Nawabs of Bengal: Difference between revisions
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'''Nawabs of Bengal''' were the hereditary ''nazim''s or ''[[Subahdar]]s'' (provincial governors) of the ''[[Subah (province)|subah]]'' (province) of [[Bengal]] during the [[Mughal Empire|Mughal rule]] and later became the rulers of the province.<ref name=nawab/> |
'''Nawabs of Bengal''' were the hereditary ''nazim''s or ''[[Subahdar]]s'' (provincial governors) of the ''[[Subah (province)|subah]]'' (province) of [[Bengal]] during the [[Mughal Empire|Mughal rule]] and later became the rulers of the province.<ref name=nawab/> [[Siraj ud-Daulah]], the last independent Nawab of Bengal was betrayed in the [[Battle of Plassey]] by [[Mir Jafar]]. He lost to the British, who took over the charge of Bengal in 1757, installed Mir Jafar on the ''Masnad'' (throne) and established itself to a political power in Bengal..<ref name=sirajbanglaped>{{cite web |
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|url=http://www.banglapedia.org/httpdocs/HT/S_0411.HTM|title=Sirajuddaula|accessdate=13 August 2012| last1 = Chaudhury| first1 = S| last2 = Mohsin| first2 = KM|work=Banglapedia |
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|publisher=Asiatic Society of Bangladesh |
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}}</ref> The last Nawab of Bengal, [[Mansur Ali Khan]] abdicated on 1 November 1880 in favour of his eldest son.<ref name=l>{{cite web|author=Murshidabad.net|date=May 8 2012|title=Decline of the Nawabs of Bengal|url=http://murshidabad.net/history/history-topic-feradun-jah.htm|accessdate=10 August 2012}}</ref> |
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'''Nawabs of Murshidabad''' succeeded the Nawabs of Bengal as Nawab Bahadur of Murshidabad, after Mansur Ali Khan's abdication<ref name=l/><ref name=nawab/><ref name=hassanalimirza>{{cite web|author=Murshidabad.net|date=May 8 2012|title=Hassan Ali Mirza's succession|url=http://murshidabad.net/history/history-topic-hassan-ali.htm|accessdate=10 August 2012}}</ref>They got the title changed as the title of the Nawab of Bengal was abolished in 1880.<ref name = nawab/> [[Waris Ali Mirza]] was the last Nawab of Murshidabad. He left three sons and three daughters, but died before declaring a successor. Since then there has been no clear successor to the title.<ref>{{cite web|title=The last Nawab of Murshidabad, Waris Ali Mirza Khan Bahadur|url=http://murshidabad.net/history/history-topic-waresh-ali.htm|accessdate=10 August 2012}}</ref> |
'''Nawabs of Murshidabad''' succeeded the Nawabs of Bengal as Nawab Bahadur of Murshidabad, after Mansur Ali Khan's abdication<ref name=l/><ref name=nawab/><ref name=hassanalimirza>{{cite web|author=Murshidabad.net|date=May 8 2012|title=Hassan Ali Mirza's succession|url=http://murshidabad.net/history/history-topic-hassan-ali.htm|accessdate=10 August 2012}}</ref>They got the title changed as the title of the Nawab of Bengal was abolished in 1880.<ref name = nawab/> [[Waris Ali Mirza]] was the last Nawab of Murshidabad. He left three sons and three daughters, but died before declaring a successor. Since then there has been no clear successor to the title.<ref>{{cite web|title=The last Nawab of Murshidabad, Waris Ali Mirza Khan Bahadur|url=http://murshidabad.net/history/history-topic-waresh-ali.htm|accessdate=10 August 2012}}</ref> |
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Revision as of 15:08, 13 August 2012
Nawab Nazim of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa (1717-1880) and Nawab Bahadur of Murshidabad (1882-1969) Nawabs of Bengal & Murshidabad | |
|---|---|
| 1740–1969 | |
| Motto: Nil Desparandum "There is no cause for despair, never despair" | |
