Ahmad Shah Bahadur: Difference between revisions

{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2013}}

| name = Ahmad Shah Bahadur

| title =

| image = The Emperor Ahmad Shah, equestrian, in the hunting field 1750 San Diego Museum of Art.jpg

| image_size = 300px

| caption = The Mughal Emperor Ahmad Shah Bahadur, practices his equestrian skills, in a hunting field in 1750.

| succession = 14th [[Mughal emperors|Mughal Emperor]]

| reign = 29 April 1748 – 2 June 1754

| predecessor= [[Muhammad Shah]]

| successor =[[Alamgir II]]

| reg-type1 =Viziers

| regent1 ={{Unbulleted list|[[Safdar Jung]] (1748 - 1753)|Intizam-ud-Daula (1753 - 1754)}}

| regent =[[Javed Khan Nawab Bahadur|Nawab Bahadur]]

| spouses = {{Unbulleted list|Gauhar Afruz Banu Begum|Other wive}}

| issue = {{Unbulleted list|Hamid Shah Bahadur|[[Jahan Shah IV|Bidar Bakht Mahmud Shah Bahadur]]|Tala Said Shah Bahadur|Muhammad Jamiyat Shah Bahadur|Muhammad Dilawar Shah Bahadur|Mirza Rujbi|Mirza Mughlu|Muhtaram-un-Nissa Begum|Dil Afruz Banu Begum}}

| full name = Abu-Nasir Mujahid ud-din Muhammad Ahmad Shah Bahadur

| house = [[Mughal dynasty|Mughal]]

| father =[[Muhammad Shah]]

| mother = [[Qudsia Begum]]

| birth_date = 23 December 1725

| birth_place = [[Delhi]], [[Mughal Empire]]

| death_date = {{Death date and age|1775|1|1|1725|12|23|df=yes}}

| death_place = [[Delhi]], [[Mughal Empire]]

| place of burial = Mausoleum of Mariam Makani, [[Delhi]]

| religion = [[Islam]]

|}}

'''Ahmad Shah Bahadur''' ({{lang-fa|{{Nastaliq|احمد شاه بهادر}}}}), also known as '''Mirza Ahmad Shah''' ({{lang-fa|{{Nastaliq|میرزا احمد شاه}}}}) or '''Mujahid-ud-Din Ahmad Shah Ghazi''' ({{lang-fa|{{Nastaliq|مجاهدالدین احمدشاه غازی}}}})<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4j_VLlGqVSoC&q=Mujahidu-d+Din+Ahmad+Shah+Ghazi&pg=PA663|title=Mughal Empire in India: A Systematic Study Including Source Material|first=S. R.|last=Sharma|date=4 May 1999|publisher=Atlantic Publishers & Dist|isbn=9788171568192|via=Google Books}}</ref> (23 December 1725 – 1 January 1775) was born to [[Mughal Emperor]] [[Muhammad Shah]]. He succeeded his father to the throne as the fourteenth Mughal Emperor in 1748 at the age of 22. When Ahmed Shah Bahadur came to power, the [[Mughal Empire]] was collapsing. Furthermore, his administrative weaknesses eventually led to the rise of the usurping [[Ghazi ud-Din Khan Feroze Jung III|Feroze Jung III]].

Ahmed Shah Bahadur inherited a much weakened Mughal state. He was emperor in title for

six years, but left all affairs of state to rivalling factions. He was deposed by the Vizier Feroze Jung III and later blinded along with his mother. He spent the remaining years of his life in prison and died of natural causes in January 1775.

Prince Ahmad was born in 1725 to the Mughal Emperor [[Muhammad Shah]] and his consort [[Qudsia Begum]]. Decentralization during his father's reign, the Maratha Wars and the blow from Nadir Shah's invasion had initiated the [[decline of the Mughal Empire]].

