Thursday, August 13, 2015Search Hyd.co.inHomeAreasAttractionsBasicsMuseumsNightlifeParksRestaurantsHyderabad HistoryFiled under BasicsAmong the cities of India, Hyderabad, the capital of the new state of Andhra Pradesh, has one ofthe richest and most colourful histories, accentuated by magnificent architecture and a rich culture.Several influences for the past 400 years has molded it into the A-1 status city it is today.Ancient HistoryHyderabad History : Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India http://www.hyd.co.in/history/1 of 6 13/08/2015 1:03 AMBefore the citys actual historical rise, the area where Hyderabad would ultimately be establishedwas under the rule of several kingdoms, including those of Buddhist and Hindu royalty. It cameunder rule by the kings of the Chalukya kingdom, whose feudal chieftains, the Kakatiyas,splintered off to create their new kingdom and established it around Warangal. In 1321 AD, theSultanate of Delhi under the command of Muhammad bin Tughluq brought Warangal to its knees,resulting in anarchy in the whole region. The next few decades saw the battles for supremacy forthe region among the Bahmani Sultanate, the Masunuri Nayakas, and the Vijayanagara Rayas,which finally ended with the Bahmani Sultanate exerting control by the middle of the 15thcentury.Modern HistoryThe Qutub Shahi DynastyThe history of Hyderabad as a city began in 1518 when Sultan Quli Qut-ul-Mulk declaredindependence from the Bahmani Sultanate and established the fortress city of Golconda, callinghimself the Sultan Quli Qutub Shah. Decades before, Sultan Mohammed Shah Bahmani instructedQuli Qut-ul-Mulk to quell insurgents and disturbance in the region, a job which the future rulercarried only too well. By the time he established the Golconda Sultanate under the title of SultanQuli Qutub Shah and began the Qutub Shahi Dynasty, the Bahmani Sultanate had completelydisintegrated, splintering into five different kingdoms.In 1589, the city of Hyderabad was finally built on the Musi River by the fifth sultan of thedynasty, a mere five miles east of Golconda. Muhammed Quli Qutub Shah dedicated it to his wife,Bhagyamathi, and also ordered the construction of the monument of the city, which eventuallybecame its icon, the Charminar on 1591, reportedly as a way to thank the almighty for quelling aplague before it destroyed his newly-built city. During this time and well into the 17th century,Hyderabads power and fame rose as it became the center of a highly successful diamond trade.All the Qutub sultans, great thinkers and builders as they were, contributed hugely to the richnessof Hyderabads culture and affluence, attracting countless visitors from other countries whocompared it to Irans beautiful city, Isfahan.The Mughal EmpireHyderabads fame finally caught the attention of the Mughal prince Aurangzeb, who laid siege onGolconda in 1686. Aurangzeb had been spending most of his time in the Deccan establishing andenforcing the Mughal superiority and sovereignity. When Shah J ahan finally died in 1666,Aurangzeb consolidated his power as Emperor and he spent most of it trying to expand his empirebeyond that of his predecessor, Akbar the Great. His target was Hyderabad, at that time one of therichest cities in the area, and was reportedly impregnable because of the protection of GolcondaFort.Aurangzebs initial sieges were failures and he had to leave in frustration. However, he came backand it wasnt until a nine-month long intensive siege in 1687 when Golconda finally fell. Legendhas it that the fortress wouldve held on if it wasnt for a saboteur who was bribed by Aurangzebto open the gates at night. Sultan Abul Hassan Tana Shah, the seventh and last king of the QutubShahi dynasty, was imprisoned soon after Golconda fell. Hyderabads importance declined, itsflourishing diamond trade was destroyed, and the city fell into ruins. Aurangzebs attention, itself,Hyderabad History : Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India http://www.hyd.co.in/history/2 of 6 13/08/2015 1:03 AMwas focused on the other parts of the Deccan shortly after, especially with the Marathas steadilygaining ground, albeit slowly, against the reigning Mughals.Rise of the NizamsIn 1724, Mir Qamar-ud-Din Siddiqi, was granted the title of Nizam-ul-Muk (meaningAdministrator of the Realm) by the Mughal emperor as viceroy tasked to oversee parts of theMughal empire in behalf of the emperor. He intermittently ruled under the title of Asaf J ah anddefeated a rival official in order to establish control over Hyderabad. During this time, viceroysand governors of Hyderabad have gained a considerable autonomy from the seat of power at Delhiand, when the Mughal empire finally crumbled down in the mid 18th century, the young Asaf J ahdeclared himself independent and the dynasty of the Nizams was established.It would not take long before the Nizams quickly surpassed the Mughals in the domination of thesouthern parts of India, with their dominion hitting as high as 125 million acres (roughly 510,000square kilometers). In the two centuries that the Nizams ruled over Hyderabad, there were a totalof seven Nizams, excluding the 13 years where the three sons of Asaf J ah 1 ruled after him; thethree sons were not officially recognized as rulers (and thus, did not get the title of Nizam). Duringthese two centuries, Hyderabad saw immense growth again, both culturally and economically. Itfinally became the capital with the old one, Golconda, becoming all but abandoned. Hyderabadscultural glory was again established, especially since the Nizams themselves were great patrons ofliterature, art, architecture, and food. The Nizams themselves were counted as among thewealthiest people in the world; in fact, the last Nizam is ranked as the fifth wealthiest people in thehistory of the world today, with his fortune at its highest pinned at US$225 billion, adjusted totodays value.Integration into the NationWhen the British and French took hold over most of India, the Nizams played a delicate game ofbalance and subterfuge. They allied themselves with each side at different times, playing animportant role in the wars involving Tipu Sultant, the French, and the British. The Nizamseventually won the friendship of the Western invaders without giving up their powers. As a result,Hyderabad was still ruled by a Nizam, and it became the largest princely state of India. As aprincely state, Hyderabad had its own currency, railways, mint, and postal system. The citizensenjoyed no income tax.When India finally gained its independence in 1947, the Nizam at that time made known hisintention to become independent, either by gaining dominion status by the British Empire or as asovereign ruler. The Nizam signed a Standstill Agreement with the Indian Union which, by thistime, had surrounded him on all sides. Breakdown in law and order soon followed, with fightsbetween the supporters of the Nizam and the supporters of Congress. As the violence spiraled outof control, the newly established Indian government initiated a police action called OperationPolo. On September 16, 1948, the Indian army moved in to the state of Hyderabad in five fronts.Five days later, the Nizams army surrendered, and the Nizam signed the Instrument of Accession,integrating Hyderabad into the Indian Union as a state.CommentsOne Response to Hyderabad HistoryHyderabad History : Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India http://www.hyd.co.in/history/3 of 6 13/08/2015 1:03 AMTaj Falaknuma PalaceThe Westin HyderabadMindspaceTrident HyderabadITC Kakatiya HyderabadTaj KrishnaSheraton Hyderabad HotelT.P. VENKAT RAO on November 30th, 2010 11:12 pmThe history is very brief, I t would have been very nice if more detalied historywere to be releated in your web site, There are 5 Qutub Shahi Dynasty, thiernames and periods, and what contributions each king had done to Hyderabad,and also like wise the detrails of 7 Dynasty of Asif J ahi were to be mentioned itsould have been more detailed account with respectrive period of rule , names of ruler inthat particular time and their respective development or oterwise.1. 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