The Mughal Empire, despite its unprecedented expansion, its enormous military-power and cultural achievements, began to decline in the early eighteenth century. The reign of Aurangzeb was the evening of the Mughals because at this time the Mughal Empire had started to be hollowed out by many diseases. Eight emperors ascended the throne of Delhi in the next fifty-two years after the death of Aurangzeb. But they were so incompetent and weak that they could not handle the falling empire. In different parts of the country, domestic and foreign powers established small and big states. Many territories like Bengal, Awadh and Deccan fell out of Mughal control. TheNizamul Mulk in the moment, Murshidkuli Khan in Bengal and Saadat Ali Khan in Oudh gained their independence declared. The same route was followed by the Afghan Pathans of Rohilkhand.
The Marathas also made Poona the center of their political activities by capturing Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Malwa and Gujarat. Even after this, the influence of the Mughal Empire was so much that the pace of decline was very slow. Foreign invaders from the north-west started attacking the empire and trading companies started interfering in Indian politics. In fact Bajirao I in 1737 AD and in 1739 AD Nadirshah Invasions of Delhi exposed the hollowness of the Mughal Empire and the decline of this empire was clearly visible in 1740 AD.
Later Mughal Emperors
After the death of Aurangzeb in March, 1707, his three surviving sons– Muazzam, Azam and Kambakhsh There was a war of succession. Near Lahore Pul-e-Shah At a place called Muazzam on 22 April 1707 AD did his coronation. He replaced Azam on June 8, 1707. and Kambakhsh near Hyderabad on January 3, 1709. He was defeated and killed and himself ascended the throne in the name of Bahadur Shah (I).
Bahadur Shah (I), 1709 AD-1712 AD (Bahadur Shah (First), 1709 AD-1712 AD)
Bahadur Shah I was 63 years old at the time of his ascension and could not work actively. He became so careless towards the administration by being engrossed in luxuries that his title was 'Shahe Bekhbar ' happened. Still, he Shivaji 's grandson Shahu, who was imprisoned by the Mughals from 1689 AD Was in, freed and allowed to go to Maharashtra.
Peaceful relations were also established with Rajput kings during the time of Bahadur Shah and their territories were returned. Bahadur Shah had to take action against the Sikhs because its leader Banda Bahadur started a massive campaign against the Mughals in Punjab. The banda was defeated near Lohagarh. The Mughals re-conquered Sirhind in 1711 AD Even after doing everything, Bahadur Shah could not make the Sikhs his friend.
Bahadur Shah died on 27 February 1712 AD. According to Sydney Owen 'This was the last king for whom few good words can be said. The rapid and complete decline of the Mughal Empire after this was a sign of the political insignificance and powerlessness of the Mughal emperors. In fact, the reign of Bahadur Shah was the last glimpse of the great Mughal splendor which ended quickly thereafter.
War of Succession
After Bahadur Shah's death (27 February 1712 AD) his four sons- Jahandar Shah, Azim-us-Shan, Rafi-us-Shan and Jahanshah in 14 March War for Succession in 1712 AD got started. His sons showed so much shame for succession that Bahadur Shah's body could not be buried for a month. In the succession war of Bahadur Shah's sons, on the one hand his son was Azim-us-Shan, on the other hand his other three sons (Jahandarshah, Rafi-us-Shan and Jahanshah) were fighting unitedly. Finally, in the court Iranian party leader Zulfiqar Khan With the help of Jahandarshah 29 March 1712 AD succeeded in becoming the emperor.
Jahandarshah, 1712 AD-1713 AD (Jahandarshah, 1712 AD-1713 AD)
As soon as he became the emperor, Jahandar Shah rewarded Zulfikar Khan with a mansab of 10 thousand and the post of Prime Minister (Wazir). Zulfiqar Khan's father Asad Khan Was awarded Mansab of 12 thousand and was given the title of 'Vakil Mutlak' was allowed to remain in the post. Apart from this, Asad Khan was given the Subedari of Gujarat and his son Zulfikar Khan the South Also given.
After becoming the emperor, Jahandarshah made a dancing girl Lalkunwar's 'Imtiaz Mahal' Awarded the title of and allowed the use of royal alum and nakkare during his travels. From the descriptions of contemporary writers, it seems that Jahandarshah had forgotten the royal custom and decorum in his love for Lalkunwar.
But Jahandar Shah was challenged by Azim-us-Shan's son Farrukhsiyar with the help of Syed brothers Gave. On 10 January 1713 AD Farrukhsiyar's troops defeated Jahandarshah's army in the battle of Samugarh done. The assassination of Zulfikar Khan and Jahandarshah on 11 February 1713 AD Has been done. Thus Jahandarshah was the first emperor of Timur's dynasty who proved to be absolutely unfit for governance.
