), 210.
  9. ↑ Schimmel, Annemarie; Attwood, Corinne; Waghmar, Burzine K.; Robinson, Francis (2004). The empire of the great Mughals : history, art and culture. London. ISBN 1-86189-185-7. OCLC 61751123.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link).
  10. ↑ Peacock, Andrew CS, and Richard Piran McClary. Turkish History and Culture in India: Identity, Art and Transregional Connections. Brill, 2020.
  11. ↑ Keelan Overton (2020). Iran and the Deccan: Persianate Art, Culture, and Talent in Circulation, 1400–1700. Indiana University Press. p. 82. ISBN 9780253048943. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Farooqui Salma Ahmed (2011). A Comprehensive History of Medieval India: From Twelfth to the Mid-Eighteenth Century. Pearson Education India. pp. 177–179. ISBN 9788131732021.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 C.E. Bosworth, The New Islamic Dynasties, (Columbia University Press, 1996), 328.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Sen, Sailendra (2013). A Textbook of Medieval Indian History. Primus Books. p. 118. ISBN 978-9-38060-734-4.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 Richard M. Eaton (2005), A Social History of the Deccan, 1300-1761: Eight Indian Lives, Vol. 1, Cambridge University Press, 142-143
  16. ↑ Minorsky, V. (1955). "The Qara-qoyunlu and the Qutb-shāhs (Turkmenica, 10)". Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. Cambridge University Press. 17 (1): 50–73. doi:10.1017/S0041977X00106342. JSTOR 609229. S2CID 162273460. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  17. ↑ Khan, Masud Husain (1996). Mohammad Quli Qutb Shah. Sahitya Akademi. p. 2. ISBN 9788126002337. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  18. ↑ Yaaminey Mubayi (2022). Water and Historic Settlements:The Making of a Cultural Landscape. ISBN 9781000641639.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 George Michell, Mark Zebrowski, Architecture and Art of the Deccan Sultanates, (Cambridge University Press, 1999), 17.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Masʻūd Ḥusain Khān, Mohammad Quli Qutb Shah, Volume 216, (Sahitya Akademi, 1996), 2.
  21. ↑ Annemarie Schimmel, Classical Urdu Literature from the Beginning to Iqbāl, (Otto Harrassowitz, 1975), 143; Quote: "[Muhammad Quli ... was an enlightened and tolerant ruler...] Hindus enjoyed good positions at court and were again allowed to celebrate some of their religious festivals, such as Holi and Diwali, prohibited by the previous Muslim kings" – Annemarie Schimmel
  22. ↑ Satish Chandra, Medieval India: From Sultanat to the Mughals, Part II, (Har-Anand, 2009), 331.
  23. ↑ Richards, J. F. (1975). "The Hyderabad Karnatik, 1687-1707". Modern Asian Studies. 9 (2): 241–260. doi:10.1017/S0026749X00004996. ISSN 0026-749X. JSTOR 311962. S2CID 142989123.
  24. ↑ Eaton, R. M. (24 April 2012), "Ḳuṭb Shāhī", Encyclopaedia of Islam, Second Edition, Brill, retrieved 26 December 2021
  25. ↑ Eaton, Richard Maxwell (2005). A social history of the Deccan, 1300-1761 : eight Indian lives. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. p. 157. ISBN 0-521-25484-1. OCLC 58431679.
  26. ↑ Kanakarathnam, N. (2014). "Maritime Trade and Growth of Urban Infrastructure in Port Cities of Colonial Andhra: A Study of Masulipatnam". Proceedings of the Indian History Congress. 75: 691. ISSN 2249-1937. JSTOR 44158449.
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 27.2 Moreland, W.H. (1931). Relation of Golconda in the Early Seventeenth Century. Halyukt Society. pp. 78, 89.
  28. ↑ Marcinkowski, Christoph. "Persians and Shi'ites in Thailand: From the Ayutthaya Period to the Present" (PDF).
  29. ↑ The Market for Golconda Diamonds Has Mushroomed, New York Times
  30. ↑ "Delving into the rich and often bloody history of Golconda Fort". The Hindu. 5 November 2016. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
  31. ↑ Akbar, Syed (5 January 2019). "Lazzat-Un-Nisa: Hyderabad's own Kamasutra back in focus - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 5 January 2019.
  32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 Salma Ahmed Farooqui, A Comprehensive History of Medieval India: From Twelfth to the Mid-Eighteenth Century, (Dorling Kindersley Pvt. Ltd, 2011), 181.
  33. ↑ 33.0 33.1 Centre, UNESCO World Heritage. "The Qutb Shahi Monuments of Hyderabad Golconda Fort, Qutb Shahi Tombs, Charminar - UNESCO World Heritage Centre". whc.unesco.org. Archived from the original on 1 February 2018. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
  34. ↑ Narendra Luther (1991). Prince;Poet;Lover;Builder: Mohd. Quli Qutb Shah - The founder of Hyderabad. Publications Division Ministry of Information & Broadcasting. ISBN 9788123023151. Retrieved 13 January 2020.
  35. ↑ 35.0 35.1 Chapter III: Economics, Political, Economic, and Social Background of Deccan 17th-18th Century, p.57 Deccan under late 17th-century Qutb Shahi
  36. ↑ Proceedings of Seminar on Industries and Crafts in Andhra Desa, 17th and 18th Centuries, A.D. Department of History, Osmania University. 1996. p. 57.
  37. ↑ Reddy, Pedarapu Chenna (1 January 2006). Readings In Society And Religion Of Medieval South India. Research India Press. p. 163. ISBN 9788189131043.
  38. ↑ Nayeem, M. A. (2016). "MARITIME TRADE AND GROWTH OF URBAN INFRASTRUCTURE IN PORT CITIES OF COLONIAL ANDHRA: A STUDY OF MASULIPATNAM". The Heritage of the Qutb Shahis of Golconda and Hyderabad, Volume 1. Hyderabad Publishers. p. 22. ISBN 9788185492230.
  39. ↑ 39.0 39.1 Haroon Khan Sherwani (1974). "History of the Qutb Shāhī Dynasty". Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers. p. 655.
  40. ↑ Annemarie Schimmel, Classical Urdu Literature from the Beginning to Iqbāl, (Otto Harrassowitz, 1975), pp. 141-152
  41. ↑ Islam in South Asia: Practicing tradition today, Karen G. Ruffle, South Asian Religions: Tradition and Today, ed. Karen Pechilis, Selva J. Raj, (Routledge, 2013), 210.
  42. ↑ Sarma, Mukkamala Radhakrishna; Committee, Osmania University Dept of Ancient Indian History, Culture & Archaeology Felicitation; History, Osmania University Dept of (2004). Glimpses of our past--historical researches: festschrift in honour of Prof. Mukkamala Radhakrishna Sarma, former emeritus fellow. Felicitation Committee, Dept. of Ancient Indian History, Culture, and Archaeology & Dept. of History, Osmania University. p. 326.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

Further reading[edit]

  • Chopra, R. M., The Rise, Growth And Decline of Indo-Persian Literature, 2012, Iran Culture House, New Delhi.
  • Jawed Vashisht, Ghizal-e Raana (A selection of Quli Qutab Shah's ghazals)
  • Jawed Vashisht, Roop Ras (Romantic poems of Quli Qutab Shah)
  • Jawed Vashisht, Mohammed Quli aur Nabi ka Sadka
  • Jawed Vashisht, Dakhni Darpan

External links[edit]

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