DOCSLIB.ORG

India in the Eighteenth Century

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
India in the Eighteenth Century www.gradeup.co CHAPTER 2 : INDIA IN THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY DISINTEGRATION OF THE MUGHAL EMPIRE During the reign of Aurangzeb, the last of the Great Mughals, there were revolts against the empire. These were the revolts of the Marathas, the Sikhs, the Jats and many others. After the death of Aurangzeb, the Mughal empire began to disintegrate fairly fast. The country soon broke up into smaller territories many of which became more or less independent. THE LATER MUGHALS The death of Aurangzeb in 1707 led to the usual event—a war of succession among his sons. Head three surviving sons who fought each other for the throne. The one who was victorious took the title of Bahadur Shah and began to reign in 1707. His short reign of four years was full of trouble. Bahadur Shah had tried to extend his control over the Rajputs. But they rebelled. Bahadur Shah could not do very much as meanwhile the Sikhs had revolted. The Marathas at this time were not in a position to create a serious problem for the Mughals, because they were fighting among themselves. They continued to raid Mughal territory now and again. The Maratha Raja Shahu had accepted a mansab (rank) in the Mughal administration. ➢ Death of Bahdur Shah in 1712 again started war of succession among his sons. ➢ Jahandar -Shah came to the throne in 1712, with the help of Zulfiqar Khan, who was Aurangzeb's senior most general. ➢ Farrukhsiyar became the Emperor in 1713.The most powerful nobles in this period were Abdullah Khan and" Husain Air Khan, popularly known as Saiyad brothers. ➢ The Saiyids raised to the throne, successively two cousins of Farrukhsiyar and then another cousin, Mohammad Shah. ➢ Mohammad Shah reigned for 29 years till 1748 ➢ The successors of Mohammad Shah were – Ahmed Shah (1748- 1754) , Alamgir (1754 – 1759), and Shah Alam II ( 1759- 1809) Independent states • Bengal ▪ Murshid Quli Khan had been the Diwan of Bengal under Aurangzeb. ▪ Farrukhsiyar made him the governor of Bengal. He soon became almost an independent ruler and shifted his capital to a town in central Bengal which he renamed Murshidabad. ▪ Murshid Quli Khan and his successor nawabs administered Bengal, Bihar and Qrissa as independent rulers though they continued to send revenue to the Mughal emperor regularly. • Hyderabad ▪ Chin Qilich Khan had been given the title of Nizam-ul-MuIk and had been made the governor . www.gradeup.co ▪ Though he never declared his independence, he governed the Deccan as an independent ruler . His successors were called Nizams of Hyderabad. • Avadh ▪ Saadat Khan, a junior Mughal officer, had helped in the overthrow of the Saiyid brothers. He was governor of Awadh in 1722. He was succeeded by his son-in-law Safdar Jang who also became wazir of empire. ▪ The authority of the Awadh rulers extended up to Rohilkhand, a territory to the east of Delhi. A large number of Afghans from the mountain ranges (Ruh)of the north-west frontier, called the Rohillas, were settled there. The Rohilla chiefs were trying to carve out independent principalities of their own in the area. • Punjab North of Delhi, the territories of Lahore and Multan were ruled by the Mughal governor. However, as a result of Nadir Shah's and later, Ahmed Shah Abdali invasions, their power was destroyed, and the Sikhs began to emerge as the supreme political power in India. Other states • The Rajputs ▪ The Rajput chiefs from the time of Akbar had provided strong support to the Mughal empire. Many of them, however, had rise in revolt against Aurangzeb when he tried to interfere with their privilege of inheriting their ancestral land. And after death death of Aurangzeb , they started reorganizing them. ▪ It time that the Rajputs were regaining their position and influence in the empire and emerging as its major support against the Jats and the Marathas. www.gradeup.co ▪ With the rise in the power of the Jats, the Marathas and the provincial rulers, they lost their Jagirs outside their own states and their began to shrink influence though the political ▪ Though the influence of the Rajputs declined, influence of a group of Rajasthani in the economy of the country increased. These were the These were the merchants who had earlier concentrated on the cross-country trade between the important centres in Gujarat , Agra at that time. • The Sikhs ▪ The Sikhs, had not been able to found a reign of Aurangzeb even though they had been organised into a group by the tenth and the last Guru— Guru Govind Singh. ▪ After the death of the Guru, the Sikhs found a capable leader in Banda Bahadur. Under his leadership offered