Belgaum History

Belgaum's history goes back more than 800 years. Since then it has seen many rulers and kingdoms come and go. If you read below you can recount the history of Belgaum

Ratta Dynasty – 12th Century AD

The city of Belgaum was built in the 12th century AD by the Ratta dynasty that was based at nearby Saundatti. The fort of Belgaum was built in 1204 by a Ratta officer named Bichiraja. Belgaum served as the capital of that dynasty between 1210 and 1250, before the Rattas were defeated by the Yadava Dynasty of Devagiri.

Vijayanagar Empire – 13th Century AD

Belgaum then briefly came under the influence of the Yadavas of Devagiri. The Khiljis of Delhi invaded the region at the turn of the 1300s and succeeded in ruining the Yadava and the Hoysalas without providing a viable administration. This gap was filled by the Vijayanagar Empire, which had become the established power of the area by 1336. A century later, the town had become a bustling trading hub for diamonds and wood, owing to its favourable geographic location in the kingdom.

The Mughals – 14th to16th Century AD

In 1474, the Bahamani Sultanate, then ruling from Bidar, captured the fort of Belgaum. Shortly afterwards, in 1518, the Bahamani sultanate splintered into five small states, and Belgaum became part of the Adil Shahi dynasty of Bijapur. The Adil Shahis reinforced the fort of Belgaum; much of the existing structure dates from 1519. In 1686, the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb overthrew the Adil Shahis, and Belgaum passed technically to the Mughals. However, the influence of the Mughal Empire declined after the death of Aurangzeb in 1707. 

The Marathas and the British – 17th & 18th Century AD

Later, the Marathas took control of the area during the rule of the Peshwas. In 1776, Belgaum was overrun by Hyder Ali of Mysore, but was retaken by the Peshwa with the help of British. In 1818, the British deposed the last Peshwa and annexed his kingdom, which included Belgaum.

The pre-freedom era

Belgaum was chosen as the venue of the 39th session of Indian National Congress in December 1924 under the President ship of Mahatma Gandhiji. The city served as a major military installation for the British, primarily due to its proximity to Goa, which was then a Portuguese territory. Once the British left India, the Indian Government continued the military cantonment.

Go back to About Belgaum page or Go to Tourist attractions in Belgaum