51-538: Alivardi Khan (1671 – 9 April 1756) was the fourth Nawab of Bengal from 1740 to 1756. He toppled the Nasiri dynasty of Nawabs by defeating Sarfaraz Khan in 1740 and assumed power himself. During much of his reign Alivardi encountered frequent Maratha raids under Raghuji Bhonsle , culminating in the surrender of the province of Orissa in a peace settlement in 1751. He also faced separatist rebellions in Bihar as well as
102-556: A period of proto-industrialization . The Bengal-Bihar-Orissa triangle was a major production center for cotton muslin cloth, silk cloth, shipbuilding, gunpowder, saltpetre, and metalworks. Factories were set up in Murshidabad, Dhaka, Patna, Sonargaon, Chittagong, Rajshahi, Cossimbazar, Balasore, Pipeli, and Hugli among other cities, towns, and ports. The region became a base for the British East India Company ,
153-785: A period of economic and political consolidation. The third Nawab Sarfaraz Khan was preoccupied with military engagements, including Nader Shah's invasion of India . Sarfaraz Khan was killed at the Battle of Giria by his deputy Alivardi Khan . The coup by Alivardi Khan led to the creation of a new dynasty. Nawab Alivardi Khan endured brutal raids by the Maratha Empire . The Marathas undertook six expeditions in Bengal from 1741 to 1748. The Maratha general Raghoji I of Nagpur conquered large parts of Orissa. Nawab Alivardi Khan made peace with Raghoji in 1751, ceding large parts of Orissa up to
204-518: A relative of Sarfaraz Khan, in the Battle of Phulwarion . Orissa also came under Alivardi's control. Alivardi Khan defeated a rebellion in Orissa led by Mirza Baqir Khan, and invading Orissa a second time, he subdued the Barha Sayyids with great difficulty, and installed a brave warrior Shaikh Masum as governor. Immediately after his usurpation of power, Alivardi had his takeover legitimized by
255-519: A result of the disputes. After the viceroy's exit, the provincial premier Murshid Quli Khan emerged as the de facto ruler of Bengal. His administrative coup merged the offices of the diwan (prime minister) and subedar (viceroy). In 1716, Khan shifted Bengal's capital from Dhaka to a new city named after himself. In 1717, Mughal Emperor Farrukhsiyar recognized Khan as the hereditary Nawab Nazim. The Nawab's jurisdiction covered districts in Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa. The Nawab's territory stretched from
306-525: A revolt from his grandson Siraj ud-Daulah , though these were suppressed. Alivardi spent the latter part of his reign rebuilding Bengal. He was a patron of the arts and resumed the policies of Murshid Quli Khan . He maintained a politically neutral stance with the European powers in the subcontinent and prevented any infighting amongst them in his dominions. He was succeeded by Siraj ud-Daulah in 1756. Originally Mirza Bande or Mirza Muhammad Ali, Alivardi
357-699: A secret treaty with the Dutch East India Company. This caused the British to replace Mir Jafar with his son-in-law Mir Qasim in October 1760. In one of his first acts, Mir Qasim ceded Chittagong, Burdwan and Midnapore to the East India Company. Mir Qasim also proved to be a popular ruler. But Mir Qasim's independent spirit eventually raised British suspicions. Mir Jafar was reinstalled as Nawab in 1763. Mir Qasim continued opposing
408-460: The Battle of Burdwan , where Raghoji and his Maratha forces were completely routed. The enraged Alivardi then dismissed the shamed Mir Jafar. Alivardi's defending armies were overrun in Orissa in the year 1751, despite receiving some assistance from Shuja-ud-Daula . But Orissa was ultimately surrendered to the ravaging Marathas . These Maratha attacks continued until March 1751 when a peace treaty
459-470: The Battle of Buxar in 1764, which was the last real chance of resisting British expansion across the northern Indian subcontinent. The South Indian Kingdom of Mysore under Haider Ali and Tipu Sultan briefly eclipsed the dominant position of Bengal in the subcontinent. Tipu Sultan pursued aggressive military modernization; and set up a company to trade with communities around the Persian Gulf and
510-897: The French East India Company , the Danish East India Company , the Austrian East India Company , the Ostend Company , and the Dutch East India Company . The British company eventually rivaled the authority of the Nawabs. In the aftermath of the siege of Calcutta in 1756, in which the Nawab's forces overran the main British base, the East India Company dispatched a fleet led by Robert Clive who defeated
