A History of the Mahrattas v1.c25.105

v1.c25.105

Affairs at Delhi were not long exempted from Mahratta interference, owing to the dissensions of the court, which arose to a height greater than ever. Meer Shahabodeen, the son of the late Ghazee-ud-deen, bore a conspicuous part in the troubles and crimes of the period. This youth, on the news of his father's death, pretending to be absorbed in grief, a garb which wickedness frequently assumes, interested the Vizier so much in his apparently melancholy situation that he obtained for him all his father's honours, the title of Ghazee-ud-deen,³ and the post of Umeer Ool Oomrah. But no sooner were his ends attained than he perfidiously conspired to ruin his benefactor, assisted to obtain the office of Vizier for Intizam-ud-Dowlah, the husband of his aunt,⁴ and finally brought on a civil war between the late Vizier and the Emperor. This war continued, in and about the capital, for six months. Sufdur Jung, at the end of that time, relinquished the contest and retired to his own territory at Lucknow.