valiant resistance to the Mughals and overran the entire territory between Lahore and Delhi. But he was defeated and put to death. ▪ Following invasion of Nadir Shah, the Mughal authority in Punjab declined and confusion prevailed as a result of the conflicts between the Afghans and the followers of Nadir Shah left in the region. ▪ Taking advantage of the situation, the Sikhs began to occupy province step by step. They formed themselves into twelve groups known as Misls. Even Ahmad Shah Abdali was unable to destroy the Misls and within two years of his departure, the governors appointed by him at Sirhind and Lahore were driven out. ▪ Nabha, Patiala and Kapurthala emerged as small independent states. Expansion and Decline of the Maratha Power ➢ The Marathas were small chieftains who owed allegiance to the Deccan kingdoms Many of them were employed as officers in these kingdoms as well as under the Mughals. When they saw the Deccan kingdoms being attacked by the Mughals, they began to break away. ➢ They gathered bands of soldiers around them and began defying the authority of the Deccan kingdoms. ➢ By using the tactics of guerilla warfare they succeeded in harassing the Mughal armies. Gradually they became so strong that they defied not only the local kingdoms but the Mughals too. ➢ The most powerful of the Maratha chiefs was Shivaji. His father had been a feudatory of Bijapur and had served in the Bijapur army. He declared himself the independent ruler of the Maratha kingdom and was crowned m 1674. ➢ After the death of Aurangzeb, Shivaji ‘s grandson Shahu was released from captivity; Tara Bai, the widow; Raja Ram, had installed her son arrival king at Kolhapur, while Shahu ruled at Satara RISE OF PESHWAS ▪ Balaji Vishwanath contributed greatly to the success of Shahu. He rose to the position of the Peshwa and inaugurated an era of Maratha expansion. He entered into a pact with one of the Sayyid brothers. ▪ Balaji Vishwanath was succeeded by his son Baji Rao in 1720. He started the policy fighting an offensive war against the Nizam and of extending Maratha power in the north to levy tribute. He conquered. MaJwa, Gujarat and Bundelkhad and conducted raids upto Delhi. www.gradeup.co However, he did not occupy Delhi as the Mughal emperor still carried considerable prestige. The Maratha raids were not conducted for conquest. They were primarily interested in laying their hands on a major part of the land revenue of these areas. ▪ Baji Rao's son Balaji Baji Rao continued the forward policy of his father. During his Peshwaship,the Marathas reached as far as Bihar and Orissa in the east" and the Punjab in the north. This was the period of the greatest the Maratha power. WEAKNESSES OF THE MARATHA SYSTEM ▪ The Marathas were never able to develop a political system which could help them to consolidate their conquests and establish a stable administration. ▪ the policy which helped them to extend their power also brought their ultimate ruin. Apart from fixed Sardeshmukhi and Chauth tax sent to central Maratha power at Satara , rest was retained by sardar who maintained his own army. The Third Battle of Panipat (1761) exposed their internal weaknesses and for them other quarters. THIRD BATTLE OF PANIPAT The Third Battle of Panipat took place on 14 January 1761 at Panipat, between the Maratha Empire and the invading Afghan army of (Ahmad Shah Durrani), supported by three Indian allies — the Rohilla(Najib-ud-daulah), Afghans of the Doab region, and Shuja-ud-Daula-(the Nawab of Awadh). The Maratha army was led by Sadashivrao Bhau who was third in authority after the Chhatrapati (Maratha King) and the Peshwa (Maratha Prime Minister). The main Maratha army was stationed in Deccan with the Peshwa. The consequences of the war with Ahmad Shah Abdali were disastrous for the Marathas. SOME FEATURES OF SOCIETY AND POLITICS ▪ During this period of political conflicts, trade and commerce continued to flourish. Some of the important centres of trade and commerce i in this period were Murshidabad and Dhaka in Bengal, Hyderabad and Masulipatam in the south, and Faizabad , Benaras, Lucknow and Gorakhpur , Awadh. ▪ Indian society also presented picture of disunity. A large number of people were treated badly by the upper castes and were considered 'untouchables'. ▪ The Muslim community also were divisions and some considered - themselves to be superior to the others. There were reasons for this disunity : ▪ Political rulers lived a luxurious life and cared less about social lives of their subjects and other scientific developments around the world. ▪ Rulers were fighting among themselves , becoming unaware towards real danger about foreign power and willing to become tools of the foreign trading produced companies. .
