Muslim dynasty of Ahmadnagar, based in the north-western Indian Deccan region, that flourished from 1490 to 1637. Its founder was Malik Ahmad who revolted against the Bahmanis and set up an independent kingdom centred on a new capital, Ahmadnagar, which took its founder’s name. His main achievement was the conquest of Daulatabad (1499). He and his successors then engaged in almost constant warfare. After abandoning an alliance with the Hindu kingdom of Vijayanagar, they participated in the final destruction of that city in 1565. The dynasty presented spirited resistance to subsequent Mogul encroachment into its territories but had lost all independent existence by 1637.