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Later Mughals v2.c14.s15: Sec. 40.—Nizam-Ul-Mulk's Movements After His Victory.

Later Mughals v2.c14.s15

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Sec. 40.—Nizam-Ul-Mulk's Movements After His Victory.

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After a halt of three or four days to rest his men, Nizam-ul-mulk marched for Aurangabad. Soon news came to him that Khwaja Ahmad Khan, the eldest son of Mubariz Khan, who had been left behind in charge of Haidarabad, had taken refuge in the fort of Muhammad-nagar close to the capital, by connivance of the garrison and its commander, Sandal Khan, a eunuch of the family. The whole of the late governor's property was transferred to this fortress, and its defences put in order and strengthened. [K. K. 960-961, M. U. iii. 744.]

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∗ The printed text of Khafi Khan seems to be incorrect on p. 960; either some words have been left out at the end of line 4, or the last word in line 5 is not in the negative. As the text stands, it gives the following casualties on Mubariz Kh.'s side (pp. 958-960) : Killed—Mubariz, his sons Asad and Masaud, Ghalib, Husain Munavvar, Kamal (descended from Khan Zaman Dakhini), Bahadur Kh. Panni and Ibrahim Kh. Panni (though the two are declared to be one and the same person on p. 956), Abdul Fatah, Md. Amin, Md. Beg and Arab Beg (both died of wounds). Wounded—Mubariz's sons Mahmud and Hamid-ullah, Dilawar, Khan Zaman (s. of ex-Wazir Munim Kh.), Ahsan (not Husaini), Mir Yusuf, Faiq, Mir Fakhr-ullah. Robbed but unwounded—Hakim Izzat Talab, Qizzilbash, Mir Abul Fazl, Raza Md. and Aqa Abul Hasan. [J. S.]

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On reaching Aurangabad the necessary arrangemens were made for its protection, and all needless baggage was stored in the fortress ; then Nizam-ul-mulk set out again and made his way to the vicinity of Haidarabad, a march of 270 miles. Towards the end of Rabi II. 1137 H. (14th January 1725) his tents were pitched in the grove known as Gosha Mahal. Officials were appointed and the administration of the province taken over. Meanwhile Khwaja Ahmad Khan, who feared severe measures against himself and the connections of Mubariz Khan, was actively preparing to stand a siege. He also gave out that he expected every day a rescript from the Emperor appointing him in his father's place to the governorship of the subah and the command of the fortress. This rumour prevented the restoration of order to a considerable extent. In fact he wrote in all directions warning the garrisons of forts and the officials and landholders against giving possession to Nizam-ul-mulk's nominees until the period of one year had elapsed. He also sent troops to some places to aid them in their resistance, and released from the fort a number of notorious stirrers-up of strife who had been seized and imprisoned by Mubariz Khan, and these scattering to their homes helped to intensify the existing disorder. Nizam-ul-mulk's men lost hold of the province and the collection of revenue ceased. The roads became unsafe and were closed to travellers ; and in places the revenue officials were actually attacked. In one of these outbreaks Kazim Ali Khan (son of Haji Mansur), who was faujdar of the country round Bhongir, was attacked and slain along with a number of his men. But in the end Nizam-ul-mulk by gentle treatment and gifts of enhanced rank, new jagirs and the revival of titles held previously in the family, induced Khwaja Ahmad Khan to hand over the keys of the fortress.*

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∗ Leaving Ahmad Khan untouched for a time Nizam-ul-mulk occupied the city of Haidarabad and the country round it, then went on to Machhli-

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Khwaja Ahmad Khan was made Shahamat Khan and Khwaja Mahmud Khan became Mubariz Khan. The dependent members of the family were also treated with due consideration. Finally, Nizam-ul-mulk proceeded to the fort and established in it his own garrison and commandant. [K. K. 961, Ahwal 197, Kamwar, M. U. iii. 744.]

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While Nizam-ul-mulk was thus busily occupied in restoring order within the province of Haidarabad, Anwar-ud-din Khan arrived from Dihli. He had just been dismissed from his appointment of faujdar of Kora and Jahanabad in the Allahabad province. Nizam-ul-mulk, glad to secure the services of such a capable officer, appointed him to be deputy governor of Haidarabad. His efforts to subdue opposition were very successful at Sikakol and elsewhere, and he brought up the revenue collections to the proper standard. [K. K. 962, M. U. ii. 527.]

Nizam-Ul-Mulk Pardoned.

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After a few months, when it was seen that Nizam-ul-mulk instead of being destroyed had become more powerful than ever, it was apparently resolved to cover the failure of their plans by restoring him nominally to the imperial favour. Accordingly on the 20th June 1725, on the petition of all the nobles present, the offences of Nizam-ul-mulk were pardoned, his jagirs as held before he became Wazir were restored to him, and a formal rescript was issued confirming him in the government of the Dakhin provinces. But the two provinces of Ahmadabad-Gujarat and Malwa were taken from him and given to others. To the former was appointed Sarbuland Khan, who appointed as his deputy Shujaat Khan, son of Kazim Beg Tahrani. Hamid Khan, uncle of Nizam-ul-mulk was recalled to Court, and was to be expelled if he refused to obey. Rajah Girdhar Bahadur Nagar, then absent from Court, was

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bandar [Kamwar] and the Karnatik, leaving Hirz-ullah Khan in charge of Haidarabad subah. [Ahwal 197b.] The terms granted to Khwaja Ahmad Khan were a jagir in the Haidarabad subah, no demand for any service and a free gift of all his father's moveable property. [M. U. iii. 745.]

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re-appointed to the charge of Malwa, vice Azim-ullah Khan, Nizam-ul-mulk's cousin and nominee. [Kamwar; K. K. 962, 973.]