The Army of the Indian Moghuls: Its Organization and Administration c26.55

c26.55

Bangarh. Almost the last expedition commanded by a Moghul emperor in person involved a siege. Between Abūl Manṣūr Khān, Ṣafdar Jang, governor of Audh, and ʿAlī Muḥammad Khān, Rohelah, a man who had recently risen to power in what we now call Rohilkhand, there had long been ill-blood from one cause and another. Now, Amīr Khān, ʿUmdat-ul-mulk, a favourite of Muḥammad Shāh, had been banished from court and sent as governor to Allāhābād, the boundary of which runs with Audh. With this noble Ṣafdar Jang struck up an intimacy. After a time, Amīr Khān was recalled to Dihlī, where he resolved to oust his enemy, the wazīr Qamr-ud-dīn Khān. For this purpose he sought the aid of Ṣafdar Jang, and caused the emperor to summon him from his government. Ṣafdar Jang was received with marked favour and appointed Mīr Ātash, or commander of the imperial artillery. Having secured influence at court, he proceeded to use it for the destruction of ʿAlī Muḥammad Khān. The latter had, however, a friend in the wazīr, with whom he had prudently formed a matrimonial connection. Meanwhile Ṣafdar Jang’s influence with the emperor was on the increase, and was crowned on the 25th June 1744 by the honour of a visit to his tents from Muḥammad Shāh in person.