Fall of the Mughal Empire v1.c16.s8.4

v1.c16.s8.4

Such a policy of action required for its success courage and initiative on the part of the leaders. But the Emperor was constantly absorbed in drink or pleasure, his wazir was incompetent, and both were extremely timid and fond of ease. The Queen-mother, too, with feminine obstinacy and pique now opposed the idea of coming to friendly terms with the ex-rebel Safdar Jang [Siyar, iii. 49.] The result was that Intizām’s fine paper-scheme of a confederacy and restoration of imperial authority broke down when put in operation, and this one event of the march to Sikandrabad caused the instant and irretrievable ruin of Ahmad Shah and his wazir. Delhi historians have charged Intizām with treachery to his master for this failure; but there is no valid ground for this view. The character of these two chiefs made such a catastrophe as inevitable as the working of destiny.