Safdarjung
- For the districts in Delhi, see Safdarjung (Delhi).
| Safdar Jung | |
|---|---|
|
Mirza (Royal title) Nawab of Oudh | |
 | |
| Reign | 1739–1754 |
| Full name | Abul Mansur Mirza Muhammad Muqim Ali Khan Safdarjung |
| Titles |
Nawab-Wazir 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] |
| Born | 1708 |
| Birthplace | Nishapur, Khurasan, Persia |
| Died | October 5, 1754 |
| Place of death | Sultanpur, India |
| Buried | Safdarjung's Tomb, Safdarjung Road, New Delhi |
| Predecessor | Saadat Ali Khan I |
| Successor | Shuja-Ud-Daulah |
| Royal House | Nishapuri |
| Religious beliefs | Shia Islam |
Safdar Jung (Hindi: सफ़्दरजंग, Urdu: صفدرجنگ) (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]
Biography
Safdarjung was born as Muhammad Muqim in Khurasan, Persia and migrated to India in 1722.
In 1739 he succeeded his father-in-law and paternal uncle, the Burhan ul Mulk Saadat Ali Khan I to the throne of Oudh, apparently by paying Nadir Shah two crores of rupees. The Mughal Emperor Muhammad Shah gave him the title of "Safdarjung".[2]
Safdarjung 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, Safdarjung became his Wazir ul-Mamalik-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 was built in 1754 and is situated on a road now known as Safdarjung Road, in New Delhi.[3]
There are several other structures that carry his name today in the area, like Safdarjung Airport, Safdarjang Hospital, Safdarjung Terminal, and a nearby residential neighbourhood of Safdarjung (colony).
See also
References
- ↑ Princely States of India
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 HISTORY OF AWADH (Oudh) a princely State of India by Hameed Akhtar Siddiqui
- ↑ "Safdar Jang Tomb Garden". Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2007-03-28.
Notes
External links
Media related to Safdarjung at Wikimedia Commons
- The complete genealogy of Safdarjung can be found here.
- The National Information Centre in Lucknow maintains a page on him.
- 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 Mar 19 1739 – Apr 28 1748 (1st time) |
Succeeded by post abolished |
| Preceded by new creation |
Nawab Wazir al-Mamalik of Oudh Apr 28 1748 – May 13, 1753 (acting to 29 Jun 1748) |
Succeeded by post abolished |
| Preceded by new creation |
Subadar Nawab of Oudh Nov 05 1753 – Oct 05 1754 (2nd time) |
Succeeded by Jalal ad-Din Shoja` ad-Dowla Haydar |