Muhyi ad-Din Muzaffar Jang Hidayat

Nizam-ul-Mulk Muzaffar Jang
3rd Nizam of Hyderabad
Reign	16 December 1750 – 13 February 1751
Predecessor	Nasir Jung
Successor	Salabat Jung
Died	13 February 1751
Noble family	Asaf Jah
Military career
Allegiance	Mughal Empire
Service/branch	Nizam of Hyderabad
Rank	Subedar, Nizam
Battles/wars	Carnatic Wars

Dupleix meeting the Subahdar of the Deccan, Muzaffar Jang.

Muhyi ad-Din Muzaffar Jang Hidayat (died 13 February 1751) was the ruler of Hyderabad from 1750 until his death in 1751. His official name was Nawab Hidayat Muhi ud-din Sa'adu'llah Khan Bahadur, Muzaffar Jang, Nawab Subadar of the Deccan. He was also given a very pompous title like his predecessor and rival Nasir Jung; it was Nawab Khan Bahadur, Muzaffar Jung, Nawab Subadar of the Deccan. He became famously known as Muzaffar Jung.

Birth

He was born to Nawab Talib Muhi ud-din Mutawassil Khan Bahadur who was the Naib Subahdar (Deputy Governor) of Bijapur and his wife Sahibzadi Khair-un-nisa Begum who was the daughter of Nizam-ul-Mulk.

Reign

Initially, he was appointed to an Imperial mansab of 3,000 zat and 2,000 sowar and later promoted to 4,000 zat on his appointment to Bijapur. He was Subadar of Bijapur after the death of his father. When his grandfather Nizam-ul-Mulk died in 1748, he decided to stake his claim to the throne in opposition to his uncle, Nasir Jung. This resulted in the first major direct involvement of the Europeans in Indian domestic politics. He joined hands with his Carnatic ally Chanda Sahib and the French while Nasir Jung joined hands with his Carnatic ally Muhammad Ali Khan Walajah and the British. Eventually, the serious situation in Deccan and Carnatic would result in the Second Carnatic War. During the war Muzaffar Jung was briefly captured in March, 1750 after the Battle of Villianur. But after the assassination of Nasir Jung, he was released and took the throne of Hyderabad, 16 December 1750. He granted territories and titles to Dupleix and the French on 31 December 1750. He failed however, to honor his Afghan allies in a similar way. The resulting disagreement led to the Battle of Lakkireddipalli Pass in the Rayachoti taluka, Kadapa district, where the Nawab of Kurnool struck him in the head with a spear, 13 February 1751 killing him instantly.

Muzzafar Jung's death is somehow linked to the deaths of the Nawab of Kurnool and Nawab of Savanur, Abdul Majid Khan I.

At this critical juncture in history the French commander De Bussy made the decision to install Salabat Jung as the new Nizam.

Family

Muzaffar Jang had only one son named, Nawab Muhammad Sa'ad ud-din Khan Bahadur who was a minor at the death of his father in February 1751. He became Subedar of Bijapur in 1751. But died later from smallpox.

Positions held

• Subadar of Bijapur.

Muhyi ad-Din Muzaffar Jang Hidayat Asaf Jahi dynasty
Preceded by Nasir Jang Mir Ahmad	Nizam of Hyderabad 16 December 1750 – 13 February 1751	Succeeded by Asif ad-Dawlah Mir Ali Salabat Jang
Preceded by Nawab Talib Muhi ud-din Mutawassil Khan Bahadur	Subedar of Bijapur ? – 13 February 1751	Succeeded by Nawab Muhammad Sa'ad ud-din Khan Bahadur

See also

• Hyderabad State
• Nizam