Later Mughals v1.c8.s7: Sec. 7.—Muhammad Farrukh-siyar, His Early History, and Arrival at Patna.

Later Mughals v1.c8.s7

Language: English

Sec. 7.—Muhammad Farrukh-siyar, His Early History, and Arrival at Patna.

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Muhammad Farrukh-siyar, the second son of Azim-ush-shan, was born at Aurangabad in the Dakhin, on the 9th Ramzan 1094 H. (11th Sept. 1683); and was now in his thirty-first (lunar) year. In his infancy he was sent to Dihli, but brought back to the Dakhin in 1105 H. (Sept. 1693—August, 1694), in his tenth year; and after three years spent with his great-grandfather, Alamgir, he accompanied his father, Azim-ush-shan first to Agra and thence to Bengal. In the last year of his reign, Alamgir recalled his grandson, Azim-ush-shan, from Bengal, giving him orders to leave his eldest son, Muhammad Karim, in charge of Bihar and his second son, Farrukh-siyar, in Bengal. The young Prince passed some years at Dacca, then the capital of the Bengal province; but in the reign of Bahadur Shah (1707-1712), he moved to Murshidabad, where he occupied the palace in Lal Bagh. He subsequently moved to Raj Mahal, higher up and on the other side of the Ganges. Azim-ush-shan, anticipating a struggle for the throne at an early date, called on Farrukh-siyar to return to Court. Bengal had been made over to Izz-ud-daulah, Khan Alam (son of Khan Jahan Kokaltash Alamgiri). Farrukh-siyar was on the march and not far from Azimabad Patna, when on the 7th Safar 1124 H. (15th March 1712) he heard of Bahadur Shah's death, and on the 13th (21st March), without waiting for further information, he proclaimed his father's accession and caused coin to be stamped and the public prayer or khutba to be read in his name. He decided to march no further. Some say that astrologers, on whom he placed great reliance, had prophesied his accession to the throne at Patna and advised him not to leave it until that happy event had occurred. On the 29th Safar (6th April 1712) he heard of his father's defeat and death. For a little time the Prince contemplated suicide, but his friends dissuaded him, some counselling a retreat upon Bengal, others an advance into the Dakhin. One rumour which reached Dihli was that

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received in Shawwal (31st Octr.—28th Novr. 1712). Other accounts say 'about the end of the rainy season', i.e. 1st—15th October.

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Farrukh-siyar intended to leave Bengal and take refuge in flight by way of the sea. In the end his mother intervened and incited him to try the issue of a contest in the field.* Thereupon, with such state as he could command, he performed the ceremonies of enthronement in the bagh or garden known as Afzal Khan's, and proclaimed his succession to the Empire, issuing coin and causing the *khutba* to be read in his own name.†

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† Ijad, 14a; 39b, 40a; Stewart, History of Bengal, 382; Gladwin, Transactions, 94; Khafi Khan, ii. 707, 708; Kamwar Khan, entry of 27th Rabi I. 1123 H.; Warid, 139b; Yahya Khan, 119a. I have heard of a curious Hindi poem, on Farrukh-siyar's advance from Patna and victory over Jahandar Shah, by Sri Dhar (alias Murli Dhar), kabi, of Allahabad.

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No rasher enterprize was ever entered upon. Farrukh-siyar had been no favourite with his father and grandfather, and had been without authority or wealth during their life-time. It was only with reluctance that he had decided to obey his father's order to come to Court. He arrived at Patna with no more than four hundred followers, and there pitched his camp near the garden of Jafar Khan at the eastern extremity of the city. At first, when he came forward to claim the throne, none of the many nobles on whom Azim-ush-shan had heaped so many favours would espouse his cause. Most of them declared themselves on the side of Jahandar Shah. Murshid Quli Khan, diwan of Bengal, refused to move; nor was this so much to be wondered at, for great jealousy had existed between him and Azim-ush-shan from the first appointment of the latter to Bengal. At attempt was made by Farrukh-siyar to supersede Murshid Quli Khan by the despatch from Patna of a new subahdar, Rashid Khan, whose fate will be recounted when we come to the history of the provinces in Farrukh-siyar's reign.‡

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‡ Khafi Khan, ii. 707, 708; Ijad, 47b, 51a; Stewart, 384; Gladwin, Transactions, 33. 97,98.