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Prof. M.Vijaykumar Asst Professor Government First Grade College – Harapanahalli
    www.ijcrt.org © 2017 IJCRT | Volume 5, Issue 1 March 2017 | ISSN: 2320-2882 The last battle of panipat an event that paved way to the servitude Prof. M.Vijaykumar Asst Professor Government First Grade College – Harapanahalli Abstract The third battle of Panipat, fought on 14 January 1761 between the Marathas led by Sadashiv raoBhau and a coalition of the Afghan ruler Ahmed Shah Abdali supported by Najibuddaulah, the Rohilla chiefs Hafiz Rehmat and Dunde Khan and the Nawab of Awadh Shujauddaulah, was arguably the largest battle fought anywhere in the world in the eighteenth century. The battle was fought on a large plain near the site now known as Kala Amb near Panipat city with the Yamuna river to the east and the old Shah nahr about six miles to the west at the village of Khukhrana. The city and fort of Panipat was behind the Maratha army and the Afghans stood on the road towards Delhi. In this manner the two armies blocked each other’s paths to their homeland from the end of October 1760 onwards till the decisive battle on 14 January 1761. About six lakh men including camp followers, and several lakh beasts: horses, bullocks and elephants were in this close area for two and a half months utilising all food and firewood in the entire neighbourhood, until the battle began. The battle between an Afghan king nearly a thousand miles away from his capital at Qandahar and a Maratha army at an equal distance from their base at Pune seems an extraordinary event. The antecedents of the battle were long and the differences appeared unbridgeable.
    [Show full text]
  • Third Battle of Panipat Was Fought in January 1761
    When the Mughal state was declining by internal strife and revolt, the Marathas were growing in the Western India. Before the collapse of Maratha military power in the battle of Panipat 1761, the Maratha state under its Prime Minister (Peshwa) had become the symbol of the rising Hindu nationalism. The first two Peshwas (Balaji Vishwanath and Baji Rao) built up a strong and unified warrior state. Baji Rao died in 1740 but the Marathas continued to dominate the Indian subcontinent. The Rise of Peshwa Balaji Bajirao before Battle of Panipat 1761: The office of Peshwa had become hereditary in the family of Vishwanath. When Peshwa Bajirao died in 1740, his eldest son Balaji Baji Rao succeeded him as Peshwa and supreme power had passed into the hands of the Prime Minister eclipsing the authority of Chattrapati. Baji Rao is remembered by the people of Maharashtra for his humane administration. The administration of justice was improved and the civil and military courts became the guardians of the people’s rights. Panchayat system was reformed and a strong police force was stationed at Poona. He gave attention to trade and built roads, inns and temples and stabilized the Maratha Empire. Grant and Duff have written that Peshwa Balaji Baji Rao was one of those princes whose good fortune originated in the cause anterior to their times, obtained its consequences in national prosperity and a higher degree of celebrity than they may fully merit. Strategic Mistakes by Peshwa Bajirao Balaji: Balaji Baji Rao became Peshwa after the death of Baji Rao in 1740.
