- Alivardi Khan
Ali Vardi Khan was the independent
Nawab of Bengal between 1740 and 1756.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 .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".
Life
He was a
Shiite Muslim and his forefathers were originally fromTurkey . His father Mirza Muhammad Madani was an employee ofAzam Shah , the son of Mughal emperorAurangzeb . 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 SubdedarSuza-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 asBihar ’s assistant Subedar (governor).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 emperorMuhammad Shah .Death
He died in
16 April 1756 . His grandsonSiraj-ud-Daula succeeded Ali Vardi Khan as the Nawab of Bengal in April 1756 at the age of 23.Reign
During his reign Bengal was attacked twice by the
Nagpur Kingdom underRaghoji I Bhonsle in 1746 and 1750. This caused the loss ofCuttack to Nagpur in 1750.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.
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