Nizam of Hyderabad
Nizam-ul-Mulk of Hyderabad (Telugu: నిజాం-ఉల్-ముల్క్ అఫ్ హైదరాబాద్; Urdu: نظام-ال-ملک وف حیدرآباد; Marathi: निझाम-उल-मुल्क ऑफ हैदराबाद; Kannada: ನಿಜ್ಯಮ್-ಉಲ್-ಮುಲ್ಕ್ ಆಫ್ ಹೈದರಾಬಾದ್; Persian: نظام-ال-ملک اف حیدرآباد) popularly known as Nizams of Hyderabad was a former monarchy of the Hyderabad State, now in the states of Andhra Pradesh (Telugu: ఆంధ్ర ప్రదేశ్), Karnataka (Kannada: ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ), and Maharashtra (Marathi: महाराष्ट्र) in India (Hindi: इंडिया). Nizam (Urdu: نظام), a shortened version of Nizam-ul-Mulk (Urdu: نظامالملک), meaning Administrator of the Realm in Urdu, was the title of the native sovereigns of Hyderabad State, India, since 1719, belonging to the Asaf Jah dynasty. The dynasty was founded by Mir Qamar-ud-Din Siddiqi, a viceroy of the Deccan under the Mughal emperors from 1713 to 1721 and who intermittently ruled under the title Asaf Jah in 1724, and after Aurangzeb's death in 1707, the Mughal Empire crumbled and the viceroy in Hyderabad, the young Asaf Jah, declared himself independent. From 1798 Hyderabad was one of the princely states of British India, but it retained control of its internal affairs.
Seven Nizams ruled Hyderabad for two centuries until Indian independence in 1947. The Asaf Jahi rulers were great patrons of literature, art, architecture, culture, jewelry collection and rich food. The Nizams ruled the state until 17 September 1948 when the Nizam surrendered to Indian forces after which it was integrated into Indian Union.
Family Origins
The Asaf Jahi dynasty originated in the region around Samarkand, but the family came to India from Baghdad in the late 17th century. Shaikh Mir Ismail Siddiqi (Alam Shaikh Siddiqi) Alam ul-Ulema, son of Ayub Younus Salim Siddiqi, son of Abdul Rehman Shaikh Azizan Siddiqi, fourteenth in direct decent from Sheikh Shihab-ud-din Siddiqi Suhrawardy, of Suharwada in Kurdistan, a celebrated Sufi mystic, or dervish, maternal (first), a lady of the family of Mir Hamadan (a descendant of the Prophet Mohammed) (SW), a distinguished Sayyid of Samarkand. They were direct descendants of the first Khalifa of Islam, Hazrat Abu Baker Al-Siddiq (R.A).
Origin of the Nizam Title
Nizām-ul-mulk was a title first used in Urdu around 1600 to mean Governor of the realm or Deputy for the Whole Empire. The word is derived from the Arabic word, Nizām (نظام), meaning order, arrangement. The Nizam was referred to as Ala Hadrat / Ala Hazrat or Nizam Sarkar, meaning His Exalted Highness (The last Nizam was awarded this title. It is a hereditary title).
Rise of the Nizams
The first Nizam ruled on behalf of the Mughal emperors. After the death of Aurangzeb, the Nizams split from the Mughals to form an independent kingdom. When the British achieved paramountcy over India, the Nizams were allowed to continue to rule their princely states as client kings. The Nizams retained internal power over Hyderabad State until 17 September 1948 when Hyderabad was forcefully integrated into the new Indian Union.
The Asaf Jah dynasty had only seven rulers; however there was a period of 13 years after the rule of the first Nizam when three of his sons (Nasir Jung, Muzafar Jung and Salabath Jung) ruled. They were not officially recognized as the rulers.
A legend about the first Nizam states that, on one of his hunting trips he was offered some kulchas (an Indian bread) by a holy man and was asked to eat as many as he could. The Nizam could eat seven kulchas and the holy man then prophesied that seven generations of his family would rule the state.
By tradition no Nizam has ever left India no matter how good a reason might exist for doing so, as it was said, "the Sovereign is too precious to his people ever to leave India.".
Because Hyderabad did not participate in the first war of Indian Independence of 1857 against the British, its Royal Family had been accorded by British Royalty special honours and the Nizam was given the official status of Faithful Ally.
