Nizams or Asaf Jahis

(a)  The original name of founder of this autono­mous state of Hyderabad was Chinqilich Khan. Mughal Emperor, "Farrukh Siyar", while appoint­ing him as the Viceroy of Deccan in 1713, conferred on him the title of "Nizam-ul-Mulk" and the Nizam occupied this post of Viceroy till 1715. He again served as the Viceroy of the Deccan for a second term between 1720 and 1722.   He was then appointed as the Wazir (Prime Minis­ter) of the Mughal Empire in 1722 by Emperor Muhammed Shah. But in 1724 he got disgusted with the Mughal court politics and marched off to the Deccan without even waiting for the Emperor's permission.

(b)   After reaching  Deccan,  Nizam-ul-Mulk founded the autonomous state of Hyderabad in 1724.   The Mughal Emperor, unable to punish the Nizam, confirmed him as the Viceroy of Deccan and granted him the second title of "Asaf jah" in 1725. The Nizams as well his successors were practically independent of the Mughal Emperor, though they continued to rec­ognise the latter as their sovereign.

(c) The Nizam undertook various reforms to sta­bilise himself as well as the newly founded state. To begin with he revived agriculture and industry by giving incentives to farmers and artisans: Secondly, he established peace and or­der by suppressing all disaffected nobles and putting down theft and robbery. Thirdly, he also made several efforts to stop the plundering raids of the Marathas. And when he failed in this, he bought peace with them by signing the Trea­ties of Mungishiregaum (1728), Warna (1731) and Durai-Sarai (1738).

The eldest son of Nizam-ul-Mulk succeeded him, but had to fight a War of succession against Muzaffar Jang (son of Nasir's sister) who was supported by the French. Though Nasir enjoyed the support of the English in this war of suc­cession, he was killed in a battle near Gingee by the Nawab of Kurnool who was also an ally of the French.

Muzaffar then became the new Nizam with the help of the French and granted them a few territories as a mark of gratitude. But while marching towards his capital, he was also killed by the Nawabs of Kurnool and Cuddapah near Lakkireddipalli in Rayachoti Taluk of Cuddapah district.

He was the younger brother of Nasir Jang, and he also came to throne with the help of the French. In return for their help, he granted them the four Northern Circars and accepted the stationing of a French force under Bussy at his capital. But when the French were defeated by the Englsih in successive battles between 1758 and 59, he switched sides. Salabat not only asked the French to leave Hyderabad but also ceded certain territories in Andhra to the English in 1759. Moreover he signed a friendship treaty with the English accepting them as his protectors. But all this could not prevent his own younger brother, Nizam Ali, from murdering him and claiming the throne.

After ascending the throne, he assumed the ti­tle of Asaf Jah II. The English, who acquired political power in the state of Hyderabad for the first time in 1759, went on enhancing it during the reigns of Nizam Ali as well as his succes­sors, namely;

Sikandar Jah (1803-29),

Nasir-ud-daula (1829-57),

Afjal-ud-daula (1857-69),

Mahbub Ali Khan (1869-1911), and

Usman Ali Khan (1911-50).

The state of Hyderabad for­mally acceeded to the Union of India in 1950, though the rule of the last Nizam, Usman Ali Khan, came to an end practically in 1948 itself after the famous "Police Action" by the Gov­ernment of Independent India.

1.   Salar Jung I (1853-83)
2.   Salar Jung II (1883-87)
3.   Nawab Asman Jah (1887-93)
4.   Nawab Wiqan-ul-Umra (1893-1901)
5.   Maharaja Kishan Prasad (1901-1912)
6.   Salar Jung III (1912-1947)
7.   Liaquat Ali (1947-48)

They are famous for undertaking various reforms aimed at improving the lot of the people. They include:

(a) Appointment of paid Taluqdars to collect land revenue,

(b) Introduction of "Jila Bandi" system in revenue administration,

(c) Introduction of a new rupee (Halisikka) and establishment of a central mint,

(d) Creation of a separate police department (Mahkama-i-Kotwali) to improve law and order situation

(e) Introduction of Western education by establishing a number of high schools, in­cluding Madarsa-i-Aliya for Royal Children (1878), and even an engineering college (1870),

(f)lmprovement of communications by commis­sioning the Hyderabad-Wadi Railway Line (1878).

