Qutb Shahi dynasty
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The Qutb Shahi dynasty (Urdu: سلطنت قطب شاهی ) (whose members were also called the Qutub Shahis) was the ruling family of the kingdom of Golconda in southern India. They were Shia Muslims and belonged to Kara Koyunlu.
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[edit] History
The dynasty's founder, Sultan Quli Qutub Mulk, migrated to Delhi with some of his relatives and friends in the beginning of the 16th century. Later he migrated south, to Deccan and served Bahmani sultan, Mohammad Shah. He conquered Golconda and became the Governor of Telangana region in 1518, after the disintegration of the Bahmani Kingdom into the five Deccan sultanates. Soon after, he declared independence from the Bahmani Sultanate, took the title Qutub Shah, and thus established Qutb Shahi dynasty of Golconda.
This dynasty was the first Muslim dynasty to rule Telugus. This effectively divided the Telugu nation into two countries, one Muslim ruled country (Telanagana State) and the other a Hindu ruled country. The dynasty ruled Golconda for 171 years, until the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb conquered the Deccan in 1687.
Even after their rule, Telangana State continued to be ruled by Muslims until the Hyderabad State joined the Indian Union in 1948 with the military intervention called Operation polo by the Government of India.
[edit] Rulers
The Qutub Shahi rulers were great builders and patrons of learning. They not only patronized the Persian culture but also the regional culture of the Deccan, symbolized by the Telugu language and the newly developed Deccani idiom of Urdu. The main part of Golconda State was Telangana. Although Telugu was not their mother tongue, the Golconda rulers learned Telugu. Golconda and later Hyderabad served as capitals of the sultanate, and both cities were embellished by the Qutb Shahi sultans. The seven sultans in the dynasty were:
- Sultan Quli Qutbl Mulk (1518 - 1543)
- Jamsheed Quli Qutb Shah (1543 - 1550)
- Subhan Quli Qutb Shah (1550)
- Ibrahim Quli Qutub Shah (1550 - 1580)
- Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah (1580 - 1612)
- Sultan Muhammad Qutb Shah (1612 - 1626)
- Abdullah Qutb Shah (1626 - 1672)
- Abul Hasan Qutb Shah (1672 - 1687)
[edit] Tombs
The tombs of the Qutb Shahi sultans lie about one kilometer north of Golkonda's outer wall. These structures are made of beautifully carved stonework, and surrounded by landscaped gardens. They are open to the public and receive many visitors.
