Etymology

There are different theories and myths regarding the origins and etymology of Hyderabad's name. One of the myths says that Muhammad Quli QutbShah fell in love with and married a local nautch girl known as Bhagmathi or Bhagyavathi. Later, when Bhagmathi adopted the title of Hyder Begum, Qutb Shah renamed the city as Hyderabad. Another theory says Hyderabad was named in honour of the fourth caliph, Ali Ibn Abi Talib, who was also known as Hyder.

History

When Sultan Alauddin Khilji of Delhi took over Warangal, Hyderabad region came under the Khilji dynasty (1310–1321). Alauddin Khilji carried with him to Delhi the Koh-i-Noor diamond, which was mined from the Kollur Mines in Golkonda. Afterwards Muhammad bin Tughluq annexed Delhi, which brought Warangal under the direct rule of the Tughlaq dynasty until 1347. After that, Ala-ud-Din Bahman Shah the king of the dynasty, revolted against the Sultanate and established the Bahmani Sultanate in the Deccan with Gulbarga as his capital. The Bahmani kings ruled this region until 1518 AD, becoming the first independent Muslim rulers of the Deccan. In 1518 AD, Sultan Quli, governor of Golkonda revolted against the Bahmani Sultanate and established the Qutb Shahi dynasty. Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah, the fifth sultan of the Qutb Shahi dynasty, established Hyderabad on the banks of the Musi River in 1591 AD, to relieve a water shortage the dynasty experienced at its old headquarters in Golkonda. He then constructed the Charminar, Purana pul and Mecca Masjid. In 1687 AD, the Golkonda Sultanate came under the rule of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb after a year-long siege. It was then renamed Deccan Subaand, during this short period of rule, the capital was shifted from Golkonda to Aurangabad