Alauddin Khalji made Malwa a province of the Sultanate in 1310 AD. Dilwar Khan Ghori founded the independent Sultanate of Malwa in 1390 AD. In his early life he ruled as a vassal of the Delhi Sultanate but later ruled the state independently from 1392 AD. The dynasty founded by Dilwar Khan is known as Ghuri Sultani of Malwa. His capital was Dhar but later shifted to Mandu (Shadiabad). In 1436 AD, Mahmud Shah I established the Khalji dynasty in Malwa.
The Malwa Sultanate was ruled mainly by the following dynasties or rulers-
- 1401-1436: Ghurid dynasty – Dilwar Khan, Husang Shah, Tajuddin Muhammad.
- 1436-1531: Khilji dynasty – Mahmud Khalji, Ghiyas-ud-Din Shah, Nasiruddin, Mahmud Shah II
- 1519-1528: Vassal of Maharana Sanga (Mewar) – Medini Rai
- 1531-1537: Gujarat Sultan – Bahadur Shah
- 1535-1540: Mughal emperor – Humayun.
- 1540-1542: Qadir Shah.
- 1542-1555: Sher Shah’s governor Shuja’at Khan.
- 1555-1562: Baz Bahadur.
Table Of Contents
Independent rulers of Malwa [1392-1562 AD]
Ghurid dynasty
Dilwar Khan [1390-1406 AD]
- 1390: Dilwar Khan Ghuri was appointed governor of the Malwa region under the Sultanate of Delhi
- 1392: He continued to rule there almost independently from 1392 AD.
- 1398: He introduced the practice of reciting khutba in his own name.
- 1398: During his reign, Timur Long invaded India in 1398 AD.
- Dilwar Khan was imprisoned on the orders of Sultan Firoz Shah for supporting Mohammad Shah, the rebel son of Sultan Firoz Shah Tughluq of Delhi.
- 1402: He declared Malwa as an independent state.
- 1406: Dilwar Khan died and his son Husang Shah ascended the throne.
Info: Though Dilwar Khan declared his independence in 1392, he did not truly take on the responsibilities of an emperor until 1401.
Info: Firuz Shah Tughlaq (probably) appointed Dilwar Khan Gori as governor of Malwa.
Husang Shah [1406-1435 AD]
- Husang Shah’s real name was Alp Khan.
- 1406: On the death of Dilwar Khan, his son Alap Khan ascended the throne and assumed the title of Husang Shah.
- He then established his capital at Mandu and named it Shadiabad (‘the city of Joy’).
- Zafar Khan Muzaffar Shah I (of Gujrat) attacked Malwa many times during his reign. Later Husang was captured and imprisoned.
- He built many palaces, mosques and tombs.
- He also looted many temples of Orissa.
- He was the patron of Jainism. Jain Nardev Soni was his chief treasurer and adviser.
Tajuddin Muhammad Shah I [1435-1436 AD]
- Husang Shah’s son was Muhammad Shah I.
- Mahmud Khan of the Khilji dynasty was his wazir.
- He was weak and incompetent ruler.
- Wazir Mahmud Khan established the Khilji dynasty in Malwa by replacing Muhammad Shah I of Ghorid dynasty.
Khilji dynasty
Mahmud Khalji [1436-1468 AD]
- Mahmud Khalji was also known as Ala-ud-Din Mahmud Shah I.
- He was the 4th Sultan of Malwa.
- 1436: He founded the Khalji dynasty in Malwa.
- During his rule, he clashed with Rana Kumbha of Chittor. However, the outcome of this battle is controversial. Both sides claim victory.
- 1437: Battle of Sarangpur: Rana Kumbha of Mewar vs Mahmud Khilji of Malwa. Mahmud Khalji was defeated, captured and imprisoned for six months.
- 1442-1446: Battle of Mandalgarh and Banas: Mahmud Khilji vs Rana Kumbha: Multiple battles fought between them.
- 1444: Mahmud Khilji besieged Palhan Singh’s fort Gagron.
- 1457: Battle of Mandalgarh: Mahmud vs Rana. Initially Mahmud lost many soldiers. But later he captured Mandalgarh fort when Rana had moved to Gujrat.
- 1467: Mahmud Khilji again attacked Mewar. Rana Kumbha successfully resisted this attack.
- Rana Kumbha built the Victory Column at Chittor to commemorate this victory. On the other hand, Mahmud Khilji also built the seven-storied Vijayastambha (at Mandu).
- Mahmud Khilji also attacked and killed Gajadhar Singh and captured Ajmer.
