Fall of the Mughal Empire v1.c6.s5: § 11. Safdar Jang
Fall of the Mughal Empire v1.c6.s5
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§ 11. Safdar Jang
v1.c6.s5.1
Mirzā Muqim, entitled Abul Mansur Khān and Safdar Jang, was the nephew and son-in-law of the late S'ādat Khān Burhān-ul-mulk and succeeded to his *subahdāri* of Oudh immediately after his death (1739). He was now at the maturity of his powers, being about thirty-five years of age, and maintained the best equipped and most martial contingent of troops in the Empire next to the Nizām’s. The most valuable core of his army consisted of six to seven thousand Qizilbāshes (*i.e.*, Turks settled in Persia) who had once belonged to Nādir Shah’s army, but elected to stay on in India. Safdar Jang was extremely lavish of money on his army and would pay any price, without the least thought, in order to secure famous captains or good soldiers. Irānian Turks (popularly called 'Mughals' in India) were the best fighting material then available in Asia; these were his special favourites and he paid them Rs. 50 a month per trooper against Rs. 35 only which India-born horsemen drew. When he reviewed his forces, if his eyes were struck by a soldier's look of smartness or efficiency, he would on the spot raise his pay, by Rs. 10 for a trooper and Rs. 2 for a foot-soldier. In addition to giving high pay, he took care to supply his men with complete equipment and good arms and to keep them in comfort.
v1.c6.s5.2
The fame of his liberality and personal care for his troops spread abroad and large numbers of recruits flocked to his standard for enlistment. According to one writer, "his Mughal troops numbered 20,000, but among these were many Hindustanis, who dressed themselves as 'Mughals,' spoke the Persian tongue, and drew the [higher] pay. This was especially the case with men from the district of Jadibal in Kashmir, who were all Shias," like Safdar Jang himself. In short, he came to be looked upon as the sword arm of the Shia party in India. His character will be described in the course of the history of the next reign when he dominated the stage for five years. [Imād-us-Sādat, 31, Ashub, ii. 419-420.]
v1.c6.s5.3
Such being the real state of things at Court in the last nine years of Muhammad Shāh's reign, we can more easily understand the shape that events took during that period.