Later Mughals v1.c9.s6: Sec. 6.—New Officials and New Appointments.
Later Mughals v1.c9.s6
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Sec. 6.—New Officials and New Appointments.
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On the way from Agra to Dihli, and after arrival at Dihli, many new appointments were made and new titles conferred. Sayyid Abdullah Khan (now made Nawab Qutb-ul-mulk, Yamin-ud-daulah, Sayyid Abdullah Khan, Bahadur, Zafar Jang, Sipah-salar, Yar-i-wafadar) became chief minister. The diwan-i-khalsa, or Exchequer Office, was given to Muhammad Baqir Mutamid Khan, who had been for a time Prince Muhammad Azam Shah's Lord Steward, and then diwan, or comptroller of the household, to Prince Jahan Shah; the diwan-i-tan went to Lutfullah Khan Bahadur Sadiq, who in Bahadur Shah's reign was agent at Court of Prince Jahan Shah, and in Jahandar Shah's was comptroller (diwan) to that sovereign's eldest son, Azz-ud-din. Sayyid Husain Ali Khan was appointed first Bakhshi with the titles of Umdat-ul-mulk, Amir-ul-umara, Bahadur, Firuz Jang, Sipah-sardar. As the reward for the Turani betrayal of Jahandar Shah, the place of second Bakhshi was conferred on Muhammad Amin Khan Chin Bahadur, who now became Itimad-ud-daulah Nusrat Jang. The third Bakhshi was Afrasyab Khan Bahadur, a Wala-shahi, or personal follower of Farrukh-siyar, with whom he had been in Bengal and had there taught him wrestling.* The pay-mastership of the Ahadis† was given to Qamar-ud-din Khan Bahadur, son of the above-named Muhammad Amin Khan. Islam Khan (grandson of the late Islam Khan), formerly Mir Atash to Bahadur Shah, who had retired from Court, was restored to his rank of 5,000 (3,000 horse), and appointed to be first Mir Tuzak, or quarter-master-general.‡ For the period of one month from the victory at Agra Sadullah Khan§ (son of Inayatullah Khan Kashmiri) was continued in the office of Khan-saman, or Lord High Steward; but at the camp in Khizrabad, this office was transferred to Taqarrub Khan (Muhammad Jafar Shirazi), who already held the place of private secretary.**
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† Ahadi (one, single) means a gentleman trooper serving under no chief or noble, but directly under the Emperor.
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‡ This Islam Khan (d. 1144 H., 1731-2), was one Mir Ahmad, first Barkhurdar Khan, then Islam Khan, son of Safi Khan (d. 1105 H., 1693-4), the second son of Abdus-salam, first Ikhtisas Khan, then Islam Khan, Mashhadi, (d. 1057 H., 1647-8), M. U., i. 162, ii. 740.
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§ His former titles were Hidayatullah Khan, and then for a time, after the death of Munim Khan, Bahadur Shah's Wazir, he was Wazarat Khan. We shall speak of this man again presently.
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Some smaller Court offices were conferred on Farrukh-siyar's personal favourites. Although these offices were of the second rank, their holders exercised, as we shall soon see, as much if not more power than the nobles who were nominally their superiors. For instance, against the opinion of Mir Jumla, who was officially no more than head of the pages and messengers, the chief minister himself found it impossible to act. The office of Confiscations and Escheats (buyutati) was given to Saifullah Khan Bahadur, a Wala-shahi; Khwaja Asim, now created Samsam-ud-daulah, Khan Dauran, Bahadur, Mansur Jang, was superintendent of the audience-hall and Bakhshi of the personal troops, or Wala-shahi; Ibadullah (Shariyat-ullah Khan) created Mutamid-ul-mulk, Mir Jumla, Muazzam Khan, Khan Khanan, Bahadur, Muzaffar Jang, held the office of superintendent of the khawas, or attendants and of the ghusal-khana, or privy council room. Ghulam Ali Khan, a Wala-shahi, received the title of Zulfiqar Khan, Bahadur, and the command of the artillery; being soon supplanted, however, (12th Shaban 1125 H., 2nd September, 1713), by Ghazi-ud-din Khan (Ahmad Beg). This latter had already obtained charge of the retinue (jalau), vice Islam Khan, who had held it in addition to his principal office of Mir Tuzak. The command of the chauki-khas, or bodyguard, was made over to Faizullah Khan, a Wala-shahi. Amin-ud-din Khan Sambhali became head of the arz mukarrar, or office for the examination and confirmation of appointments. The department of Branding and Mustering (dagh-o-tashiha) was given to Sayyid Shujaat-ullah Khan Barha, sister's son of Qutb-ul-mulk, the Wazir. At first Fida Khan* was retained, as in Bahadur Shah's and Jahandar Shah's time, as qur-begi, or head of the armoury; but the place was shortly afterwards transferred to Amir Khan (Muhammad Ishaq)† son of the late Amir Khan; then in a few months he gave way in favour of Khwaja Muzaffar Panipati, created Zafar Khan Bahadur, who was known by the nickname of Turra-i-baz.‡
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∗ Afrasyab Khan Bahadur, Rustam Jang, was Suhrab, known as Mirza Ajmeri son of Garshasp. He died at Dihli on the night of the 25th Ramzan, 1130 H., 21st August, 1718, Tarikh-i-Mhdi. His elder brother was the Rashid Khan sent in 1124 H., 1712, to oust Jafar Khan, nazim of Bengal, Gladwin, Transactions, 96. Mirza Ajmeri was of such strength that once he lifted a small gun and its carriage out of the mud on the road from Akbarnagar to Rajmahal, Akhbar-i-Muhabbat, 277.
