Key Personalities
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Key Personalities
MIR NIZAM ALI KHAN - ASAF JAH II (1734-1803)
- Nizam Ali Khan, Asaf Jah II, the son of Asaf Jah I, rose to power following succession disputes.
- The chaos of succession paved the way for the British and French powers to establish their own footholds in Asaf Jahi politics by supporting rival contenders.
- The French supported Salabat Jung to become the Nizam, and the British incited Nizam Ali Khan, his brother, to rebel against him.
- In 1763, Nizam Ali Khan succeeded to the throne and became the second Asaf Jah.
- After becoming the Nizam, he shifted the capital from Aurangabad to Hyderabad.
- During Nizam Ali Khan’s reign, the British gained political prominence in the Deccan. In 1795, Nizam Ali Khan was defeated in a battle with the Marathas.
- To safeguard his position, he entered into a Subsidiary Alliance with the British in 1798, which made him subservient to British power.
- Since 1799, a British Resident has been stationed in Hyderabad to supervise the state’s governance.
Mir Nizam Ali Khan - Asaf Jah II
NIZAM MAHBOOB ALI KHAN - ASAF JAH VI (1866-1911)
- Mahboob Ali Khan was merely two and a half years old when he was declared the sixth Nizam.
- He was formally acknowledged as the Nizam again after attaining majority in 1884.
- He is remembered for his extravagant lifestyle.
- He went on elaborate hunts and hosted royal guests, including the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Connaught, Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, and Grand Duke Alexander of Russia.
- He was the first Nizam to wear Western clothes and speak English.
- An entire wing of his palace was dedicated to his magnificent wardrobe, the largest in the world. It is said that he never wore the same suit twice!
- He was called ‘Mahboob Pasha’ or ‘Beloved King’ by the common people, who also believed that the Nizam’s spirit was so holy that a mere invocation of his name could ward off the poison of snake bite.
- In 1908, when a disastrous flood hit Hyderabad, killing 15,000 people, the Nizam provided refuge to his subjects in his palace.
- He also tried to appease the Hindu Goddess Bhavani by paying homage to her, as it was widely believed that her anger had incited the calamity. Being a Muslim ruler, this was an unusual move.
- He died at the age of 45 in 1911.
Nizam Mahboob Ali Khan
Nizam Mahboob Ali Khan is shown hunting
NIZAM OSMAN ALI KHAN - ASAF JAH VII (1886-1967)
- Mahboob Ali Khan was succeeded by his son, Mir Osman Ali Khan, as the seventh and the last Nizam in 1911.
- He was one of the wealthiest men in the world.
- A significant chunk of his wealth was accumulated through nazar or valuable gifts offered to the ruler by court attendees as an expression of respect and loyalty.
- Nizam Osman Ali Khan made a few significant contributions to the Hyderabad State, such as the establishment of Osmania University, Osmania Hospital, the State Central Library, and the High Court.
- He was one of the five Indian Princes who were granted the highest salute of 21 guns by the British.
- For his support of the British in the First World War, he was conferred with the title of ‘His Exalted Highness.’
- Nizam Osman Ali Khan decided to declare Hyderabad an independent state on 11 June 1947. The Indian National Congress did not support this.
- The Indian government negotiated with the Nizam to incorporate the Hyderabad State into India, but the negotiations failed.
- Thus, it launched an operation, code-named ‘Operation Polo,’ in Hyderabad in 1948, after which the Nizam’s troops surrendered, and the Hyderabad State was integrated into the Union of India.
Mir Osman Ali Khan, Asaf Jah VII
Nizam Osman Ali Khan