Muslim dynasty that ruled the Kingdom of Hyderabad from 1734 to 1948
The
Asaf Jahi
was a Muslim dynasty that ruled the
Hyderabad State
.
[1]
The family came to
India
in the late 17th century and became employees of the
Mughal Empire
. They were great patrons of
Persian culture
, language, and literature, and the family found ready patronage.
The dynasty was founded by
Mir Qamar-ud-Din Siddiqi
, a
Viceroy of the Deccan
?(administrator of six Mughal governorates) under the
Mughal emperors
from 1713 to 1721. He intermittently ruled after
Aurangzeb's
death in 1707 and under the title Asaf Jah in 1724. The Mughal Empire crumbled and the Viceroy of the Deccan, Asaf Jah I, declared himself independent, whose domain extended from the
Narmada River
in the North to
Trichinopoly
in the South and
Masulipatnam
in the east to
Bijapur
in the west.
[2]
History
[
edit
]
Nawab Khwaja Abid Siddiqi
, the grandfather of the first
Nizam
, was born in Aliabad near
Samarkand
in the kingdom of
Bukhara
in modern-day
Uzbekistan
. His father, Alam Shaik, was a well-known
Sufi
and celebrated man of letters. Khwaja Abid's mother was from the family of Mir Hamdan, a distinguished
Syed
of Samarkhand. The first Nizam's mother was the daughter of
Sadullah Khan
, the
Grand vizier
(1645-1656) of
Mughal Emperor
Shah Jahan
.
[3]
After succeeding in the war of succession, Aurangzeb made him the Governor of
Ajmer
and subsequently of
Multan
with the title of
Qalich Khan
. He served the Emperor with distinction particularly during the early years of Aurangzeb's reign while he was consolidating and restoring peace in his newly acquired territory.
[4]
Asaf Jah's father
Ghazi ud-Din Khan Feroze Jung I
was a military general under Aurangzeb. Under the command of Feroze Jung, Hyderabad was sieged and later occupied by the Mughals.
[5]
Asaf Jah I
[
edit
]
The founder of this dynasty was
Mir Qamaruddin Khan
, a noble and a courtier of the Mughal
Muhammad Shah
, who negotiated a peace treaty with Nadirshah got disgusted with the intrigues that prevailed in
Delhi
. He was on his way back to the Deccan, where, earlier he was a
Subedar
. But he had to confront
Mubariz Khan
, as a result of a plot by the Mughal emperor to kill the former. Mubariz Khan failed in his attempt and he was himself slain. This one took place in AD 1724, and henceforth Mir Qamaruddin, who assumed the title of
Nizam-ul-Mulk
, conducted himself as an independent ruler. Earlier, while he was one of the Ministers of the Mughal emperor Muhammad Shah, the latter conferred on him the title of Asaf Jah. Thus begins the Asaf Jahi rule over Golconda with the capital at
Aurangabad
.
[6]
Asaf Jah II
[
edit
]
The fourth son of the
Nizam-ul-Mulk
,
Nizam Ali Khan
was born on 24 February 1734. He assumed the Subedari of the Deccan at the age of 28 years and ruled the Deccan for almost 42 years - the longest period among the Nizams.
[7]
His reign was one of the most important chapters in the history of the Asaf Jahi dynasty. Among his efforts to consolidate the Nizam empire was the shift of the Deccan capital from Aurangabad to Hyderabad. He ruled the Deccan at a most critical period and got very successful support from the
House of Paigah
.
[8]
He protected the Deccan from the attack of the
Marathas
and
Tippu Sultan
of
Mysore
by signing a mutual protection treaty with the British.
After a reign that played a pivotal role in the establishment of the Nizam dynasty, Nizam Ali Khan Siddiqi died in 1803 at the age of 69. He was buried at the
Mecca Masjid
[
citation needed
]
alongside the tomb of his mother Umda Begum.
Asaf Jah III
[
edit
]
Mir Akbar Ali Khan Siddiqi Sikander Jah, Asaf Jah III
was born on 11 November 1768. After the death of Nizam Ali Khan, he became the Subedar Jah was ratified by the emperor
Shah Alam II
and also conferred all his father's titles on Sikander Jah.
