Born: 1550 CE
Biography:
Sultana Chand Bibi, born in 1550 CE, was an Indian ruler and warrior who left an indelible mark on history. She was known for her strong leadership and military prowess during a time when women were seldom seen in positions of power.
Chand Bibi was the daughter of Hussain Nizam Shah I of Ahmednagar, India, and the sister of Burhan Nizam Shah II, the Sultan of Ahmednagar. She was well-educated and multilingual, proficient in languages such as Arabic, Persian, Turkish, Marathi, and Kannada. In addition to her intellectual pursuits, Chand Bibi was also passionate about the arts, playing the sitar and painting flowers.
Her life took a significant turn when she married Ali Adil Shah I of the Bijapur Sultanate. Ali Adil Shah’s father had divided power between various factions, with the Sunni nobles, the Habshis, and the Deccanis all vying for control. However, Ali Adil Shah favored the Shi’a faction. After his death in 1580, his nine-year-old nephew Ibrahim Adil Shah II was proclaimed ruler by the Shi’a nobles. Kamal Khan, a Deccani general, seized power and became regent, but his disrespectful attitude towards Chand Bibi led to her plotting against him with the help of another general, Haji Kishvar Khan.
Their plan succeeded, and Kamal Khan was captured and beheaded. Kishvar Khan then became the regent, but his actions soon caused discontent among the other generals. In a battle against the Ahmednagar Sultanate, Kishvar Khan captured all the enemy’s artillery and elephants, demanding that the other Bijapuri generals surrender them to him. Outraged, the generals, including Chand Bibi, conspired to eliminate Kishvar Khan with the help of General Mustafa Khan of Bankapur. However, their plan was discovered, and Mustafa Khan was captured and killed in the ensuing battle.
Chand Bibi herself challenged Kishvar Khan but was eventually imprisoned in the Satara fort. Undeterred, she continued to defy him and attempted to declare herself the ruler. However, Kishvar Khan’s rule quickly became unpopular among the other generals, and they forced him to flee when a joint army led by a Habshi general called Ikhlas Khan marched to Bijapur.
Despite facing numerous challenges and betrayals, Chand Bibi’s most notable feat came in 1595 when she defended Ahmednagar against the powerful Mughal forces of Emperor Akbar. As regent of Ahmednagar Sultanate during her great nephew Bahadur Shah’s minority, she led her troops with remarkable courage and resourcefulness. Despite being outnumbered and outgunned, Chand Bibi’s strategic brilliance allowed her to hold off the Mughal forces for an extended period. It is said that she even personally took to the battlefield, inspiring her soldiers with her bravery.
Chand Bibi’s leadership and determination in the face of adversity made her a revered figure in Indian history. Her legacy as a female ruler who successfully defended her kingdom against powerful invaders has inspired generations of women to persevere and fight for their rights.