Ahmadnagar Sultanate

The Ahmadnagar Sultanate was a medieval Deccani Muslim kingdom in Southern India, located in the northwestern Deccan between the sultanates of Gujarat and Bijapur. Established in 1490 by Malik Ahmad Nizam Shah I, who declared independence from the Bahmani Sultanate, it was ruled by the Nizam Shahi dynasty. Initially, its capital was Junnar, later moving to Ahmednagar in 1494. The sultanate played a significant role in the Deccan, including an alliance that defeated the Vijayanagara Empire in 1565. It expanded under rulers like Murtaza Nizam Shah I and defended against Mughal invasions until its annexation by the Mughal Empire in 1636. The sultanate was known for its cultural contributions, including early Deccan painting and architectural works.