561-938: The Katra Masjid in Murshidabad; and the Bara Katra and Choto Katra in Dhaka. Dutch Bengali trading posts included the main Dutch port of Pipeli in Orissa; the Dutch settlement in Rajshahi ; and the towns of Cossimbazar and Hugli . The Danes built trading posts in Bankipur and on islands of the Bay of Bengal . Balasore in Orissa was a prominent Austrian trading post. Bengali cities were full of brokers, workers, peons, naibs, wakils, and ordinary traders. The Nawabs were patrons of
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#1732791215714612-770: The Arabian Sea. Mysore's military technology at one point rivaled European technology. However, the Anglo-Mysore War ended Tipu Sultan's ascendancy. In 1765, Robert Clive , as the representative of the East India Company , was given the Diwani of Bengal by the Mughal emperor Shah Alam II . With this a system of dual governance was established, with the Nawabs responsible for the Nizamat of Bengal and
663-517: The Berar Subah (province) were: The jama (revenue assessed) from Berar in 1596 was 64,26,03,270 dams (Delhi). Land revenue formed the major part of the total income from the Subah. Other sources of income were zakat , customs, salt tax, khums , mint, currency, jizya , escheats , presents, octroi , tolls and tributes. The coins current were tanka-i-Barari, dam and Rupee. One tanka-i-Barari
714-487: The Berar Subah during Akbar's reign was 72,000 sq. miles. According to Ain-i-Akbari , its northern limit was Handia, the eastern limit was the fort of Vairagad near Bastar , the southern limit was Telangana and the western limit was Mahkarabad. Ellichpur was the capital of the Subah. The important forts of the Subah were Gawilgad , Narnala , Pavanar, Khedala, Manikdurg and Mahur. It was divided into 13 sarkars consisting of 242 parganas . The sarkars and parganas of
765-644: The British and his father-in-law. He set up his capital in Munger and raised an independent army. Mir Qasim attacked British positions in Patna, overrunning the company's offices and killing its Resident. Mir Qasim also attacked the British-allied Gorkha Kingdom . Mir Qasim allied with Nawab Shuja-ud-Daula of Awadh and Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II . However, the Mughal allies were defeated at
816-522: The British government abolished the symbolic authority of the Mughal court. After 1880, the descendants of the Nawabs of Bengal were recognised simply as Nawabs of Murshidabad with the mere status of a peerage . The Bengal Subah was the wealthiest subah of the Mughal Empire . There were several posts under the Mughal administrative system of Bengal since Akbar 's conquest in the 1500s. Nizamat (governornership) and diwani (premiership) were
867-525: The British presence in Bengal. He also feared invasions by the Durrani Empire from the north and Marathas from the west. On 20 June 1756, Nawab Siraj-ud-Daulah launched the siege of Calcutta , in which he won a decisive victory. The British were briefly expelled from Fort William, which came under the occupation of the Nawab's forces. The East India Company dispatched a naval fleet led by Robert Clive to regain control of Fort William. By January 1757,
918-592: The British retook Fort William. The stalemate with the Nawab continued into June. The Nawab also began cooperating with the French East India Company, raising the ire of the British further. Britain and France were at the time pitted against each other in the Seven Years' War . On 23 June 1757, the Battle of Plassey brought an end to the independence of the Nawabs of Bengal. Nawab Siraj-ud-Daulah and his French allies were caught off guard by
969-648: The Company responsible for the Diwani of Bengal. In 1772, this arrangement came to be abolished and Bengal was brought under direct control of the British. In 1793, the Mughal emperor also ceded the Nizamat of Bengal to the Company and the Nawab of Bengal was reduced to a mere titular position and pensioners of the Company. After the Revolt of 1857 , Company rule in India ended, and the British Crown , in 1858, took over
1020-569: The Mughal Emperor Muhammad Shah and resumed the policies of Murshid Quli Khan . He also chose Faujdars from various regions such as Patna , Dacca and Orissa. Since 1742, the Maratha Empire raided Bengal repeatedly, ravaging its territories. Alivardi almost immediately had a long ditch, called the Maratha ditch , dug around Calcutta . Alivardi was a brilliant artillery tactician, though his armies were overrun by
1071-481: The Mughal Empire began to decline, the Nawabs rose in power. By the early 1700s, the Nawabs were practically independent, despite a nominal tribute to the Mughal court. The Mughal court heavily relied on Bengal for revenue. Azim-us-Shan , the Mughal viceroy of Bengal, had a bitter power struggle with his prime minister ( diwan ) Murshid Quli Khan. Emperor Aurangzeb transferred Azim-us-Shan out of Bengal as