Farrukhsiyar, 1713 AD-1719 AD (Farrukhsiyar, 1713 AD-1719 AD)
Farrukhsiyar entered Delhi on February 12, 1713 AD. Grateful Farrukhsiyar pays tribute to Syed Abdullah Khan Barha 'Qutub-ul-Mulk Yare Loyal Zafarjung' He was rewarded with the title of Wazir and the Subedari of Multan with a mansab of seven thousand. His younger brother Hussain Ali Khan Baraha was named 'Amir-ul-Umra Firozjung' and was awarded the title of Mirbakshi. Apart from this, he was also given a mansab of seven thousand and the Subedari of Bihar.
The Mughals got victory over the Sikhs during the reign of Farrukhsiyar and their leader Banda Bahadur Gurdaspur He was captured in his place and was murdered in Delhi on June 19, 1716. In 1717 AD, Farrukhsiyar gave many trade-related reais to the British East India Company He gave orders, which also included trading through Bengal route without paying customs duty.
But Emperor Farrukhsiyar soon got fed up with the Sayyid brothers and tried to get free from them. For this he hatched a conspiracy, but the Sayyid brothers were smarter than the emperor and with the help of Maratha soldiers took Farrukhsiyar captive. Badshah to Rafi-ud-Darjat on 28 February 1719 AD Declared and assassinated Farrukhsiyar on April 29, 1719 Done.
After Farrukhsiyar, the Syed brothers had three princes - Rafi-ud-Darjat, Rafi-ud-Daula and then Roshan Akhtar (Naseeruddin Muhammad Shah) was placed on the throne of Delhi.
Naseeruddin Muhammad Shah (Roshan Akhtar) Naseeruddin Muhammad Shah (Roshan Akhtar)
Naseeruddin Muhammad Shah 'Rangeela ' At the time of the Turani Amirs, on October 9, 1720, Husain Ali Khan Baraha was killed and on November 15, 1720, Abdullah Khan Baraha was imprisoned been made. It was during Muhammad Shah's tenure that Nizam-ul-Mulk laid the foundation of an independent state in the south. At the same time, Saadat Khan established almost independent kingdoms in the provinces of Awadh and Murshidkuli Khan in Bengal, Bihar and Orissa. In March, 1737, Bajirao I besieged Delhi with only 500 cavalry soldiers And the emperor was about to run away in fear. Nadir Shah invaded India in 1739 AD Taxes destroyed the Mughal Empire. He took a huge amount of wealth and went back.
The Rise and Fall of the Syed brothers
Syed brothers mean Syed Abdullah Khan Baraha (1666-9 October 1720 AD) and Syed Hussain Ali Khan Baraha (1668-12 October 1722 AD) Named from two brothers who were powerful generals in the Mughal Empire. The name of the elder brother of the Sayyid brothers was Hasan Ali Khan who was known as 'Abdullah Khan'. The younger brother's name was Hussain Ali Khan. Both the brothers, by assessing the contemporary conditions, achieved success in the politics of the later Mughal court with their diplomatic tricks. During the declining Mughal period, when there was a lack of qualified rulers and there was a competition for the throne among the Mughal princes, at that time the Sayyid brothers were successful in controlling the politics of the then Mughal court on the strength of their diplomatic ability.
In fact in the history of the later Mughal period (from 1713 to 1720 AD) the Sayyid brothers were the most powerful in the Mughal court who used their influence to appoint the successor of the Mughal Empire , due to which he is called Kingmaker was called The Syed brothers were leaders of the Hindustani Dal and often represented anti-Mughal and quasi-national interests.
The Sayyids were the descendants of Hazrat Muhammad and had lived in India for many centuries, especially in the regions of the Doab and Muzaffarpur. twelve (flood) villages K Abdullah Khan and Hussain Ali were the descendants of Abul Farah, who came from Mesopotamia and settled near Patiala a few centuries ago. The Syed brothers were appointed as Faujdars during the reign of Aurangzeb. Both the brothers kept increasing their power.
After the death of Aurangzeb, when the war of succession for the Mughal throne took place, the Sayyid brothers played a very important role and provided financial assistance to Prince Muazzam. Bahadur Shah I (Muazzam) after succeeding in the war of succession rewarded him suitably and made him 4000 ka mansabdar appointed. Not only this, Bahadur Shah I gave the title of Abdullah Khan to Hasan Ali Khan Di and gave the younger brother Hussain Ali the Subedari of Bidar region, which increased the power of both the brothers greatly.