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∗∗ Mirza Muhammad 169; Kamwar Khan 121, 143; Khafi Khan, ii. 728; Warid 149b; Kamraj, Ibratnama, 53b. Khafi Khan says the third Bakhshi was Ghazi-ud-din Khan (Ahmad Beg). Yahya Khan, 122a, on the contrary, says that this man was made Mir Atash. This latter statement is confirmed by Mhd. Qasim Lahori, 170, the date being 12th Shaban, 1125 H., (2nd September, 1713), vice Zulfiqar Khan (Ghulam Ali Khan)
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∗ Formerly Tahavvur Khan, then Fida Khan, son of Salabat Khan, Khwaja Mir, Khwafi, (d. early in 1104 H., 1693-4), M. U. ii. 742, 745. † Afterwards Umdat-ul-mulk, A. K., assassinated 1159 H., 1746-7. ‡ Turra, waving ringlets, or the hanging end of a turban; Turra-i-baz, 'a falcon's crest.' Zafar Khan and all his men wore their turbans in the same way, with an end sticking out, and from this peculiarity the nickname arose. Khush-hal Chand, 403b, explains that the turra were of gold and silk brocade (badalah), and were used extensively as ornaments to Zafar Khan's equipage. In lot No. 698 in B. Quaritch's catalogue, No. 161.
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The *sadarat-i-kul*, or superintendence of charitable and religious grants, was given to Sayyid Afzal, who had taught Farrukh-siyar to read the Quran, with the title of Sayyid Afzal Khan Bahadur, Sadar Jahan.*
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The provincial Governments were next provided for. Kabul was left in the hands of Nasir Khan, Bahadur, Nasir Jang. Kashmir was taken from Inayatullah Khan, whose *mansab* even was cancelled, and he was replaced by Sadat Khan,† the new Emperor's father-in-law, to whom permission to govern by deputy was accorded. Zabardast Khan entitled Ali Mardan Khan (III), son of Ibrahim Khan, Ali Mardan Khan (II), son of Amir-ul-umara, Ali Mardan Khan (I)‡ died at Lahor before he could be removed; he was replaced by Abdus-samad Khan Bahadur, (subsequently made Diler Jang, after his victories over the Sikhs). Multan was conferred on Qutb-ul-mulk, the Wazir, but Sher Afkan Khan Bahadur, (brother of Lutfullah Khan Sadiq), who had been in charge on behalf of Kokaltash Khan (Ali Murad) remained on as the deputy of the new governor. For the preceding fifteen or sixteen years Dihli had been held by Muhammad Yar Khan, and he was left undisturbed. Ajmer was made over to Sayyid Muzaffar Khan Barha (recently created Sayyid Khan Jahan Bahadur), maternal uncle of Qutb-ul-mulk. Shahamat Khan (son-in-law of Inayatullah Khan
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† Mir Muhammad Takki, Husaini, Mazandarani, Isfahani, son of Sadat Khan, wounded on the day of Farrukh-siyar's deposition, in Rabi 1131 H., February 1719, and died a few days afterwards aged over eighty years—*Tarikh-i-Muhammadi*.
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‡ Md. Khalil, entitled first Zabardast Khan, then Ali Mardan Khan Zik, died a little before the 9th Jamadi I. 1125 H., 2nd June, 1713, *Tarikh-i-Muhammadi* and Kamwar Khan. For this family, see *M. U.* i. 295-300, ii. 795, and iii. 155.