==Emergence==

[[File:Bodleian MS. Ouseley Add. 166 fol 43b.jpg|thumbnail|right|Ahmad Shah Bahadur upon the throne; watercolour painting held by the [[Bodleian Library]]]]

After the death of the Mughal viceroy of [[Lahore]], [[Zakariya Khan Bahadur]], his two sons, [[Yahya Khan Bahadur]] and [[Mian Shah Nawaz Khan]], the [[Emir]] of [[Multan]], fought each other during for succession. After defeating his elder brother Mian Shah Nawaz Khan declared himself the Mughal viceroy of Punjab. This weakness{{clarify|reason=what weakness?|date=September 2016}} was quickly exploited by [[Ahmad Shah Durrani]] who initiated another campaign with 30,000 [[cavalry]] to assist Shah Nawaz Khan, who was resented for tax-evasion in the Mughal imperial court and opposed by the [[Grand Vizier]], [[Qamaruddin Khan]], who was the father-in-law of Yahya Khan.{{citation needed|date=September 2016}}

In April 1748, [[Ahmad Shah Abdali]] joined by Shah Nawaz Khan invaded the [[Indus River Valley]], prompting [[Muhammad Muradyab Khan (Nawab Sarbuland Khan)|Muradyab Khan Kalhoro]] the [[Subedar]] of [[Sindh]] to dispatch reinforcements to assist the [[Mughal Army]] along the river banks. Prince Ahmad and Qamaruddin Khan, [[Hafiz Rahmat Khan]], [[Safdarjung]], [[Ghazi ud-Din Khan Feroze Jung II|Intizam-ud-Daula]], Nasir Khan the former Subedar of [[Ghazni]] and [[Kabul]], Yahya Khan and [[Ali Muhammad Khan Rohilla]] were dispatched by Muhammad Shah to command a large army of 75,000 to confront the 12,000 advancing Durrani's. During the [[Battle of Manipur (1748)]],<ref name="Dictionary of Battles and Sieges: F-O">{{Google books |id=Dh6jydKXikoC |page=631 |title=Dictionary of Battles and Sieges: F–O }}</ref> in [[Sirhind]] by the river [[Sutlej]] both forces fought a decisive battle and Prince Ahmad was nominally victorious, he was thereupon conferred with the title [[Baghatur|Bahadur]], after a Durrani wagon filled with gunpowder exploded.<ref>{{Google books |id=AzG5llo3YCMC |page=287 |title=History of Civilizations of Central Asia: Development in contrast }}</ref> However, the Muhammad Shah seriously mourned the fall of Qamaruddin Khan, who was killed by a stray artillery shell during the battle.<ref name="Dictionary of Battles and Sieges: F-O" /> After Ahmad Shah Durrani's retreat the Mughal aligned [[Khanate of Kalat]], [[Bahawalpur (princely state)|Nawab Amir of Bhawalpur]] remained aligned to [[Alamgir II]]. Only before the prelude to the [[Third Battle of Panipat]] became subjects of the [[Durrani Empire]].{{citation needed|date=September 2016}}

However, Qamaruddin Khan's son [[Muin ul-Mulk (Mir Mannu)|Muin ul-Mulk]] also a recognised war hero from the Battle of Manipur, was placed as the Mughal viceroy of Punjab, by the new Mughal Emperor Ahmad Shah Bahadur.{{citation needed|date=September 2016}}

The Battle of Manipur had a considerable impact on the tactical prowess of Ahmad Shah Bahadur. When he became emperor, he is known to have introduced and organised the ''[[Purbiya]]'' [[Camel cavalry|camel corps]] particularly in the years 1754–51 to combat the invading Durranis and the rebellious [[Sikh]]s in the North-West regions of his empire.<ref name="War, Culture and Society">{{Google books |id=zp0FbTniNaYC |page=29 |title=War, Culture and Society in Early Modern South Asia, 1740–1849 }}</ref>

Qamaruddin Khan died during the Sirhind conflict. This news led to Muhammad Shah becoming gravely sick and he died soon afterwards. Prince Ahmad ascended the throne on 18 April 1748 and on 29 April 1748 his coronation was held at [[Red Fort]] in Delhi. He assumed the title ''Abu Nasir Mujahid-ud-Din Ahmad Shah Ghazi''.