 The Nawabs of Bengal ruled over the Provinces of Bengal, which included present day West Bengal, Tripura and Bangladesh and parts of Orissa, parts of present Bihar and also some parts of Jharkhand. Perhaps after the title of the Nawab Nazim of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa was abolished in 1880 the successors succeeded with the lesser title of Nawab Bahadur of Murshidabad and ruled only over the present day city of Murshidabad. Shown here is the 1776 map of Bengal when the Nawabs ruled as the Nawab Nazim of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa. | |
| Capital | Murshidabad |
| Common languages | English Arabic |
| Religion | Christianism Islam |
| Government | Monarchy |
| Historical era | British Raj Indian Independence |
| 1526 | |
• Established | 29 April 1740 |
| 1741–1748 | |
| 1746 and 1763 | |
| 23 June 1757 | |
| 22 October 1764 | |
| 1880 | |
| 1 November 1880 | |
• Disestablished | 20 November 1969 |
| Today part of |  India Bangladesh |
The Nawabs of Bengal ruled under the Mughal Empire but after 1757 when the British became a political power in Bengal they were puppets to the Britishers. So it was a monarchy which ruled on the behalf of others.[1] | |
| History of Bengal |
|---|
 |
Nawabs of Bengal were the hereditary nazims or Subahdars (provincial governors) of the subah (province) of Bengal during the Mughal rule and later became the rulers of the province.[1] Siraj ud-Daulah, the last independent Nawab of Bengal was betrayed in the Battle of Plassey by Mir Jafar. He lost to the British, who took over the charge of Bengal in 1757, installed Mir Jafar on the Masnad (throne) and established itself to a political power in Bengal..[2] The last Nawab of Bengal, Mansur Ali Khan abdicated on 1 November 1880 in favour of his eldest son.[3]
Nawabs of Murshidabad succeeded the Nawabs of Bengal as Nawab Bahadur of Murshidabad, after Mansur Ali Khan's abdication[3][1][4]They got the title changed as the title of the Nawab of Bengal was abolished in 1880.[1] Waris Ali Mirza was the last Nawab of Murshidabad. He left three sons and three daughters, but died before declaring a successor. Since then there has been no clear successor to the title.[5]
Bengal
Modern Bengal is mainly divided between the sovereign land of Bangladesh and the Indian states of West Bengal and Tripura. Some regions of the previous kingdoms of Bengal (during local monarchical regimes) are now part of the neighbouring Indian states of Bihar, Jharkhand, Assam, Tripura and Orissa. However then there were separate subahs called Bahar (now Bihar) and Orissa.[6][7][8] So sometimes The Nawabs of Bengal are mentioned as "Nawab of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa" or "Nawab Nazim of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa" - where Nazim (or, Subahdar) means the provincial governor - as they ruled over three subahs while the Nawabs of Murshidabad were the local ruler of the city of Murshidabad. The majority of modern Bengal is inhabited by Bengali people who speak the Bengali language.
-
Modern Bengal include the present day country of Bangladesh and the present day Indian states of West Bengal and Tripura -
1893 map of Bengal -
1831 map of Hindustan showing the then Bengal in green in the north east
History before the Nawabs' rule
- Rule over Bengal in BC
_Arnab_Dutta_2011.JPG)
In the 3rd century BC, the broader region of Bengal was conquered by the emperor Ashoka. In the 4th century AD, it was absorbed into the Gupta Empire. In 1010 AD, the whole Bengal was under Rajendra Chola I of Chola Dynasty. The Cholas influence changed the agriculture and other traditions of the people from Bengal Cholas marched through Burma, Cambodia and conquering till Indonesia.[9] From the 13th century onward, the region was ruled by several sultans, powerful Hindu states and Baro-Bhuyan landlords.
