ABSTRACT
Descendants of Africans constituted a vital presence in India, especially during the medieval period. This was specifically the case in the Deccan region where they rose often from slave status to become an influential force in the military administration and in politics. Some of them commanded vast armies and actively recruited other African slaves in their fighting forces. They used their military abilities, administrative skills and reputation for loyalty to exercise real authority; they were mostly defacto rulers. In stark contrast, there were at least three kingdoms in which Africans exercised formal rule. This chapter provides a description of these three independent Sidi kingdoms in India, namely Janjira, Sachin and Jaunpur, two of which survived well into the middle of the twentieth century when they merged into independent India. It also focuses on the political rivalries and shifting alliances between the Sidis, the Marathas, Mughals and the British for control of these kingdoms.