[9]
Asaf Jah IV
[
edit
]
Mir Farkhunda Ali Khan Siddiqi Nusir-ud-Dawlah
was born in
Bidar
on 25 April 1794. He was the eldest son of Sikander Jah and after his father's death, he succeeded him on 23 May 1829.
[10]
[
unreliable source?
]
Asaf Jah V
[
edit
]
Mir Tahniath Ali Khan Siddiqi Afzal-ud-daula
was born in Kuruduwadi on 11 October 1827. He was the eldest son of Nawab Nasir-ud-daula. He ascended the throne on 18 May 1857 and Indian mutiny was started on 17 July 1857
Rohillas
attacked the residency but
Sir Salar Jung
put down the attack with a firm hand. Similarly, trouble started in
Solapur
but the Maharaja of Solapur was unable to control it.
[
citation needed
]
Asaf Jah VI
[
edit
]
Mir Mahboob Ali Khan
was born in Tandur on 17 August 1866. He was the only son of Nawab
Afzal-ud-Daula Asaf Jah V
. When his father died he was two years and seven months old. He was installed as the Munsab by Sir
Salar Jung I
, Nawab Rasheeduddin Khan, Shams ul Ummra and the residents, there functioned as the Reyab. Shar-ul-Ummul died on 12 December 1881 and Salar Jung became the sole regent. He was remembered as administrator and regent till his death.
[11]
[12]
after the death of Sir
Salar Jung I
Sir
Viqar-ul-Umra
became the next Regent and guardian of
Mahboob Ali Khan
and served as
Prime Minister of Hyderabad
[13]
He is popularly known for his efforts to abolish the practice of
Sati
[14]
and for having supernatural healing powers against
Snakebite
.
[15]
Asaf Jah VII
[
edit
]
Mir Osman Ali Khan
was born in Hyderabad on 5 April 1886 at Purani Haveli. Since he was the heir-apparent, great attention was paid to his education, and eminent scholars were engaged to teach him
English
,
Urdu
,
Persian
. On 14 April 1906, he married Dulhan Pasha Begum, daughter of Nawab Jahangir Jung, at Eden Bagh, at the age of 21.
[16]
He is credited for various reforms in education and development and remembered for being a truly secular
[17]
King by giving yearly donations to various temples.
[18]
He made large donations to educational institutions in India and abroad. He donated Rs 10 Lakh to the
Banaras Hindu University
[19]
and Rs 5 Lakh to the
Aligarh Muslim University
.
[20]
He set up the
Osmania University
,
[21]
Osmania General Hospital
,
Osmania Medical College
,
State Bank of Hyderabad
, South India's first airport -the
Begumpet Airport
,
Nizamia Observatory
,
Government Nizamia General Hospital
, etc.
[22]
The Nizam was reported to have fathered 34 children including 16 sons and 18 daughters
[23]
[24]
[25]
[26]
[27]
[28]
Others
[
edit
]
Descendants of Asaf Jah VII
[
edit
]
- Azam Jah
, Prince of
Berar
,
GCIE
,
GBE
,
MSM
(21 February 1907 ? 9 October 1970). Granted the title of
His Highness the Prince of Berar
(13 November 1936). Passed over in the line of succession in 1967 in favour of his elder son. He had two sons, the elder
Mukarram Jah
and the younger
Muffakham Jah
- Moazzam Jah
, second son of
Asaf Jah VII
.
- Barkat Ali Khan Mukarram Jah, Asaf Jah VIII
, 8th (Titular) Nizam of Hyderabad (6 October 1933 - 14 January 2023). Succeeded his grandfather as a titular monarch on 24 January 1967; titles were abolished by the Indian Government on 28 December 1971. He had children including two sons.
[
citation needed
]
- Muhammad Azmat Ali Khan, Asaf Jah IX
, 9th (Titular) Nizam of Hyderabad (23 July 1960 - ). Succeeded his father as titular monarch on 14 January 2023; titles were abolished by the Indian Government on 28 December 1971. He has a son, Murad Jah.
- Najaf Ali Khan
- Grandson of 7th Nizam - known for being a
Hyderabad Heritage
enthusiast, who has also criticized the
Government of Telangana
regarding the negligence of several
heritage structures
and hospitals built by the
7th Nizam
.