    [Show full text]
  • M.A. (History) 2019-20
    SAURASHTRA UNIVERSITY RAJKOT FACULTY OF ARTS CHOICE BASED CREDIT SYSTEM OF STUDIES HISTORY M.A. NEW SYLLABUS [SEMESTER I & IV] (M.A. History – Regular & External CBCS) (To be Implemented from the Academic Year 2019-2020) 1/92 PROGRAMME OUTCOMES: PO-1 A critical understanding of the significance of historical developments. PO-2 The relevance of history to the different time frames of past, present and future. PO-3 A comprehensive understanding of the uniqueness of history as a discipline PO-4 An ability to reflect on the significance of the influence of other disciplines on history. PO-5 Undertake informed source-based criticism as well as appreciation of its various facets. PROGRAMME SPECIFIC OUTCOME: M.A. SEMESTER - I HISTORY OF INDIA (320 B.C. – 1206 A.D.) PSO-1 Defining situations/events, identifying and predicting possible causes, analyzing results and consequences, comparing and drawing results from the history of India (320 B.C. – 1206 A.D.). WOMEN IN INDIAN HISTORY PSO-2 Identifying the illuminous women in Indian history and enlisting their contributions towards Indian society despite facing challenges in a patriarchal form of social status. HISTORY OF TOURISM IN INDIA AND ITS APPLICATION PSO-3 Chronologically constructing the evolution of tourism in India from the different regions of India and enumerating its various applications in the shaping up as tourism industry. GANDHI’S THOUGHTS OF POLITICAL, SOCIAL & ECONOMICS PSO-4 Understanding the views and opinions put forth by Gandhiji in the context of political, social and economics sphere in the given backdrop of the then prevailing situation. M.A.
    [Show full text]
  • Phoolwalon Ki Sair.Indd 1 27/07/12 1:21 PM 1
    CORONATION To the south of the western gateway is the tomb of Qutb Sahib. was meant for the grave of Bahadur Shah Zafar, who was however PARK It is a simple structure enclosed by wooden railings. The marble exiled after the Mutiny and died in Burma. balustrade surrounding the tomb was added in 1882. The rear wall To the north-east of the palace enclosure lies an exquisite mosque, Phoolwalon was added by Fariduddin Ganj-e-Shakar as a place of prayer. The the Moti Masjid, built in white marble by Bahadur Shah I in the early western wall is decorated with coloured fl oral tiles added by the eighteenth century as a private mosque for the royal family and can be Delhi Metro Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. approached from the palace dalan as well as from the Dargah Complex. Route 6 ki Sair The screens and the corner gateways in the Dargah Complex were Civil Ho Ho Bus Route built by the Mughal emperor Farrukhsiyar. The mosque of Qutb Lines Heritage Route Sahib, built in mid-sixteenth century by Islam Shah Suri, was later QUTBUDDIN BAKHTIYAR KAKI DARGAH AND ZAFAR added on to by Farrukhsiyar. MAHAL COMPLEX The Dargah of Qutbuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki continues to be a sacred place for the pilgrims of different religions. Every week on Thursday 5 SHAHJAHANABAD Red Fort and Friday qawwali is also performed in the dargah. 5. ZAFAR MAHAL COMPLEX 6 Kotla 9 Connaught Firoz Shah Adjacent to the western gate of the Dargah of Place Jantar Qutbuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki, this complex Mantar 2 7 8 NEW DELHI has various structures built in 3 Route 5 1 Rashtrapati the eighteenth and nineteenth 4 Bhavan Purana century.
    [Show full text]
  • I Mughal Empire
    MPPSCADDA ATMANIRBHAR PT 100 DAYS - HISTORY MPPSC PRELIMS 2020 ATMANIRBHAR PROGRAM PRELIMS QUICK REVISION NOTES HISTORY DAY 40 - EARLY- MEDIEVAL PERIOD (8th-12th Century) THE RAJPUTS Some Important Rajputs Kingdoms IMPORTANT RAJPUTS DYNASTIES o The Pawar/Parmar of Malwa: 790-1036 AD o The Gahadval/Rathor of Kannauj : 1090-1194AD o The Chauhans/Chahaman of Delhi-Ajmer: 7th -12th Century AD o The Karkota, Utpala and Lohara of Kashmir : 800-1200 AD ) o The Chandellas of Jejakabhukti: 831-1202 AD o The Senas : 1095-1230 AD o The Guhilota/Sisodiya of Mewar: 8th - 20th Century AD o Tomars of Delhi : 736 AD Salient features of the Rajput Kingdoms. Causes of the Decline of Rajputas ARAB CONQUEST OF SIND (712-1206 AD) MEDIEVAL INDIA The Medieval period of Indian History: This period lies between 8th and 18th century AD and is classified as : The Early Medieval period (8th to 12th century AD) The Later Medieval period (13th to 18th century AD). EARLY- MEDIEVAL PERIOD (8th to 12th Century) The Ancient Indian history came to an end with the rule of Harsha and Pulakeshin-II. From the death of Harsha to the 12th century, the destiny of India was mostly in the hands of various Rajput dynasties. MPPSCADDA THE RAJPUTS Different theories about the origin of the Rajputs : (i) They are the descendants of Lord Rama (Surya Vansha) or Lord Krishna (Chandra Vansha) or the hero who sprang from the sacrificial fire (Agni Kula theory). (ii) They belong to the Kshatriya families. (iii) The most accepted theory is that Rajputs were of a foreign origin, who came as conquerors and settled in West India.
