Bahadur Shah of Gujarat

Bahadur Shah's father was Shams-ud-Din Muzaffar Shah II, who had ascended to the throne of the Gujarat Sultanate in 1511.

Muzaffar Shah II had nominated Sikandar Shah (Bahadur Shah's elder brother) as the heir apparent to the throne.

Bahadur Shah's relationship with his brother and father became tense as Sikandar Shah began to assume greater administrative control.

Fearing for his life, Bahadur Shah fled Gujarat, first seeking refuge with Chittor, and then with Ibrahim Lodi.

He was present at the Battle of Panipat, though he did not take part in fighting.

When he received the news of the death of his father on April 5, 1526 he returned to Gujarat and was joined by almost all the nobles except the murderers of his eldest brother Sikandar, who succeeded his father Muzzaffar Shah II.

The opposition was suppressed immediately and they were executed.

After this Bahadur, turned against his brothers, his nearest rival Latif was severely wounded in an action, taken prisoner and died in captivity.

Mahmud II, the infant son of Muzaffar Shah II, who succeeded Sikandar after his death and three other princes were poisoned.

Only one of his brothers, Chand Khan, survived, as he had taken refuge at the Malwa court and the Sultan Mahmud II of Malwa refused to surrender him[.

During his reign, Gujarat is under pressure from the expanding Mughal Empire, and from the Portuguese, who are establishing fortified settlements on the Gujarat coast to expand their power in India from their base in Goa.

After Bahadur ascended to the throne in 1526, he had been requested by the rulers of the Khandesh and Berar to attack the Ahmednagar Sultanate.

In 1528, Bahadur had invested the fort of Daulatabad, but later he was forced to retire because of the stiff resistance put up by the Ahmadnagar army.

Next year, he again started the campaign and overcoming a stiff opposition again besieged Daulatabad.

At this point, one of his allies, the ruler of Berar, had betrayed him and retired to Bidar.

Finally, both the rulers of the Ahmadnagar and Berar were forced to sign a humiliating treaty.

Next, Bahadur invaded Malwa.

Mahmud II literally made no resistance and on March 28, 1531 Mandu fell to Bahadur's army and is annexed into his kingdom.

The Portuguese in 1531 had begun a concerted effort to capture Diu from the Egyptian Muslim and Gujarati soldiers who hold it.

While Bahadur is engaged in the siege of Mandu, a strong Portuguese fleet sails from Mumbai, led by Nuno da Cunha.

On February 7, 1531 the fleet reaches near Shiyal Bet island, which they capture, overcoming the defenses in spite of strong resistance.

On February 16, 1531 they start bombarding Diu but cannot succeed in inflicting any appreciable damage to its fortifications.

On March 1, 1531 Nuno da Cunha leaves for Goa, leaving a subordinate officer, who systematically destroys Mahuwa, Gogo, Bulsar, Mahim, Kelva, Agashi and Surat.

The Mughal Empire, founded in 1526, is the dominant power in the Indian subcontinent during the mid-sixteenth century.

Growing apprehensive of the power of the Mughal emperor Humayun, Sultan Bahadur Shah of the Gujarat Sultanate is obliged to sign the Treaty of Bassein with the Portuguese Empire on December 23, 1534.

According to the treaty, the seven islands of Bombay, the nearby strategic town of Bassein and its dependencies were offered to the Portuguese.

The territories will be surrendered on October 25, 1535.

Humayun, intent on expansion to the south and west, invades Malwa and Gujarat in 1535.

Seizing the forts of Mandu and Champaner, he drives Sultan Bahadur of Gujurat down the west coast to take refuge among the Portuguese.

Bahadur Shah, while on board the galleon St. Mattheus, had signed the Treaty of Bassein on December 23, 1534.

Based on the terms of the agreement, the Portuguese Empire gained control of the city of Bassein (Vasai), as well as its territories, islands, and seas.

Gujarat is occupied around 1535 by the Mughals, and Bahadur Shah is forced to conclude an alliance with the Portuguese to regain the country, conceding Daman and Diu, Mumbai, and Vasai to the Portuguese.

Sher Khan declares his independence and invades Bengal in 1536, compelling Humayun to return from his campaign in Gujarat without leaving behind occupation forces.

Sultan Bahadur returns north freely, again assuming control of his territories and continuing his opposition to Mughal authority.