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htm

the nizam's
The seven rulers of the Asif Jahi Dynastry

In 1724 Nizam-ul-Mulk Asif Jah I founded the Asif Jahi Dynasty

and seven generations of the family ruled the Deccan for 224
years up to 1948. During this period several buildings of
archaeological and public importance were built. Notable
among them are: Purani Haveli, Chow Mahalla Palace,
Osmania University, Jubilee Hall, Assembly Building, Asifia
Library, Osmania Hospital, High Court, and all the buildings in
the Public Garden.

I Nizam-ul-Mulk 1724 - 1748

II Nizam Ali Khan 1762 - 1803
III Sikander Jah 1803 - 1829
IV Nasir-ud-Dowla 1829 - 1857
V Afzal-ud-Dowla 1857 - 1869
VI Mahboob Ali Pahsa 1869 - 1911
VII Mir Osman Ali Khan 1911 - 1948

The origins of the Asif Jahi dynasty can be traced to Chin

Qalich Khan who was the grandfather of the first Nizam and
the commander of the Mughal army during Aurangzeb’s reign.
Chin Qalich Khan led the attack of the Mughal army into the
Deccan under his Emperor’s ambitious plans of expanding the
Mughal empire. During Aurangzeb’s last siege of Golconda in
1687,

Chin Qalich Khan was wounded. He died in Atapur village near

Himayath Sagar. Chin Qalich Khan’s son, Nawab Ghaziuddin
Khan, married the daughter of Sadullah Khan, Prime Minister of
Aurangzeb. A son was born, and the Emperor named him Mir
Qumaruddin. At the age of six, Mir Qumaruddin accompanied
his father to the Mughal court. Aurangzeb awarded him a
mansab, and said to his father, "The star of destiny shines on
the forehead of your son". Mir Qumaruddin displayed
considerable skill as a warrior and at the age of nineteen, the
Emperor bestowed on him the title "Chin Fateh Khan". At 26,
he was appointed Commander in Chief and Viceroy, first at
Bijapur, then Malwa and later of the Deccan.

Subsequently, the Mughal empire declined. There was much

confusion after the death of Aurangzeb, and Mir Qumaruddin
established his position as Viceroy Farukh Siar who was the
Mughal Emperor for a brief tenure conferred on Mir
Qumaruddin the title Fateh Jung. He thus became the first
Nizam. A subsequent Emperor, Muhammad Shah bestowed
on him the title Asif Jah. The dynasty of the Nizam's of
Hyderabad thus came to be known as the Asif Jahi Dynasty.

Unrest and claims to the throne continued after the death of

Aurangzeb, and amidst the general confusion, Asif Jah had
little difficulty in asserting his independence from the weak
occupants of the Delhi throne. At that time, Asif Jah was the
Sudedar of Malwa. However, his independence was the cause
of much jealousy, and the Delhi court secretly instructed
Mubrez Khan, the Subedar of the Deccan, to oppose him. A
battle was fought at Shakar-Khelda in the district of Berer in
1724, where Mubrez Khan was defeated and killed. This battle
established Asif Jah's supremacy in the Deccan. After gaining
independence, Asif Jah came to be known as Nizam-ul-Mulk.
He first set up his capital at Auragabad but later moved to
Hyderabad, which became the capital of the Asif Jahi dynasty.

Nizam-ul-Mulk's greatest achievement was the foundation of

the Hyderabad Dominion. He attained his object by waging a
struggle against the Marhattas and by the policy of
non-involvement in the rivalry for power between the British
and the French. His policy has been justified by later events as
Hyderabad state survived right through the period of British
rule up to the time of Indian independence.

Asif Jah ruled wisely and established an independent state in

the Deccan. He was one of the ablest statesmen. However,
his death at Burhanpur on 21st May 1748 at the age of 78,
was followed by a struggle for the throne. By this time, foreign
powers were spreading their tentacles. Asif Jah's second son
Nasir Jung was supported by the British whereas Muzafar
Jung, grandson of Asif Jah, was supported by the French.
Nasir Jung succeeded; but after a brief rule he was slain in
1750 in an encounter with the French troops at Arcot.

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1750 in an encounter with the French troops at Arcot.

Thereupon, Muzafar Jung ascended the throne. In the
following year he was murdered and his son Salabath Jung
was put on the throne. In 1762 Salabeth Jung was dethroned
by his brother Nizam Ali Khan, and confined at Bidar where he
died in 1793.

