Later Mughals v2.c14.s16: Sec. 41.—Nizam-Ul-Mulk's Letter to Muhammad Shah.
Later Mughals v2.c14.s16
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Sec. 41.—Nizam-Ul-Mulk's Letter to Muhammad Shah.
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There is extant a long report from Nizam-ul-mulk addressed to the Emperor, which is probably authentic and if so represents his defence of his conduct. After referring to the disorders in Farrukh-siyar's reign, he boasts of the loyalty of the Mughal troops since Taimur's time, quoting as an instance his father's and his own service in the Dakhin in Alamgir's reign. Then he touches on his ejectment of Haidar Quli Khan from Gujarat and the chastisement inflicted on Dost Muhammad Khan in Malwa. To show that he was not covetous of power, he asserts that Muhammad Amin Khan would never have consented to become Wazir if he (Nizam-ul-mulk) had wished for it; and to meet the suspicion that he had designs upon the Dakhin, he brings forward the fact of his repeated visits to Dihli. Next, he enlarges on the purposes he kept in view while holding the office of chief minister. Being frustrated by contemptible wretches practising every deceitful art, he was forced to withdraw. Then these evil counsellors caused royal mandates to be sent to Mubariz Khan. These writings having fallen into his hands he transmits the originals and asks to be informed how he had deserved such treatment. This is followed by instances from the history of Bijapur and Haidarabad to prove that a ruler's strength resides in well-chosen advisers. From the same cause Persia had come into the possession of the Afghans. After this we have a descant on the duties of a sovereign, with very pointed application to Muhammad Shah's frivolous and debauched habits. The letter ends with a brief report of the fate of Mubariz Khan, described as a dotard although only sixty and not more than ten years older than the Nawab himself. His force is stated at 25,000 horse and an uncounted number of Karnatik foot-soldiers. In spite of exhortations to refrain, he had insisted on putting the dispute to the arbitrament of battle, where by he himself had perished along with thirty-three of his chief men, ranking from 1,000 to 7,000 in *mansab*, and a great number of common soldiers. [*Asiatick Miscellany* (1785), i. 482-493, text and trans.]
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From this period may be dated Nizam-ul-mulk's virtual independence and the foundation of the present Haidarabad State. Henceforth he bestowed offices in the Dakhin; he made promotions in rank, conferred titles and issued assignments on the land revenue at his own will and pleasure. The only attributes of sovereignty from which he refrained were the use of the scarlet or imperial umbrella, the recitation of the Friday prayer in his own name, and the issue of coin stamped with his own superscription. Many astrologers had prophesied that if he chose he could sit on a throne. But he repudiated the suggestion saying, "May throne and umbrella bring good fortune to him who holds them! My business is to preserve my honour, and if this be mine what need have I of an imperial throne?" [Yahya 131*b*, *Ahwal*. 136*b*.]
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CHAPTER VIII
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MAHRATTAS IN GUJARAT UP TO 1730