List of Nizams of Hyderabad (1720-Present)
Nizams of Hyderabad (1720-1948)
| Image |
Titular Name |
Personal Name |
Date of birth |
Nizam From |
Nizam Until |
Date of death |
|
Nizam-ul-Mulk, Asaf Jah I
نظامالملک آصف جاہ |
Mir Qamar-ud-din Khan |
20 August 1671 |
31 July 1720 |
1 June 1748 |
|
Nasir Jung
نصیرجنگ |
Mir Ahmed Ali Khan |
26 February 1712 |
1 June 1748 |
16 December 1750 |
|
Muzaffar Jung
مظفرجنگ |
Mir Hidayat Muhi-ud-din Sa'adullah Khan |
? |
16 December 1750 |
13 February 1751 |
|
Salabat Jung
صلابت جنگ |
Mir Sa'id Muhammad Khan |
24 November 1718 |
13 February 1751 |
8 July 1762
(deposed) |
16 September 1763 |
|
Nizam-ul-Mulk, Asaf Jah II
نظامالملک آصف جاہ دوم |
Mir Nizam Ali Khan |
7 March 1734 |
8 July 1762 |
6 August 1803 |
|
Sikander Jah, Asaf Jah III
سکندر جاہ ،آصف جاہ تریہم |
Mir Akbar Ali Khan |
11 November 1768 |
6 August 1803 |
21 May 1829 |
|
Nasir-ud-Daula, Asaf Jah IV
ناصر الدولہ ،آصف جاہ چارہم |
Mir Farqunda Ali Khan |
25 April 1794 |
21 May 1829 |
16 May 1857 |
|
Afzal-ud-Daula, Asaf Jah V
افضال الدولہ ،آصف جاہ پنجم |
Mir Tahniyath Ali Khan |
11 October 1827 |
16 May 1857 |
26 February 1869 |
|
Asaf Jah VI
آصف جاہ شیشم |
Mir Mahbub Ali Khan |
17 August 1866 |
26 February 1869 |
29 August 1911 |
|
Asaf Jah VII
آصف جاہ ہفتم |
Mir Osman Ali Khan |
6 April 1886 |
29 August 1911 |
17 September 1948
(deposed) |
24 February 1967 |
Titular Nizam of Hyderabad (1948-Present)
| Image |
Titular Name |
Personal Name |
Date of birth |
Pretender From |
Pretender Until |
Date of death |
|
Asaf Jah VII
آصف جاہ ہفتم |
Mir Osman Ali Khan |
6 April 1886 |
17 September 1948 |
24 February 1967 |
|
Mukarram Jah, Asaf Jah VIII
مکرم جاہ ،آصف جاہ ہشتم |
Mir Barkat Ali Khan |
6 October 1933 |
24 February 1967 |
Alive |
Line of succession
The Asaf Jah dynasty followed the policy of male primogeniture during their long rule, regardless of the mother's marital status or rank. Currently, the line of succession to the Hyderabad throne is as follows:
The line of HEH Asaf Jah VIII
- HH Azmet Jah, the Prince of Berar (1960-). Eldest son of HEH Asaf Jah VIII.
- Azam Jah (1979-). Second son of HEH Asaf Jah VII
Descendants of HEH Asaf Jah VII
- Muffakham Jah (1939-). Younger brother of HEH Asaf Jah VIII.
- Rafat Jah (1966-). Elder son of Muffakham Jah.
- Farhad Jah. Younger son of Muffakham Jah.
- Shahamat Jah (1957-). Son of His Highness Moazzam Jah, the second son of HEH Asaf Jah VII.
- Mir Ahmad Ali Khan (1912-); fifth son of HEH Osman Ali Khan VII
- Ahmad Jah. Son of Kazim Jah (1912-1952), the sixth son of HEH Asaf Jah VII
- Sahibzada Mir Arshad Ali Khan; son of Ahmad Jah
- Baqir Jah; younger son of Kazim Jah (1912-1952)
- Sahibzada Mir Muhammad Jafar Ali Khan (1964-); elder son of Baqir Jah.
- Sahibzada Mir Kauser Ali Khan (1966-); younger son of Baqir Jah.
- Sahibzada Mir Banda Ali Khan (1951-); son of Abid Jah (1913-1983), the seventh son of HEH Asaf Jah VII.
- Sahibzada Mir Mushraf Ali Khan (1969-); son of Sahibzada Mir Banda Ali Khan.
- Sahibzada Mir Ata'ullah Khan (1957-); eldest son of Hashmat Jah (1913-1988), the eighth son of HEH Asaf Jah VII.
- Sahibzada Mir Rahmat ‘Ali Khan; second son of Hashmat Jah.
- Sahibzada Mir Hassan ‘Ali Khan (1959-); third son of Hashmat Jah.
- Sahibzada Mir Husain ‘Ali Khan (1961-); fourth son of Hashmat Jah.
