Bahmanis

The Bahmani Sultanate was a Muslim state that ruled a large part of the Deccan in India from 1347 to 1527. Founded by Ala-ud-din Bahman Shah, who was originally a governor of the Delhi Sultanate, the Bahmani dynasty emerged as a powerful regional entity in the aftermath of the Delhi Sultanate's decline. The Sultanate's territory stretched across much of present-day Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh.

The Bahmani rulers were known for their patronage of art, architecture, and literature. They built impressive mosques, forts, and palaces, many of which still stand as testaments to their architectural achievements. The capital cities of the Sultanate, such as Gulbarga and later Bidar, became centers of learning and culture. Persian and Arabic languages were promoted, and many scholars and poets found patronage under the Bahmani rulers.

The Sultanate was engaged in frequent wars with its Hindu neighbors, particularly the Vijayanagara Empire to the south, for control of fertile territories and resources. These conflicts shaped the political landscape of the Deccan for centuries. Internally, the Bahmani court was often marked by factionalism, with struggles for power between different groups of nobles, often divided along ethnic lines (Deccani Muslims versus 'Afāqis or newcomers).

By the early 16th century, the Bahmani Sultanate began to fragment. Internal strife and succession disputes weakened the central authority, leading to the emergence of five independent Deccan Sultanates, often referred to as the Deccanic Sultanates: the Nizam Shahi of Ahmadnagar, the 'Adil Shahi of Bijapur, the Qutb Shahi of Golkonda, the Barid Shahi of Bidar, and the 'Imad Shahi of Berar. These successor states continued the legacy of the Bahmani Sultanate in their respective regions.