Thread by @syedurahman

There have been many women who have won fame and praise for their courage and power. However, many of them have remained obscure names as not much has been written about them. One such woman is Khunza Humayun Shah, the mother of Chand Bibi.
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While a number of biographies have been authored on her illustrious daughter, Chand Bibi, not a single book has been authored on the life and achievements of her great mother. She was a remarkable woman who had enjoyed influence during her husband’s reign and then herself ruled

Khunza Humayun Shah, who Ferishta mentions as the Khoonza Sultana, was the mother of Murtuza Nizam Shah, who was his regent for 6 years and during that period managed the afffairs of the Ahmadnagar Sultanate. Murtuza Nizam Shah was enthroned in 1565.

She is said to have raised her three brothers, Einul Mulk, Taj Khan and Etibar Khan to the highest rank of the nobility and ruled in the name of her son. She is set t have ruled with an iron hand and her brother usurping the powers of all other nobles.

She appointed Moolla Inayatullah as Prime Minister or Peshwa. In Ahmadnagar sultanate, peshwa, was word used for PM and Maratha kings started using it following Ahmadnagar traditions. Marathas were old time Ahmadnagar vassals n they were given high offices in Nizam Shahi courts.

Khunza Sultana, was the real sovereign of the sultanate. She said daily in durbar, transacting business, sending orders to the governors in different parts of the realm. She is said to no wear any purdah.

When Venkatadari, a Vijayanagar, minister was hardpressed by Bijapur Sultan and he sought Ahmanagar support, Khunza Humayun herself marched at the head of an army and forced Adil Shahis to retire.

As Khunza Sultana was always condemning the nobility and promoting her own brothers and other relatives, finally there was a backlash. Shah Jamaluddin Anju, Qasim Beg and others went to the young king and complained about his mother's conduct.

Murtaza Nizam Shah, who later became a cruel king and was called diwana, said, "the whole of my ministers are attached to teh Queen, how then I am to subvert her usurpd authority". To this the nobles said, that they would try to gain over a few nobles to their side to check her.

In the year 1569 the Queen marched against Bijapur geenral Kishwar Khan. When they reached Dhamungam, young king resolved to free himself from dowager queen and gained the support of top nobles.

He dispatched Hubbush Khn to inform the Queen that the King wishes that she should no longer engage in public affairs and live a retired life like other queens.

The Queen, enraged, summoned her supporters and marched from her palace on horseback fully armed. Nonetheless dowager queen was arrested after some resistance from her and her supporters. Finally in 1671 she was deposed and sent to a fort.

There was an attempt in 1569 to depose her. King's Quran teacher Maulana Husain Tabrezi convinced her son to allow him to hire mercenaries seize and depose her. The king first agreed, but then developed cold feet and told his mother.

However, for common people, it was from frying pan to fire, as Murtuza Nizam Shah is said to be the most cruel king that the Deccan has seen. While Chand Bibi’s name as regent is talked about a lot, no one knows Khunza Humayun.

While Chand Bibi, no doubt was a great woman, ruling for six years was no mean achievement for Khunza, Chand Bibi’s mother.

There is no denying the fact that Khunza Humayun was a remarkable woman. The author of Tarif-i Husain Shah Padshah-i Dakan, uses superlatives to describe the queen, her aura, beauty and also her ancestry, claiming that her ancestors came from Baghdad.

During her husband’s time too she had some say in the affairs of the state, though Hussain Nizam Shah, a very powerful king whose personal courage saw the victory of the Deccan Sultan in battle of Talikota and destruction of Vijaynagar King, wouldn’t allow much interference.

Excerpts from Syed Ubaidur Rahman's forthcoming book, 'Muslim Emperors, Kings and Their Empires in South India: From Bahmani Empire to Tipu Sultan'.

To pre-order the book, pls DM or message 9818327757

You can sponsor the book to college/ university libraries.

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