Mutawassil Khan titled Rustam Jang Bahadur, was a Mughal general in the Deccan. He descended from a powerful aristocratic family, with his father being a prominent noble of Aurangzeb Alamgir and his grandfather one of the most famous Mughal Viziers. Mutawassil Khan rose to power under the patronage of his father-in-law who was also his maternal cousin Chin Qilich Qamaruddin Khan, Nizam-ul-Mulk, accompanying him in his campaigns in the Deccan and distinguishing himself especially at the Battle of Shakar Kheda. [1] [2] [3] [4]
Mutawassil Khan was an illustrious figure, patronized by Khan Firuz Jang. During Emperor Muhammad Shah's reign, he accompanied the eminent Nizam-Ul-Mulk Asaf Jah from Malwa to the Deccan, where he distinguished himself with remarkable valor in the battle against Sayyid Dilawar Ali Khan while leading one of the wings of the Nizam's army. His unwavering devotion was further exemplified in the battle with Alam Ali Khan, where he sustained two wounds. In recognition of his extraordinary bravery, he was bestowed with a prestigious rank of 3000, accompanied by 2000 horsemen, the exalted title of Bahadur, and the distinguished gifts of a flag and drums. His illustrious career saw him serve as the Deputy Governor of Aurangabad and later as the Faujdar of Baglana. Ultimately, he was honored with the title of Rustam Jang and appointed as the Governor of Bijapur, where he met his demise in 1744. [3]
Mutawassil Khan hailed from a distinguished lineage of notable prominence. His father, Hifzullah Khan, was a prominent noble during the reign of Emperor Aurangzeb Alamgir. His grandfather, Sa'adullah Khan, was a much-revered Grand Vizier of the Mughals during the reign of Emperor Shah Jahan. The esteemed Nizam was his cousin, and his own son, the 3rd Nizam Muzaffar Jang, succeeded him as the Nawab of Bijapur. [3] [5]
Mir Qamar-ud-din Khan Siddiqi also known as Chin Qilich Qamaruddin Khan, Nizam-ul-Mulk, Asaf Jah and Nizam I, was the first Nizam of Hyderabad.
Mirza Nasir-ud-Din Muḥammad Shah was the thirteenth Mughal emperor from 1719 to 1748. He was son of Khujista Akhtar, the fourth son of Bahadur Shah I. After being chosen by the Sayyid Brothers of Barha, he ascended the throne at the young age of 16, under their strict supervision.
Nizam of Hyderabad was the title of the ruler of Hyderabad State. Nizam is a shortened form of Niẓām ul-Mulk, which means Administrator of the Realm, and was the title bestowed upon Asaf Jah I when he was appointed Viceroy of the Deccan by the Mughal Emperor Farrukhsiyar. In addition to being the Mughal Viceroy (Naib) of the Deccan, Asaf Jah I was also the premier courtier of the Mughal Empire until 1724, when he established the independent monarchy of Hyderabad and adopted the title "Nizam of Hyderabad".
Mirza Aziz-ud-Din Muhammad, better known by his regnal name Alamgir II, was the fifteenth Mughal emperor from 1754 to 1759. He was the son of Jahandar Shah.
Muhyi ad-Din Muzaffar Jang Hidayat was the third Nizam of Hyderabad from 1750 until his death in 1751. He was also given a very pompous title like his predecessor and rival Nasir Jung; it was Nawab Khan Bahadur, Muzaffar Jung, Nawab Subadar of the Deccan. He became famously known as Muzaffar Jung.
Paigah family was a noble family from the former Hyderabad State. The family maintained their own court, individual palaces, and a standing army of about fourteen thousand infantry and cavalry troops.
Mirza Nizam Ali Khan Siddiqi, Asaf Jah II was the 5th Nizam of Hyderabad State between 1762 and 1803. He was born on 7 March 1734 as fourth son to Asaf Jah I and Umda Begum. His official name is Asaf Jah II, Nizam ul-Mulk, Nizam ud-Daula, Nawab Mir Nizam 'Ali Khan Siddiqi, Fateh Jang, Sipah Salar, Nawab Subedar of the Deccan. Sawānih-i-Deccan, a Persian work compiled by Munim Khan, a military commander during the era of Asaf Jah II gave more insight about administration of Asaf Jahis.