- Ilyas Shahi dynasty
The early Sultans of Bengal ruled until 1282 which was followed by the rule of several successive dynasties. Ilyas Shah founder of the Ilyas Shahi dynasty, took complete charge of the then Bengal[10] and the capital was shifted to Sonargaon (near present day, Dhaka in Bangladesh).[11] He was one of the independent rulers of Bengal. His son, Sikandar Shah, who succeeded him, built the Adina Mosque at Pandua, near Gour, Adina Mosque in the medieval times, was considered to be the largest in undivided Bengal, as well as the entire Indian subcontinent[12]
- Mughal Empire and others
The Mughal Empire emerged as a powerful Empire in northern India. Babur, who was related to two legendary warriors - Timur and Genghis Khan, invaded north India and defeated Ibrahim Lodi of the Lodi dynasty.[13] Babur thus became the first Mughal emperor. He was succeeded by his son, Humayun. At the same time, Sher Shah Suri (alias Farid Khan) of the Suri dynasty rose to prominence and established himself as the ruler of the present day Bihar by defeating Ghiyashuddin Shah. But he lost to capture the kingdom because of sudden expedition of Humayun. In 1539, Sher Khan faced Humayun in the battle of Chausa. He forced Humayun out of India. Assuming the title Sher Shah, he ascended the throne of Delhi. He also captured Agra and established control from Bengal in the east until the Indus river in the west.[14] After his death he was succeeded by his son, Islam Shah Suri. But in 1544 the Suris were torn apart by internal conflicts. Humayun took this advantage and captured Lahore and Delhi, but he died in 1556 AD.[15] He was succeeded by Akbar, who defeated Daud Khan Karrani of Bengal's Karrani Dynasty (or, Karnani Dynasty). After this, the administration of the entire region of Bengal passed into the hands of governors appointed by the Mughal emperors, who ruled Bengal till 1716 AD.
There were several posts under the Mughal administrative system during Akbar's reign. Diwani was a system of provincial revenue administration under the Mughals. Nizamat (civil administration) and Diwani (revenue administration) were the two main branches of the provincial administration under the Mughals. A Subahdar (provincial viceroy or governor), also called a Nazim was in-charge of the Nizamat. There was a chain of subordinate officials under the Nazims on the executive side and under Diwans on the revenue and judicial side.
- Emergence of the Nawab of Bengal
Murshid Quli Khan arrived as the governor of Bengal in 1717 AD. Before his arrival there were four Diwans. And, after his arrival, Azim-ush-Shan held the Nazim's office. Azim got into conflict with Murshid Quli Khan over imperial financial control. Considering the complaint of Khan, emperor Aurangzeb ordered Azim to move to Bihar.[16]Upon his departure the two posts united in one and Murshid Quli Khan became the first Nazim cum Diwan of Bengal. Murshid Khan was appointed the "Nawab Nazim of Bengal" and he emerged as the ruler of Bengal under the Mughals. Murshidabad remained the capital of the Nawabs of Bengal until their rule.
History during the Nawabs' rule
- Dynasties
From 1717 until 1880, three successive Islamic dynasties – Nasiri, Afshar and Najafi – ruled what was then known as Bengal.
The first dynasty, the Nasiri, ruled from 1717 until 1740. The founder of the Nasiri, Murshid Quli Khan, was born a poor Deccani Oriya Brahmin before being sold into slavery and bought by one Haji Shafi Isfahani, a Persian merchant from Isfahan who converted him to Islam. He entered the service of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb and rose through the ranks before becoming the Nawab Nazim of Bengal in 1717, a post he held until his death in 1727. He in turn was succeeded by his son-in law, Shuja-ud-Din Muhammad Khan.[17] After Shuja-ud-Din's death in 1739 he was succeeded by his son, Sarfaraz Khan, who hold the rank, until he was killed in the Battle of Giria in 1741, and was succeeded by Alivardi Khan, former ruler of Patna, of the Afshar Dynasty in 1740.[18]
The second dynasty, the Afshar, ruled from 1740 to 1757. Siraj ud-Daulah (Alivardi Khan's grandson), the last Afshar Nawab was killed in the Battle of Plassey in 1757.[19] They were succeeded by the third and final dynasty to rule the whole Bengal, the Najafi.[20]
- Under the Mughals
Bengal (Bengal subah) was one of the wealthiest parts of the Mughal empire. As the Mughal empire began to decline, the Nawabs grew in power, although nominally sub-ordinate to the Mughal emperor. They wielded great power in their own right and ruled the subah as independent rulers for all practical purposes by the early 1700s.
