The Dynasties of the Kanarese Districts of the Bombay Presidency from the Earliest Historical Times to the Musalman Conquest c11.130

c11.130

The Nawábs of Sávanur are by origin Patháns of the Miána tribe. One of their ancestors is said to have entered Hindustan with Timúr's army (A.D. 1300). His descendants seem to have enjoyed some position at the court of Delhi. Bahlol Khán, the founder of the family in the Dakhan, entered the service of Murtaza Nizám Sháh, king of Ahmadnagar, whence he passed into that of Muhammad Adil Sháh of Bijápur (A.D. 1626-1656). His son Abdul Rahim appears to have done good service under Ali Adil Sháh II.; but the most distinguished member of the family was Abdul Rahim's son, Abdul Karim, who, by his marriage with the daughter of Masáud Khán, jahgirdár of Adoni, gained as his wife's dowry the fort of Bágalkot, and, what was of still greater value, the support of the Abyssinian faction at the court, of which his father-in-law was the head. On several occasions Abdul Karim commanded the Bijápur armies during campaigns against the Maráthás, and sometimes with success. On the death of Ali Adil Sháh in A.D. 1672, Abdul Karim Khán was named for the governorship of the Southern Marátha Country and other territory, but owing to the jealousy of the regent, Khawás Khán, he was not allowed to take up the appointment. On the assassination of the regent Abdul Karim succeeded to supreme power, and under his guidance the Mughals, who came to secure the surrender of Bijápur, were repulsed, and had to make a treaty. On the fall of Bijápur in A.D. 1686, Abdul Ráuf Khán, then the representative of the family, entered the service of the emperor, receiving the title of Diler Khán Bahádur Diler Jang, and an assignment of the twenty-two máháls of Bankápur, Azamnagar that is Belgaum, and Torgal. At first he made Bankapur his headquarters, but afterwards taking a fancy to the site of a small village named Janmaranhalli, he there founded the town of Savanur or Shrawanur, as the place is called to this day by the Kanarese, probably, it has been suggested, from the new town having been begun in the month of Shrawan.¹ Abdul Rauf Khan at first acted directly under the emperor and then under the imperial viceroy the Nizam. He did good service in reducing the various half-independent desais and his son Abdul Ghafar Khan followed the same course. Though the latter met with some checks he must have been generally successful, as at his death nearly the whole of the country between the Krishna and Tungbhadra was subject to him.