Malik ‘Ambar
Malik ‘Ambar (Malik Anbar) (c. 1548/1549-1626). Habshi vizier and military commander who served the Nizam Shahi dynasty of Ahmadnagar. Purchased as a slave in Baghdad, he supported several Maratha families and thus contributed to the subsequent rise of Maratha power in western India.
Malik 'Ambar was born in Harar, a province of Ethiopia. He was born in the capital of the dying Adal Sultanate in eastern Ethiopia. both Ethiopia and the rebellious Adal sultanate were devastated after two decades of war with each other. His Ethiopian name was Shambu and, aside from his Ethiopian name, little is known of his youth except that he was sold into slavery. During his youthful enslavement, Shambu would be sold several times in such Arab cities as Hejaz, Mocha (al-Mukha) and Baghdad.
According to the Futuhat-i 'adil Shahi, Shambu was sold into slavery by his parents. He ended up in Mocha in Yemen. While in Mocha, Shambu's Arab owner, Kazi Hussein, came to recognize that his slave had certain intellectual abilities and decided to train him in the areas of finance and administration. As the relationship between Shambu and Hussein became stronger, Shambu became a Muslim and Hussein gave him the name 'Ambar.
When Hussein died, 'Ambar was sold to a slave dealer, who sold Malik 'Ambar again for twenty ducats. Malik 'Ambar was then taken taken to the slave market in Baghdad, where he was sold a third time to the Qadi al-Qudat of Mecca and again in Baghdad to Mir Qasim al-Baghdadi, who took him to India.
Around 1575, 'Ambar was purchased by Chingiz Khan, the prime minister to Nizam mul-Mulk Bani -- the King of Ahmadnagar. It is reported that Chingiz Khan was also of African origin and may very well have been a descendant of African mercenaries who served in India as early as the 1200s.
Chingiz Khan was impressed by 'Ambar's knowledge of Arabic, his loyalty, and his general intelligence. Seeking to solidify his control of the rather prominent (and mercenary) contingent of African (Habshi) slaves in the Deccan region, Chingiz Khan appointed 'Ambar as a key lieutenant with significant military and administrative responsibilities.
'Ambar's future was for a time hopeful. However, Chingiz Khan unexpectedly died, and 'Ambar was once again sold.
First 'Ambar was sold to the Shah of Golconda and later to the King of Bijapur. (Golconda and Bijapur were both kingdoms in the Deccan area of India.) Because of the training he had received from Kazi Hussein and Chingiz Khan, 'Ambar soon found favor with the King of Bijapur. So impressed was the King that he gave 'Ambar the title of Malik ("like a king").
While at Bijapur, Malik 'Ambar became a military commander. As a military commander, Malik 'Ambar was well respected by the Arab and African troops which were subject to his commands. Contrary to policy, Malik 'Ambar habitually promoted Arabs (as opposed to Indians) to positions of authority. This practice led to a dispute between Malik 'Ambar and the King of Bijapur which resulted in Malik 'Ambar's desertion in 1590 from the service of the King.
Malik 'Ambar became a wild card mercenary. He attracted not only independent Arab and African warriors but also Deccani (Indian) warriors. Eventually, Malik 'Ambar built a personal (private) army of over 1,500 well-trained cavalrymen and infantrymen. These soldiers of fortune were employed in various conflicts by various rulers in India.
In 1595, the King of Ahmadnagar organized a Habshi (African) army and his wise counselor, the Habshi (African) prime minister Abhangar Khan, invited Malik 'Ambar and his men to join him.
The return of Malik 'Ambar to Ahmadnagar was providential. Malik 'Ambar's return provided the opportunity for him to become a great champion of the Deccanis (Hindu Indians) against the Mughals (Muslim Indians). Malik 'Ambar and a Deccani, Mian Raju Dakhani, combined their military efforts on several occasions to repel attacks by the Mughals. Although Malik 'Ambar and Mian Raju Dakhani would become political and military rivals, on this occasion they worked together to defend the province of Ahmadnagar from the Mughals.
After repulsing the Mughals, the rivalry between Malik 'Ambar and Mian Raju Dakhani came to the fore. Both men sought to usurp the throne of King Murtaza II. In 1602, Malik 'Ambar imprisoned Murtaza and named himself regent-minister. As regent minister, Malik 'Ambar repelled a series of Mughal attacks and prevented the Great Mughal, the Emperor Akbar, from fulfilling his aim of conquering the Indian subcontinent.
By the time that Jahangir had succeeded Akbar as the Mughal Emperor in 1605, Malik 'Ambar had established a capital at Kirkee and had become well entrenched in the Deccan. During all this time, Malik 'Ambar also fought off the ventures of his rival Mian Raju Dakhani. In 1607, Malik 'Ambar captured Raju and had him executed. After this act, Malik 'Ambar was the supreme lord of Ahmadnagar.
