Later Mughals v2.c16.s2.3

v2.c16.s2.3

As we have already seen, these intriguers coalescing with Nizam-ul-mulk’s public rivals had been able to render his tenure of the post of chief minister so intolerable that he had abandoned the field to them and retired to the Dakhin. During the first half of the reign the most conspicuous and the most influential of these favourites was the woman Rahim-un-nissa, known familiarly as Koki Jiu (Madam Foster-sister), with her acolytes Hafiz Khidmatgar Khan, a palace eunuch, Roshan-ud-daulah Zafar Khan of Panipat, known usually by the nickname of Turra-i-baz (Falcon’s Crest), and the holy man Shah Abdul-ghaffur. During the same period the baneful influence of Khan Dauran Samsam-ud-daulah the Amir-ul-umara was equally paramount. The Wazir was an indolent man of intemperate habits ; while Muhammad Shah’s only share in the government was, as one writer says, “to sit on the throne and wear the crown.” [K. K. 940, Warid 44.]