⚔️ A Deccani Horseman 🐴
An illustration of how the Cavalry of Deccan Sultanates appeared in their halcyon days.
The commando Ghora Rāwat Cavalry was curated by Kamal Khan Dakkhani to usurp the Throne of Osmani Adilshahis and was composed of Elite Maratha horsemen.
An illustration of how the Cavalry of Deccan Sultanates appeared in their halcyon days.
The commando Ghora Rāwat Cavalry was curated by Kamal Khan Dakkhani to usurp the Throne of Osmani Adilshahis and was composed of Elite Maratha horsemen.
The attempt of Kamal Khan was foiled by none other than the Maratha Kadamba Dowager Empress Bubuji Khānam Punjibai Khatun who had Kamal Khan stabbed to death.
Her 10 year old son Prince Ismail Adilshah rolled a heavy stone over Kamal Khan's aid Safdar Khan's head and killed him.
Her 10 year old son Prince Ismail Adilshah rolled a heavy stone over Kamal Khan's aid Safdar Khan's head and killed him.
Following this, The Ghora Rawat Maratha Contingent was dismantled over fears of Maratha Kshatriyas retaking their power.
Eventually the Ghora Rawat contingent was restored as the elite & famous Maratha Bargiryan Corps, the most dreaded and effective cavalry in the entire Deccan.
Eventually the Ghora Rawat contingent was restored as the elite & famous Maratha Bargiryan Corps, the most dreaded and effective cavalry in the entire Deccan.
What is striking is how Khatun Punjibai declared Adilshahi supremacy over rest of the Deccan and other Musallmāni Sultanates by proclaiming the Adilshahi Ottoman State a "Mughal" State and linked it's legitimacy from Bahmanis straight to the Mongol Empire of Genghis Khan.
This has a deeper meaning than regular readers can comprehend.
Even Daulat-E-Taimuri of Delhi called as Mughal Empire in India by Indians alone, DID NOT have legitimacy of being an Off-Shoot State of Mongols. It was an empire of Sister-Seller drunkard Babur who fled from Uzbeks.
Even Daulat-E-Taimuri of Delhi called as Mughal Empire in India by Indians alone, DID NOT have legitimacy of being an Off-Shoot State of Mongols. It was an empire of Sister-Seller drunkard Babur who fled from Uzbeks.
By declaring Adilshahi as "Mughal/Mongol" State, Punjibai Khatun asserted Adilshahi as the DIRECT & FOREMOST breakaway Successor-State of Bahmani Empire.
A Century ago Bahmani Sultan Tajuddin Ferozeshah obtained legitimacy from Tamerlane himself when he invaded India in 1398 CE.
A Century ago Bahmani Sultan Tajuddin Ferozeshah obtained legitimacy from Tamerlane himself when he invaded India in 1398 CE.
The Neo-Sassanid Bahmani Empire of Deccan was founded as a joint endeavour of Marathas, Mongols, Afghans & Dakkhani Musallmāns composed of all Anti-Tughlaq Amirs who rallied under the rebellious Shah Ismail Mukh, but operated under practical command of Zafar Khan Alauddin Bahman.
After a series of bloody battles against Tughlaq, the Deccani Alliance won support of Kakatiya Rashtrakutas who dispatched their cavalry at a critical juncture of the climatic battle resulting in their triumph.
Following this Ismail Mukh transferred the crown to Alauddin Bahman.
Following this Ismail Mukh transferred the crown to Alauddin Bahman.
Sultan Tajjudin Perouz (Feroz) Bahmankshaha, great-grandson of Zafar Khan Alauddin Bahman, was the reigning Bahmani Emperor during Delhi invasion of Amir Tamerlane where Taimur destroyed the Delhi Sultanate army & looted all remnants of the fabulous Devagiri treasure of Alauddin.
Sultan Ferozeshah superseded all notions of Bahmanis being a Rebel-State of Delhi Sultanate, by deputing ambassadors to Tamerlane during his Delhi Conquest & attained PERSONAL sanction & protection of Amir Tamerlane as a Farzand, thus establishing his own Empire ABOVE all others.
