Fath Muhammad
Fath Muhammad Ali Khan Kolari (6 May 1704 – 9 September 1725), Fath Muhammad or Nadim Sahib was a General of Mysore. he was the father of Hyder Ali his fifth child and the prestigious founder of the Sultanate of Mysore, who was born in the year 1720, from his third wife.[1][2]
Born in the city of Kolar, he later migrated to Devanahalli. Fath Muhammad eventually settled in Mysore and began serving as a soldier with the rank of naik in the army.
At an early age he served as a commander of 50 men in the Rocket artillery of the army of the Nawab of Carnatic, It is believed that he served alongside Zulfiqar Ali Khan the first Nawab of the Carnatic during the Siege of Jinji, which was maintained under the command of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb in order to kill or capture a renegade Maratha leader named Rajaram.[3]
He served in the armies of the Sa'adatu'llah Khan, and received the rank of Jamadar, 200 foot and 50 horse, promoted to command 600 foot, 500 horse.
Because he was from Mysore Fath Muhammad was among those chosen by the third Nawab of the Carnatic Saadatullah Khan I to collect tribute from the Wodeyar rulers of Srirangapatnam and eventually encouraged his sons Hyder Ali and Shahbaz to enter the service of Mysore instead of the Nawab of the Carnatic.
Later entered the service of the Raja of Mysore, who granted him the title of Naik. Next entered the service of the Nawab 'Abdu'l Rasul Khan of Sira and granted the rank of a 400 foot and 200 horse, the title of Khan, the jagir of Dodballapur (Budikote), and appointed as Faujdar of Sira, 1721.
He was killed in battle, before 9th September 1725 and buried in Kolar.
Children
- Wali Sahib
- Ali Sahib
- Bihiluli Sahib
- Shahbaz Ali (Ismail Sahib)
- Wali Muhammad
- Hyder Ali