His origin and early history — is appointed governor of Joonere — declares his independence on the murder of his father at the court of Bidur — extends his territorial possessions — assumes the title of king — builds the fort and city of Ahmudnuggur — takes Dowlutabad from the officers of the Bahmuny govern­ment — reduces Antoor and several hill-forts in the southern hills of Kandeish — compels the rajas of Galna and Buglana to pay him tribute — supports the claims of Alum Khan Farooky to the throne of Kandeish, but is compelled to relin­quish his interference by the King of Guzerat. — Death of Ahmud Nizam Shah — his character. — The manners of his court described.

AHMUD NIZAM SHAH was the son of Mullik Naib Nizam-ool-Moolk Bheiry, originally a bramin of Beejanuggur, whose real name was Timapa, the son of Bheiroo. In his infancy he was taken prisoner by the Mahomedan army of Ahmud Shah Bahmuny, when, being admitted among the number of the faithful, and having received the name of Hussun, he was brought up as one of the royal slaves. The King was so struck with his abilities, that he made him over to his eldest son, the Prince Mahomed, as a kind of companion, with whom he was educated, and attained eminence in Persian and Arabic literature. From his fa­ther's name Bheiroo, he was called Mullik Hussun Bheiroo; but the Prince being unable to pronounce the word correctly, he obtained the appellation of Bheiry. When the Prince ascended the throne, he raised his favourite to the rank of a noble of a thou­sand horse; and it is also said, on account of his surname Bheiry, which signifies a falcon, he was nominated to the office of falconer, which in Toorky is called Koosh-begy: some people have asserted that he obtained the name of Bheiry from his office alone. In course of time he rose to the first offices in the state, and was dignified by the titles of Ashruf Hoomayoon and Nizam-ool-Moolk. Being a great favourite of the minister Khwaja Mahmood Gawan, he was recommended by him to the government of Tulingana, including Rajmundry and Condapilly, which were granted to him in jageer. On the death of that minister he succeeded to his office under the title of Mullik Naib; and on the demise of Mahomed Shah Bah-muny he was appointed prime minister to that monarch's son, Mahmood Shah, who added Beer, and other districts in the vicinity of Dowlutabad, to his estates. The administration of this new jageer was made over to Mullik Naib's son, Mullik Ahmud, who took up his residence at Joonere, while Khwaja Jehan Deccany was appointed governor of Purenda. Although Mullik Naib had procured for his son the necessary orders to occupy those districts, yet several Marratta officers, in whom Khwaja Mahmood Gawan placed great con­fidence, refused to give them up, until the King was of an age to act for himself. Mullik Ahmud, having determined to enforce the orders, attacked the fort of Soonere, * situated on the top of a hill, and of uncommon strength. After a siege of considerable duration, the garrison came forward with swords suspended from their necks, and habited in shrouds, to sue for quarter. The place being occupied, it was found to contain five years' revenue of Marhatt and Concan, which had been deposited therein; and this sum enabled Mullik Ahmud to assume a new line of conduct. Having rewarded his officers and soldiers liberally for their services, he proceeded to reduce the following places which refused to submit to his authority; viz. Chawund, Lohgur, Toong, Kooary, Tikona, Koondhana†, * Poorundhur, Bhorup, Joodhun, Kuhrdroog‡, * Murunjun‡, * Maholy, and Pally; the whole of which he occupied by force. He soon after conquered the Concan, and was be­sieging the sea-port of Dunda Rajpoor, when he heard of the assassination of his father Mullik Naib Nizam-ool-Moolk Bheiry. On this information he raised the siege, for the present, and returned to Joonere, where he assumed the titles of the deceased, under the appellation of Ahmud Nizam-ool-Moolk Bheiry; and although he did not im­mediately adopt the title of Shah (or King), yet, as he is uniformly so called by historians, the au­thor (Mahomed Kasim Astrabady Ferishta) has thought proper to designate him, in the future pages of his work, Ahmud Nizam Shah Bheiry.

On his return to Joonere, having spent a decent time in mourning for his father, he devoted himself to promote the good administration of his country; and such was his justice, that, without his sanction, the loadstone dared not attract iron, and the kah-rooba * lost its power over grass. The character of Mullik Ahmud as a general, when he had the go­vernment of Tulingana, stood so high, in repelling the rays of Ooreea, that no officer of the Bahmuny government was willing to march against him, al­though it was the desire of the court to reduce his power. The King, by the advice of Kasim Bereed, his prime minister, sent repeated orders to Yoosoof Adil Khan Savaee of Beejapoor to unite with Khwaja Jehan Deccany, and Zein-ood-Deen Ally Talish, to march against Joonere. Yoosoof Adil Khan, however, not only evaded the duty, but even apprised Ahmud Nizam Shah of his danger, and directed his own troops to evacuate Indapoor, which properly belonged to his jageer.