    [Show full text]
  • 1 Component-I (A) – Personal Details
    Component-I (A) – Personal details: 1 Component-I (B) – Description of module: Subject Name Indian Culture Paper Name Outlines of Indian History Module Name/Title Maratha Kingdom-Shivaji-Achievements Module Id I C/ OIH / 29 Pre-requisites Factors leading to establishment of Maratha Kingdom and Marathas in Indian history To understand the nature of Maratha Kingdom- Objectives role of the Maratha leaders and Saints-Shivaji’s achievements and administration Keywords Maratha Kingdom / Shivaji /Ashta Pradhans / Swarajya E-text (Quadrant-I) 1. Introduction During the first half of the seventeenth century, the Mughal empire was at the height of its glory. The Maratha nationalism grew up when the Mughals had nearly completed their conquest of Indian subcontinent. Gradually the Marathas developed a strong spirit of nationalism which made them most powerful group of people in India. The rise of the Marathas was the result of the efforts of entire Maratha people who on the basis of unity of their language, literature, community and home land gave birth to Maratha nationalism and desire to create an independent state of their own. The result was the formation of an independent state of Hindus in South India under the great courageous leader Shivaji. He emerged as the most formidable power in India. It was the strength of Nationalism which inspired Maratha leaders to establish Hind- pad- padshahi in India by capturing the power of Delhi emperors and bringing India under one rule. Aurangzeb had to spend the last twenty five years of his reign in the Deccan desperately fighting against Marathas. This glory of Marathas came to an end when they were defeated in the third battle of Panipat in 1761.
    [Show full text]
  • Institutionalizing Rajadharma: Strategies of Sovereignty in the Eighteenth Century Jaipur
    Institutionalizing Rajadharma: strategies of sovereignty in the eighteenth century Jaipur By Fatima Ahmad Imam A thesis submitted in conformity with the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Graduate Department of History, UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO © Copyright by Fatima A Imam 2008 Library and Bibliotheque et 1*1 Archives Canada Archives Canada Published Heritage Direction du Branch Patrimoine de I'edition 395 Wellington Street 395, rue Wellington Ottawa ON K1A0N4 Ottawa ON K1A0N4 Canada Canada Your file Votre reference ISBN: 978-0-494-44741-3 Our file Notre reference ISBN: 978-0-494-44741-3 NOTICE: AVIS: The author has granted a non­ L'auteur a accorde une licence non exclusive exclusive license allowing Library permettant a la Bibliotheque et Archives and Archives Canada to reproduce, Canada de reproduire, publier, archiver, publish, archive, preserve, conserve, sauvegarder, conserver, transmettre au public communicate to the public by par telecommunication ou par Plntemet, prefer, telecommunication or on the Internet, distribuer et vendre des theses partout dans loan, distribute and sell theses le monde, a des fins commerciales ou autres, worldwide, for commercial or non­ sur support microforme, papier, electronique commercial purposes, in microform, et/ou autres formats. paper, electronic and/or any other formats. The author retains copyright L'auteur conserve la propriete du droit d'auteur ownership and moral rights in et des droits moraux qui protege cette these. this thesis. Neither the thesis Ni la these ni des extraits substantiels de nor substantial extracts from it celle-ci ne doivent etre imprimes ou autrement may be printed or otherwise reproduits sans son autorisation.
