Alivardi Khan

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Ali Vardi Khan
Birth name: Mirza Muhammad Madani
Title: Nawab of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa
Birth: 10 May 1671
Nationality: Turk
Religion: Muslim (shiite)
Death: 16 April 1756
Succeeded by: Siraj-ud-Dowla (grandson)
Children:

Ali Vardi Khan was the independent Nawab of Bengal between 1740 and 1756.

Contents

[edit] Birth

Ali Vardi was born on 10 May 1671. He was named Mirza Muhammad Ali, the son of Shah Quli Khan Mirza Muhammad Madani and the daughter of Nawab Aqil Khan Afshar .

[edit] Official name

His official title was Shuja ul-Mulk, Husam ud-Daula, Nawab Muhammad Alahvirdi Khan Bahadur, Mahabat Jang, Nawab Nazim of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa.

[edit] Life

He was a Shiite Muslim and his forefathers were originally from Turkey. His father Mirza Muhammad Madani was an employee of Azam Shah, the son of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. Azam Shah also employed the sons of Mirza Muhammad, but after the death of Azam Shah the family fell into poverty.

His two sons Muhammad Ali and Mirza Ahmed managed to find employment under Orissa's Subdedar Suza-ud-Din. After Suza-ud-din was promoted to nawab the two brothers' future prospects widened. In 1728, Suza-ud-din promoted Muhammad Ali to ‘Fauzdar’ (General) and entitled him as Ali Vardi. In 1733, he was assigned as Bihar’s assistant Subedar (governor).

[edit] Rise to power

Ali Vardi Khan however wanted to become the ruler of Bengal himself, on 29 April 1740 he deposed Suza-ud-din from power, becoming Nawab of Bengal and also got recognition from Mughal emperor Muhammad Shah.

[edit] Death

He died in 16 April 1756. His grandson Siraj-ud-Daula succeeded Ali Vardi Khan as the Nawab of Bengal in April 1756 at the age of 23.

[edit] Reign

During his reign Bengal was attacked twice by the Nagpur Kingdom under Raghoji I Bhonsle in 1746 and 1750. This caused the loss of Cuttack to Nagpur in 1750.

[edit] References

  • AliVardi Khan and his times, Author - K.K. Dutt
  • Decisive Battle of India, G.B. Malleson, ISBN 81-7536-291-X , published by Books For All, 2002.
Preceded by
Sarfraz Khan
Nawab of Bengal
1740–1756
Succeeded by
Siraj ud-Daulah
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