Before the conquest, medieval Gujarat had a smattering of Muslims. They were mostly scattered along the Gujarat coastline. There were two small Muslim settlements in Cambay and Broach. The present name of Cambay and Broach is Khambhat and Bharuch respectively. Medieval Gujarat also saw Abdulla-a missionary from Egypt establish the formation of the Bohra community among the native Muslims.
After the defeat of Karandev Vaghela against the military force of Allauddin Khilji, medieval Gujarat saw Muslim rule continuing for 400 years. The Muslim rule finally ended when the Mughal Viceroy Momin Khan was defeated by the Marathas in 1758. The Marathas established their supremacy by snatching Ahmedabad from the Mughals in the same year.
The Muslim period in medieval Gujarat is an interesting slice of history. Zafar Shah established the first Muslim sultanate in Gujarat. He took advantage of the prevailing weak rulers of Delhi- Zafar Shah declared independence and became the first Sultan. Zafar Shah assumed the title of Muzaffar Shah. His successor Ahmed Shah founded Ahmedabad city on the banks of the Sabarmati river.
Mahmud Shah succeeded Ahmed Shah. Mahmud Shah was an able administrator. He successfully repulsed a Portuguese naval attack and constructed a port on Diu.
The Muslim rule in medieval Gujarat was ended by Chhatrapati Shivaji-the great Maratha ruler who conquered Gujarat with his military skill.
The Maratha rule was ended by the European colonial powers who made their contact with India at that time. The Portuguese were the first European power to arrive in medieval Gujarat.
Last Updated on : 30 September 2011
