Taj ud-Din Firuz Shah


Taj ud-Din Firuz Shah was the ruler of the Bahmani Sultanate from 24 November 1397 to 1 October 1422. Firuz shah is considered as an important ruler of the Bahamani Sultanate. He expanded his kingdom and even succeeded in conquering the raichur doab from vijaynagar kingdoms.

Life

Firuz Shah fought against the Vijayanagara Empire on many occasions and the rivalry between the two dynasties continued unabated throughout his reign, with victories in 1398 and 1406, but a defeat in 1419. One of his victories resulted in his marriage to Deva Raya's daughter.
At the beginning of his reign, Harihara II of the Vijayanagar Empire had advanced as far as the Raichur Doab and posed a threat to the Bahmanis. This threat was thwarted by a calculated and incisive attack by Firuz.
Firuz led a successful expedition against Narsingh Rai of Kherla who had to surrender forty elephants and his daughter to Firuz. In 1420, an attack on Pangal, which had been taken by Vijayanagar, proved disastrous. Firuz was trounced by Vijayanagar and Firuz retreated, surrendering the southern and eastern districts of his kingdom. This defeat had a deep impact on his morale and he was henceforth a broken man. He spend his final two years in asceticism and piety.
Firuz was determined to make the Deccan region the cultural centre of India. Firuz Shah paid much attention to the ports Chaul and Dhabol, which attracted trade ships from the Persian Gulf and Red Sea.
He abdicated the throne to his younger brother Ahmad, "considered a saint by both the Muslims and Hindus."

Death and burial

Firuz Shah died on 1 October 1422 in Gulbarga.