The new emperor now began to enjoy his life with women in his harem.{{citation needed|date=September 2016}}

 

The main servant of the Mughal court, [[Javed Khan Nawab Bahadur|Javed Khan]], was given the official title of ''Nawab Bahadur'' and an army of 5000. Together with the emperor's mother, who was given a force of 50,000, Javed Khan became effective regent. Javed Khan's rise to power and his authority was seen as an affront to the nobility and the aristocracy of the empire, and in particular to the emperor's soldiers.{{citation needed|date=September 2016}}

Qudsia Begum made every effort to protect the high authority that was granted to Javed Khan and authorised him to use force against those who opposed and resented both him and her. After Safdarjung survived an assassination attempt in 1749 (plotted by Javed Khan), due to his response{{clarify|reason=who is "his"? Javed Khan or Safdarjung?|date=September 2016}} tensions erupted in the Mughal court when he tried to de-legitimise any relatives of his predeceasing Grand Viziers he also tried to drive out all the members of the imperial Afghan faction from positions of authority due to the stipends they received from the eunuch. These policies brought Safdarjung in conflict with the principal members of the Turani Faction and particularly Javed Khan.{{citation needed|date=September 2016}}

In 1750, Javed Khan arrested the Mughal commander [[Salabat Khan]], who had demanded pay for his 18,000 troops who had been recalled to [[Delhi]] after completing the assigned expedition against [[Marwar]]. While imprisoned, Salabat Khan sold all his property to pay his troops in order to halt a possible revolt and thenceforth lived in poverty like a [[Dervish]].

Angered by the policies of the Grand Vizier, [[Ahmad Khan Bangash]]{{Who|date=September 2016}} attacked Safdarjung's possessions in [[Awadh]], during which Safdarjung was wounded in the neck.

===Maratha Proctorate===

 

In the year 1752 the [[Maratha Confederacy]] imposed a unilateral proctorate over the Mughal imperial court in Delhi.<ref>Gordon, Stewart (1993). The Marathas 1600–1818, Volume 2. Cambridge University Press.</ref>

 

This move caused the emperor and his subjects to retaliate {{Citation needed|reason=need more support for the retaliation of his subjects|date=September 2019}} against the [[Peshwa]] in 1754.

 

In May 1753, Ahmad Shah Bahadur chose the 18-year-old [[Ghazi-ud-din-Feroze Jung III]], the son of the dead Intizam-ud-Daula, to counter the growing influence of Safdarjung. Feroze Jung III gathered opposition to Safdarjung, and was joined by [[Hafiz Rahmat Khan Barech]], Qudsia Begum and Ahmad Shah Bahadur himself. Safdarjung was defeated and stripped of his estates and authority but the influence of supporters such as [[Suraj Mal]] meant that he was forgiven and allowed to withdraw to Awadh.

Feroze Jung III then emerged as the new [[regent]]. His prowess was feared by Ahmad Shah Bahadur, who soon became estranged from him after Feroze Jung III collected 1,500,000 ''dams'' and refused to pay salaries to the Mughal army and imperial officials. Ahmad Shah Bahadur soon after declared Safdarjung to be his Grand Vizier. He tried to have Feroze Jung III removed from the imperial court, which caused Feroze Jung III to send Aqibat Mahmud to arrest the emperor and then seek an alliance with the Maratha's force led by [[Sadashivrao Bhau]], the cousin of the Peshwa [[Balaji Baji Rao|Nanasaheb I]]

Even though [[cannon]]s and [[sharpshooter]]s were loaded upon the [[elephants]]. The Emperor was defeated at Sikandarabad by the [[Maratha empire]].<ref name="hinduhistory.info">{{cite web|url=http://www.hinduhistory.info/the-last-raid-dying-embers-of-the-mughal-empire/|title=The Last Raid : Dying Embers of the Mughal Empire|website=Hindu History}}</ref>