- Sahibzada Mir Shamsher ‘Ali Khan (1941-); eldest son of Hashim Jah (1913-1991), the ninth son of HEH Asaf Jah VII.
- Sahibzada Mir Miraj ‘Ali Khan; second son of Hashim Jah.
- Sahibzada Mir Shahamat ‘Ali Khan (1942-); third son of Hashim Jah.
- Sahibzada Mir Baktiyar ‘Ali Khan (1964-); elder son of Sahibzada Mir Shahamat ‘Ali Khan.
- Sahibzada Mir Sulaiman ‘Ali Khan (1980-); younger son of Sahibzada Mir Shahamat ‘Ali Khan.
- Sahibzada Mir Kawkab ‘Ali Khan; fourth son of Hashim Jah.
- Sahibzada Mir Zamin ‘Ali Khan (1948-); fifth son of Hashim Jah.
- Sahibzada Mir Muhammad Jaffar ‘Ali Khan (1978-); son of Sahibzada Mir Zamin ‘Ali Khan.
- Sahibzada Mir Askar ‘Ali Khan; sixth son of Hashim Jah.
- Sahibzada Mir Muhammad Nusrath ‘Ali Khan; seventh son of Hashim Jah.
- Sahibzada Mir Muhammad Hussain ‘Ali Khan (1970-); son of Sahibzada Mir Muhammad Nusrath ‘Ali Khan.
- Sahibzada Mir Karam ‘Ali Khan (1956-); eighth son of Hashim Jah.
- Sahibzada Mir Osman ‘Ali Khan (1985-); son of Sahibzada Mir Karam ‘Ali Khan.
- Sahibzada Mir Najaf ‘Ali Khan (1964-); ninth son of Hashim Jah.
- Sahibzada Muhammad Anas Ali Khan (2001-); son of Sahibzada Mir Najaf ‘Ali Khan.
- Sahibzada Mir Naqi ‘Ali Khan. Elder son of Taqi Jah (1913-1985), tenth son of HEH Asaf Jah VII
- Sahibzada Mir Ja’afar ‘Ali Khan. Younger son of Taqi Jah.
- Sahibzada Mir Firasath ‘Ali Khan; eldest son of Sa’adat Jah (1917-1988), nineteenth son of HEH Asaf Jah VII
- Sahibzada Mir Saqafath ‘Ali Khan. (1968-); fourth son of Sa'adat Jah.
- Imdad Jah (1944-); twenty-third son of HEH Asaf Jah VII
- Dilshad Jah (1963-); elder son of Imdad Jah
- Sahibzada Mir Irshad ‘Ali Khan (1977-); younger son of Imdad Jah.
- Son of Nawazat Jah (1944-2010); twenty-fifth son of HEH Asaf Jah VII
- Son of Nawazat Jah
- Fazal Jah (1946-); twenty-sixth son of HEH Asaf Jah VII
- Sahibzada Mir Salabat ‘Ali Khan (1969-); son of Bhojat Jah (1947-1982), twenty-seventh son of HEH Asaf Jah VII
- Sahibzada Mir Bhojat ‘Ali Khan (1998-), son of Sahibzada Mir Salabat ‘Ali Khan.
- Manzoor Ahmad Nizami (1926-2008), son of Nizam Uddin Asaf Jah VII.
- HEH Farooq Nizami (1965-), son of Manzoor Ahmad Nizami Asaf Jah VII.
- Sahibzada Feroz Nizami (1994-), son of Farooq Nizami HEH Asaf Jah VII.
- Sahibzada Muhammad Bin Farooq (2003), Nizam, son of Farooq Nizami HEH Asaf Jah VII.
Descendants of Asaf Jah III
- Sahibzada Mir Jamil ud-din ‘Ali Khan (1940-). Descended from Asaf Jah III through his second son Samsam ul-Mulk, Sunisamad ud-Daula, Nawab Mir Bashir ud-din 'Ali Khan Bahdur, Samsan Jang (1797-1876), through his seventh son Nawab Mir Habib 'Ali Khan Bahadur, Muazziz Jang (1821-?), through his son Sahibzada Mir Yusuf 'Ali Khan (1856-19?), through his son Sahibzada Mir Habib 'Ali Khan Bahadur (1900-1937) and through his son Sahibzada Mir Bashir ud-din Ali Khan Bahadur (1921-1980).
- Sahibzada Jaweed Siddiqi (1966-). Son of Sahibzada Mir Jamil ud-din ‘Ali Khan.
- Sahibzada Bashir Siddiqi (1999-). Son of Sahibzada Jaweed Siddiqi.
