Farooqui dynasty

Khandesh Sultanate
1382–1601
Khandesh Sultanate in the 1526, with neighbouring polities, on the eve of the establishment of the Mughal Empire.[1]
Common languagesPersian, Marathi, Deccani Urdu and Ahirani
Religion
Sunni Islam
GovernmentSultanate
History 
• Established
1382
• Disestablished
17 January 1601
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Delhi Sultanate
Mughal Empire
Today part ofIndia

The Farooqi dynasty (also spelt Farooqui, Faruqi) or the Farooq Shahi was the ruling dynasty of the Khandesh Sultanate (named after the Khandesh region) from its inception in 1382 till its annexation by the Mughal emperor Akbar in 1601. The founder of the dynasty, Malik Ahmad (also known as Malik Raja) participated in a rebellion against the Bahmani ruler Muhmmad Shah I in his early years. When he was compelled to flee from Deccan, he established in Thalner on the Tapti River (in present-day Dhule district in Maharashtra). After receiving the grant of the fiefdoms of Thalner and Karanda (the present day Karwand, 19 km north of Thalner) from Firuz Shah Tughluq in 1370, he conquered the region around Thalner, which later became known as Khandesh (the land of the Khans).[2] By 1382, he started ruling independently.

Malik Raja claimed his descent from the second Caliph Umar-al-Faruq. Hence, the dynasty founded by him was known as Faruqi dynasty. The next ruler, Nasir Khan conquered the Asirgarh fort and made it his capital. He founded the new capital Burhanpur in 1399.

The most illustrious ruler of the Farooqi dynasty is considered Adil Khan II. During his long reign, Burhanpur was transformed to a major centre for trade and textile production. In 1599, Akbar's army occupied Burhanpur and on January 17, 1601, the citadel of Asirgarh also fell after a long siege.

The last ruler Bahadur Shah surrendered to the Mughals. Khandesh became a Mughal Subah.

  1. ^ For a map of their territory see: Schwartzberg, Joseph E. (1978). A Historical atlas of South Asia. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. p. 147, map XIV.4 (a). ISBN 0226742210.
  2. ^ "Jalgaon district gazetteer – history, Muslim period". Archived from the original on 2007-08-30.