Hence, Nasir Jung, Muzafar Jung and Salabath Jung, who were
contestants for the sovereignty of the Deccan in the short
span of thirteen years between the death of Asif Jah and
accession of Nizam Ali Khan, have not been historically
recognised as reigning Nizams. If they had been, Nizam Ali
Khan would have been known as the fifth Nizam and not the
second.

Nizam Ali Khan ascended the throne in 1763 and he ruled

Hyderabad for almost forty years. This was one of the
eventful periods in the history of India. Foremost among
competitors for supremacy in the Deccan were the Marhattas
and it was during this period that the famous French
adventurer Monsieur Raymond was employed by Nizam Ali
Khan.

Nizam Ali Khan died in August 1803 at the age of 72 years

after a long and strenuous reign.

The succession of Sikandar Jah as Nizam was undisputed and

he appointed Mir Alam as his Prime Minister. With the
accession to the throne by Sikander Jah and end of war with
the Marhattas, there commenced an entirely new era for
Hyderabad. Unfortunately in 1808 the able Minister Mir Alam
died and it was he who was responsible for maintaining good
relations wit the British. In 1809, Mir Alam’s son Munir-ul-Mulk
was appointed as Minister.

Sikander Jah died in May 1829 at the age of 62 after reigning

for almost 26 years. Secunderbad was named after him.
Sikander Jah was succeeded by his eldest son Nasir-ud-Dowla.
It was during his reign that Salar Jung was appointed as the
Minister in 1853. Salar Jung guided the affairs of the Deccan
with great wisdom and introduced several reforms to improve
the finances of the Dominion.

On 17 May 1857 Nasir-ud-Daula died and his son Afzal-

ud-Daula became the fifth Nizam. This was the first time the
first war of Indian Independence was fought in the North and
there was general disorder in the Deccan.

After a reign of twelve years, Afzal-ud-Daula expired on 26

February 1869 at the young age of forty three years, leaving
behind the infant prince Mir Mahboob Ali Khan who was hardly
three years old.

Mir Mahboob Ali Khan, who was born on 18 August 1866, was
the only son of Afzal-ud-Dowla. He was installed on the
masnad by the British Resident and Sir Salar Jung, who also
acted as the co-regent. Salar Jung died in 1883 and a
provisional council, consisting of five members, with Mahboob
Ali Khan as president and Mir Laiq Ali Khan, son of Salar Jung,
as secretary was appointed for administrative purposes.

Special attention was paid to the education of Mahboob Ali

Khan. With the concurrence of Salar Jung, Capt. John Clerk
was appointed as his tutor. However, the personality of Salar
Jung had a great influence on his life. Brought up under the
guidance of this great statesman, Mahboob Ali Khan grew in
his later years to be one of the greatest rulers of his time. He
was a respected and dignified personality and was popularly
know as ‘Mahboob Ali Pasha’. He died on Tuesday 31 August
1911.

Mir Osman Ali Khan, the seventh and the last Nizam of
Hyderabad ruled for 37 years (1911 - 1948). His dominion
was lager than England and Scotland put together, with an
area of 86,000 Sq. miles.

The seventh Nizam led a very simple life, yet he was one of
the richest men in the world. He donated generously to every
cause in India as well as abroad irrespective of caste and
religion. If it was the Muslim theological school at Deoband
which received financial help, it was also the privilege of the
Benaras Hindu University. His list of donations included
Rabindranth Tagore’s Shantiniketan and several other
institutions including hospitals, schools, for famine relief, etc.
The golden temple in Amritsar also enjoyed an annual
donation.

The Nizam’s rule saw the growth of Hyderabad economically

and culturally. Electricity, railways, roads and airways

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and culturally. Electricity, railways, roads and airways

developed. Huge reservoirs and irrigation projects such as the
Tungabhadra, and Nizamsagar were completed. The early
work on Nagarjunasagar was undertaken. The Osmania
University, Colleges and Schools were founded throughout the
state. Nearly all the public buildings currently in such as the
Osmania General Hospital, High Court, Central State Library,
Assembly Hall, Jubilee Hall and other buildings in the Public
Garden were built during Osman Ali Khan’s reign.

Soon after India gained independence in 1947, all princely

states were invited to join the Republic. Nizam VII was
reluctant to do so; but in 1948, after the Police Action, his
state was merged into the Indian Union. Mir Osman Ali Khan,
the last Nizam, died on Friday 24 February 1967. It was the
end of the princely era.

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