- Maratha expeditions
Marathas undertook six expeditions in Bengal from 1741–1748. Maratha general, Raghunath Rao was able to annex Orissa to his kingdom permanently as he successfully exploited the chaotic conditions prevailing in Bengal, Bihar and Orissa after the death of Murshid Quli Khan in 1727.[21] Constantly harassed by the Bhonsles, Orissa, Bengal and parts of Bihar were economically ruined. Alivardi Khan made peace with Raghunathrao in 1751 ceding in perpetuity Orrisa up to the river Suvarnarekha, and agreeing to pay ₹12 lacs annually in lieu of the Chauth of Bengal and Bihar.[22]
The treaty included ₹20 lacs as Chauth for Bengal (includes both West Bengal and Bangladesh) and ₹12 lacs for Bihar(including Jharkhand). After this Maratha promised never to cross the boundary of the Nawab of Bengal's territory.[23]
Thus Baji Rao is hailed as the greatest Maratha chief after Shivaji because of his success in subjecting Muslim rulers of east India in states such as Bengal, Bihar and Orissa to the Maratha rule.[24]
- Under British Rule
After the Nawab Siraj Ud Daulah (the last independent ruler of Bengal) was defeated by the British forces of Sir Robert Clive in the Battle of Plassey in 1757, the Nawabs became puppet rulers, being dependent on the British.[19] Siraj-ud-daula was replaced by Mir Jafar. He was personally led to the throne by Robert Clive, after triumph of the British in the battle.[19] He briefly tried to re-assert his power by allying with the Dutch, but this plan was ended by the Battle of Chinsurah. After the grant of the Diwani of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa by the Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II, to the British East India Company in 1765 and the appointment of Warren Hastings by the East India Company as their first Governor General of Bengal in 1771, the Nawabs were deprived of any real power, and finally in 1793, when the Nizamat (governorship) was also taken away from them, they remained as the mere pensioners of the British East India Company.
During Nawab Mubarak ud-Daulah's administration all powers passed into the the hands of the East India company. All the Diwan offices except the Diwan Ton were abolished.[25]
- Decline of the Nawab of Bengal
Mansur Ali Khan (alias: Feradun Jah) was the last Nawab of Bengal. During his reign the Nizamat at Murshidabad became involved in debts. The Government of India there involved it into an action of preventing further claims. The title of "Nawab of Bengal" was abolished in 1880.[26]
Feradun Jah left Murshidabad in February 1869 and started living in England. He returned at Bombay in October 1881. But he spent most of his time pleading his case against orders of the Government of India. After it was not resolved the Nawab renounced his styles and titles of Nawab Nazim of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa and abdicated in favour of his eldest son at St. Ives, Maidenhead, on November 1 1880.[26]
- Emergence of the Nawab of Murshidabad
After Mansur Ali Khan's abdication, his son, Hassan Ali Mirza succeeded as the first Nawab of Murshidabad with the lesser title of Nawab Bahadur of Murshidabad after the title of Nawab of Bengal was abolished in 1880.[20][26] Nawabs of Murshidabad were the successors of the Nawabs of Bengal. After Lord Clive secured the Diwani of Bengal from Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II in 1765 for the East India Company they did not have any effective authority. So they lavishly enjoyed their title, privileges alongside with the honours they received. They had little or no say and ceased to control any significant force.
