Afẕal Khān

Bijāpur general

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Last updated

June 18, 2026

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Afzal Khan was a general for the Bijapur kingdom, one of the successor states to the Bahmani sultanate in the Deccan region of India. He served during the 17th century when the Adil Shahi dynasty ruled Bijapur.1

Shivaji, the founder of the Maratha kingdom, famously defeated Afzal Khan. In 1659, the Sultan of Bijapur sent Afzal Khan with a large army to subdue Shivaji. Shivaji, however, lured Afzal Khan into a meeting in a difficult mountain terrain and killed him. His troops then routed Afzal Khan's army. This victory significantly boosted Shivaji's reputation and power, marking him as a formidable warlord.2

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Shivaji
Challenging the Mughals
…an army of 20,000 under Afzal Khan to defeat him, Shivaji, pretending to be intimidated, enticed the force deep into difficult mountain terrain and then killed Afzal Khan at a meeting to which he had lured him by submissive appeals. Meanwhile, handpicked troops that had been previously positioned swooped down…
Read More
…an army of 20,000 under Afzal Khan to defeat him, Shivaji, pretending to be intimidated, enticed the force deep into difficult mountain terrain and then killed Afzal Khan at a meeting to which he had lured him by submissive appeals. Meanwhile, handpicked troops that had been previously positioned swooped down…
Read More