According to the Marathas, 8000 warriors were captured (mostly women<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kSYkCQAAQBAJ&q=ahmad+shah+bahadur+abandoned+the+women+of+his+family&pg=PA261|title=The Muslim Diaspora (Volume 2, 1500-1799): A Comprehensive Chronology of the Spread of Islam in Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas|first=Everett Jenkins|last=Jr|date=7 May 2015|publisher=McFarland|isbn=9781476608891|via=Google Books}}</ref>). And the imperial household was humiliated.<ref name="hinduhistory.info"/>

But Feroze Jung III and his allies had realised this plan. Aided by the Marathas, led by [[Malhar Rao Holkar]], he defeated Safdarjung. The Emperor then collected a large army and camped at Sikandarabad, where the Maratha chieftain [[Sadashivrao Bhau]], Malhar Rao Holkar and 2,000 Marathas, together with Feroze Jung III, routed his army at the [[First Battle of Sikandarabad (1754)]].<ref name="singh">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lL-bAwAAQBAJ&pg=PT51|title=Maharaj Suraj Mal 1707-1763|last=Singh|first=K. Natwar|date=2012-12-03|publisher=Rupa Publications India Pvt. Ltd.|isbn=9788129126603|language=en}}</ref> Ahmad Shah fled to Delhi, leaving his mother, wives and a retinue of 8,000 women behind. Feroze Jung III (with the support of [[Raghunathrao]]) proceeded to Delhi, where he imprisoned both the emperor and his mother.

Meanwhile, following the battle at Sikandarabad, the ailing Safdarjung fled to [[Awadh]] and a Mughal general laid siege to Bhurtpore, which Suraj Mal and his Jat rebels controlled. After being reinstated as the Grand Vizier, Feroze Jung III moved out of Delhi to support his lieutenant with a fresh supply of ammunition.{{citation needed|date=January 2018}}

It was during this confrontation that Feroze Jung III claimed that Ahmad Shah Bahadur sent secret dispatches to Suraj Mal, encouraging him to fight and promised to advance to the aid of the [[Jat people|Jats]]. He had intercepted the letters, made peace with [[Suraj Mal]], and returned to Delhi, where he blinded Ahmad Shah. After hearing of this action Safdarjung fell ill and died.{{citation needed|date=January 2018}}

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In 1749 [[Joseph François Dupleix]] allied with Chanda Sahib and Muzaffar Jung, the two strong designated Mughal administrators in the [[Deccan Plateau|Deccan]] and sought bring them into power in their respective regions. Other leaders such as [[Hyder Ali]] also sided with the French. Soon the Chanda Sahib, Muzzafar Jung and the French led by Patissier and [[Marquis de Bussy-Castelnau|De Bussy]] had the capacity to defeat the alarmed [[Nawab of the Carnatic]] [[Anwaruddin Muhammed Khan]] during the [[Battle of Ambur (1749)|Battle of Ambur]].<ref>{{Google books |id=h5_tSnygvbIC |page=756 |title=A Global Chronology of Conflict: From the Ancient World to the Modern Middle East }}</ref>

 

In 1749, [[Ahmad Shah Abdali]] invaded India for a second time. The reasons for the invasion were the same as the first one, he claimed the revenue of 4 districts (Sarkars) of Punjab assigned for the support of the impoverished ''Subah'' of [[Kabul]], an arrangement which existed previously in Mughal times and was imposed on the Mughals after they ceded that Subah to [[Nadir Shah]] in 1739. Abdali's forces fought [[Muin-ul-Mulk]], the Mughal governor of Punjab, to a stalemate, but the latter was duped into signing a treaty accepting Abdali's demands.

The terms of the 1749 not being fulfilled, Abdali invaded India a third time in 1752 and swept all before him before the gates of Lahore. Here a fierce battle was fought, and Muin-ul-Mulk's brave lieutenant, Raja Koramal was killed. Muin-ul-Mulk was captured, but Abdali pardoned him due to his courageousness in battle, afterwards reappointed him governor of the Subah. The Mughal Court became frantic lest a repeat of 1739 should occur. The Grand Wazir, [[Safdar Jung]] enlisted the help of 50,000 Marathas on promise of a large sum of money, but before he could do anything, an equally frantic Emperor signed a peace treaty with the Abdali, acting upon the advice of his mother's favourite, the eunuch [[Javed Khan Nawab Bahadur]]. According to the terms of the treaty, Punjab (including Multan and Sindh) and Kashmir were to be administered by the Abdali in the Emperor's name, and any Governor of the Subah appointed by the Emperor had to have Abdali's approval. This was only a face saving gesture, in reality the Subah's had been ceded to the Afghans. They would be officially annexed by them in 1757, following [[Ghaziuddin]]'s aborted attempt to restore them to Mughal control.