The last Nawab of Murshidabad was Waris Ali Mirza. He left three sons and three daughters. According to the law, the eldest son of the Nawab succeeded him Waris Ali's eldest son, Wakif Ali Mirza Bahadur, was excluded from the succession by his father for contracting a non-Muslim marriage and for not professing the Muslim religion. He took no steps during his lifetime to establish his succession. Before declaring a successor Waris Ali died. Since then there has been no clear successor to the title of Nawab of Murshidabad.[27]
List of the Nawabs of Bengal (chronologically)[28]
| Portrait | Titular Name | Personal Name | Birth | Reign | Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Jaafar Khan Bahadur Nasiri | Murshid Quli Khan | 1665 | 1717– 1727 | June 30, 1727 |
|
Ala-ud-Din Haidar Jang | Sarfaraz Khan Bahadur | ? | 1727-1727 | April 29, 1740 |
|
Shuja ud-Daula | Shuja-ud-Din Muhammad Khan | Around 1670 (date not available) | July, 1727 – August 26, 1739 | August 26, 1739 |
|
|
Ala-ud-Din Haidar Jang | Sarfaraz Khan Bahadur | ? | March 13, 1739 – April 1740 | April 29, 1740 |
|
Hashim ud-Daula | Muhammad Alivardi Khan Bahadur | Before May 10, 1671 | April 29, 1740 – April 9, 1756 | April 9, 1756 |
| File:Siraj ud-Daulah.JPG | Siraj ud-Daulah | Muhammad Siraj-ud-Daulah | 1733 | April 1756 – June 2, 1757 | July 2, 1757 |
_and_Mir_Miran_(right).jpg)
|
Ja'afar 'Ali Khan Bahadur | Mir Muhammed Jafar Ali Khan Bahadur | 1691 | June 1757 – October 1760 | January 17, 1765 |
| File:Nawab Mir Qasim.jpg | Itimad ud-Daulah | Mir Qasim Ali Khan Bahadur | ? | October 20, 1760 – 1763 | May 8, 1777 |
|
|
Ja'afar 'Ali Khan Bahadur | Mir Muhammed Jafar Ali Khan Bahadur | 1691 | July 25, 1763 – January 17, 1765 | January 17, 1765 |
|
Nazam-ud-Daulah | Najimuddin Ali Khan Bahadur | 1750 | February 5, 1765 – May 8, 1766 | May 8, 1766 |
|
Saif ud-Daulah | Najabut Ali Khan Bahadur | 1749 | May 22, 1766 – March 10, 1770 | March 10, 1770 |
|
Mubarak ud-Daulah | Ashraf Ali Khan Bahadur | 1759 | March 21, 1770 – September 6, 1793 | September 6, 1793 |
|
Azud ud-Daulah | Babar Ali Khan Bahadur | ? | 1793 – April 28, 1810 | April 28, 1810 |
|
Ali Jah | Zain-ud-Din Ali Khan Bahadur | ? | June 5, 1810 – August 6, 1821 | August 6, 1821 |
|
Walla Jah | Ahmad Ali Khan Bahadur | ? | 1810 – October 30, 1824 | October 30, 1824 |
|
Humayun Jah | Mubarak Ali Khan Bahadur | September 29, 1810 | 1824 – October 3, 1838 | October 3, 1838 |
|
Feradun Jah | Mansur Ali Khan Bahadur | October 29, 1830 | October 29, 1838 – November 1, 1880 (abdicated) | November 5, 1884 |
List of the Nawabs of Murshidabad (chronologically)
| Picture | Titular Name | Personal Name | Birth | Reign | Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Ali Kadir | Hassan Ali Mirza Khan Bahadur | August 25, 1846 | February 17, 1882 – December 25, 1906 | December 25, 1906 |
|
Amir ul-Omrah | Wasif Ali Mirza Khan Bahadur | January 7, 1875 | December 1906–23 October 1959 | October 23, 1959 |
|
Raes ud-Daulah | Waris Ali Mirza Khan Bahadur | November 14, 1901 | 1959 – November 20, 1969 ( no clear successor-post/title in dispute) | November 20, 1969 |
References
- ^ a b c d Murdhidabad.net. "The Nawabs ruled earlier under the Mughal and later under the British". Retrieved August 9, 2012.