- Sahibzada Abrar Siddiqi (2001-). Son of Sahibzada Jaweed Siddiqi.
- Sahibzada Mir Moiz ud-din ‘Ali Khan (1985-). Son of Sahibzada Mir Azim ud-din ‘Ali Khan (1950-2008), the younger son of Sahibzada Mir Bashir ud-din Ali Khan Bahadur (1921-1980).
- Son (200?-), son of Sahibzada Mir Moiz ud-din ‘Ali Khan.
- Sahibzada Mir Azmat 'Ali Khan (1944-). Son of Nawab Mir Husain 'Ali Khan Bahadur (1923-1987), the second son of Sahibzada Mir Habib 'Ali Khan Bahadur.
- Sahibzada Mir Himayath 'Ali Khan (1984-). Eldest son of Sahibzada Mir Azmat 'Ali Khan.
- Sahibzada Mir Azam 'Ali Khan (1989-). Second son of Sahibzada Mir Azmat 'Ali Khan.
- Sahibzada Mir Mazhar 'Ali Khan (2001-). Third son of Sahibzada Mir Azmat 'Ali Khan.
- Sahibzada Mir Osman 'Ali Khan (1952-). Second son of Nawab Mir Husain Ali Khan Bahadur.
- Sahibzada Mir Khader 'Ali Khan (1955-). Third son of Nawab Mir Husain Ali Khan Bahadur.
- Sahibzada Mir Tawfeeq 'Ali Khan (1983-). Elder son of Sahibzada Mir Khader 'Ali Khan.
- Sahibzada Mir Mujahid 'Ali Khan (1995-). Second son of Sahibzada Mir Khader 'Ali Khan.[1]
Family tree
I. Qamar-ud-din Khan, Asaf Jah I, 1st Nizam of Hyderabad (20 August 1671 - 1 June 1748). A senior governor and counsellor in the Imperial government. Defeated the Imperial forces on 19 June 1720 at Hasanpur and formed an independent state of his own. Confirmed in his possessions by Imperial firman and crowned on 31 July. Named Vice-Regent of the Mughal Empire by the Emperor Muhammad Shah on 8 February 1722, secured the province of Berar on 11 October 1724 and formally made Hyderabad City his new capital on 7 December 1724. Died at Burhampur on 1 June 1748, aged 76. He had six sons and seven daughters, including:
- II. Nasir Jang Mir Ahmad, 2nd Nizam of Hyderabad (26 February 1712 - 16 December 1750). Ruled from 1 June 1748 - 16 December 1750, when he was killed aged 38 by the Nawab of Kadapa.
- Sahibzadi Khair un-nisa Begum. Married Nawab Talib Muhi ud-din Mutasawwil Khan Bahadur, Muzaffar Jang. She had issue, a son:
- III. Muhyi ad-Din Muzaffar Jang Hidayat, 3rd Nizam of Hyderabad (d. 13 February 1751). Succeeded upon his uncle's death; ruled from 16 December 1750 - 13 February 1751, when he was killed by the Nawab of Kurnool.
- IV. Asaf ad-Dawlah Mir Ali Salabat Jang, 4th Nizam of Hyderabad (November 1718 - 16 September 1763). Succeeded his brother, ruling from 13 February 1751 - 8 July 1762. Deposed by his brother on 8 July 1762 and killed in prison the following year, aged 44.