Various chieftains of the Maratha Confederacy had defeated the subjects of Ahmad Shah Bahadur in [[Gujarat]] and [[Orissa, India|Orissa]]. Until 1753 Gujarat continued to be a part of the Mughal Empire, but in that year the Imperial Governor was deposed by the Marathas, and it was during that havoc that the Raj Bovri Mosque complex was destroyed during a massive fray.{{citation needed|date=January 2018}} In response to the annexation of Gujarat, the Mughal Emperor Ahmad Shah Bahadur appointed and strengthened the [[Nawab of Junagarh]] [[Nawab Muhammad Bahadur Khanji]] and bestowed various titles and authority to various entities loyal to the [[Mughal Empire]] in the region.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.collectbritain.co.uk/personalisation/object.cfm?uid=019PHO0000002S6U00070000 |title=Archived copy |access-date=2011-12-17 |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120209012232/http://www.collectbritain.co.uk/personalisation/object.cfm?uid=019PHO0000002S6U00070000 |archive-date=9 February 2012 }}</ref> Ahmad Shah Bahadur and Safdarjung also dispatched Salabat Khan and an army of 18,000 to an expedition to quell all rebels in [[Rajput]] territories and to gather support for the regions garrisons.

In 1751 after defending his territories from the Marathas for nearly 11 years, [[Alivardi Khan]] the [[Nawab of Bengal]], and ''Faujdars'' from various regions such as [[Patna]], [[Dacca]] and [[Orissa, India|Orissa]]<ref>{{cite book|last=Markovits|first=Claude|title=A History of Modern India, 1480-1950|date=1 Feb 2004|publisher=Anthem Press|isbn=9781843310044|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uzOmy2y0Zh4C&q=alivardi+khan&pg=PA194}}</ref> were overrun by large force of Marathas under the command of [[Raghoji I Bhonsle]], who eventually annexed [[Odisha]] for the Maratha Confederacy. Only Midnapore remained in Mughal hands, and [[Alivardi Khan]], the Mughal governor of Bengal, was forced to pay the Chauth tribute to the Marathas, as had been instructed to him by the late Emperor [[Muhammad Shah]].

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The news of Muzaffar Jung's death had created a great sense of shock and panic among the Mughals and the [[French people|French]] were also affected by this unforeseeable event. De Bussy rose to the occasion and almost risked the wrath of the imperial court when he chose his brother [[Salabat Jung]] as the new ''Subedar of the Deccan'', without the approval of Ahmad Shah Bahadur. Together they entered [[Hyderabad, India|Hyderabad]] on 12 April and then marched against the Marathas to strengthen the Mughal garrison at [[Aurangabad, Maharashtra|Aurangabad]] on 18 June.<ref>{{Google books |id=uzOmy2y0Zh4C |page=220 |title=A History of Modern India, 1480–1950 }}</ref> Unwilling to allow his brother to gain power, Intizam-ud-Daula, an influential general in the Mughal army, abandoned his post and threatened to march into the Deccan with an army of 150,000 and overthrow Salabat Jung with the assistance of their Maratha adversary [[Nanasaheb Peshwa|Balaji Bajirao]].

After his deposition in 1754, Ahmad Shah Bahadur was imprisoned at the [[Salimgarh Fort]]. He stayed there for the rest of his life, dying in 1775 at the age of 50 during the reign of Emperor Shah Alam II. One of his sons, [[Jahan Shah IV|Bidar Bakht]] reigned briefly in 1788 as ''Jahan Shah''.