In Short,
Amir Tamerlane had attained full Legitimacy & Authoriy of Mongol Empire via his puppet Khan Suyurghatmish, a direct blood descendant of World-Conqueror Genghis Khan.
State-legitimacy, of Ogedei Khagans, was thus extended to Sultan Tajuddin Ferozshah Bahman in Deccan.
Amir Tamerlane had attained full Legitimacy & Authoriy of Mongol Empire via his puppet Khan Suyurghatmish, a direct blood descendant of World-Conqueror Genghis Khan.
State-legitimacy, of Ogedei Khagans, was thus extended to Sultan Tajuddin Ferozshah Bahman in Deccan.
After the Bahmani Empire unofficially splintered into various Sultanates, the Ottoman Adilshahis under Yusuf Adil Khan were just one of them.
After dealing with usurpers as described earlier, his dowager Punjibai had effectively made Adilshahis foremost of all Indian Sultanates.
After dealing with usurpers as described earlier, his dowager Punjibai had effectively made Adilshahis foremost of all Indian Sultanates.
The Order of Legitimacy 📜
Borte Chino the Blue Wolf (Mongol Tengrist Progenitor God) > Kiyats > Borjigins > Ogedeis > Neo-Sassanid Bahmanis (extended via Timurids) > Ottoman Adilshahi (asserted by Maratha Kadambas).
It was thus that ultimate legitimacy of Adilshahis was PAGAN.
Borte Chino the Blue Wolf (Mongol Tengrist Progenitor God) > Kiyats > Borjigins > Ogedeis > Neo-Sassanid Bahmanis (extended via Timurids) > Ottoman Adilshahi (asserted by Maratha Kadambas).
It was thus that ultimate legitimacy of Adilshahis was PAGAN.
The Bahmanis themselves had already enjoyed highest legitimacy asserted from their founder Zafar Khan Alauddin Bahman, who was a direct scion of the great PAGAN Iranian House of Sasan.
Achaemenids > House of Sasan > Bavandids > Daylamite Kankuwahyids > Bahman
Achaemenids > House of Sasan > Bavandids > Daylamite Kankuwahyids > Bahman
Lineage of Sultan Zafar Khan Alauddin Bahman, Founder of Bahmani Empire 📜
The text Aryan-Ul-Tarikh and many others clearly asserts Bahmani Sultanate founder Sultan Zafar Khan Alauddin Bahman's lineage from the renowned legendary pagan Iranian hero Shahenshah Bahram Gor.
The text Aryan-Ul-Tarikh and many others clearly asserts Bahmani Sultanate founder Sultan Zafar Khan Alauddin Bahman's lineage from the renowned legendary pagan Iranian hero Shahenshah Bahram Gor.
It was owing to high lineage of Sultan Zafar Khan Alauddin Bahman that the first Anti-Tughlaq Deccani Alliance leader Sultan Ismail Mukh REFUSED the crown & even Hindu Maratha Warlords like Maharaja Govindadevaraya Yadavraya & Rana Sajjansimha Sisodiya lobbied for his kingship.
While the North Indian Sultanates like Delhi & Bangāl had derived legitimacy from the Musallmāni Egypt-based Caliphs, the Bahmani Sultanate and it's chief successor state Adilshahi Sultanate derived legitimacy from the PAGAN Mongol Empire due to Maratha intervention.
Marathas controlled the entire Police System across all Deccan Sultanates, as well as the Revenue Collection system. The Marathi Brahmins controlled the accounting.
Thereby outside of capital cities & certain key forts, the entire Deccan was ALWAYS under the Maratha Deep-State.
Thereby outside of capital cities & certain key forts, the entire Deccan was ALWAYS under the Maratha Deep-State.
Unconquered Maratha Rayas of Konkan were defeated by Bahmanis only under their greatest administrator Waqil-Uz-Sultanat Mahmud Gawan in the most gruelling campaign of his life. He was aided by Marathas themselves in this & the Bahmani Empire shattered immediately upon his death.
It is through such games of State legitimacy & exclusivity that Marathas coped and retained control while adapting to the new realities of Mleccha supremacy, pitting one Sultanate against another, making & unmaking Sultans, before returning from these Puppet-shows to Sovereignty.
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