In 1708 AD Prince Azim-us-Shan appointed Hussain Ali to a prominent post in Bihar And in 1711 AD, Abdullah Khan was appointed as his Naib in Allahabad province. It was because of these favors of Prince Azim-us-Shan that the Sayyid-brothers participated in the war on behalf of his son Farrukhsiyar He took and killed Jahandar Shah and put the crown of Delhi on Farrukhsiyar.
Grace Farrukhsiyar appointed Syed Abdullah Khan as his Wazir or Prime Minister and Nawab Qutb-ul-Mulk, Yameen-ud-Daula, Syed Abdullah Khan Bahadur, Zafarjung, Sepahsalar, Yaar He was bestowed with the titles of E-faither. Similarly, younger brother Hussain Ali was appointed Mirbakshi, who was actually the chief general, and conferred the titles of Umadtulmulk, Amirul Umra Bahadur Firozjung Warlord.
According to Khafi Khan it was Farrukhsiyar's first mistake that he appointed Abdullah Khan as his Wazir and then he could not get rid of him. Perhaps Farrukhsiyar had no choice but to do so. The giving of such an important post to the Sayyid brothers aroused the jealousy of the Turani and Iranian chiefs and they left no stone unturned to humiliate and defeat these two brothers.
India in the Eighteenth Century
Mir Jumla
The most active of the rival chieftains of the Sayyid brothers was Mir Jumla, who was a benevolent of the emperor. He also enjoyed the sympathy and support of the Turani chieftains. The emperor did not have the strength of character and the power of independent thought. He became a puppet in the hands of these powerful parties, the result of which was very fatal. The emperor allowed Mir Jumla to sign the edicts on his behalf and said that 'Mir Jumla's words and signatures are my words and signatures'. It cannot happen without consultation. Khafi Khan believes that Sayyidbandhu was right in his place and that the emperor's transfer of his power to Mir Jumla was against the rules of the post of Wajrat. Meanwhile, under the influence of Mir Jumla, the emperor appointed Husain Ali as the Subedar of the Deccan.
Husain Ali did not want to leave his brother alone amidst the court's intrigues. He sought permission from the emperor to implement this subedari by his naib, that is, he would remain in Delhi and his naib would act as the subedar of the Deccan on his behalf. At the behest of Mir Jumla, the emperor rejected Husain Ali's offer and ordered him to go to the Deccan. The matter increased so much that the Sayyid brothers stopped coming to the court and made complete arrangements for their defense. Due to the intervention of the Rajmata, external courtesy was re-established and it was decided that Hussain Ali would go to look after the Subedari of the Deccan and in the same way Mir Jumla would go to Patna.
Farrukhsiyar was not satisfied with this upper containment. He sent several messages to the Subedar of Gujarat, Dawood Khan, that he should kill Hussain Ali and in return he would be given a lot of reward. Hussain Ali came to know about this conspiracy and fought with Dawood Khan and killed him.
