The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period v4.c20.135

Language: English

v4.c20.135

Muhammad Farrukh-siyar, now aged thirty (lunar) years, had heard of his father’s downfall when at Patna and had proclaimed himself emperor there (April, 1712). His resources were very poor and none of the nobles supported him in his ambition for the throne. Even men who owed their promotion or life to ‘Azīm-ush-shān either stood aloof from Farrukh-siyar or went over to his enemies. But the young prince was saved and raised to fortune by the Sayyid brothers Hasan ‘Alī (afterwards created ‘Abdullah Khān, Qutb-ul-Mulk) and Husain ‘Alī (afterwards Amīr-ul-umarā, Fīrūz Jang), who were destined to be remembered in Indian history as the king-makers and the worst examples of royal ingratitude. Their family was settled at Bārha in the upper Ganges-Jumna Dūāb, between Meerut and Sahāranpur, and its members were known for their unshaken bravery and capacity for command, which gave them the right to the honour of leading the imperial vanguard in battles. These two had held important commands in Aurangzīb’s reign and risen to the rank of 4000 for their service at Jājau. They had subsequently fallen under Bahādur Shāh’s displeasure and lost their employment owing to a quarrel with his minister. But ‘Azīm had taken them under his protection and made them his deputies in Allahābād and Bihār respectively. Appealed to by Farrukh-siyar’s mother, Husain ‘Alī at Patna undertook to support that prince’s ambition. His elder brother, the deputy governor of Allahābād, was hesitating when he heard that he had been dismissed by Jahāndār Shāh; so he openly espoused Farrukh-siyar’s cause (August, 1712), seized the large Bengal treasure then on the way to the capital, and with it raised an army for that prince. These examples tempted other nobles to join Farrukh-siyar’s side; the Rājputs of Bhojpur in west Bihār brought in a large accession of strength, 40,000 good fighters. Money was secured by seizing the Bengal revenue at Patna and robbing the Dutch factory in that town and rich Indians.