Burhan Nizam Shah I

Burhan Nizam Shah I
2nd Sultan of Ahmadnagar
Reign	1509–1553
Predecessor	Malik Ahmad Nizam Shah I
Successor	Hussain Nizam Shah I
Born	1502 (1502)
Died	1553 (aged 50–51)
Spouse	Bibi Amina Bibi Mariam
Issue	Hussain Nizam Shah I Abdul Qadir Muhammad Khudabanda Miran Muhammad Baqir Shah Ali Shah Haidar
House	Nizam Shahi Dynasty
Father	Malik Ahmad Nizam Shah I
Religion	Shia Islam

Burhan Nizam Shah I (Persian: برهان نظام شاه یکم) was ruler of the Ahmednagar Sultanate, in Central India. He ascended the throne on the death of his father Ahmad Nizam Shah I in 1508[1] or 1510 when he was seven years old.[2] He died in 1553 and was succeeded by Hussain Nizam Shah I.

He converted to Shia Islam and royals and commoners followed suit. Sunni theologians and their followers resented this but were crushed.[3] His reign was characterized by religious tolerance, art and flourishing trade. Skirmishes with the Mughals, Bijapur & various other small states continued through his reign. A palace built for Burhan Shah, the second Nizam, stands in ruins two miles south-east of the city of Ahmednagar.[2]

Reign

Burhan fought against the Imad Shahi forces at the battle of Ranubari.[4]

Upon the declaration of Shi'ism as the state religion, Pir Muhammad Khan Sherwani raised about 3000 men in rebellion, and camped outside Ahmednagar. The rebels sought to depose Burhan and install his Sunni son Abdul Qadir as sultan. They had surrounded the house of Shah Tahir, but eventually the rebellion ended and Burhan ordered the execution of Pir Muhammad. However, Shah Tahir interceded on his behalf, and he was imprisoned instead.[5]

Family

Burhan Nizam Shah had at least two wives. The first, his favourite, was Bibi Amina. The second was Bibi Mariam, the daughter of Yusuf Adil Shah, Sultan of Bijapur. He had six sons:[6]

By Bibi Amina

• Hussain Nizam Shah I, Sultan of Ahmednagar;
• Abdul Qadir;

By Bibi Mariam

• Miran Muhammad Baqir;
• Shah Ali, father of Murtaza Nizam Shah II;[7]

By other women

• Shah Haidar, married the daughter of Khwaja Jahan, the ruler of Parinda;[8]
• Muhammad Khudabanda;[9]

References

1. Sen, Sailendra (2013). A Textbook of Medieval Indian History. Primus Books. p. 118. ISBN 978-9-38060-734-4.
2. "New Page 1". Archived from the original on 6 January 2009. Retrieved 21 January 2009.
3. Radhey Shyam (1966). "Burhan Nizam Shah I". The Kingdom of Ahmadnagar. Motilal Banarsidass. p. 81. ISBN 9788120826519.
4. Shyam 1966, p. 58-59.
5. Shyam 1966, p. 80-82.
6. D. D. Nagarkar, Glimpses of Ahmednagar (1977), p. 10
7. Shyam 1966, p. 241–242.
8. Sayyid Ahmad-Ullah Qadri, Memoirs of Chand Bibi: The Princess of Ahmadnagar (1939), p. 33
9. Shyam (1966, p. 235)

Bibliography

• Shyam, Radhey (1966). The Kingdom of Ahmadnagar.