| Succession: | 4th Bahmani Sultan |
| Daud Shah Bahmani | |
| Daud Shah Bahmani I | |
| Predecessor: | Mujahid Shah |
| Successor: | Mohammad Shah II |
| Issue: | Taj ud-Din Firuz Shah Ahmad Shah I Wali Muhammad Sanjar |
| Death Date: | 21 May 1378 |
| Royal House: | House of Ala-ud-Din Hasan Bahman Shah |
| Dynasty: | Bahmani Dynasty |
| Reign: | 16 April 1378 — 21 May 1378 |
| Reign-Type: | Monarch |
Daud Shah Bahmani (reigned 1378), also spelled as Dawud, or Dawood, was the fourth ruler of the Bahmani Sultanate, a late medieval kingdom of India. He succeeded his nephew Mujahid Shah after assassinating him. Daud Shah's brief reign was marked with turbulence and instability over his regicide of his nephew, which culminated in the creation of numerous court factions.
Daud Shah showed bravery in Mujahid Shah's campaigns against the Vijayanagara Empire, but was later reprimanded by Mujahid for his bold actions that could've resulted in a disaster if the Muslim army had lost. Eventually through intrigue, Daud Shah was assassinated by a court faction led by Mujahid Shah's sister, who instead placed Alauddin Bahman Shah's younger son, Mohammad II on the throne.
During one battle of Mujahid Shah's campaign, Daud Shah was left in charge of guarding Dhuna Sodra with six, or seven thousand cavalry in case the Muslim army had been defeated. After an engagement began, Daud Shah abandoned his post and directly engaged in battle. Despite showing bravery, including having over three horses killed under him, was outraged that Daud Shah had entered the battle, and scolded him following their victory, for if the Muslims had been defeated, they wouldn't have been able to escape.
Returning from his campaign against the Vijayanagara Empire, Mujahid Shah led a hunting expedition with some 400 cavalry, while also being attended by Daud Shah, Musnad-I 'Ali Khan Muhammad, Azim Humayun and Safdar Khan. Daud Shah, unable to accept the reprimand done unto him by Mujahid Shah, began hatching a conspiracy to assassinate Mujahid Shah, inviting Musnad-I 'Ali. Eventually, Mujahid Shah dismissed Safdar Khan and Azim Humayun to return to their provinces, while he himself began marching back to the capital, arriving before a river and began fishing.
After having pain in his eyes, Mujahid Shah retired to his tent. On 16 March 1378, at midnight, Daud Shah and Musnad-I 'Ali entered Mujahid's tent, where they encountered Mujahid Shah asleep and only a slave in the room. The slave, startled after viewing Daud Shah with a dagger, immediately awoke Mujahid by shouting. Daud lunged at Mujahid, stabbing him, while Mujahid began struggling with Daud. The slave grabbed Musnad-I 'Ali, who struck him down with a sword, and then killed Mujahid Shah.
Following the assassination of Mujahid Shah, Daud Shah was proclaimed the new King, becoming the fourth Bahmani Sultan,[1] with nobles that were present submitting homage to him. However, the immediate aftermath of Mujahid Shah's assassination saw the Bahmani Sultanate fall into a period of extreme instability, with nobles such as Safdar Khan and Azim Humayun after learning of the news at Bijapur, refusing to pay homage.
Nonetheless, Daud Shah continued to the capital of Gulbarga. During this period of instability, Harihara II invaded and took the opportunity to besiege Raichur. Daud Shah's court split into two factions, with one being loyal to Daud Shah, and the other faction wishing to replace him with Mohammad Shah II, the younger son of Alauddin Bahman Shah.
Ruh Parwar Agha, the brother of Mujahid Shah, sponsored the efforts to try and depose Daud Shah, and wielded significant influence over the Bahmani harem. Ruh Parwar used remorse for her to strengthen her own position at court, also extensively giving out gifts of money to others. Daud Shah's attempts to conciliate and mend ties with her failed especially as he attempted to consolidate power by having Saifuddin Ghori submit to him.
Eventually, Ruh Parwar hired a royal slave named Bakah to assassinate Daud Shah. And on the 19th, 20th, or 21st, Daud Shah, while attending jumah, was attacked by Bakah while in prostration, who stabbed Daud Shah and either killed him immediately, or grievously wounded him to die of his wounds not long after. Bakah was immediately killed by Musnad-I 'Ali, who attempted to place Daud Shah's son, Muhammad Sanjar, on the throne. Muhammad Sanjar, however, was blinded by Ruh Parwar, and Mohammad Shah II succeeded to the throne.