Safdar Jang

Abul Mansur Mirza Muhammad Muqim Ali Khan, better known as Safdar Jang, (Urdu: صفدرجنگ‎, Hindi: सफ़्दरजंग),(b. c. 1708 – d. 5 October 1754), was a major figure at the Mughal court during the declining years of the Mughal empire. He became the second Nawab Vazier of Awadh when he succeeded Burhan-ul-Mulk (his maternal uncle and father-in-law) in 1739. All future Nawabs of Oudh were male line descendants of Safdar Jung.

For the districts in Delhi, see Safdarjung (Delhi). For the 1930 film, see Safdar Jung (film).
Safdar Jung
Mirza
Nawab of Oudh
Nawab Wazir al-Mamalik
Wazir ul-Hindustan
Subedar of Kashmir, Agra & Oudh
Khan Bahadur
Mir Atish
Firdaus Aaramgah[lower-alpha 1]
Reign19 March 1739– 5 October 1754
PredecessorSaadat Ali Khan I
SuccessorShuja-ud-Daula
Full name
Abul Mansur Mirza Muhammad Muqim Ali Khan Safdar Jang
Born1708
Died5 October 1754(1754-10-05) (aged 45–46)
Sultanpur, India
BuriedSafdar Jang's Tomb, Safdar Jung road, New Delhi
Noble familyNishapuri Branch of the Kara Koyunlu
Spouse(s)Amat Jahan Begum Sadh-ru-Nissa
FatherSiyadat Khan [Mirza Ja’afar Khan Beg]
ReligionIslam
Military career
AllegianceMughal Empire
Service/branchNawab of Awadh
RankSubadar
Battles/warsMughal-Maratha Wars

Biography

He was a descendant of Qara Yusuf from the Kara Koyunlu. In 1739, he succeeded his father-in-law and maternal uncle, Burhan-ul-Mulk Saadat Ali Khan I to the throne of Oudh and ruled from 19 March 1739 to 5 October 1754.[1]. 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 Emperor 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 over the whole Mughal Empire. When Ahmad Shah Bahadur ascended the throne at Delhi in 1748, Safdar Jung became his Wazir-ul-Mumalik-i-Hindustan or Prime 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 selected Faizabad as his military headquarter and administrative capital. He died in October 1754 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
  • Abul-Hasan ibn Mirza Ghiyas Beg

Notes
  1. title after death

References
  1. Princely States of India
  2. 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.

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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