- 1469: He died in 1469 AD.
Info: Mahmud Khalji took the Malwa Sultanate to its peak.
Ghiyas-ud-Din Shah [1469-1500 AD]
- The next ruler Ghiyas-ud-Din Shah was the eldest son of Mahmud Khalji.
- 1469: He assumed the title ‘Sultan Ghiyasuddin Khalji’ and ascended the throne.
- He was the 5th Sultan of Malwa.
- Initially he was a military leader of his father.
- He retired from his life on battlefield and focused on construction, arts, and culture.
- A cookbook named Nimatnama-i-Nasiruddin-Shahi was written during his reign.
- 1500: After being banished, his son Nasir-ud-Din Shah revolted and seized power.
Info: 1519: Rajput chief Rana Sanga of Mewar continuously attacked Khilji’s Malwa. As a result in 1519, the sultanate suffered heavy decline.
Later rulers of Khilji dynasty
- 1500: Nasiruddin won the succession dispute between Ghiyasuddin’s two sons, Nasiruddin and Alauddin, and ascended the throne on 22 October 1500 AD.
- 1531: Mahmud Shah II, the last ruler of the Khalji dynasty, was defeated by Sultan Bahadur Shah of Gujarat. But Mahmud Shah II became independent after 1555 AD.
- 1562: Finally the Mughal ruler Akbar captured Malwa in 1562 AD.
Muzaffarid Conquest & Interregnum
- 1518: The Gujarat Sultan made Mahmud Shah II his vassal.
- 1531: Bahadur Shah annexed the Malwa and took control of the Mandu fort.
- 1535-36: Mughal emperor Humayun captured the Malwa and ruled for a short time approx 1 year.
- 1542: The Gujaratis return to Malwa and promise loyalty to Bahadur Shah.
- 1537: An ex-officer of the previous Khalji dynasty rulers, Qadir Shah recaptured the Malwa.
- 1542: Sher Shah defeated Qadir Shah and conquered Malwa.
- 1542: Sher Shah appointed Shuja’at Khan as the governor of Malwa.
- 1555: Shuja’at Khan’s son Baz Bahadur proclaimed himself as an independent ruler of Malwa.
- 1561: Battle of Sarangpur: Akbar vs Baz Bahadur. Akbar’s commander Adham Khan and Pir Muhammad Khan defeated Baz Bahadur and captured Malwa on 29 March 1561.
- 1562: For a short period of time Baz Bahadur reclaimed his territory.
- 1562: Akbar commander Abdullah Khan defeated Baz Bahadur. Baz Bahadur escaped to Chittor.
- 1570: Baz Bahadur surrendered to Akbar. Later he was appointed as a member of Akbar’s court.
Info: The last Sultan of Malwa Sultanate was Baz Bahadur Khan.
Info: Baz Bahadur Khan married a shepherdess girl named Roopmati.
Info: Baz Bahadur Built Rewa Kund reservoir at Mandu.
Malwa Architecture
- Architectural Type: Indo-Islamic blend architecture.
- Husang Shah was one of the patrons of architecture among the independent Sultans of Malwa.
- 1400: Kamal Maula Masjid: Built using the materials of previous Hindu temples (dismantling Hindu temples) at Dhar.
- 1405: Lat Masjid: Built using the materials of previous Hindu temples (same principles as the Kamal Maula masjid). Location – Dhar.
- 1405: Masjid of Dilawar Khan: Built using the materials of previous Hindu temples.
- 15th century: Jahaj Mahal: It is an example of excellent architecture built by Ghiyas-ud-Din Shah for his 15,000 queens.
- 1443: Ashrafi Mahal: A victory tower (victory over the Rana of Chitor) built by Mahmud Khalji.
- 1452: Malik Mughis’s Masjid: Built using the materials of previous Hindu temples. Built at Mandu.
- 1454: Jami Masjid: Husang Shah began to construct this mosque. Built at Mandu.
- 1454: Hindola Mahal: Constructed by Hoshang Shah near Jami Masjid.
- 1440: Tomb of Hushang Shah: – Construction started by Mahmud Shah-I in Mandu. Completed by Mahmud Khilji.
- 1425: Hindola Mahal: Constructed by Hoshang Shah. Completed during the reign of Ghiyas-al-Din.
- 1454: Mandu Fort: Started to construct by Hoshang Shah. Completed by Mahmud Khalji in 1454.
- 1508-1509: Baz Bahadur’s Palace: Constructed by Nasir-ud-Din Shah.
- Muhammad Shah I was particularly famous for his music and poetry.