[29]
[30]
Asaf Jahi rulers of Hyderabad
[
edit
]
Image
|
Titular Name
|
Personal Name
|
Date of birth
|
Nizam From
|
Nizam Until
|
Date of death
|
|
Nizam-ul-Mulk, Asaf Jah I
?????????? ??? ???
|
Mir Qamar-ud-din Khan
|
20 August 1671
|
31 July 1724
|
1 June 1748
|
|
Nasir Jung
???????
|
Mir Ahmed Ali Khan
|
26 February 1712
|
1 June 1748
|
16 December 1750
|
|
Muzaffar Jung
???????
|
Mir Hidayat Muhi-ud-din Sa'adullah Khan
|
?
|
16 December 1750
|
13 February 1751
|
|
Salabat Jung
????? ???
|
Mir Sa'id Muhammad Khan
|
24 November 1718
|
13 February 1751
|
8 July 1762
(
deposed
)
|
16 September 1763
|
|
Nizam-ul-Mulk, Asaf Jah II
?????????? ??? ??? ???
|
Mir Nizam Ali Khan
|
7 March 1734
|
8 July 1762
|
6 August 1803
|
|
Sikander Jah, Asaf Jah III
????? ??? ???? ??? ????
|
Mir Akbar Ali Khan
|
11 November 1768
|
6 August 1803
|
21 May 1829
|
|
Nasir-ud-Daula, Asaf Jah IV
???? ?????? ???? ??? ?????
|
Mir Farqunda Ali Khan
|
25 April 1794
|
21 May 1829
|
16 May 1857
|
|
Afzal-ud-Daula, Asaf Jah V
????? ?????? ???? ??? ????
|
Mir Tahniyath Ali Khan
|
11 October 1827
|
16 May 1857
|
26 February 1869
|
|
Asaf Jah VI
??? ??? ????
|
Mir Mahbub Ali Khan
??? ????? ??? ???
|
17 August 1866
|
26 February 1869
|
29 August 1911
|
|
Asaf Jah VII
??? ??? ????
|
Mir Osman Ali Khan
??? ????? ??? ???
|
6 April 1886
|
29 August 1911
|
17 September 1948
(
deposed
)
|
24 February 1967
|
Nasir Jung, Muzaffar Jung and Salabat Jung:- * These three rulers are not enumerated in the order of the Asaf Jah's, mainly because they were not granted the title of ASAF JAH by the Mughal Emperor.
Titular
[
edit
]
Titular Name
|
Personal Name
|
Date of birth
|
Nizam From
|
Nizam Until
|
Date of Death
|
Note(s)
|
Asaf Jah VIII
??? ??? ????
|
Mir Barkat Ali Khan
??? ???? ??? ???
|
6 October 1933
|
24 February 1967
|
5 November 1971
(deposed)
|
15 January 2023
|
Government of India recognised him in 1964 as heir-apparent to Asaf Jah VII, and following his grandfather's demise in 1967, he succeeded to his rank, dignity, and title. His coronation took place at Chowmahalla Palace on April 6, 1967, and he was recognised as Ruler of Hyderabad on April 14, 1964, by the Government of India. However, due to
26th Amendment to the Constitution of India
, he ceased to enjoy his princely pensions, titles, and privileges.
|
Asaf Jah IX
??? ??? ???
|
Mir Muhammad Azmet Ali Khan
??? ???? ???? ??? ???
|
23 July 1960
|
20 January 2023
|
|
Azmet Jah acceded to the throne of the former Hyderabad State on 14 January 2023, following the death of Asaf Jah VIII.
[31]
Azmat Jah's ceremonial coronation took place on 20 January 2023, at Chowmahalla Palace.
[31]
[
better source needed
]
|
Family tree
[
edit
]
Genealogy of the Asaf Jahi dynasty
|
|
See also
[
edit
]
References
[
edit
]
- ^
"How the Nizams 'stole' Hyderabad: Understanding origins of Asaf Jah dynasty"
. 16 September 2022.
- ^
Gurusamy, Mohan (18 October 2016).
"Celebrating a long gone Hyderabad"
.
The Deccan Chronicle
. Retrieved
5 July
2021
.