Ahmud Nizam Shah created Zureef-ool-Moolk Afghan his Ameer-ool-Omra, and to Nusseer-ool-Moolk Guzeratty he assigned the office of Meer-Joomla. * He then made overtures to Zein-ood-Deen Ally Talish† * (who had before marched to attack him) to unite his fortunes with his in the approaching struggle against the Bah-muny forces. Zein-ood-Deen listened to the pro­posals, and made some advances to meet his wishes; but when Sheikh Mowullid Arab, one of the Bahmuny generals, volunteered his services to reduce Ahmud Nizam Shah, and had reached Purenda on his way towards Joonere, Zein-ood-Deen Ally, dreading the consequence of uniting with Ahmud Nizam Shah, resolved to join the King's troops. Ahmud Nizam Shah left his family in the strong hill-fort of Soonere, and marched to oppose the royal army, but conceiving himself unequal to contend with so numerous a force in a fair battle, he hovered round the King's camp with his cavalry, and cut off its supplies. It was at this time that he first heard of the intended defection of Zein-ood-Deen Ally Talish; and he determined, if possible, to prevent it. He, accordingly, put in practice a manœuvre as daring as it proved successful. Making a sudden coun­termarch during the night from the vicinity of the royal army, he appeared before Chakun, the head­quarters and jageer of Zein-ood-Deen, which he escaladed without waiting a moment. Ahmud was the first man on the walls, and actually suc­ceeded in getting footing for seventeen of his com­rades in armour before the garrison was alarmed; the rest of his party soon following, an indis­criminate slaughter succeeded. The garrison fought nobly, but in vain; Chakun was taken; and no less than seven hundred persons, among whom was Zein-ood-Deen Ally, fell in the assault.

Ahmud Nizam Shah had left the main body of his army under his general Nusseer-ool-Moolk to watch the motions of Sheikh Mowullid; but that officer having imprudently ventured to attack the Bahmuny forces, with very unequal numbers, was twice defeated. Upon hearing this, Ahmud Nizam Shah left Chakun, and rejoining his army, made a night-attack on Sheikh Mowullid's camp. The Bahmuny troops were completely routed, their leader, with many officers of distinction, fell in the action, and all the heavy baggage, ele­phants, and tents, came into the possession of Ah-mud Nizam Shah, who now returned to Joonere, and devoted himself with the utmost attention to the civil administration of his government.

On the defeat of Sheikh Mowullid, Mahmood Shah Bahmuny ordered Azmut-ool-Moolk Du-beer, with another army of eighteen thousand men, against Ahmud Nizam Shah, who, adopting the same policy as before, avoided a battle, and moved with his troops to the hills of Kadurabad. * When Azmut-ool-Moolk reached the Moory pass, Ahmud Nizam Shah, with three thousand horse, made rapid marches to Ahmudabad Bidur. Having previously gained over the city guards, he was admitted by night into the place, and after getting possession of the females of his father's family, despatched them to Joonere. In the morning he seized the women of all those officers who had marched to attack him, and moved with them towards Purenda, taking proper precautions to treat them with becoming respect. Upon his arrival near the King's army the officers sent word to him, that they could not think of opposing him, as an enemy, who had behaved so well to their families; but that it was unbecoming him to fly like a thief from his foes, and wage war with women and children; a conduct unworthy even of Franks and Koords. Ahmud Nizam Shah, having generously sent back the families to their re­spective relatives, marched on to Purenda. In the mean time an order from the Bahmuny king, full of resentment, was received in camp. He complained of the disgrace to which his troops had been sub­jected, in allowing Ahmud, the son of Nizam-ool-Moolk the falconer, to soar aloft like the falcon, while they lay trembling in their nests, and were unable to preserve their mates and young from his talons. He observed, that if they seized the person of Ahmud, well and good, but if not, they would be disgraced in the eyes of the King and of the world. The army halted at Beer; and the officers remonstrated against this reproach, declaring they were ready to attack the enemy wherever he was to be found; that their general, Azmut-ool-Moolk, had no intelligence of his motions; but that if any other general was at their head, who would afford them the opportunity of distinguishing themselves, the King's good fortune alone would ensure them success. Mahmood Shah now re­called Azmut-ool-Moolk, and deputed Jehangeer Khan, governor of Tulingana, with three thousand horse, to assume the command of the army of Beer; an officer who had before much distinguished himself, and who now moved from Beer to Pu-renda. Khwaja Jehan, the governor of Purenda, unwilling to oppose Ahmud Nizam Shah, sent his son Azim Khan to join him, and himself retired into his fort.