Textbook
History of Medieval India
The go-to single volume on the Sultanate, Mughals and regional kingdoms.
Bahmani Sultanate
Sultanate
Level 2
★ Major power
1347 – 1527
First independent Deccan sultanate; minister Mahmud Gawan.
- Capital
- Gulbarga, later Bidar
- Region
- Deccan
- Duration
- 180 years
- Main period
- Bahmani & Deccan Sultanates
Changing extent
Approximate extent over time (solid = latest, dashed = earlier).
At a glance
Move along the chart to read any year; click a ruler or event to open the map there.
Rulers
- Alauddin Hasan Bahman Shah Sultan1347 – 1358Founder.
- Firuz Shah Bahmani Sultan1397 – 1422
- Ahmad Shah I Wali Sultan1422 – 1436Moved the capital to Bidar.
- Muhammad Shah III Sultan1463 – 1482Minister Mahmud Gawan executed 1481.
Selected rulers; gaps in the list are not gaps in the dynasty.
Key events
| Year | Event | Place |
|---|---|---|
| 1347 | Bahmani Sultanate founded | Gulbarga |
Personalities
Mahmud Gawan
1411 – 1481
Bahmani prime minister who built a great madrasa at Bidar
Afanasy Nikitin
died c. 1475
Russian merchant who described the Bahmani kingdom
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Contemporaries
Powers that coexisted with the Bahmani Sultanate for a significant part of its history. The bar shows when, within its own span.
Sultanate of the Maldives ★
Islands · c. 1153 – 1968
Overlap: 180 years
Malla Dynasty of Nepal ★
Himalaya · 1201 – 1769
Overlap: 180 years
Delhi Sultanate ★
North · 1206 – 1526
Overlap: 179 years
Ahom Kingdom ★
Northeast · 1228 – 1826
Overlap: 180 years
Mewar (Sisodia) ★
West · 1326 – 1949
Overlap: 180 years
Vijayanagara Empire ★
South · 1336 – 1646
Overlap: 180 years
Kingdom of Mysore ★
South · 1399 – 1950
Overlap: 128 years
Kingdom of Kandy ★
Sri Lanka · c. 1469 – 1815
Overlap: 58 years
Eastern Ganga Dynasty
East · c. 1078 – 1434
Overlap: 87 years
Khasa Malla Kingdom
Himalaya · c. 1100 – c. 1400
Overlap: 53 years
Zamorins of Calicut
South · c. 1124 – 1766
Overlap: 180 years
Kachwahas of Amber (Jaipur)
West · c. 1128 – 1949
Overlap: 180 years
Jaffna Kingdom
Sri Lanka · c. 1215 – 1619
Overlap: 180 years
Marwar (Rathore)
West · c. 1226 – 1949
Overlap: 180 years
Madurai Sultanate
South · 1335 – 1378
Overlap: 31 years
Kashmir Sultanate
North · 1339 – 1586
Overlap: 180 years
Samma Dynasty
Northwest · 1351 – 1524
Overlap: 173 years
Bengal Sultanate
East · 1352 – 1576
Overlap: 175 years
Timurid Empire (Herat)
Northwest · 1370 – 1507
Overlap: 137 years
Malwa Sultanate
Central · 1392 – 1562
Overlap: 135 years
Jaunpur (Sharqi) Sultanate
Gangetic Plain · 1394 – 1479
Overlap: 85 years
Gujarat Sultanate
West · 1407 – 1573
Overlap: 120 years
Kingdom of Kotte
Sri Lanka · 1412 – 1597
Overlap: 115 years
Gajapati Kingdom
East · 1434 – 1541
Overlap: 93 years
Ahmadnagar Sultanate (Nizam Shahi)
Deccan · 1490 – 1636
Overlap: 37 years
Bijapur Sultanate (Adil Shahi)
Deccan · 1490 – 1686
Overlap: 37 years
Berar Sultanate (Imad Shahi)
Deccan · 1490 – 1574
Overlap: 37 years
Bidar Sultanate (Barid Shahi)
Deccan · 1492 – 1619
Overlap: 35 years