Gujarat Sultanate rule .281411.E2.80.931572.29 History of Ahmedabad

1 gujarat sultanate rule (1411–1572)

1.1 foundation
1.2 1411–1511
1.3 1511–1572

gujarat sultanate rule (1411–1572)

fortified city of ahmedabad in 1879



city walls of ahmedabad 1866

zafar khan muzaffar (later muzaffar shah i) of muzaffarid dynasty appointed governor of gujarat nasir-ud-din muhammad bin tughluq iv in 1391. zafar khan s father sadharan, tanka rajput convert islam, adopted name wajih-ul-mulk, , had given sister in marriage firuz shah tughlaq. zafar khan defeated farhat-ul-mulk near anhilwad patan , made city capital. when sultanate weakened sacking of delhi timur in 1398, , zafar khan took opportunity establish himself sultan of independent gujarat. declared himself independent in 1407 , founded gujarat sultanate.

the next sultan, grandson ahmed shah defeated bhil or koli chief of ashaval, , founded new city.

foundation

date

ahmad shah laid foundation of city on 26 february 1411 (at 1.20 pm, thursday, second day of dhu al-qi dah, hijri year 813) @ manek burj. chose new capital on 4 march 1411.

legend

ahmed shah i, while camping on banks of sabarmati river, saw hare chasing dog. sultan intrigued , asked spiritual adviser explanation. sage pointed out unique characteristics in land nurtured such rare qualities turned timid hare chase ferocious dog. impressed this, sultan, had been looking place build new capital, decided found capital here.

origin of name

ahmad shah i, in honour of 4 ahmads, himself, religious teacher shaikh ahmad khattu, , 2 others, kazi ahmad , malik ahmad, named ahmedabad.

the story king, aid of saint shaikh ahmad khattu, called prophet elijah or khidr, , him got leave build city if find 4 ahmads had never missed afternoon prayer. search on gujarat yielded two, saint third, , king fourth. 4 ahmads said have been helped twelve babas; these baba khoju, baba laru, , baba karamal, buried @ dholka ; baba ali sher , baba mahmud buried @ sarkhej ; second baba ali sher used sit stark naked; baba tavakkul buried in nasirabad suburb, baba lului buried in manjhuri, baba ahmad nagori buried near nalband mosque, baba ladha buried near halim ni khidki, baba dhokal buried between shahpur , delhi gates, baba sayyid buried in viramgam. there thirteenth baba kamil kirmini whom authorities not agreed.

1411–1511

ahmed shah laid foundation of bhadra fort starting manek burj, first bastion of city in 1411 completed in 1413. established first square of city, manek chowk, both associated legend of hindu saint maneknath. square in form, enclosing area of forty-three acres, , containing 162 houses, bhadra fort had 8 gates, 3 large, 2 in east , 1 in south-west corner; 3 middle-sized, 2 in north , 1 in south; , 2 small, in west. construction of jama masjid, ahmedabad completed in 1423. city expanded, city wall expanded. ahmed shah died in 1443 , succeeded eldest son muizz-ud-din muhammad shah (muhammad shah i) expanded kingdom idar , dungarpur. died in 1451 , succeeded son qutbuddin ahmad shah ii ruled short span of 7 years. after death of qutbuddin ahmad shah ii in 1458, nobles raised uncle daud khan throne. within short period of 7 or twenty-seven days nobles deposed him , set on throne fath khan, son of muhammad shah ii. fath khan, on accession, adopted title abu-al fath mahmud shah popularly known mahmud begada. received sobriquet begada , literally means conqueror of 2 forts, after conquering girnar , champaner forts. second fortification carried out mahmud begada in 1486, grandson of ahmed shah, outer wall 10 km (6.2 mi) in circumference , consisting of 12 gates, 189 bastions , on 6,000 battlements described in mirat-i-ahmadi. planted streets trees, adorned city , suburbs splendid buildings, , care fostered traders , craftsmen. though champaner became capital of sultanate in 1484, ahmedabad still greater, rich , supplied many orchards , gardens, walled, , embellished streets, squares, , houses. closely did after welfare if heard of empty house or shop ordered filled. in 1509, ahmedabad trade started affected entry of portuguese. mahmud died on 23 november 1511.

1511–1572

mahmud succeeded muzaffar shah ii ruled until 1526. succeeded bahadur shah. during reign, gujarat under pressure expanding mughal empire under emperors babur (died 1530) , humayun (1530–1540), , portuguese, establishing fortified settlements on gujarat coast expand power in india base in goa. preferred champaner ahmedabad , expanded reign central india , south gujarat. bahadur shah repelled siege of diu portuguese in 1531 of ottoman empire , signed treaty of bassein. short period of 1535, mughal emperor humayun conquered gujarat , appointed brother aaskari, governor of ahmedabad. bahadur shah allied portuguese , regained power in 1535 killed portuguese in february 1537. in disorders followed death, power of gujarat sultans waned, revenues fell, , capital, trade crippled portuguese competition, impoverished , harassed constant quarrels of unruly nobles. capital shifted ahmedabad in 1537. following siege of diu in 1538, portuguese secured greater part of profits formerly enriched merchants of ahmedabad. in 1554 partition of gujarat among nobles, leaving nominal king ahmad shah ii (1554-1561), city , neighbourhood of ahmedabad further affected city. captured chingiz khan in 1571 , later alaf khan. in 1571, city had twelve wards within walls , others outside. chief industries manufacture of silk, gold , silver thread, , lac. yielded yearly revenue of £155,000 (rs. 15,50,000) of 1860.

social institutions safeguard various economic interests included mahajans, guilds of merchants, , panches, guilds artisans. leader of community, came jain business elites, known nagarsheth, resolve disputes between mahajans , individuals , interceded royal officials. under nagarsheth, city remained free interference state or other powers.