A History of the Mahrattas v1.c8.86

v1.c8.86

The evils against which his measures were calculated to provide were hastened by this event. The chiefs, who had been the enemies of Khajeh Jehan, only remained with the Sultan in hopes of enlarging their own power by the ruin of those who were the friends of the late minister. Nizam Ool Moolk Byheree was the person supposed to have laid the plan for the destruction of Khajeh Jehan. The origin and the career of Nizam Ool Moolk are remarkable: he was the son of a Bramin Koolkurnee of the town of Pathree,¹ and accompanied his father to the Carnatic during the prevalence of a famine at their native place. When residing in that country, the Bramin boy was taken prisoner by the Mahomedan troops, in one of the expeditions of Ahmed Shah Wullee Bahminee, and brought as a slave to that Sultan, by whom he was made a Mussulman and named Mullik Hoossein. In the reign of Mohummud Shah he was raised to the rank of Huzaree, or commander of a thousand horse, and by degrees attained high situations, till at length by the recommendation of Khajeh Jehan he was, with the title of Nizam Ool Moolk, appointed to the government of Telingana, a portion of which was assigned to him in Jagheer. Nizam Ool Moolk got his son Mullik Ahmed appointed his deputy in the provinces; whilst he himself remained with the Sultan, plotting the foul deed by which he cut off the benefactor that had raised him, and deprived the country which he served of a man deservedly respected. But although his ambition was thus temporarily gratified, a worse fate was reserved for himself; he was in the end treacherously murdered by a wretch whom he had rescued from misery and elevated to power.