History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v4.c66.s2: § 2. Succession of Abul Hasan and ministry of Madanna.
History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v4.c66.s2
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§ 2. Succession of Abul Hasan and ministry of Madanna.
v4.c66.s2.1
On 21st April, 1672, Abdullah died, and at once there arose a dispute for the succession. Sayyid Ahmad* claimed the throne as the husband of the late king's eldest daughter, Mā Sahib, and that lady armed her foreign slave-girls and stood within the palace sword in hand to defend her rights. But Sayyid Ahmad during his long wazir-ship had made many enemies at Court by his pride and harshness, —possibly also by his administrative vigour, while the easy pleasure-loving character of Abul Hasan promised a golden age to the dishonest courtiers and self-seeking officials if he could be seated on the throne. After some confusion and fighting, Sayyid Muzaffar, a leading general of high Persian origin, supported by Musa Khan mahaldar and several other officers of the harem, overpowered Sayyid Ahmad and forced him into prison. Abul Hasan was crowned king, Muzaffar becoming his prime minister. But the new wazir's greed of power and policy of turning his master into a cypher, exasperated the king. Abul Hasan bought over Madanna, the Brahman *factotum* of Muzaffar, and through him corrupted most of the captains of his personal followers, so that one day Muzaffar was quietly deprived of his wazir-ship, which was conferred on Madanna, with the title of Surya Prakash Rao.
v4.c66.s2.2
∗ Tavernier calls him 'a prince of Arabia', 'a relative of the Grand Shaikh of Mecca' (i. 161—162.) Azad Bilgrami alleges that he was the offspring of a runaway marriage between Sayyid Masum (a scholar and devotee of Persia) and a sister of Shah Abbas II, and that his full name was Sayyid Nizam-ud-din Ahmad of Najaf. Fryer says (i. 83—84) that Abul Hasan was chosen as heir by the king of Golkonda at the instigation of Sayyid Muzaffar. For the Golkonda succession, K. K. ii. 309—313 (full.) M.A. 143 calls Abul Hasan "brother's son to Abdullah," but the word brother is loosely used in India for any kind of cousin.
v4.c66.s2.3
This change of ministers took place about 1673 and Madanna's rule continued till his own assassination in 1686, on the eve of the fall of the kingdom. His brother Akkanna became commander-in-chief and his nephew, the gallant and learned Yengana surnamed Rustam Rao, was given a high command. Musa Khan, too, was sent into retirement and Muhammad Ibrahim, a creature of Madanna, was first created *sar-i-khel* (Master of the Horse) and then premier peer ("great Nawab") for a bribe of one *lakh* and ten thousand *hun* paid to Madanna.