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#17327912157141122-611: The Nawab Nazims following Nawab Mansur Ali Khan's abdication, The Nawab Bahadurs had ceased to exercise any significant power. but were relegated to the status of a zamindar and continued to be a wealthy family, producing bureaucrats and army officers. The following is a list of the Nawabs of Bengal. Sarfaraz Khan and Mir Jafar were the only two to become Nawab Nazim twice. The chronology started in 1717 with Murshid Quli Khan and ended in 1880 with Mansur Ali Khan. Berar Subah The Berar Subah ( Persian : صوبه برار )
1173-545: The Nawab of Bengal as the subcontinent's wealthiest monarchy; but this was short-lived and ended with the Anglo-Mysore War . The British then turned their sights on defeating the Marathas and Sikhs . In 1772, Governor-General Warren Hastings shifted administrative and judicial offices from Murshidabad to Calcutta , the capital of the newly formed Bengal Presidency , and the de facto capital of British India. The Nawabs had lost all independent authority since 1757. In 1858,
1224-653: The Nawabs governed as independent monarchs. Bengal continued to contribute the largest share of funds to the imperial treasury in Delhi. The Nawabs, backed by bankers such as the Jagat Seth , became the financial backbone of the Mughal court. The Nawabs, especially under the rule of Alivardi Khan of 16 years, were heavily engaged in various wars against the Marathas. Towards the end, he turned his attention to rebuilding and restoring Bengal . The Nawabs of Bengal oversaw
1275-573: The arts , including the Murshidabad style of Mughal painting , Hindustani classical music , the Baul tradition, and local craftsmanship. The second Nawab Shuja-ud-Din Muhammad Khan developed Murshidabad's royal palace, military base, city gates, revenue office, public audience hall ( durbar ), and mosques in an extensive compound called Farrabagh (Garden of Joy) which included canals, fountains, flowers, and fruit trees. The second Nawab's reign saw
1326-539: The border with Oudh in the west to the border with Arakan in the east. The chief deputy of the Nawab was the Naib Nazim of Dhaka, the mayor of the former provincial capital whose own wealth was considerable; the Naib Nazim of Dhaka also governed much of eastern Bengal. Other important officials were stationed in Patna, Cuttack , and Chittagong. The aristocracy was composed of the Zamindars of Bengal . The Nawab
1377-452: The commander of the army, Akbar recalled Khan-i-Khanan and sent his trusted friend Abul Fazl to help him. Murad died in 1598. After his death, Prince Daniel was given the charge as governor of Berar, Ahmadnagar and Khandesh, Khan-i- Khanan was sent along with Daniel. Akbar died in 1605. In 1611, the southern provinces of Ahmadnagar, Berar and Khandesh defied Mughal sovereignty under Malik Ambar . Jahangir sent Man Singh and others to crush
1428-418: The defection of the Nawab's Commander-in-Chief Mir Jafar to the British side. The British, under the leadership of Robert Clive, gained enormous influence over Bengal Subah as a result of the battle. The last independent Nawab was arrested by his former officers and killed in revenge for the brutality against his courtiers. Mir Jafar was installed as the puppet Nawab by the British. However, Jafar entered into
1479-453: The family fell into poverty. They migrated to Cuttack in Orissa , then under the deputy-governorship of their relative Shuja-ud-Din. Finding employment with the latter, Muhammad Ali and Mirza Ahmad proved themselves capable in supporting his government, later even aiding Shuja-ud-Din in becoming Nawab of Bengal . In 1728, Shuja-ud-Din promoted Muhammad Ali to Faujdar (General) of Rajmahal and entitled him as Alivardi Khan . In 1733, he
1530-467: The large force of the Marathas from Berar who had arrived to pillage and conquer the territories of Bengal under the command of Raghoji I Bhonsle . In the year 1747, the Marathas led by Raghoji began to raid, pillage and annex the territories of Alivardi. During the Maratha invasion of Orissa, its Subedar Mir Jafar completely withdrew all forces until the arrival of Alivardi and the Mughal army at
1581-455: The last independent Nawab Siraj-ud-Daulah at the Battle of Plassey in 1757. Mir Jafar was installed as the puppet Nawab. His successor Mir Qasim attempted in vain to dislodge the British. The defeat of Nawab Mir Qasim of Bengal, Nawab Shuja-ud-Daula of Oudh , and Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II at the Battle of Buxar in 1764 paved the way for British expansion across India. The South Indian Kingdom of Mysore led by Tipu Sultan overtook