The Asaf Jahi was a Muslim dynasty that ruled the Hyderabad State. The family came to India in the late 17th century and became employees of the Mughal Empire. They were great patrons of Indo-Persian culture, language, and literature, and the family found ready patronage.
Hafiz Rahmat Khan was the Regent of Rohilkhand in North India, from 1749 to 1774. He was a Pashtun by background, ruling over Rohillas. Hafiz Rahmat Khan had served honorably throughout the reign of three Mughal Emperors: Ahmad Shah Bahadur, Alamgir II and Shah Alam II. He was also a mentor of Prince Mirza Jawan Bakht.
Khawaja Abid Khan Siddiqi, or Nawab Khawaja Abid Siddiqi, better known as Kilich Khan, was a Nawab and military general under Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. He was a loyal general of the Mughal Empire. He was the father of the Mughal general Ghazi ud-Din Khan Feroze Jung I and the grandfather of Mir Qamar-ud-din Siddiqi, Asaf Jah I. Kilich Khan was a descendant of Abu Bakr, first Rashidun caliph.
Feroze Jung III or Nizam Shahabuddin Muhammad Feroz Khan Siddiqi Bayafandi also known by his sobriquet Imad-ul-Mulk, was the grand vizier of the Mughal Empire when it was under Maratha suzerainty, making them the de facto rulers.
Intizam-ud-Daula, Ghazi ud-Din Khan Siddiqi Bayafandi Feroze Jung II was the eldest son of Asaf Jah I Mir Qamaruddin Khan Siddiqi. He was born on 13 March 1709, his mother is Sa'id un-Nisa Begum, the daughter of a Sayyid nobleman at Gulbarga. He died in Aurangabad on 16 October 1752.
The Battle of Shakar Kheda took place on 11 October 1724 at (Fathekheda) in Berar and 350 kilometres from Aurangabad between Nizam-ul-Mulk and Mubariz Khan, Subedar of the Deccan.
Naldurg Fort is a historic fort in Naldurg town of Osmanabad district in Maharashtra state of India. Naldurg Fort is named after Nalraja who built the fort in medieval architectural style. The unique feature of the fort is that it encloses a knoll of basalt rock which juts out into the valley of the small Bori River and a long fortification wall with many bastions. The Naldurg fort is one of the important ground forts in the Marathwada region.
Mubariz Khan was the Mughal governor of Gujarat and Hyderabad Subah. He was the governor of Golconda from 1713 to 1724 until he was killed during the Battle of Shakar Kheda where he fought against Nizam-ul-Mulk, Asaf Jah I. His is known to have ruled Golconda with a free hand and brought it under stable rule from constant Maratha Raids to extract Chauth. He is generally described as a proto-dynastic figure by John F. Richards.
Muhammad Hashim, better known by his title Khafi Khan, was an Indo-Persian historian of Mughal India. His career began about 1693–1694 as a clerk in Bombay. He served predominantly in Gujarat and the Deccan regions, including the final decade of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. He authored the controversial and in part "patently fictitious" Muntakhab-al Lubab – a Persian language book about the history of India during the Mughal period, completed in 1731. It has been a much studied, contested source of information about the Mughal history, particularly Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb.
Sa'adullah Khan, also spelled Sadullah Khan was the Grand Vizier and Vakil-I-Mutlaq of the Mughal Empire during the reign of Shah Jahan I.
Hifzullah Khan was a noble of the Mughal Empire who was appointed governor of several Mughal provinces during the reign of Aurangzeb Alamgir in the late 17th century. He was a son of the famous Mughal Grand Vizier Sa'adullah Khan. He remained the Naib Subahdar of Punjab, Subahdar of Kashmir and later Sindh where he passed away. He was paternal grandfather of Nizam of Hyderabad, Muhyi ad-Din Muzaffar Jang Hidayat.
The Battle of Balapur marked a civil conflict among Mughal leaders, triggered by the uprising of the Sayyid Brothers. This uprising led to a decline in the status of other Mughal leaders.
Khwaja Kamal, commonly known as Iwaz Khan, was a Turani Mughal leader who served as the last Subahdar of the Berar Subah under the Mughal empire. He also held the distinction of being the first Dewan of the Nizam of Hyderabad.
Mutawassil Khan Bahadur Rustam Jang, son of Hifz Ullah, son of Sa'd Ullah Khan Shahjahani