1. The British tried to gain political power in Andhra for the first time in 1750 when they supported Nasir Jung against Muzaffar Jang in the succession dispute of Hyderabad. But it ended in failure.

2. But after their victories over the French in 1758 and 59, they could partially fulfill their ambition. They were given the Masulipatnam re­gion and the districts of Nizampatnam, Kondapalli and Wakalmannar by the Nizam Salabat Jang. They also replaced the French as the protectors of the Nizams by signing a friendship treaty with the Nizam.

3. In 1766, the British and Nizam Ali concluded a new offensive-cum-defensive treaty. Kandregula Jogipanthuiu, a famous dubashee of the Northern circars played a crucial role in the conclusion of this treaty. According to this the English were given the four northern circars (Kondaveedu, Eluru, Rajahmundry and Chicacole) in return for the payment of an an­nual tribute of Rs. 8 lakhs to the Nizam. But this alliance did not lost long for in 1767 the Nizam joined hands with Hyder Ali against the English in First Anglo-Mysore war (1766-69). However, the Nizam faced with a crushing de­feat, somersaulted and renewed the alliance with the English by the treaty of Masulipatnam in 1768.

4. The Nizam remained neutral in the second Anglo-Mysore war (1780), but actively cooper­ated with the English against Tipu Sultan in the Third and Fourth Anglo-Mysore Wars in 1790-92 and 1799 respectively and was amply rewarded by getting a share in the Mysore territory.

5. In 1788, the Nizam surrendered the Circar of Mustafanagar (Guntur District) to the British in return for an annual tribute of Rs. 7 lakhs. (In 1823 the four northern Circars as well as Mustafanagar became the full property of the English after they paid a huge lum sum as com­pensation to the Nizam).

6. In 1798, Lord Wellesley, the then Governor-General of British India made Nizam Ali sign the subsidiary Alliance Treaty (It was the first Subsidiary treaty signed by any Indian ruler with the British). And in 1800, the Nizam was made to cede the four districts of Cuddapah, Kurnool, Anantapur and Bellary (which he had got earlier as spoils of the 3rd and 4th Mysore wars and which after 1800 came to be known as the "Ceded Districts") to the British in lieu of pay­ment for the maintenance of the subsidiary force in Hyderabad.

7. In 1802, Lord Wellesley annexed Chittor and Nellore districts under the pretext of misrule by the local Nawabs. Thus, by 1802 the whole of the coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema came un­der the rule of the English East India Company and were a part of the Madras Presidency.

8. In 1803, Lord Wellesley forced SikandarJah, the new Nizam to sign a supplementary treaty by which the forces of Hyderabad were placed at the disposal of the British for any kind of emergency. Henry Ruseel, the British Resident at Hyderabad, founded the Ruseel Brigade in 1811. It later came to be known as the Hydera­bad contingent, and played a crucial role in the Pindari war (1817) and in the suppression of the local rebellious Zamindars (1818-26).

9. In 1853, Lord Dalhousie compelled Nizam Nasir-ud-daula to sign the Treaty of Berar ceding Berar, Osmanabad and Raichur to the Eng­lish in lieu of the arrears and the enhanced pay­ment for the maintenance of the subsidiary force at Hyderabad. .

10. During the Revolt of 1857, the new Nizam, Afjal-ud-daula remained faithful to the British by not only abstaining from the Revolt but also by actively cooperating with the British in sup­pressing the Revolt in North and Central India.

More info on: History of Andhra Pradesh