    [Show full text]
  • Chapter Ii History
    CHAPTER II HISTORY ANCIENT PERIOD The archaeological discoveries prove that the region of Panipat was inhabited by human beings from very earlier times and had been the centre of vigorous cultural and political activity. We know from the hymns of the Rigveda (VII, 18,19; V.52,17) that the Bharatas of the Saraswati Valley held sway up to the Yamuna river and defeated Ajas, Sigrus and Yaksus1. The archaeological heritage of Panipat region can be divided into pre-historic, proto-historic and historical phases. The extent of archaeological sites of Panipat district, numbering 63, can be classified into Pre-Harappan, Harappan, Late Harappan, Painted Grey Ware (PGW), Grey Ware, Early Historical, Early Medieval and Medieval periods2. Alexander Cunningham and Rodgers were the first archaeologists who collected some relics specially coins from a few sites of Panipat. But it was in the year 1952 that B. B. Lal of Archaeological Survey of India discovered Painted Grey Ware and Northern Black Polished Ware from the mounds of Panipat and Sonepat. S. B. Chaudhary also discovered the Painted Grey Ware at Baholi, 13 kilometres to north-west of Panipat3. Subsequent archaeological explorations conducted by a number of archaeologists and recent explorations along the right bank of River Yamuna conducted under the supervision of C. Dorje have resulted to the discovery of Dull Red Ware in Garsh Sanrai in Panipat Tehsil and Red Ware, Red Polished Ware and Dull Red Ware in Jaurasi Khalsa in Samalkha Tehsil of Panipat district. These explorations have brought to light several ancient mounds containing the relics of bygone history4.
    [Show full text]
  • Battles of Panipat
    Battles of Panipat drishtiias.com/printpdf/battles-of-panipat First Battle of Panipat (1526) The Battle The First Battle of Panipat (21 April 1526) fought near a small village of Panipat( Haryana), this marked the beginning of Mughal Empire in India. The battle was fought between the invading forces of Zahir-ud-din Babur and the last empire of the Delhi Sultanate, Lodi Empire during the rule of Ibrahim Lodi. The Military Force Babur’s forces numbered around 15,000 men with 20 to 24 pieces of field artillery. The fighting force of Ibrahim Lodi was around 30,000 to 40,000 men in total, along with at least 1000 war elephants. Babur’s army used guns which proved to be decisive in the battlefield but the Sultan lacked any field artillery. Moreover, the sound of the cannons used by Babur’s army frightened Lodi’s elephants, causing them to trample Lodi’s own men. Babur’s Tactics 1/6 The weapons were not all, it was Babur’s tactics of Tulughma and Araba that led him to victory. Tulughma: it meant dividing the whole army into various units, viz. the Left, the Right and the Centre. The Left and Right divisions were further subdivided into Forward and Rear divisions. Through this a small army could be used to surround the enemy from all the sides. Araba: the centre forward division was then provided with carts (araba) which were placed in rows facing the enemy and tied to each other with animal hide ropes. Behind the Araba, cannons were placed which could be fired without any fear of being hit as they were shielded by the bullock carts which were held in place due to the hide ropes holding them together.
