Fall of the Mughal Empire v1.c7.s1.3

v1.c7.s1.3

When a full century had worn out in this manner, the dominant Mughal empire began visibly to weaken and break up. After the accession of Muhammad Shāh, the sovereign was clearly seen to be an impotent shadow; in provinces like Bengal, the Deccan and Oudh the imperial governors began to assert their ambition and to found local dynasties, independent in all but the name. Their example in no time impressed the Afghāns who had never forgotten that the Timurids were mere interlopers and had robbed their own race of the empire of Hindustan. Why should they not follow the path of these viceroys or even try to recover their lost dominion over India? The invasion of Nādir Shāh robbed the Mughal Emperor of the last shred of prestige and proved him to be a hollow phantom of power. Divinity ceased to hedge in the sovereign of Delhi and force no longer feared to raise its head against him. The succession of a king of their own race to Nādir Shāh's glorious heritage in 1747 and his military fame as the ablest of Nādir's lieutenants roused the ambition of the Indian Afghāns to the highest pitch of ardour.