Upon consolidation of his power, Malik 'Ambar organized an estimated 60,000 horse army. His light cavalry was very effective as a mobile unit. Malik 'Ambar also enlisted the naval support of the Siddis (fellow Africans) of Janjira Island in 1616 in order to cut the Mughal supply lines and to conduct harassing missions.
Malik 'Ambar thrust defeats on the Mughal General Khan Khanan many times and attacked Ahmadnagar often. The guerrilla tactics employed by Malik 'Ambar proved to be very successful against the Mughals. On one occasion, the Mughal Emperor Jahangir was moved to remark: "'Ambar, the black-faced, who had himself in command of the enemy, continually brought up reinforcements till he assembled a large force. ... It was deemed expedient to retreat and prepare for a new campaign."
'Ambar built his greatest fortifications at Daulatabad to protect his kingdom from Prince Shah Jahan -- the Prince destined to become the next Mughal Emperor. In 1621, Shah Jahan's forces launched an attack on Daulatabad. Surprisingly, the Mughal forces were defeated and forced to retreat after suffering heavy losses at the hands of Malik 'Ambar.
However, while this victory over the Mughals was welcomed by Malik 'Ambar, it also brought the realization that he could not continue to resist without reinforcements. Seeking the support of the Deccani ruler, Ibrahim Adil Shah II, Malik 'Ambar had his daughter married to the Shah's favorite courtier. Additionally, his long and distinguished service in Golconda and Bijapur (along with their realization that Malik 'Ambar provided a buffer from the Mughals for them) brought support from those kingdoms. For a time, Malik 'Ambar was able to continue to resist the power of the Mughals.
Nevertheless, by the 1620s, Malik 'Ambar was having difficulty in maintaining the loyalty of his officers and forces. Almost continuous warfare for over a twenty year period of time had demoralized the army and drained the local economy. Although he was never defeated, Malik 'Ambar died a besieged man in 1626.
Malik 'Ambar was succeeded as regent minister of the kingdom of Ahmadnagar by his son Fettah Khan (Fatehkhan). But Fettah Khan was not Malik 'Ambar. He was deposed in 1629. Thus ended the short but glorious reign of the Africans in the Deccan.
During his time, Malik 'Ambar founded and inhabited Aurangabad on the site of the Kirkee (Khadke - "Big Rock") village in 1610. After his death in 1626, the name was changed to Fatehpur by his son Fatehkhan. When Aurangzeb, the Mughal Emperor invaded Deccan in the year 1653, he made Fatehpur his capital and renamed it Aurangabad.
'Ambar, Malik see Malik ‘Ambar
Shambu see Malik ‘Ambar
Malik Anbar see Malik ‘Ambar
Anbar, Malik see Malik ‘Ambar
Malik 'Ambar was born in Harar, a province of Ethiopia. He was born in the capital of the dying Adal Sultanate in eastern Ethiopia. both Ethiopia and the rebellious Adal sultanate were devastated after two decades of war with each other. His Ethiopian name was Shambu and, aside from his Ethiopian name, little is known of his youth except that he was sold into slavery. During his youthful enslavement, Shambu would be sold several times in such Arab cities as Hejaz, Mocha (al-Mukha) and Baghdad.
According to the Futuhat-i 'adil Shahi, Shambu was sold into slavery by his parents. He ended up in Mocha in Yemen. While in Mocha, Shambu's Arab owner, Kazi Hussein, came to recognize that his slave had certain intellectual abilities and decided to train him in the areas of finance and administration. As the relationship between Shambu and Hussein became stronger, Shambu became a Muslim and Hussein gave him the name 'Ambar.
When Hussein died, 'Ambar was sold to a slave dealer, who sold Malik 'Ambar again for twenty ducats. Malik 'Ambar was then taken taken to the slave market in Baghdad, where he was sold a third time to the Qadi al-Qudat of Mecca and again in Baghdad to Mir Qasim al-Baghdadi, who took him to India.
Around 1575, 'Ambar was purchased by Chingiz Khan, the prime minister to Nizam mul-Mulk Bani -- the King of Ahmadnagar. It is reported that Chingiz Khan was also of African origin and may very well have been a descendant of African mercenaries who served in India as early as the 1200s.
Chingiz Khan was impressed by 'Ambar's knowledge of Arabic, his loyalty, and his general intelligence. Seeking to solidify his control of the rather prominent (and mercenary) contingent of African (Habshi) slaves in the Deccan region, Chingiz Khan appointed 'Ambar as a key lieutenant with significant military and administrative responsibilities.
'Ambar's future was for a time hopeful. However, Chingiz Khan unexpectedly died, and 'Ambar was once again sold.
First 'Ambar was sold to the Shah of Golconda and later to the King of Bijapur. (Golconda and Bijapur were both kingdoms in the Deccan area of India.) Because of the training he had received from Kazi Hussein and Chingiz Khan, 'Ambar soon found favor with the King of Bijapur. So impressed was the King that he gave 'Ambar the title of Malik ("like a king").
