TURKS IN KARNATAKA

Abstract

The paper aims to highlight the contribution of the Turks from 14th to 18th Century A.D., in Karnataka State. The Turks came to India after the Arabs. They were very strong in their physique, expert in warfare and dedicated to Islam. In India, the Turkish rule was started by the Slave dynasty King named Qutbuddin-Aibak in the year 1206 A.D., which continued till 1287 A.D., under the reign of Ghiasuddin Balban. Afterwards another Turkish tribe, the Khilji dynasty ruled from 1292 A.D. to 1320 A.D. A third dynasty, the Tughluqs ruled from 1320 A.D. to 1414 A.D. They were a mixed race of Turks and Jats. All the dynasties ruled different parts of North India. Karnataka is a prominent State in South India. The first Turkish invasion into Karnataka was by the Khiljis. Malik Kafur, the General of Allauddin-Khilji carried many expeditions in South India during the period 1305 A.D. to 1311 A.D., because of these expeditions many Muslim soldiers remained in Karnataka. Among them some were Turks. Ulugh Khan (Muhammud-bin-Tughluq) the son of Ghiasuddin Tughluq also conducted military expeditions and captured Bidar and Basava Kalyana in Bidar district of North Karnataka. Hence again many Turks put their feet in Karnataka. Epigraphical and literary sources are found of the Turks living during the period of Vijayanagara Empire (1336 A.D. - 1565 A.D.), the Bahmanis (1347 A.D. - 1538 A.D.), the Adil Shahis (1489 A.D. - 1686 A.D.), the Barid Shahis (1487 - 1619 A.D.), and in the period of Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan (1761 A.D. - 1799 A.D.). During the period of these Muslim dynasties many Turks rendered services as kings, nobles, administrators, soldiers, religious teachers, scholars, saints, architects, gun-makers, merchants, etc

Keywords

• Turks, Contribution, Karnataka

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