Farrukhsiyar again conspired against Hussain Ali. उसने शाहू और कर्नाटक के जागीरदारों को गुप्त-संदेश भेजा कि वे हुसैनअली का आदेश न मानें, किंतु हुसैनअली सम्राट से ज्यादा चालाक था। उसने दक्कन में अपनी कार्य-प्रणाली बदल दी। उसने दकन में मुगल शासन स्थापित करने के बजाय मराठों से मित्रता कर ली और शाहू से 1719 ई. में एक संधि कर ली, जिसके अनुसार मराठों को बहुत सारी रियायतें दी गई और उसके बदले मराठों ने दिल्ली में हो रहे सत्ता-संघर्ष में उसे सैनिक सहायता देने का वचन दिया।
इसी बीच सम्राट एक निम्न कुल के कश्मीरी मुहम्मद मुराद अथवा इत्काद खाँ के प्रभाव में आ गया और अब्दुल्ला खाँ के स्थान पर इत्काद खाँ को वजीर बनाना चाहा। सम्राट ने ईद-उल-फितर के अवसर पर लगभग 70,000 सैनिक एकत्र कर लिया। अब्दुल्ला खाँ ने भी डरकर एक विशाल सेना एकत्रित कर ली क्योंकि चर्चा थी कि अब्दुल्ला खाँ को बंदी बना लिया जायेगा। लगा कि सम्राट और वजीर की सेनाओं में संघर्ष होकर ही रहेगा।
जब हुसैनअली को अपने भाई और सम्राट के संबंधों के विषय में सूचना मिली तो वह मराठा सैनिकों को लेकर दिल्ली पर चढ़ आया। सम्राट और सैयद बंधुओं की टक्कर निश्चित थी। अब्दुल्ला खाँ ने महत्त्वपूर्ण सरदारों को लालच देकर अपनी ओर मिला लिया था जिसमें सरबुलंद खाँ, निजाम-उल-मुल्क और अजीतसिंह जैसे लोग शामिल थे। वातावरण अनुकूल होने पर सैयद बंधुओं ने सम्राट के समक्ष अपनी माँगें रखी। सम्राट ने उनकी सभी माँगों को स्वीकार कर लिया। अब सम्राट की समस्त अभिभावकता सैयद बंधुओं के हाथों में आ गई, सभी दुर्गों की रक्षा सैयद बंधुओं द्वारा नियुक्त व्यक्तियों के हाथ में दे दी गई तथा इत्काद खाँ को पदच्युत् कर दिया गया। किंतु अब अविश्वास इतना बढ़ चुका था कि सैयद बंधुओं ने 28 अप्रैल, 1719 ई. को सम्राट की हत्या कर दी।
सैयद बंधुओं का दिल्ली पर प्रभुत्व
फर्रुखसियर के वध के बाद सैयद बंधुओं का प्रभाव पूर्णरूपेण स्थापित हो गया। उन्होंने रफी-उद-दरजात को सम्राट बनाया, किंतु शीघ्र ही क्षय रोग से उसकी मृत्यु हो गई। इसके बाद उन्होंने रफी-उद-दौला को सम्राट बना दिया और उसकी भी पेचिस से मौत हो गई। अब सम्राट-निर्माताओं ने जहानशाह के 18 वर्षीय पुत्र मुहम्मदशाह को सम्राट बनाया। इस समय सैयद बंधु अपनी शक्ति के चरमोत्कर्ष पर थे। उनका इतना प्रभुत्व था कि उन्हीं के कार्यकर्त्ता महलों के परिचारक थे, उन्हीं के सैनिक रक्षक थे और सम्राट का राजकीय कार्यों में कोई दखल नहीं था। मुहम्मदशाह के प्रति सैयद बंधुओं के इस दुर्व्यहार के विषय में खाफी खाँ लिखता है कि ‘सम्राट के चारों ओर भृत्य तथा पदाधिकारी पहले की ही तरह अब्दुल्ला के व्यक्ति थे। अब्दुल्ला के अनुचरों ने एक प्रकार से सम्राट को बंदी बना रखा था। यदि वह बाहर जाता अथवा शिकार पर जाता तो यही लोग उसे घेरे रहते और उसे लेकर जाते अथवा वापस लाते। राजमाता ने एक स्थान पर लिखा है कि सम्राट को केवल नमाज पढ़ने के लिए जाने की अनुमति थी, अन्यथा वह सभी प्रकार से सैयद बंधुओं के अधीन था।
सैयद बंधु हिंदुओं के समर्थन पर निर्भर थे। एक साधारण गल्ले के व्यापारी रत्नचंद को ‘राजा ’ की उपाधि से विभूषित किया गया और उसे शासन तथा राज्य के बहुत सारे अधिकार दिये गये। खाफी खाँ के अनुसार रत्नचंद की सत्ता दीवानी, माल तथा कानूनी सभी मामलों में थी, यहाँ तक कि काजियों तथा अन्य पदाधिकारियों की नियुक्ति में भी उसी का हाथ होता था। इससे दूसरे पदाधिकारियों की अनदेखी होने लगी और उसी की आज्ञा का पालन होने लगा। दो राजपूत महाराजे, आमेर के जयसिंह तथा जोधपुर के अजीतसिंह भी सैयद बंधुओं के अंतरंग थे। मराठे भी उनके समर्थक थे। फर्रुखसियर की मृत्यु के बाद जजिया पुनः हटा दिया गया और अहमद नगर के सूबेदार अजीतसिंह ने वहाँ गोहत्या पर प्रतिबन्ध लगा दिया।