While at Bijapur, Malik 'Ambar became a military commander. As a military commander, Malik 'Ambar was well respected by the Arab and African troops which were subject to his commands. Contrary to policy, Malik 'Ambar habitually promoted Arabs (as opposed to Indians) to positions of authority. This practice led to a dispute between Malik 'Ambar and the King of Bijapur which resulted in Malik 'Ambar's desertion in 1590 from the service of the King.
Malik 'Ambar became a wild card mercenary. He attracted not only independent Arab and African warriors but also Deccani (Indian) warriors. Eventually, Malik 'Ambar built a personal (private) army of over 1,500 well-trained cavalrymen and infantrymen. These soldiers of fortune were employed in various conflicts by various rulers in India.
In 1595, the King of Ahmadnagar organized a Habshi (African) army and his wise counselor, the Habshi (African) prime minister Abhangar Khan, invited Malik 'Ambar and his men to join him.
The return of Malik 'Ambar to Ahmadnagar was providential. Malik 'Ambar's return provided the opportunity for him to become a great champion of the Deccanis (Hindu Indians) against the Mughals (Muslim Indians). Malik 'Ambar and a Deccani, Mian Raju Dakhani, combined their military efforts on several occasions to repel attacks by the Mughals. Although Malik 'Ambar and Mian Raju Dakhani would become political and military rivals, on this occasion they worked together to defend the province of Ahmadnagar from the Mughals.
After repulsing the Mughals, the rivalry between Malik 'Ambar and Mian Raju Dakhani came to the fore. Both men sought to usurp the throne of King Murtaza II. In 1602, Malik 'Ambar imprisoned Murtaza and named himself regent-minister. As regent minister, Malik 'Ambar repelled a series of Mughal attacks and prevented the Great Mughal, the Emperor Akbar, from fulfilling his aim of conquering the Indian subcontinent.
By the time that Jahangir had succeeded Akbar as the Mughal Emperor in 1605, Malik 'Ambar had established a capital at Kirkee and had become well entrenched in the Deccan. During all this time, Malik 'Ambar also fought off the ventures of his rival Mian Raju Dakhani. In 1607, Malik 'Ambar captured Raju and had him executed. After this act, Malik 'Ambar was the supreme lord of Ahmadnagar.
Upon consolidation of his power, Malik 'Ambar organized an estimated 60,000 horse army. His light cavalry was very effective as a mobile unit. Malik 'Ambar also enlisted the naval support of the Siddis (fellow Africans) of Janjira Island in 1616 in order to cut the Mughal supply lines and to conduct harassing missions.
Malik 'Ambar thrust defeats on the Mughal General Khan Khanan many times and attacked Ahmadnagar often. The guerrilla tactics employed by Malik 'Ambar proved to be very successful against the Mughals. On one occasion, the Mughal Emperor Jahangir was moved to remark: "'Ambar, the black-faced, who had himself in command of the enemy, continually brought up reinforcements till he assembled a large force. ... It was deemed expedient to retreat and prepare for a new campaign."
'Ambar built his greatest fortifications at Daulatabad to protect his kingdom from Prince Shah Jahan -- the Prince destined to become the next Mughal Emperor. In 1621, Shah Jahan's forces launched an attack on Daulatabad. Surprisingly, the Mughal forces were defeated and forced to retreat after suffering heavy losses at the hands of Malik 'Ambar.
However, while this victory over the Mughals was welcomed by Malik 'Ambar, it also brought the realization that he could not continue to resist without reinforcements. Seeking the support of the Deccani ruler, Ibrahim Adil Shah II, Malik 'Ambar had his daughter married to the Shah's favorite courtier. Additionally, his long and distinguished service in Golconda and Bijapur (along with their realization that Malik 'Ambar provided a buffer from the Mughals for them) brought support from those kingdoms. For a time, Malik 'Ambar was able to continue to resist the power of the Mughals.
Nevertheless, by the 1620s, Malik 'Ambar was having difficulty in maintaining the loyalty of his officers and forces. Almost continuous warfare for over a twenty year period of time had demoralized the army and drained the local economy. Although he was never defeated, Malik 'Ambar died a besieged man in 1626.
Malik 'Ambar was succeeded as regent minister of the kingdom of Ahmadnagar by his son Fettah Khan (Fatehkhan). But Fettah Khan was not Malik 'Ambar. He was deposed in 1629. Thus ended the short but glorious reign of the Africans in the Deccan.
During his time, Malik 'Ambar founded and inhabited Aurangabad on the site of the Kirkee (Khadke - "Big Rock") village in 1610. After his death in 1626, the name was changed to Fatehpur by his son Fatehkhan. When Aurangzeb, the Mughal Emperor invaded Deccan in the year 1653, he made Fatehpur his capital and renamed it Aurangabad.
'Ambar, Malik see Malik ‘Ambar
Shambu see Malik ‘Ambar
Malik Anbar see Malik ‘Ambar
Anbar, Malik see Malik ‘Ambar
No comments:
Post a Comment