Safdar Jang

For the districts in Delhi, see Safdarjung (Delhi).
Safdar Jung
Mirza (Royal title)
Nawab of Oudh
Nawab Wazir al-Mamalik
Wazir ul-Hindustan (Prime Minister of India)
Subedar of Kashmir, Agra & Oudh
Khan Bhadur
Meer-e-Atash
Firdaus Aaramgah[nt 1]
Reign 19 March 1739– 5 October 1754
Predecessor Saadat Ali Khan I
Successor Shuja-ud-Daula
Full name
Abul Mansur Mirza Muhammad Muqim Ali Khan Safdar Jang
Born 1708
Nishapur, Khurasan, Persia
Died (1754-10-05)5 October 1754
Sultanpur, India
Buried Safdar Jang's Tomb, Safdar Jung road, New Delhi
Spouse(s) Amat Jahan Begum
Father Siyadat Khan [Mirza Ja’afar Khan Beg]
Religion Shia Islam
Military career
Allegiance Mughal Empire
Service/branch Nawab of Awadh
Rank Subadar
Battles/wars Mughal-Maratha Wars

Abul Mansur Mirza Muhammad Muqim Ali Khan better known as Safdar Jang (Urdu: صفدرجنگ‎, Hindi: सफ़्दरजंग),(b. c. 1708 – d. 5 October 1754), was the Subadar Nawab of Oudh (the ruler of the Indian state of Oudh, also known as Awadh) from 19 March 1739 to 5 October 1754.[1] He was a descendant of Qara Yusuf from the Kara Koyunlu.

Biography

In 1739 he succeeded his father-in-law and maternal uncle, the Burhan ul Mulk Saadat Ali Khan I to the throne of Oudh, apparently by paying Nadir Shah twenty million rupees. The Mughal Emperor Muhammad Shah gave him the title of "Safdar Jang".[2]

Safdar Jang was an able administrator. He was not only effective in keeping control of Oudh, but also managed to render valuable assistance to the weakened Muhammad Shah. He was soon given governorship of Kashmir as well, and became a central figure at the Delhi court. During the later years of Muhammad Shah, he gained complete control of administration in the Mughal Empire. When Ahmad Shah Bahadur ascended the throne at Delhi in 1748, Safdar Jung became his Wazir ul-Mumalik-i-Hindustan or Chief Minister of Hindustan. He was also made the governor of Ajmer and became the "Faujdar" of Narnaul. However, court politics eventually overtook him and he was dismissed in 1753.[2] He returned to Oudh in December 1753, and made Faizabad military headquarter. He died in October 1755 at the age of 46 years in Sultanpur near Faizabad.[2]

Tomb

Safdarjung's tomb in Delhi

Safdar Jang's Tomb was built in 1754 and is situated on a road now known as Safdar Jang Road, in New Delhi.[3]

Several other modern structures near the tomb also carry his name today like Safdar Jang Airport and Safdar Jang Hospital

See also

References

  1. ↑ Princely States of India
  2. 1 2 3 HISTORY OF AWADH (Oudh) a princely State of India by Hameed Akhtar Siddiqui
  3. ↑ "Safdar Jang Tomb Garden". Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 28 March 2007.

Notes

  1. ↑ title after death

Media related to Safdarjung at Wikimedia Commons

  • The complete genealogy of Safdarjung can be found here.
  • Indiacoins has an article on Safdarjung here.
  • Tomb of Safdarjung .
Preceded by
Borhan al-Molk Mir Mohammad Amin Musawi Sa`adat 'Ali Khan I		 Subadar Nawab of Oudh
1739–1748
(1st time)		 Succeeded by
post abolished
Preceded by
new creation		 Nawab Wazir al-Mamalik of Oudh
1748–1753
(acting to 29 Jun 1748)		 Succeeded by
post abolished
Preceded by
new creation		 Subadar Nawab of Oudh
1753–1754
(2nd time)		 Succeeded by
Jalal ad-Din Shoja' ad-Dowla Haydar
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