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of July 1896, there was a portrait of Roshan-ud-daulah (i.e., Zafar Khan) which I inspected. It showed a rather stout and not very tall man, with a broad and slightly heavy face, white beard and moustache, the latter slightly black still at the corners of the mouth. To the band or ribbon round the centre of the turban was attached an ornament (*sarpech*) and from it hung a long feather, falling backwards and ending in two small points. Perhaps this feather represents the *Turra-i-baz*?
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∗ Mirza Muhammad, 169.
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Kashmiri) who had been governor of Gujarat in Bahadur Shah's reign, received the new title of Mubariz Khan and was confirmed in his old appointment. Rajah Chabela Ram, a personal adherent of Farrukh-siyar's family and a brave soldier, whose welfare was dear to the heart of the Emperor, was sent at first to Agra, his birthplace, but on the pretext that he was unable to cope with Churaman Jat, he was soon replaced by Samsam-ud-daulah Khan Dauran, also a native of Agra. Oudh was given to Sarbuland Khan, the Emperor's uncle by marriage, and Allahabad to Khan Jahan (son of the late Khan Jahan Bahadur Kokaltash Alamgiri). The latter had been recently removed from the Government of Bengal. His titles were now increased to Azz-ud-daulah Khan Bahadur. Shahamat Khan (Mubariz Khan) had lately held Malwa in addition to Gujarat. Malwa was now taken from him and given over to Rajah Jai Singh of Amber. To conciliate the Rajah, he was told that he need not come to Court, but might march straight from his own country to his new Government. Azimabad Patna (Bihar) was confirmed, as before to Husain Ali Khan, Amir-ul-umara; his sister's son, Ghairat Khan, who had been left behind in charge, continuing to act as his deputy. Bengal was conferred on the infant Prince, the Emperor's son, Farkhunda Bakht, entitled Jahangir Shah, with the former diwan, Murshid Quli Khan, as his deputy. The latter's titles were increased to Jafar Khan Nasiri. In a few months' time, when the infant died of small-pox, the subah was granted to Mir Jumla, with the same deputy. To Orissa, Murshid Quli Khan (Jafar Khan) was appointed subahdar in his own name. [M.M. 174.]
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For the six provinces making up the Dakhin special arrangements were made. The supreme control of the whole country was confided to Chin Qilich Khan (son of the late Ghazi-ud-din Khan Firuz Jang), who on this occasion was created Nizam-ul-mulk, Bahadur Fath Jang. He was empowered to select the lands to be held in jagir for furnishing the pay of himself and his followers, and to suggest the rank (mansab) to be granted to the chief landholders. His head-quarters were fixed at Aurangabad. In Burhanpur his deputy was to be Sukr-ullah Khan, to make room for whom Daud Khan Panni was removed as deputy-governor to Ahmadabad in Gujarat; in the two Karnatak, Sadat-ullah Khan; in Berar, Iwaz Khan, who was married to the late Ghazi-ud-din Khan’s sister, and was, therefore, Nizam-ul-mulk’s uncle by marriage. Bidar, Bijapur, and Haidarabad were to remain as before under Amin Khan (son of Khan Zaman Bahadur Fath Jang, deceased), Mansur Khan and Yusuf Khan respectively. Haidar Quli Khan Isfaraini, a protégé of Mir Jumla, was sent as diwan of the whole Dakhin, with authority over every department, except those of the nazim, of the report writers, and of the deciding of suits.∗
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∗ Mirza Muhammad 177, Khafi Khan 740. Biographies of some of the above men will be found as follows. Daud Khan Panni, d. 1127 H., 1715-16, (Masir-ul-umara, ii. 63). Sadat-ullah Khan, a Nawayat (see Wilks, i. 242), died 1145 H., 1732-33, (M. U. ii. 513). Iwaz Khan, d. 1143 H., 1730-31, (M. U. ii. 832). Amin Khan, d. 1137 H. 1724-25, (M. U. i. 352), fourth son of Shaikh Nizam Khan Zaman, d. 1108 H., 1696-97, (ibid i. 794), captor of Shambhaji Mahratta. Mansur Khan was a Roz Bahani.
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The Sayyid brothers are generally accused of grasping all power and office for themselves and friends to the exclusion of everybody else. It is curious to note, after going through the chief appointments, that this accusation should have so little foundation. Besides the two offices which were the price of their services, they received the government of two subahs for themselves and one for an uncle. They seem to have obtained very little else, while the Emperor’s friends and the Turani chiefs obtained the lion’s share. A crowd of new men were thus brought on the stage, and it is necessary for the sake of clearness that we should say something about the most prominent of them, their origin and antecedents.