The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period v4.c20.294

v4.c20.294

For some time before this a new power had been growing up to the east of Delhi. ‘Alī Muhammad Khān was according to some accounts by birth a Hindu,³ who had been brought up by an Afghān officer in the imperial service and was accustomed to associate with Afghāns. He had entered the service of the governor of Katehr,⁴ the chief towns of which, Budaun and Sambhal, had lately been eclipsed by Morādābād, which had become the governor’s residence. When Nizām-ul-Mulk was replaced in the Deccan by Sayyid Husain ‘Alī Khān he became governor of this tract and, as a sop to his wounded vanity, the appointment was to rank with the greater provincial governments. More recently it was held by the minister, Qamar-ud-dīn Khān, who governed by deputies. ‘Alī Muhammad rapidly gained advancement and increased the number of his followers, who were always Afghāns. He increased his possessions by grants from landholders who were too idle or too careless to defend their own lands, and when the Sayyid brothers were overthrown he took an active part in the extinction of their influence in the province and in the murder of one of the younger brothers. For this he was rewarded with the title of Nawāb, a command of horse, some assignments, and the government of some *parganas*. Qamar-ud-dīn Khān's assignments had also been in his charge since the minister had held the appointment of governor. Nādir Shāh's advance on Qandahār had driven from that neighbourhood a large number of Afghāns or Rohillas¹ who feared his vengeance, and most of whom had taken refuge in India and had been attracted to 'Alī Muhammad by his reputation as a patron and protector of Afghāns. His power had increased enormously and, encouraged by the confusion prevailing throughout the empire, he had conceived the idea of establishing himself as the ruler of an independent principality, and retained, instead of remitting to Delhi, the rents of Qamar-ud-dīn Khān's assignments. The minister appointed as commandant of Morādābād, Rājā Har Nand, and ordered him to look into the accounts. Incensed by this, 'Alī Muhammad attacked and slew the raja and then possessed himself of a large tract and maintaining a considerable force of Afghān horse conducted himself as independent.