Sikandar Adil Shah

Sikandar Adil Shah
Sultan of Bijapur
A painting of the "The House of Bijapur" was completed in the year 1680, during the reign of Sikandar Adil Shah the last ruler of the Adil Shahi dynasty.
Reign	1672–1686
Predecessor	Ali Adil Shah II
Successor	Mughal Empire
Died	1686 Bijapur
Burial	Sikandar Bag
Spouse	Daughter of Abul Hasan Tana Shah
Issue	One son Sultan Muhammad and a daughter
Full name Sultan Sikandar Qadari
House	House of Osman
Dynasty	Adil Shahi Empire
Father	Ali Adil Shah II
Mother	Khursheeda Khanum
Religion	Sunni Muslim

Sikandar Adil Shah was placed on the throne of Bijapur in 1672 at four years of age. Therefore, his reign (1672–1686) is one of regents and ministers and was marked by chronic civil war among factious nobles, independence of provincial governors, paralysis of the central administration, Mughal invasions, secret alliances but pretend hostilities with the Maratha Empire and other neighbors, and the final absorption of Bijapur into the Mughal Empire in 1686.

The prestige of Bijapur was so seriously damaged by internal disruptions that the Mughal General Diler Khan almost coerced and humiliated Sikandar. Despite several sacrifices and desperate attempts on the part of Sikandar, he could not satisfy the growing greed of the Mughals. Sikandar’s alliance with Sambhaji (who was Hindu) further aggravated Mughal-Bijapur relations.

At last, Emperor Aurangzeb himself marched out in 1685 with a large army to fulfill the ambition of his life. After desperately defending his capital and withstanding the prolonged siege of Bijapur in 1685-1686, Sikandar was unable to halt the Mughal assault led by Aurangzeb. On 12 September 1686, Bijapur was occupied, its garrison surrendered and Bijapur Fort was annexed by the Mughal Empire.

Sikandar Adil Shah was captured bound in silver chains and brought before the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, to whom he bowed three times. Aurangzeb then sent him and his followers to Daulatabad fort, where he died during captivity.^[1] Sikandar Adil Shah and was eventually buried at foot side of his spiritual teacher Hazrat Naimullah Hashmi in the open yard in the New Market Place of Bijapur. The Adil Shahi dynasty thus came to an end.

Descendants

His son Sultan Muhammad aka Damad Mirza Muhammad Pasha was born posthumously in 1687, he moved to Ottoman Empire through the Portuguese and married there in 1727, Saliha Sultana a daughter of Sultan Mustafa II. He died in the same year after his Marriage on 21 October 1727.

References

• Wakiyate Mamlakate Bijapur by Basheeruddin Dehelvi.
• Tareekhe Farishta by Kasim Farishta
• External Relation of Bijapur Adil Shahis.