Malik Ahmad Nizam Shah I

Malik Ahmad Nizam Shah was the founder of the Nizam Shahi dynasty and the Ahmadnagar Sultanate.

Ahmad was the son of the Nizam ul-Mulk Malik Hasan Bahri, a Hindu Brahmin from Beejanuggar (or Bijanagar) originally named Timapa who converted to Islam. However According to Ranade and Akola district gazetteer his father was the Kulkarni of Pathri a town in marathwada. Ahmad's father was made Malik Na'ib on the death of Mahmud Gavan and was appointed prime minister by Mahmood Shah Bahmani II. Soon after, he appointed Ahmad governor of Beed and other districts in the vicinity of Dowlutabad.

Background He defended his province against incursions from the Sultan, successfully defeating a much larger army led by Sheikh Mowullid Arab in a night attack The first foundations were laid in 1494 and the city was built in two years, serving as the capital for the new Ahmadnagar Sultanate for over a century.

In 1499, Mahmud Begada sided with Mullik Ashruf and attacked Khandesh. Miran Adil Khan Gujjar II sent to Fathullah Imad-ul-Mulk and Ahmad Nizam Shah requesting aid, and a combined force from the three sultanates was raised. On the night before the battle, Ahmad led 5000 infantry, armed with bows, rockets and matchlocks, to attack the camp. Simultaneously, an elephant was let loose in the camp and in the ensuing chaos, Mahmud Begada fled the scene, his army following in the early morning. Mullik Ashruf offered tribute to Mahmud Begada, which led to revolt in the city. When Ahmad surrounded Daulatabad with 5000 troops, Mullik Ashruf died after an illness of five days and the city became part of the Ahmadnagar Sultanate.

He was considered a just and wise ruler. In the words of Firishta (translated by John Briggs), "such was his justice, that, without his sanction, the loadstone dared not attract iron, and the kahrooba lost its power over grass." His modesty and continence were also noted. Although following the advice of Yusuf Adil Shah, Ahmad had discontinued prayers for the Bahmani Sultans after the Victory of the Garden, he soon rescinded the order and continued to hold few of the trappings of royalty.

Firishta tells the story that, when he was a young man in the campaign against Gawulgur, "there was taken among the captives a young lady of exquisite beauty, who was presented as an acceptable gift to him by one of his officers." Rather, when he found out that she was already married, he restored her to her friends and family with gifts. In fact, it was his custom when he rode through the city never to look to the left or the right to avoid looking at another man's wife.

Death Ahmad Nizam Shah died in 1508 or 1509 following a short illness, having appointed his seven-year-old son Burhan Nizam Shah I to succeed him. Ahmad Nizam Shah's tomb is located 3 Km away from Ahmednagar Fort and is known as Bagh Rauza.