Nasir Jung

Mir Ahmed Ali Khan Siddiqi Bayafandi was the son of Nizam-ul-Mulk by his wife Saeed-un-nisa Begum. He was born February 26, 1712. He succeeded his father as the Nizam of Hyderabad State in 1748. He had taken up a very pompous title of Humayun Jah, Nizam ud-Daula, Nawab Mir Ahmad Ali Khan Siddiqi Bahadur, Nasir Jung, Nawab Subadar of the Deccan. However, he is most famously known as Nasir Jung.

The Mughal Emperor Muhammad Shah bestowed him with the title Nasir Jung and later the next Mughal Emperor Ahmad Shah Bahadur appointed him as the Subedar of the Deccan and bestowed him with the title Nasir-ud-Daula.^[1]

Official name

His official name was Humayun, Nizam ud-Daula, Nawab Mir Ahmad Ali Khan Siddiqi Bayafandi Bahadur, Nasir Jang, Nawab Subadar of the Deccan.

Rise to power

He ruled Hyderabad State in India from June 1, 1748 to 1750. He was appointed as his father's Deputy during his absence in Delhi from 1737–1741. He attempted to seize power, but was defeated by his father at the Eid Gah Maidan in Aurangabad, on July 23, 1741. After his father's death, he ascended the throne on June 2, 1748 at Burhanpur.

Second Carnatic War

After the death of the Nizam-ul-Mulk, the Nizam of Hyderabad, a civil war for succession broke out in south between Nasir Jung (son of the Nizam-ul-Mulk) and Muzaffar Jung (grandson of the Nizam-ul-Mulk from his daughter). This opened a window of opportunity for Hussain Dost Khan better known as Chanda Sahib who wanted to become Nawab of Carnatic and joined the cause of Muzaffar Jung and began to conspire against Nawab Anwar-ud-din Muhammad Khan in Arcot.

The Europeans got directly involved in the affairs of the Deccan and Carnatic. This resulted in the Second Carnatic War which was an unofficial war fought between the British East India Company and the French Compagnie de Indes at a time when there was peace between the two powers in Europe. Its roots lay in Dupleix's (French Governor) skillful exploitation of the confused politics of the region to enhance French power through a series of Indian alliances.

The French sided with Chanda Sahib and Muzaffar Jung to bring them into power in their respective states. But soon the British intervened. To offset the French influence, they began supporting Nasir Jung and Muhammad Ali Khan Walajah the son of late Nawab Anwar-ud-din Muhammad Khan who had recently been killed by the French in Battle of Ambur in 1749.

There were initial successes for the French in both Deccan and Carnatc in defeating and murdering their opponents and placing their supporters on thrones by 1750. It was during one such success that Nasir Jung was killed at Dupleix-Fathabad (Sarasangupettai), near Gingee, by the Pathan Himmat Khan who was Nawab of Kadapa, on December 16, 1750. He was buried at the Mausoleum of Hazrat Burhan ud-Din Gharib, Khuldabad. As a result, Muzaffar Jung succeeded to the throne of Hyderabad.

Later, the famous capture of Arcot by the English under Robert Clive in 1751 led to successive British victories and of their South Indian Allies. The war ended with the Treaty of Pondicherry, signed in 1754-55. Muhammad Ali Khan Walajah was recognized as the Nawab of Carnatic. Joseph François Dupleix the French leader was asked to return to France. The directors of the French Compagnie de Indes were dissatisfied with the political ambitions of Dupleix, which had led to immense financial loss. In 1754, Godeheu replaced Dupleix.

Death

He was killed at Dupleix-Fathabad (Sarasangupettai), near Gingee, by the Pathan Himmat Khan, Nawab of Kadapa, on December 16, 1750 and was buried at the Mausoleum of Hazrat Burhan ud-Din Gharib, Khuldabad.

Positions held

• Subedar of Aurangabad 1745–1746.

• Nizam

References

External links

• Brief biography
• Hyderabad's history