Later Mughals v1.c9.s6.5

v1.c9.s6.5

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.‡