Page:Historic Landmarks of the Deccan.djvu/108

96 In 1429, when Ahmad Shah Wali, the ninth king of the Bahmani dynasty, was returning from Berar, he halted at Bidar and was so charm- ed by the situation of the place that he resolved to make it his capital. The usual legend of the hunted fox or hare turning on the dog which was pursuing it is told to account for Ahmad Shah's choice, which is also said to have been influenced by the legendary and historical associations of the town; but its superiority over Gulbarga, in point of situation and cHmate was alone sufficient to account for the preference. Its central position and its situation on a rolling plateau gave it many advantages over the hot and low-lying town of Gulbarga, where Ahmad Shah's health had suffered, and it remained the capital of the Bahmanis as long as the dynasty lasted, and of the Barid Shahi kings who followed them.

Ala-ud-din II, the son and successor of Ahmad Shah, founded a large hospital at Bidar, and endowed it with y'^^/r lands for the support of the Hindu and Muhammadan physicians attached to it and for the supply of medicine and food to the sick.

On October 4, 146 1, Nizam Shah, the twelfth king of the Bahmani line, ascended the throne in Bidar, in the eighth year of his age. His mother, Makhduma-i-Jahan, governed the kingdom in his name, aided by the advice of Mahmud Gawan Khaja-i-Jahan. Early in this reign Sultan Mahmud Khalji of Malwa, having aUied himself with the Rajas of Urisa and Tehngana, invaded the Bahmani dominions, was defeated in his first engagement, but retrieved his defeat, fell upon the Deccanis as they were plundering, and utterly routed them. Nizam Shah was carried off by his mother to Firuzabad, near Gulbarga ; while the inva- ders sacked and burnt the town of Bidar and laid siege to the citadel which was gallantly held by the Bahmani qalahdar, Mallu Khan. The besiegers daily attempted to fill the ditch with earth and rubbish, but their efforts were frustrated by the energy of the defenders, who cleared the ditch by night. In the meantime Nizam Shah's advisers had written for help to Sultan Mahmud of Gujarat, who now arrived at the northern frontier of the Bahmani kingdom with 80,000 horse. Mahmud Gawan, with five or six thousand Deccani horse, joined him by way of Bir, and occupied himself in raising more troops until he was able to take the field with an army of 40,000 Deccani and Gujarati horse. He sent