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1632-609: The reign of Nawab Shuja-ud-Din Muhammad Khan . They are often referred to as the Nawab of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa ( Bengali : বাংলা, বিহার ও উড়িষ্যার নবাব ). The Nawabs were based in Murshidabad which was centrally located within Bengal, Bihar, and Odisha. Their chief, a former prime minister, became the first Nawab. The Nawabs continued to issue coins in the name of the Mughal Emperor, but for all practical purposes,
1683-640: The revolt. Man Singh died a natural death on 6 July 1614 at Ellichpur. During Jahangir ’s rule, Malik Ambar till his death in 1626 recovered a substantial part of the Deccan from the Mughals including Berar. In 1628, the first year of reign of Shah Jahan , Berar again came under the Mughal sway. In 1636, the Mughal possessions in Dakhin (Deccan) were divided into 4 Subahs. Berar was one of them with Ellichpur as its capital and Gavilgad as its main fort. Aurangzeb
1734-417: The right to collect chauth and sardeshmukhi from Berar from the Mughal emperor. In 1724, when Nizam-ul-Mulk Asaf Jah declared independence, the existence of Berar as a Mughal Subah came to an end. It became (though nominally) a part of Nizam's state. Berar came under Mughal administration in 1596. Todar Mal 's famous system known as bandobast was made applicable to the Berar Subah. The area of
1785-452: The river Subarnarekha. The Marathas demanded an annual tribute payment. The Marathas also promised to never to cross the boundary of the Nawab's territory. European trading companies also grew more influential in Bengal. Nawab Murshid Quli Khan was notorious for his repressive tax collection tactics, including torture for non-payment. Nawab Alivardi Khan's successor was Nawab Siraj-ud-Daulah . Nawab Siraj-ud-Daulah grew increasingly wary of
1836-444: The territories which were under direct rule of the company. This marked the beginning of Crown rule in India , and the Nawabs had no political or any other kind of control over the territory. Mir Jafar's descendants continued to live in Murshidabad. The Hazarduari Palace ( Palace of a Thousand Doors ) was built as the residence of the Nawabs in the 1830s. The palace was also used by British colonial officials. Nawab Mansur Ali Khan
1887-399: The two main branches of provincial government under the Mughals. The Subahdar was in-charge of the nizamat and had a chain of subordinate officials on the executive side, including diwans (prime ministers) responsible for revenue and legal affairs. The regional decentralization of the Mughal Empire led to the creation of numerous semi-independent strongholds in the Mughal provinces. As
1938-408: Was a cousin of Shuja-ud-Din Muhammad Khan , also known as Mirza Deccani. Like their father, he and his elder brother Mirza Ahmad (later known as Haji Ahmad) found favour under Azam Shah. Muhammad Ali was named superintendent of the filkhana (elephant-stables) as well as being given responsibility over the zardozkhana (department of embroidered cloths). However, following Azam Shah's death in 1707,
1989-519: Was a major center of silk production. Shipbuilding in Chittagong enjoyed Ottoman and European demand. Patna was a center of metalworks and the military-industrial complex. The Bengal-Bihar region was a major exporter of gunpowder and saltpetre . The Nawabs presided over an era of growing organization in banking, handicrafts , and other trades. Bengal attracted traders from across Eurasia . Traders were lodged at caravanserais , including
2040-541: Was a native of the Deccan who was born in 1676. His father Mirza Muhammad Madani, who was of either Arab or Turkish descent, was the son of a foster-brother of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb ; Madani himself began his career as a cup-bearer under the latter's son Azam Shah . Muhammad Ali's mother was a Deccani Muslim descending from the Iranian Turkmen Afshar tribe of Khorasan . Through her, he
2091-759: Was a patron of various musical instruments such as the Veena and Khol drums. He also patronized many manuscripts of the Shahnameh . Alivardi Khan died at 5 am on 9 April 1756, aged at least 80. He was buried in Khushbagh next to his mother's grave. He was succeeded by his daughter's son, Siraj-ud-Daula , who was aged 23 at the time. Unlike many of his contemporaries, Alivardi had only one wife, Sharfunnesa. They had three daughters, of whom at least two married sons of his elder brother Haji Ahmad. Alivardi outlived his sons-in-law and, having had no sons of his own, he
