Murtaza Nizam Shah succeeded Husain Nizam Shah to the throne on 6 June, 1565. However, the actual reins of the government were in the hands of the queen mother Khunza Humayun Sultana and her brothers Ain-ul-Mulk and Taj Khan during the first 6 years. She made a common cause with Ali Adil Shah against Tufal Khan of Berar who had not joined the confederacy.
Subsequently, she formed a league with the rulers of Golkonda and Berar against Bijapur. But the allies had to face a hasty retreat. The internal dissensions in Nizam Shahi kingdom gave an opportunity to Ali Adil Shah whose general defeated the Nizam Shahi army and occupied the fort of Dharur. These debacles led the New Comers and the Deccanis to close their ranks to meet the foreign danger.
They first overthrew the petticoat government of Khunza Humayun and restored Murtaza to his rightful place. Murtaza repulsed the invasion and occupied the fort of Dharur. However, he found it difficult to meet Ali Adil Shah in the open and sought the help of Ibrahim Qutb Shah and Syed Murtaza Sabzwari.
The latter acted tactfully and compelled both the parties to conclude Mis-toi-y- of Sovtti iViula peace. Greatly annoyed at the conduct of his allies, Murtaza made a surprise attack on them and captured the fort of Udgir.
ADVERTISEMENTS:
Portuguese influence had greatly increased on the western coast and it posed a threat to the Deccan Muslim powers. The sultans of Ahmadnagar, Bijapur and the Zamorin of Calicut made a concerted effort to occupy the Portuguese possessions in 1570-71 but they failed to dislodge them from the strategic fort of Chaul.