{{cite web}}: Text "May 8 2012" ignored (help) - ^ Chaudhury, S; Mohsin, KM. "Sirajuddaula". Banglapedia. Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. Retrieved August 13, 2012.
- ^ a b Murshidabad.net (May 8 2012). "Decline of the Nawabs of Bengal". Retrieved 10 August 2012.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Murshidabad.net (May 8 2012). "Hassan Ali Mirza's succession". Retrieved 10 August 2012.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "The last Nawab of Murshidabad, Waris Ali Mirza Khan Bahadur". Retrieved August 10, 2012.
- ^ Sir James Bourdillon The Partition of Bengal (London: Society of Arts) 1905
- ^ "History of Bangladesh". Bangladesh Student Association. Archived from the original on 2006-12-19. Retrieved 2012-8-11.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ "Britain Proposes Indian Partition". Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada: The Leader-Post. BUP. June 2, 1947.
- ^ See Sastri, K. A. N., A History of South India, p166
- ^ Majumdar, R.C. (ed.) (2006). The Delhi Sultanate, Mumbai: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, p.197
- ^ Majumdar, R.C. (ed.) (2006). The Delhi Sultanate, Mumbai: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, p.212
- ^ Adina Mosque, from Banglapedia.
- ^ The Economist, "Babu, the First Moghul Emperor: Wine and Tulips in Kabul", 16 December 2010, pp. 80–82.
- ^ "Sher Khan". Columbia Encyclopedia. 2010. Retrieved August 24, 2010.
- ^ "Biography of Islam Shah the Successor of Sher Shah".
- ^ Anjali Chatterjee, Azim-us-Shan, Banglapedia: The National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, Dhaka, Retrieved: 2012-07-28
- ^ Murshidabad.net (May 20 2012). "Biography of Murshid Quli Khan". Retrieved 9 August 2012.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Murshidabad.net (May 8 2012). "Defeat of Sarfaraz Khan in the Battle of Giria". Retrieved 9 August 2012.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ a b c "Defeat of Siraj ud-Daulah in the Battle of Plassey". Retrieved July 28, 2012.
- ^ a b Murshidabad.net (May 8 2012). "Dynasties of The Nawabs". Retrieved 9 August 2012.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ SNHM. Vol. II, pp. 209, 224.
- ^ Wernham, R. B. (01-Nov-1968). The New Cambridge Modern History: Volume 3, Counter-Reformation and Price Revolution, 1559-1610 (Maratha invasion of Bengal). CUP Archive.
{{cite book}}: Check date values in:|year=(help) - ^ Sarkar, Jadunath (01-Jan-1991). Fall Of The Mughal Empire- Vol. I (4Th Edn.) (Maratha Chauth from Bihar). Orient Blackswan.
{{cite book}}: Check date values in:|year=(help) - ^ George Michell and Mark Zebrowski (10-Jun-1999). Architecture and Art of the Deccan Sultanates, Volumes 1-7 (Maratha raids in Bihar). Cambridge University Press.
{{cite book}}: Check date values in:|year=(help) - ^ Murshidabad.net (May 8 2012). "Incidents during Mubarak ud-Daulah's reign". Retrieved 9 August 2012.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ a b c Murshidabad.net (May 8 2012). "Decline of the Nawabs of Bengal". Retrieved 9 August 2012.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Murshidabad.net (May 24 2012). "Decline of the Nawabs of Murshidabad". Retrieved 9 August 2012.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "The Nawabs of Bengal (chronologically)". Retrieved July 28, 2012.