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2142-605: Was also a relative. Nawab of Bengal The Nawab of Bengal ( Bengali : বাংলার নবাব , bāṅglār nôbāb ) was the hereditary ruler of Bengal Subah in Mughal India . In the early 18th-century, the Nawab of Bengal was the de facto independent ruler of the three regions of Bengal , Bihar and Orissa which constitute the modern-day sovereign country of Bangladesh and the Indian states of West Bengal , Bihar and Odisha . The Bengal Subah reached its peak during
2193-404: Was appointed viceroy of four Deccan Subahs for the first time and he occupied the post for eight years (till 1644). He was again appointed viceroy for the second time in 1653 and he remained in that post till 1657. During Aurangzeb's reign, Berar was successively overrun by the Maratha rulers Shambhaji in 1680 and Rajaram in 1698. In 1720, Maratha Peshwa Balaji Vishwanath obtained the grant of
2244-703: Was assigned as the Naib Nazim (Deputy Subahdar ) of Bihar . A year later, he was titled Shuja ul-Mulk (Hero of the country), Hassemm ud-Daula (Sword of the state) and Mahabat Jang (Horror in War) and the rank of Paach Hazari Mansabdar (The rank holder of 5000) by Nawab Shuja ud-Din and returned to Azimabad . Alivardi aspired for larger authority. On 10 April 1740 in the Battle of Giria , he defeated and killed Shuja ud-Din's successor, Sarfaraz Khan . Thus he took control of Bengal and Bihar. Then on 3 March 1741, he defeated Rustam Jang, deputy governor of Orissa and
2295-421: Was backed up by the powerful Jagat Seth family of bankers and money lenders. The Jagat Seth controlled the flow of Bengali revenue into the imperial treasury in Delhi. They served as financiers to both the Nawabs and European companies operating in the region. The Nawabs profited from the revenue generated by the worldwide demand of muslin trade in Bengal , which was centered in Dhaka and Sonargaon . Murshidabad
2346-526: Was mostly engaged in various wars against the Marathas. Towards the end, he turned his attention to rebuilding and restoring Bengal. He also saved Bengal from the effects of war of succession in Austria through proper vigilance and precautions, unlike south India, which got caught up in it. He maintained a policy of neutrality towards European powers and forbade the British, French and Dutch to have any hostility against each other in his dominion. Alivardi Khan
2397-575: Was one of the Subahs (provinces) of the Mughal Empire , in Central India from 1596 to 1724. It bordered Golconda , Ahmandagar (both conquered in 1601), Kandesh and Malwa provinces as well as the independent and tributary kingdoms to the east. According to the Ain-i-Akbari , the original name of Berar was Waradatat (the banks of Varada River). Before the Mughal occupation, Berar
2448-556: Was part of the Nizam Shahi sultanate of Ahmadnagar . It was ceded to the emperor Akbar by Chand Bibi in 1596, unable to stand against the imperial forces led by prince Murad . After this initial victory Prince Murad settled in Berar with Balapur as his headquarters. Near Balapur he founded a new city named Shahpur and constructed a beautiful palace for himself. As his relationship was deteriorating with Abdul Rahim Khan-i-Khanan ,
2499-547: Was settled between Alivardi and Raghoji. In 1750, Alivardi faced a revolt from Siraj ud-Daulah , his daughter's son, who seized Patna. Alivardi forgave him. Alivardi also subdued the revolt of a few unruly Afghans who were trying to separate Bihar from his administration, and chastised the Banjaras who were marauding through Bihar and chased them towards the Terai . According to some historians, Alivardi Khan's reign of 16 years
2550-452: Was succeeded by his maternal grandson Siraj ud-Daulah . Alivardi's issue are as follows: Alivardi also had a number of half-siblings, including Muhammad Amin Khan and Muhammad Yar Khan, who served under him as a general and governor of Hugli respectively. His half-sister Shah Khanum was the wife of Mir Jafar , who later claimed the throne of Bengal in 1757. The historian Ghulam Hussain Khan
2601-630: Was the last titular Nawab Nazim of Bengal. During his reign the nizamat at Murshidabad came to be debt-ridden. The Nawab left Murshidabad in February 1869, and had started living in England. The title of the Nawab of Bengal stood abolished in 1880. He returned to Bombay in October 1880 and pleaded his case against the orders of the government, but as it stood unresolved the Nawab renounced his styles and titles, abdicating in favour of his eldest son on 1 November 1880. The Nawabs of Murshidabad succeeded
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