    [Show full text]
  • Grade-7 History Civic Chapter-9 the FALL of the MUGHAL EMPIRE • Short Question Answer
    Grade-7 History Civic Chapter-9 THE FALL OF THE MUGHAL EMPIRE • Short question answer. 1. Who followed Farrukhsiyar? Ans: Farrukhsiyar was followed by Muhammad Shah. 2. When did Ahmad shah Abdali invaded Indian? Ans: 1761. 3. Which ruler was controlled by sayyid brothers? Ans: Farrukhsiyar. 4. Who were known as king makers? Ans: Sayyid Brothers Abdullah khan Baraha and Husain Ali khan Baraha. 5. What do you mean by succession? Ans: The process by which one person comes after another as a king, queen or leader. 6. Who invaded India in 1739? Ans: Nadir Shah. • Long questions. 1. Who was the later Mughals emperor? List Dows the events of their reign. Ans: The Mughal Empire had begun to show signs of decay during the reign of Aurangzeb. Aurangzeb died in 1707. His three sons fought for the throne. In this struggle, Mauazzam emerged victorious. He ascended the throne and took the little of Bahadur shah. His reign marked the beginning of the rule of the later Mughals. 1)Bahadur Shah I (1707 – 1712): Ruled for five year. Tried to win over Rajputs by recognizing Ajit singh as ruler of Jodhpur. Tried to appease Maratha realizing Shahu. Also extended a hand of friendship to Sikhs. 2)Jahandur Shah(1712 – 1713): Succeeded Bahadur Shah I after his death, over thrown by nephew, Farrukhsiyar. 3)Farrukhsiyar(1713 – 1719): Ruler only in name. Controlled by sayyid brothers. Were known as king maker removed Farrukhsiyar from throne in 1719 and 2 more rulers. At end made Muhammad Shah the emperor. 4)Muhammad Shah (1720 – 1748): Did not try to strengthen the empire.
    [Show full text]
  • Later Mughal Emperors (1707-1857 A.D.)
    Page 1 of 6 Later Mughal Emperors (1707-1857 A.D.) The Mughal Empire was vast and extensive in the beginning of the eighteenth century. But by the close of the century it had shrunk to a few kilometres around Delhi. After the death of Aurangzeb in 1707, a war of succession began amongst his three surviving sons, Muazzam – the governor of Kabul, Azam-the governor of Gujarat, and Kam Baksh-the governor of Deccan. Azam turned to Ahmednagar and proclaimed himself emperor. Kam Baksh too declared himself the sovereign ruler and conquered important places as Gulbarga and Hyderabad. Muazzam defeated both Azam at Jajau in 1707 and Kam Baksh near Hyderabad in 1708. Muazzam emerged victorious and ascended the Mughal throne with the title of Bahadur Shah I. He was also known as Shah Alam I. Muazzam 'Bahadur Shah I' (1707-1712 A.D.) Jahandar Shah (1712 – 1713 A.D.) Bahadur Shah I was the third son of Aurangzeb He was ascended himself on the throne after with Muslim Rajput wife, Nawab Bai. killing his three brothers with the help of Zulfikar Bahadur Shah's full name was 'Abul-nasr Sayyid Khan who was the leader of Irani Party in Mughals Qutb-ud-din Muhammad Shah Alam Bahadur Shah Court. Badshah' He was puppet of Zulfikar Khan who acts as the He was popularly known as Shah Alam I and defacto ruler which led the foundation of the called Shahi-i- Bekhabar by Khafi Khan due to his concept of king makers. He was also under the appeasement parties by grants of title and influence of his mistress Lal Kunwar which rewards.
    [Show full text]
  • An Overview of Medieval India
    Dr. Rita Sharma Assistant Professor History An Overview of Medieval India Medieval period is an important period in the history of India because of the developments in the field of art and languages, culture and religion. Also the period has witnessed the impact of other religions on the Indian culture. Beginning of Medieval period is marked by the rise of the Rajput clan. This period is also referred to as Postclassical Era. Medieval period lasted from the 8th to the 18th century CE with early medieval period from the 8th to the 13th century and the late medieval period from the 13th to the 18th century. Early Medieval period witnessed wars among regional kingdoms from north and south India where as late medieval period saw the number of Muslim invasions by Mughals, Afghans and Turks. By the end of the fifteenth century European traders started doing trade and around mid- eighteenth century they became a political force in India marking the end of medieval period. But some scholars believe that start of Mughal Empire is the end of medieval period in India. Main Empires and Events in Medieval period Rajput Kingdoms – Rajput came for the first time in the 7th century AD. But historians gave different theories of their origin. After the mid-16th century, many Rajput rulers formed close relationships with the Mughal emperors and served them in different capacities. It was due to the support of the Rajputs that Akbar was able to lay the foundations of the Mughal Empire in India. Some Rajput nobles gave away their daughters in marriage to Mughal emperors and princes for political motives.
    [Show full text]