- V. Ali Khan Asaf Jah II, 5th Nizam of Hyderabad (7 March 1734 - 6 August 1803). Ruled 8 July 1762 - 6 August 1803, when he died aged 69. He had 11 sons and 12 daughters, including:
- VI. Mir Akbar Ali Khan Sikander Jah, Asaf Jah III, 6th Nizam of Hyderabad (11 November 1768 - 21 May 1829). The first of the dynasty to be officially granted the title of Nizam. Ruled 6 August 1803 - 21 May 1829, when he died aged 60. He had 10 sons and nine daughters, including:
- VII. Nasir-ud-dawlah, Asaf Jah IV, 7th Nizam of Hyderabad (25 April 1794 - 16 May 1857). Ruled 21 May 1829 - 16 May 1857, when he died aged 63. He had five sons, including:
- VIII. Afzal ad-Dawlah, Asaf Jah V, 8th Nizam of Hyderabad, GCSI (11 October 1827 - 26 February 1869). The first of the Nizams to fall under British rule. Ruled 16 May 1857 - 26 February 1869, when he died aged 41. He had four sons and six daughters, including:
- IX. Mahbub Ali Khan, Asaf Jah VI, 9th Nizam of Hyderabad, GCB, GCSI, KIH (17 August 1866 - 31 August 1911). Succeeded his father on 26 February 1869, ruled under a regency until 5 February 1884, when he was invested with full ruling powers by the Viceroy of India. Died 31 August 1911, aged 45. He had seven sons and six daughters, including:
- X. Osman Ali Khan, Asaf Jah VII, 10th Nizam of Hyderabad, GCSI, GBE, Royal Victorian Chain, MP (6 April 1886 - 24 January 1967). Granted the style of His Exalted Highness (1 January 1918), the title of Faithful Ally of the British Government (24 January 1918) and Nizam of Hyderabad and of Berar (13 November 1936). The last of the ruling Nizams; ruled absolutely from 31 August 1911 - 19 September 1948, when the state was formally annexed to the Union of India. Maintained semi-ruling and semi-autonomous status from then until 23 November 1949, when he accepted the paramountcy of the new Indian government and Constitution and acceded to the Union. Formally lost his sovereignty, ending 230 years of Asaf Jahi rule, upon the formal promulgation of the Constitution on 26 January 1950. Served as Rajpramukh of the new Hyderabad State from 26 January 1950 until 31 October 1956, when the post was abolished. Served as a titular monarch from 26 January 1950 until his death on 24 January 1967, aged 80. He had children, 28 sons and 44 daughters, including:
- HH Azam Jah, Prince of Berar, GCIE, GBE, MSM (21 February 1907 - 9 October 1970). Granted the title of His Highness the Prince of Berar (13 November 1936). Passed over in the line of succession in 1967 in favour of his elder son. He had two sons, including the elder:
- XI. Barkat Ali Khan Mukarram Jah, Asaf Jah VIII, 11th Nizam of Hyderabad (6 October 1933-). Succeeded his grandfather as titular monarch on 24 January 1967; titles abolished by the Indian Government on 28 December 1971. He has children that included two sons.
[2]
Palaces of the Nizams
The Asaf Jahis were prolific builders. Several palaces of the Nizams were:
Other landmarks like the Andhra Pradesh High Court, Jubilee Hall, Asafia library, The Assembly building, the Osmania Arts College and the Osmania Medical College are among their notable constructions.
The Nizams liked the European style of architecture and created a fusion of European traditions with Hindu and Islamic forms and motifs.
End of the Dynasty and Removal of the Last Nizam
After the British left India in 1947, the princely state of Hyderabad did not accede to either of the new dominions of India or Pakistan and started taking support and arms from Pakistan. After attempts by India to persudade the Nizam to accede to India failed, the Indian government launched Hyderabad Police Action on 13 September 1948, swiftly overrunning the Nizam's forces within four and a half days. The Nizam capitulated and his forces surrendered on 17 September 1948 and he broadcast this over radio the same afternoon. His rule ended on 17 September 1948. It was the end of the dynasty.
Mir Osman Ali Khan, the last Nizam, died on Friday 24 February 1967. All Nizams are buried in the royal graves at the Makkah Masjid near Charminar in Hyderabad except for the last Nizam, Mir Osman Ali Khan, who willed that he be buried beside his mother, in the grave yard of Judi Mosque facing King Kothi Palace.
Places and things named after the Nizam
See also
References
- Zubrzycki, John (2006). The Last Nizam: An Indian Prince in the Australian Outback. Australia: Pan Macmillan. ISBN 978-0-330-42321-2.
- Regani, Sarojini (1988) [First published 1963]. Nizam-British Relations, 1724-1857. New Delhi: Concept Publishing Company. ISBN 9788170221951. http://books.google.com/books?id=9Fb26pWqhScC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_atb.
- Hastings, Fraser (1865). Our Faithful Ally, the Nizam. London: Smith, Elder & Co.. http://books.google.com/books?id=FIBCAAAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_atb.
- Briggs, Henry George (1861). The Nizam: His History and Relations With the British Government, Volume 1. London: B. Quaritch. http://books.google.com/books?id=TXxDAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_atb.
- Lynton, Harriet Ronken; Rajan, Mohini (1974). The Days of the Beloved. University of California Press. ISBN 0520024427. http://books.google.com/books?id=DhYjiciXlwwC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_atb.
- University of Queensland feature
- The Pied Piper of Hamelin, by Robert Browning: "I eased in Asia the Nizam Of a monstrous brood of vampyre-bats"
Further reading
- Mughal Administration of Deccan Under Nizamul Mulk Asaf Jah, 1720-48 A.D.By M. A. Nayeem, Indian Council of Historical Research, University of Poona, Dept. of History [3]
"The Days of the Beloved" Harriet Ronken Lynton and Mohini Rajan, Berkeley University Press
External links