Early years Soon his uncle Dáúd Khan died. Shortly after certain of the nobles including Seiful Mulk, Kabír-ud-dín Sultáni surnamed Akd-ul-Mulk, Burhán-ul-Mulk and Hisám-ul-Mulk represented to the Sultán that the minister Shaâbán Imád-ul-Mulk contemplated treason and wished to set his son on the throne. Having seized and imprisoned the minister in the
Bhadra Fort and set five hundred of their trusted retainers as guards over him, the rebels retired to their homes. At nightfall Abdulláh, the chief of the elephant stables, going to the young Sultán represented to him that the nobles who had imprisoned Imád-ul-Mulk were the real traitors and had determined to place Habíb Khán, an uncle of the Sultán's, on the throne. The Sultán consulting his mother and some of his faithful friends ordered Abdulláh at daybreak to equip all his elephants in full armour and draw them up in the square before the Bhadra. He then seated himself on the throne and in a voice of feigned anger ordered one of the courtiers to bring out Shaâbán Imád-ul-Mulk, that he might wreak his vengeance upon him. As these orders were not obeyed the Sultán rose, and walking up the Bhadra called: "Bring out Shaâbán!" The guards brought forth Imád-ul-Mulk, and the Sultán ordered his fetters to be broken. Some of the nobles’ retainers made their submission to the Sultán, others fled and hid themselves. In the morning, hearing what had happened, the refractory nobles marched against the Sultán. Many advised the Sultán to cross the
Sabarmati River by the
postern gate and retire from the city, and, after collecting an army, to march against the nobles. Giving no ear to these counsels the young Sultán ordered Abdulláh to charge the advancing nobles with his six hundred elephants. The charge dispersed the malcontents who fled and either hid themselves in the city or betook themselves to the country. Some were killed, some were trampled by the Sultán's orders under the elephants’ feet, and one was pardoned. The Rával's son, who was entrusted to Seif-ul-Mulk, and converted to Islam, afterwards, in the reign of Muzaffar Sháh (1523–1526), was ennobled by the title of Nizám-ul-Mulk. The central dome, the placement of balconies and carved entrance gates with fine stone
jalis. Other Champaner structures attributed to the Begada period are the
Kevada Masjid, Citadel Jahanpanah, Shahar ki Masjid, Mandvi the customs house, Nagina Masjid, Bava Man's Masjid, Khajuri Masjid, Ek Minar Masjid, and the Lila Gumbaz.
Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park is now UNESCO
World Heritage Site.
Last years In 1494–95 Mahmúd went against
Bahádur Khán Gíláni, a vassal of the
Bahmani Sultanate, who from
Goa and
Dabhol had harassed the Gujarát harbours. Gilani was earlier warned by attacking
Mahim island (now in
Mumbai) by 20 ships under
Yakut the Abyssinian, his slave. This time he sent an army by land and 300 boats by sea to attack Dabhol under
Malik Sarang Kivam-ul-Mulk. The Bahmani Sultán, fearing the consequences to himself, marched against Bahádur Khán, and, capturing him alive, struck off his head, and sent it to the Gujarát monarch, who returned to his own country. In 1499–1500, hearing that Násir-ud-dín of Málwa had killed his father Ghiás-ud-dín and seated himself on the throne, the Sultán prepared to advance against him, but was appeased by Násir-ud-dín's humble attitude. The next seven years passed without any warlike expedition. The Portuguese had entered India and were strengthening their presence in
Arabian Sea. Mahmud Begada allied with the Kozhikkodu Samutiri (anglicised to
Zamorin of Calicut) to defeat the Portuguese. He then asked his trade partners, the
Egyptian Mamluk Sultanate of
Cairo, for help. In 1508, near
Daman, on his way to
Chaul, Mahmúd heard of the victory gained in the
Battle of Chaul over the Portuguese by the Gujarát squadron under
Malik Ayyaz Sultáni, in concert with the Egyptian fleet of the Mamluks. In 1509, the
Battle of Diu, a
naval battle was fought near
Diu port between the
Portuguese Empire and a joint fleet of the Gujarat Sultanate under Malik Ayyaz, the
Mamlûk Burji Sultanate of Egypt, the
Zamorin of
Calicut with support of the Turkish feet of
Ottoman Empire, the
Republic of Venice and the
Republic of Ragusa (Dubrovnik). The Portuguese won the battle and the event marks the start of
European colonialism in
Asia.
Death From 1508, Mahmúd remained at his capital till his death in December 1511 at the age of sixty-six years and three months, after a reign of fifty-four years and one month. Mahmúd was buried at
Sarkhej Roza near Ahmedabad and received the after-death title of
Khúdáigán-i-Halím or the Meek Lord. Immediately before his death Sultán Mahmúd was informed that
Sháh Ismáil Safawi of Persia had sent him a friendly embassy headed by Yádgár Beg Kazil-básh. As the
Kazil-báshes were known to be
Shia, the Sultán, who was a staunch
Sunni, prayed that he might not be forced to see a Shia's face during his last days. His prayer was heard. He died before the Persian embassy entered the city. During the last days of Sultán Mahmúd, Sayed
Muhammad of Jaunpur, who claimed to be the
Mahdi or Messiah, came from
Jaunpur and lodged in Tájkhán Sálár's mosque near the Jamalpur
gate of Áhmedábád. His sermons drew crowds, and were so persuasive that he gained a large body of followers, who believed his eloquence to be due to
hál or inspiration. Mahmúd's ministers persuaded him not to see the Jaunpur preacher. ==Administration==