- ^
Hyderabad Affairs
. Talbot Bros. 1883.
- ^
Kate, P. V. (1987).
Marathwada under the Nizams, 1724-1948
. Delhi, India: Mittal Publications.
ISBN
978-81-7099-017-8
.
- ^
Holister, John Norman (1953).
The Shia of India
(PDF)
. p. 125.
Archived
(PDF)
from the original on 10 October 2018
. Retrieved
3 September
2023
.
- ^
"Nizams"
. Archived from
the original
on 16 April 2007.
- ^
Taher Mohamed (2021).
Handbook of Research on the Role of Libraries, Archives, and Museums in Achieving Civic Engagement and Social Justice in Smart Cities
. IGI Global. p. 110.
ISBN
9781799883654
.
- ^
"Journal: Humanities. Section A., Volumes 33-36"
. University of Madras. 1961. p. 141.
- ^
"SECUNDERABAD: ORIGINS, TALES & ARMY CONNECTION"
. February 2017.
- ^
"Mir Farkhunda Ali Khan Nasir-ud-daula - Asaf Jah IV of Hyderabad, India"
. Archived from
the original
on 7 December 2018
. Retrieved
30 September
2018
.
- ^
"NIZAM OF HYDERABAD DEAD.; Premier Prince of the Indian Empire Had an Annual Income of $10,000,000"
.
The New York Times
. 30 August 1911.
- ^
Chakraberty, Sumit (16 September 2012).
"Staying at Falaknuma is like holding a mirror up to our past"
. DNA
. Retrieved
22 October
2018
.
- ^
bhopal14
.
- ^
"Letters leave a rich legacy of rulers"
.
- ^
"Picturing the 'Beloved'
"
.
- ^
"Nizam VII cared more for people than himself"
. 26 May 2018.
- ^
"Nizam Hyderabad Mir Osman Ali Khan was a perfect secular ruler"
. 13 August 2015.
- ^
"Nizam gave funding for temples and Hindu educational institutions"
. Archived from
the original
on 8 July 2018
. Retrieved
30 September
2018
.
- ^
"Nizam gave funding for temples, and Hindu educational institutions | | Mission Telangana"
. 8 July 2018. Archived from
the original
on 8 July 2018.
- ^
"Why we need Minority Character for Aligarh Muslim University, Jamia or Hamdard"
. milligazette. 9 July 2018. Archived from
the original
on 9 July 2018
. Retrieved
21 February
2023
.
- ^
"Osmania University first to teach in blend of Urdu & English - Times of India"
.
The Times of India
.
- ^
"Reminiscing the seventh Nizam's enormous contribution to education"
.
- ^
Mir Ayoob Ali Khan (19 February 2018).
"Last surviving son of Nizam, Fazal Jah, dies"
.
Archived
from the original on 20 February 2018
. Retrieved
18 December
2018
.
- ^
"Last Surviving son of seventh Nizam passes away in Hyderabad"
.
Archived
from the original on 18 December 2018
. Retrieved
18 December
2018
.
- ^
"Nizam's heirs seek Pakistani intervention to unfreeze bank account"
. indiatoday. 20 July 2012.
Archived
from the original on 18 December 2018
. Retrieved
18 December
2018
.
- ^
Mohla, Anika.
"From richest to rags in seven generations"
. The New Indian Express. Archived from
the original
on 14 August 2015
. Retrieved
18 August
2015
.
- ^
"India finally settles £1million Nizam dispute"
.
Archived
from the original on 11 April 2019
. Retrieved
11 April
2019
.
- ^
"A prince's ransom | the Guardian | guardian.co.uk"
.
TheGuardian.com
.
Archived
from the original on 9 February 2018
. Retrieved
11 April
2019
.
- ^
"A treasure lost: Nizam scion"
.
Deccan Chronicle
. 15 October 2016
. Retrieved
16 September
2018
.
- ^
"Nizam's family wants hangar collapse probe - Times of India"
.
The Times of India
. Retrieved
16 September
2018
.
- ^
a
b
"Azmat Jah becomes the next Nizam of Hyderabad; here's all you need to know about him"
.
The Economic Times
. Retrieved
21 January
2023
.
External links
[
edit
]