THE SERVICE UNDER THE BAHAMANI KINGS

WHEN Hamir was declared Rana, Sujansinha and Ajabsinha lost all hope of the throne. Ajabsinha went so far as to commit suicide, and Sujansinha leaving Kilawada proceeded a little distance to the south and settled their. Intending to try his luck with a trusty band of followers, Sujansinha joined the Mohammedian army in the south. The Musalman General, under whom Sujansinha took service, was one Hassan Gango on whom the title of JafferKhan was bestowed by the Emperor of Delhi. Shortly after Sujansinha’s taking service under him, JafferKhan declared his independance from the throne of Delhi. He then assumedthe title of Allauddin Hassan. Mohammed Taglakh, the Emperor Of Delhi, marched towards the Deccan with the object of putting down the rebellion of JafferKhan. JafferKhan gave battle to his whilom master. Sujansinha and his son Dilipsinha proved their valour on the side of JafferKhan. they withstood the attacks of the Imperial army. Fortunately for JafferKhan, Mohammed Taglakh heard of another disturbance in gujarat and had to give up the invasion against JafferKhan. JafferKhan was very much pleased and was grateful to his new Sardar Sujansinha. Moreover, the father and the son were the favourites of one Saifudin, the Chief Advisor of the Emperor. Sujansinha and his son got the Jahagir of many villages in the provinces of Mirat under the Devgiri Subha. This Jahagir is upto this day in the enjoyment of the descendants of Sujansinha.

Dilipsinha got another opportunity of distinguishing himself. Their was a dispute between the Bahamani emperors and the Kings of Vijayanagar about the boundaries of their respected kingdoms. This dispute had to be settled by regular war. Dilipsinha fought on the side of the Bahamani Kings at the head of two thousand spearmen. It was the valour of Dilipsinha and his Rajput followers which decided the battle in favour of the Bahamani kings to the utter discomfiture of the Vijayanagar armies. Dilipsinha was greatly honoured and received substantial favours from the successive Emperors. Dilipsinha died in about the year H.766 after a strenous and eventful service of thirteen years.

Shidhaji, the son of Dilipsinha succeded his father in the service of the Bahamani Kings. Shortly afterwards Mohammed Shaha died and was in his turn succeded by his son, Mujahid Shaha. Mujahid Shaha, being a wrestler himself like men of fine physique. Shidaji, who was endowed with strenght and valour was honoured with the post of BodyGuard to the person of the Emperor. Mujahid Shaha, ruled for a time, made enemies and was eventually murdered by his uncle Daud Khan. Daud Khan succeeded his nephew but was treacherously murdered at the instigation of Mujahid Shaha’s sister on the seventeenth day of his reign.

There was a plot to place Muhammad Sanjar, a son of Daud Khan, on the throne, but Rukhaparwar succeeded in getting Sultan Muhammad crowned as Emperor. The reign of this Sultan was famous for its peace and prosperity except for a small rising. One Bahaudin was Thanedar of the Sagar Fort. His two sons Mohammed and Khaja lived near the Emperor. Their enemies poisoned the Emperor’s ears against them. Through fear of the Kings displeasure they fled to their father, and the father and the sons raised a rebellion. They were thoroughlly put down and Sidhaji was appointed Thanedar of the Sagar Fort for the long and faithful services rendered by him.

Sultan Muhammad was succeeded by his son Ghiasuddin. Shortly after his ascending to the throne, his eyes were treachourously put out and his brother Shamshuddin succeeded in ascending to the throne. It was in this reign that Ferozshaha and Ahamadkhan, the sons of Daud Khan, began to be conspicous in the kingdom. Shamshuddin’s mother became jealous and tried to get these brothers arrested. They fled towards Sagar Fort, where Sidhaji took up their cause and declared Ferozshaha as Ferozshaha Bahamani. He himself took the title of Sarnobat and marched towards the Capital with the intention of making Ferozshaha the defacto Emperor. But the overwhelming Imperial army routed Sidhaji’s army in a battle fought on the frontier of Martur near Gulbarga. Bhairavji, the son of Sidhaji, distinguished himself in this unsuccessful battle. Sidhaji was killed in the battle in H.789. He served his Emperor for thirty one years through thick and thin.

Being undaunted by this defeat, Ferozshaha gained his end through treachory and ascended the Bahamani Throne in H.800. Having ascended the throne. Ferozshaha took good care to show his sense of obligations to his freinds and allies. Sidhaji had layed down his life while fighting for Ferozshaha and Bhairavji had done his utmost. As a mark of gratitude Ferozshaha confirred the Jahagir of MUDHOL on Bhairavji. The Emperor issued a Farman on the twenty fifth of Rabilaval H.800, granting to Bhairavji and his descendents the Jahagir of Mudhol with 84 villages under it. It was from this Bhairavji or Bhosaji that the family got the surname of Bhosale. This Bhairavji played a prominant part in the reign of Ferozshaha Bahamani. During the reign of Ferozshaha Bahamani the chieftans in some parts of Raibag Subha raised a disturbance. In subduing them, Bhairavji with his two sons Devaraj and Karansinha manifested the Rajput prowess to a considerable extent. Karansinha was killed in the engagment in H.815. Bhairavji also was concerened in the attempt to bring about peace between the Bahamani and Vijayanagar Kings. Bhairavji died in H.800 after serving his master for eleven years.

His Son Devraj succeded to the Jahagir, which was conferred in his name by Ferozshaha. Devraj served his Emperor for 16 years and died in H.825, i.e, shortly after the death of Ferozshaha. Ferozshaha was suceeded by Allauddin Ahamadshaha, the brother of Ferozshaha . Shortly after ascending the throne, Allauddin marched against the kingdom of Vijayanagar with the intention of avenging a former defeat. He was successful in routing the Vijayanagar army which shut itself up in the Fort. During the seige that followed the the Emperor had gone ahunting with a small party. He was surprised by a batch of the beseiged army and would have been captured by the army but for the valour of Ugrasen, the son of Devraj, and his followers. The king was quite pleased with his General Ugrasen and conferred honours on him in H.827.

During the rein of Allauddin the brothers, Ugrasen and Pratapsinha, conquered for their Emperor some forts in the Konkan after many deeds of valour. For this, they got as Jahagir a big tract in the Wai Paragana. These battles were fought with the famous Maratha kings who ruled either in the Konkan or on the Ghats.

Many a times, victory crowned the opponents of the Bahamani Emperors also. About the year H.85 during one of these unfortunate defeats, Ugrasen fell a captive in the hands of the enemy (H.858 ;

AD 1453). Pratapsinha and Ugrasen’s sons Karansinha and Shubha Krishna carried on the battle for two or three years and succeeded in capturing the fort of the enemy and in releasing Ugrasen. After the death of Ugrasen, his two sons served as Generals under the Emperor, but owing to some misunderstanding, the younger brother Shubha Krishna and his uncle Pratapsinha went and settled near Devgiri about the year H.865 (A.D. 1460).