Afzal Khan (general)
Indian general
Afzal Khan (died 10 November 1659) birth name Abdullah Bhatari was a general of the Adil Shahi dynasty of Bijapur Sultanate in the Deccan of India. He played an important role in the southern expansion of the Bijapur Sultanate by subjugating the Nayaka chiefs who had taken control of the former Vijayanagara territory.
In 1659, the Bijapur government sent Afzal Khan to subjugate Shivaji, a former vassal turned rebel. He was killed at a truce negotiation meeting with Shivaji, and his army was defeated at the Battle of Pratapgad.
Victory over the Nayakas
Amid the decline of the Vijayanagara Empire, the Bijapur government campaigned against the Nayaka chiefs who had taken control of the former Vijayanagara territory. One of these chiefs was Virabhadra, the Nayaka of Ikkeri. Kenge Nayaka (or Keng Nayak), the chief of Basavapattana and a discontented tributary of Virabhadra, helped the Bijapur army capture Ikkeri in exchange for 1,00,000 rupees, forcing Virabhadra to flee to Bednur. Subsequently, the Bijapur government decided to capture the forts of Adoni and Tadipatri, which were ruled by friends of Kenge Nayaka. Kenge Nayaka suggested that the march to these areas was difficult, and instead advised Bijapur to capture Bangalore. In exchange for this advice, Kenge Nayaka demanded the fort of Sira, which was located on the way to Bangalore.
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