MAHOMED KOOLLY KOOTB SHAH

Proceeds towards Koolburga in support of an alliance formed with the King of Ahmudnuggur — returns to his capital, leav­ing one of his officers to conduct the campaign. — The King of Ahmudnuggur is attacked by the Regent of Beejapoor, and defeated, with the loss of one hundred and twenty elephants. — Mahomed Koolly Kootb Shah sends an embassy to Beejapoor — espouses the sister of Ibrahim Adil Shah — builds the city of Bhagnuggur, so called after his favourite mistress Bhag-mutty .

IBRAHIM KOOLLY KOOTB SHAH left three sons, the eldest of whom, Mahomed Koolly, succeeded to the throne at the age of twelve. He im­mediately married the daughter of Shah Nizam Isfahany, a syud of the Tubatibba tribe, who had long held the office of Ameer Joomla under the late King. At the Syud's instigation the King marched to co-operate with Syud Moortuza Subzwary, the ge­neral of Ahmudnuggur: the first object of their attack was Nuldoorg; but as the governor resisted a long siege, they resolved to march to Beejapoor; being equally unfortunate and unsuccessful there, the courtiers of Mahomed Koolly Kootb Shah represented that it was customary among the kings of the Deccan, if they went in person to war, to beg the aid of their allies, who themselves proceeded in person to their assistance, as had always been usual between the two kings of Ah-mudnuggur and Golconda; but that it could not be considered respectable for his Majesty in person to attend one of the generals of Ahmudnuggur. The King, struck with the justice of the remark, which was in fact levelled at the minister who advised the measure, accordingly refused to ac­company the army. Upon this the Ahmudnuggur general recommended to his master that the allies should return towards their respective countries, advising that the Nizam Shahies should occupy part of the Adil Shahy territory contiguous to Ahmudnuggur, while the Kootb Shahy monarch should be at liberty to take Koolburga and other places on his frontier. On this resolution the camps separated, each army returning to its own border. Upon his arrival at Koolburga, Mahomed Koolly Kootb Shah left Mirza Zein, entitled Moostufa Khan, with a force of seven thousand cavalry, and many elephants, to reduce that district, whence he proceeded to his capital, and confined his minister and father-in-law, Shah Mirza, for the advice he had given. Soon after he ordered him to be sent to his native city of Isfahan; but he died on the voyage.

Moostufa Khan, in the mean time, reduced many of the towns contiguous to Koolburga, when being attacked by Dilawur Khan from Beejapoor, with a strong force, an action ensued, in which the latter was victorious; and following up his successes, took from Moostufa Khan, before he reached Golconda, one hundred and twenty ele­phants, besides other valuables.

After this event a peace was concluded, which

A. H. 995.
A. D. 1586.

has ever since existed; and in the year 995 an ambassador was deputed from Beejapoor to Golconda, to ask in mar­riage the King's sister for Ibrahim Adil Shah, and the Princess was accordingly conveyed to Beejapoor.

In the beginning of the reign of Mahomed Koolly Kootb Shah, that young Prince became enamoured of a public singer of the name of Bhag-mutty, to whom he assigned one thousand cavalry as an escort for her attendance; and as the air of Golconda had become impure and unhealthy, he built a magnificent city at the distance of eight miles, which he called Bhagnuggur, after his fa­vourite mistress; but this city has since received the name of Hydurabad, although one part of it still retains the former name of Bhagnuggur. It is ten miles in circumference; and its principal streets, contrary to the other towns in India, are wide and clean: its air is healthy, and running streams are conveyed through some of the prin­cipal markets; on each side of which are rows of trees planted, affording a pleasing shade and sight, and the shops are all of solid masonry. The King's palace is described as the most beautiful and extensive in India.