Muhammad Adil Suri Malwa

Dated: 20th December, 2020 Coins of Muhammad Adil Suri, Malwa Sultanate By Pradeep K. Aggarwal (Sultanate coin collector) Helped by Mr. Arvind Chandra History of Muhammad Adil Shah Suri: Muhammad Adil Shah, was a king in the Suri dynasty of Delhi Sultanate. His real name was Muhammad Mubariz Khan. He was the son of Nizam Khan, the younger brother of the Sultan Sher Shah Suri. Adil's sister, Bibi Bai, was married to Islam Shah Suri, son of Sher Shah Suri. In AD 1552 (AH 960), after the death of Islam Shah Suri, Firuz Shah Suri, the twelve-year-old son of Islam Shah Suri, was declared Sultan. Mubariz Khan assassinated Firuz Shah Suri and ascended the throne as Sultan of the united empire, with the title ‘Adil Shah’! History of Malwa during the Suri period: A location map of Malwa for reference given as Illustration 1A at bottom. Sher Shah Suri: (reign: AH 945 – 952 / AD 1538 – 1545) (Annexed Malwa AH 949/ AD 1542) Sher Shah established the Suri Dynasty; initially consolidating his hold in present day Southern Bihar and Eastern UP area, and then defeating Humayun at Chausa in AH 946 and at Qannauj in AH 947. As the ruler of Malwa had not helped Sher Shah in his struggle with Humayun, he attacked Malwa in AD 1542 (AH 949) and annexed it to his empire. He appointed Shuja'at Khan as the governor. Islam Shah Suri (governor: ‘Isa Khan) reign period: AH 952 – 960 / AD 1545 – 1552 After the death of Sher Shah, Islam Shah became the next ruler of the Suri Dynasty. He asked Haibat Khan and also Shuja’at Khan, governor of Malwa to present themselves in the court. But Haibat Khan refused to attend the court. Shuja’at Khan attended the court and was pardoned on the plea of his adopted son. Islam Shah transferred Shuja’at Khan to Gwalior. There an Afghan tried to murder him. He felt that it was on the direction of Islam Shah. He, therefore, fled to Malwa. Islam Shah attacked Malwa. Shuja’at Khan fled away without fighting. He was, afterwards, pardoned and most of the territory of Malwa was returned to him by Islam Shah. Muhammad Adil Shah Suri (governor: Shuja’at Khan) reign period: AH 960 – 962 / AD 1552 – 1555 Shuja’at Khan was reappointed the Governor of all Malwa by Muhammad Adil Shah Suri in AH961. In the battle of Fathpur in Munghyr in April AD 1557 (AH 964), Kuhammad Adil Shah Suri was captured and killed. In AD 1555 (AH 962), Baz Bahadur, son of Shuja'at Khan, declared himself independent and it ended the Suri Dynasty in Malwa. Coins: The coins of Suri Dynasty in Malwa are not listed in the G&G book. The G&G book mentions that some coins of Muhammad Adil Suri may exist but there are no listed coins. As Sultanate collector, I have been able to find 4 coins of Muhammad Adil Shah Suri. To begin with; the important issue to be elaborated is, the way “Adil” is written in the 4 coins which have been found – and how the style matches with other established coins. The Coin 5 is of Muhammad bin Tughlaq, # D373 in Goren & Goenka book of Indian Sultanates, in which the legend in the obverse is “Al Sultan Al Adil”. Notice the way “Al Adil” is written and the same way of writing “Al Adil” has been followed in the coins from 1 to 4. So, I have concluded that coins 1 to 4 to be of Muhammad Adil Shah Suri from the Malwa region. Now, to analyse the coins in hand: Coin 1: Weight: 7.3gms Denomination: Falus Shape: square Obverse Reverse Obverse: Muhammad Shah Al Adil. Reverse: Sultan bin Sultan with a Chanderi mint Mark (this mint was a part of the Malwa Sultanate. Location of Chanderi given in Illustration 1B) and as well as a date x62 which would be AH 962 (AH 1555). Weight is quite same as M229A of Chanderi mint (last Chanderi mint coin in Malwa Sultanate as per G&G book). This coin gives a complete King name and year as well as the mint. It also links the way “Adil” is written. As the 3 are linked in this coin, it became easier for me to link the other 3 coins also. Coin 2: Weight: 8.31 gms. Denomination: 3/4 falus Shape: square Obverse Reverse Obverse: Sultan Al Adil Shah. As compared to the coins above, the “Alif” of “Al” seems to have been conjured with “Adil” Reverse: Sultan bin Sultan (The bottom Sultan is cut but the lines of “Lam”, “Te” and “Alif” of Su “L” “T” “A”n is there. You can see typically how “Te” and “Alif” of Sul“ta”n is written on both sides of the coin. Same has been followed in the coin 3. Coin 3: Weight: 5.8 gms Denomination: Half Falus Shape: square Obverse Reverse Obverse: Sultan Adil Shah. There could be “Al” before Adil but it is out of flan. Reverse: Sultan bin Sultan You can see “Te” and “Alif” of Sul”ta”n similar to coin 2 in the reverse of the coin. It seems there is a mistake in the way “Sultan” is written in the reverse bottom. Coin 4: Weight: 1.92 gms Denomination: Quarter Falus Shape: Round Obverse Reverse Obverse: Adil Shah. There Year seems to be x64 which could be AH 964 (AD 1555). Reverse: Al-dunya wa’l din (like in G493 Illustrated as Coin 6). Bottom portion is not clear. Coin 5: King: Muhammad bin Tughluq (AH 725-752) Delhi Sultanate Coin 6: King: Nasir Al Din Mahmud III (AH 944-961) Gujarat Sultanate Illustration 1: a. Location of Delhi and Malwa Sultanate b. Location of Chanderi Mint Bibliography: Goron, S., and Goenka, J.P., 2001, The Coinage of the Indian Sultanates, New Delhi. (Referred to G&G) Edited by Ms. Saumya Aggarwal, Art Historian and pursuing Master in Museology from MSU University, Baroda.