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We have already mentioned the defection of Sarbuland Khan. He had risen to position through his connection by marriage with Azim-ush-shan. On his falling under Bahadur Shah's displeasure, Azim-ush-shan gave him refuge and made over to him Sahenda (in Bundelkhand) and other parganas of the Prince's jagir, as a means of support. The understanding between them was that if any great crisis arose, he should march at the head of three or four thousand men with a large amount of treasure that had been confided to his care. Sarbuland Khan acted in direct opposition to all his promises.* Another noble who was under equal obligations to the late Azim-ush-shan was Khan Jahan Bahadur (otherwise Izz-ud-daulah Khan Alam), son of Khan Jahan Kokaltash Alamgiri.† He was a man of the most insufferable pride, who made enemies wherever he went. In the early part of Bahadur Shah's reign he lived at Dihli without employment. When that Emperor was passing near Dihli on his return from the Dakhin, Khan Jahan was sent for to Court. Neither the Emperor nor the Princes were well disposed towards him. Wherever he turned, no smile greeted him, no brow smoothed its wrinkles. The Emperor refused even to read his petitions, owing to the disrespectful language in which they were couched. At length, Azim-ush-shan had pity on him, and after some exertion, the subah of Orissa was granted to him, with the office of deputy under the Prince in Bengal. This man was received in audience by Farrukh-siyar at the town of Surajgarh, in sarkar Farrukhabad (or Munger) of subah Bihar.‡ All honour was done to him. The Prince's chief man, Ahmad Beg (afterwards Ghazi-ud-din Khan Ghalib Jang), was sent to escort him, a rich khilat was conferred on him, his sons, and his chief companions. At the time of his leaving, Khan Jahan made loud promises that he would help. But he took no steps in that direction. Then one Muhammad Raza, who had been deputy-governor in Orissa, before the appointment of Khan Jahan, went off to Akbarnagar (Rajmahal) to visit that noble on the pretence of further negotiation. In the end, on one pretext or another, neither one nor the other appeared again.* Ali Asghar Khan,† son of Kar Talab Khan Ansari, who had been made faujdar of Etawa (subah Agra), and Chabela Ram Nagar, then faujdar of Karra Manikpur, subah Allahabad,‡ showed no eagerness to take up the Prince's cause. There remained only the two brothers, Hasan Ali Khan (Abdullah Khan) and Husain Ali Khan, Sayyids of Barha, who owed to Azim-ush-shan the Governments of Allahabad and Bihar, which they then held. [Ijad, 59b—60a; K. K. 715.]

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∗ If he launched his boat on stormy waters it would, if God were gracious, reach the bank in safety. After all, what was life but a matter of a few days? Why not run the risk? (Her speech.)

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∗ His biography is in M. U. iii.

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⁸⁰¹ He was born c. 1085 H. (1674), and died 1154 H. (19th Jan., 1742), T-i-Mhdi. In the Hadiqat-ul-aqalim, 131, we are told that Shaikh Allahyar, the author's father, tried to persuade Sarbuland Khan that gratitude required him to join Farrukh-siyar. The author mentions a village, Bani, or Topi, in Kora, as the jagir of Azim-ush-shan, which was then in S. B. K's charge. He had been sent as naib to Bengal in the 2nd year of B. Shah. There he quarrelled with Zia-ullah Khan (son of Inayatullah Khan Kashmiri), the diwan, and was recalled. Then in the 3rd year of B. S. he was sent to the charge of Kora, where Azim-ush-shan had his jagir (B. M. Or. No. 1690).