Saiyid Brothers

The Saiyid Brothers were members of a noble family in Mughal India who played a significant role in the consolidating of the Mughal Empire in Akbar's time and after the reign of the emperor Aurangzeb in the early 18th century. The Saiyid Brothers were the two most powerful men in the Mughal Empire at that time, having risen through the ranks of the Mughal court to become King makers. One of them was called 'Abdullah Khan' styled Qutubul Mulk and the other was Amiral Umara 'Husain Ali Khan'. The Saiyid Brothers were most infamous for reducing legitimate Mughal princes to puppets. This would be achieved by using considerable force when necessary, including disabling the princes who refused to play along by gouging out their eyes. In addition, their family enjoyed elevated social status by virtue of being Saiyids or descendants of Prophet Muhammad. Their descendants in India (and in Pakistan now) are believed to be among the most authentic descendants of the Prophet living in the Indian Subcontinent.

History

The Saiyids/Sayyeds, who are descendants of the Caliph Ali and Fatimah, and the Alvis (who are descended from other wives of Ali and are generally included in the former), are said to have come to India after the destruction of Baghdad by the Mongols, making their way over land through Persia. Among the first to arrive was one Nasir-Uddin, a descendant of Jaffar - the sixth Imam, from whom the Saadat-e-Bara (Barha/Bara, or 12, Saiyids) of the Muzaffarnagar district claim to have sprung. Nasir-Uddin, who was a holy man and was buried in a tomb still standing in Northern India, left many descendants who still reside in the Naugian Mohalla and other parts of the town. Other family members included, are descendents of soldiers who had arrived in India from the Middle East with the army of Amir Timur.

The Barha Saiyids came to prominence in the Mughal nobility during the reign of Emperor Aurangzeb. They capitalized on the power vacuum after the death of Aurangzeb and took over much of the power of the Mughals themselves, gaining great power and wealth.

Ultimately, they were able not only to influence the affairs of State but also to choose who became the next Emperor. They used their wealth to build their own armies and had a loyal band of men who did their bidding. The armies of the Saiyid brothers were the chief means by which they became 'Kingmakers', since this enabled them to impose their agenda on the emperor, using force if necessary.

They did much to undermine the power of the Mughal Emperors, since mughal power lost its support base from Rajputana and lack of strong successors to Aurangzeb, ultimately contributed to the fragmentation of the Mughal Empire. They were later overthrown and executed by court rivals future Nizam of Hyderabad & future Nawab of Awadh. They are said to have invited Marathas to solve palace intrigue in 1714-1717 barely 7 years after death of Aurangzeb. The damage done by them to the authority of the Mughal Empire may have been more than that caused by external foes, such as the Marathas.

Their present day descendants are known as Saadat-e-Barha and still mainly reside in various parts of the Northern Indian Subcontinent.

Also known as

There are several different spellings and terms for the Saiyid Brothers.

*Saiyad brothers
*Sayads of Barha
*Saadat Bara
*Saiyids of Barha
*Saiyids of Baraha
*Saiyids of Bara
*Saeeds of Barha
*Saids of Barha
*Sayeeds of Barha
*Sayids of Barha
*Sayeed brothers
*Saeed brothers

ee also

Saadat-e-Bara/Saadat-e-Barha These villages may have been originally settled by the Saiyid brothers.

Saadat Khan He played a major role in the overthrow of the Saiyid Brothers.