Najimuddin Ali Khan

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Sayyid Najimuddin Ali Khan formally known as Sujah-ul-Mulk Najimuddaula Nawab Nazim Najimuddin Ali Khan Bahadur Mahabat Jang (c1747-1766) was Nawab of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa from 1765 to 1766. The son of Mir Jafar with his third wife Munui Begum, he was the ninth Nawab of Bengal and the second from the Najafi dynasty.

Najimuddin was installed as Nawab of Bengal following the death of his father Mir Jafar when only 18 years of old. He ascended to the throne on 3rd March, 1765. He was, like his father, a puppet Nawab propped up by and subordinate to the Company.

In 1765, following victory in the Battle of Buxar the British had formally gained Diwani of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa from Shah Alam II. The Nawab formally conferred this Diwani to the British on 30th September, 1765. The British then proceeded to strip the Nawabi of all effective administrative and military powers, leaving the Nawab even more a puppet than before.

Najimuddin died soon afterwards, on 8th May, 1766, apparently from a fever caught at a formal party given on the grounds of Murshidabad fort in honour of Robert Clive. He was buried at Jaffraganj cemetery and was succeeded to the Nawab's throne by his younger brother Najabut Ali Khan.

Preceded by
Mir Jafar
Nawab of Bengal
1765–1766
Succeeded by
Najabut Ali Khan