सैयद बंधुओं का पतन (The Fall of the Syed brothers)
सैयद बंधुओं ने अपने प्रभाव से ईरानी और तूरानी सरदारों को लगभग शून्य कर दिया था। मुगल रक्त का गौरव और साम्राज्य की भावना एकीकरण की एक बहुत बड़ी भावना थी। इस मुगल प्रतिक्रांति का नेता चिनकिलिच खाँ था, जिसे प्रायः निजामुलमुल्क के नाम से जाना जाता है। सैयद बंधुओं ने उसे मालवा का सूबेदार बनाकर दिल्ली से बाहर भेज दिया। निजामुलमुल्क ने अनुभव किया कि बल-प्रयोग से राज्य-परिवर्तन संभव नहीं है और वह दकन की ओर चला गया। उसने असीरगढ़ और बुरहानपुर के दुर्ग जीत लिये और आलमअली कुली खाँ को, जो हुसैनअली का दत्तक पुत्र और दकन का नायब सूबेदार था, मार डाला।
उधर दिल्ली में एतमादुद्दौला, सआदतअली खाँ और हैदर खाँ ने सैयद बंधुओं से छुटकारा पाने के लिए एक योजना बनाई। राजमाता जो अब्दुल्ला खाँ पर आश्रित थीं, इस योजना में शामिल थीं। हैदर खाँ ने हुसैनअली को मारने का बीड़ा उठाया। 8 अक्टूबर, 1720 को जब हुसैनअली दरबार से वापस लौट रहा था, तो योजनानुसार हैदर खाँ ने उसे एक याचिका दी। जब हुसैनअली याचिका को पढ़ने लगा, तो हैदर खाँ ने छुरे से उसकी हत्या कर दी। इस प्रकार अर्विन के शब्दों में ‘भारतीय कर्बला में दूसरे यजीद ने दूसरे हुसैन को शहीद कर दिया।’
अपने भाई की मौत का बदला लेने के लिए अब्दुल्ला खाँ ने एक बड़ी सेना एकत्रित की और मुहम्मदशाह के स्थान पर एक और कठपुतली को सिंहासन पर बैठाने का प्रयास किया, किंतु 13 नवंबर, 1720 ई. को वह हसनपुर के स्थान पर पराजित हो गया और बंदी बना लिया गया। दो वर्ष बाद 11 अक्टूबर, 1722 ई. को उसे विष देकर मार दिया गया।
नादिरशाह का आक्रमण (Nadir Shah’s Invasion)
सैयद बंधुओं का मूल्यांकन (Evaluation of Syed brothers)
कम से कम फर्रुखसियर ने सैयद बंधुओं के साथ न्याय नहीं किया। सम्राट द्वारा निरंतर किये जा रहे षड्यंत्रों के कारण सैयद बंधु निराशा की चरमसीमा तक पहुँच गये। उन्हें आभास हो गया था कि सम्राट के रहते वे सुरक्षित नहीं हैं, इसलिए उन्होंने सम्राट को समाप्त करने में ही अपना कल्याण समझा, जो उचित ही था। सैयद बंधुओं ने अपने प्रभाव से अपने प्रतिद्वंदियों को निरस्त्र कर दिया और उसके बाद होनेवाले सम्राटों को लगभग शून्य कर दिया।
सैयद बंधु हिंदुस्तानी मुसलमान थे और वे इसमें गौरव का अनुभव करते थे। वे तूरानी दल की श्रेष्ठता को स्वीकार करने को तैयार नहीं थे और न ही उनमें किसी प्रकार की हीनभावना ही थी। किंतु यह कहना कठिन है कि वे मुगलों या विदेशी शासकों के स्थान पर राष्ट्रीय शासन स्थापित करना चाहते थे। धार्मिक क्षेत्र में सैयद बंधुओं ने सहिष्णुता की नीति अपनाई जो अकबर के दिनों की याद दिलाती है। उन्होंने 1713 ई. में जजिया को हटा दिया और जब वह पुनः लगाया गया, तो पुनः हटा दिया। उन्होंने हिंदुओं का विश्वास जीता और उन्हें ऊँचे पदों पर आसीन किया। रत्नचंद की दीवान के रूप में नियुक्ति इस बात का प्रमाण है। उन्होंने राजपूतों को भी अपनी ओर मिलाया और महाराजा अजीतसिंह को विद्रोही से मित्र बना लिया। यहाँ तक कि अजीतसिंह ने अपनी बेटी का विवाह फर्रुखसियर के साथ कर दिया था।
सैयद बंधुओं ने जाटों से भी सहानुभूति दिखाई और उन्हीं के हस्तक्षेप से जाटों ने थूरी दुर्ग का घेरा उठा लिया और चूड़ामन अप्रैल, 1718 ई. में दिल्ली आया। सबसे प्रमुख बात यह थी कि मराठों ने भी सैयद बंधुओं का साथ दिया और छत्रपति मुगल सम्राट का नायक बन गया। यदि उनकी प्रबु( धार्मिक नीति का अनुसरण उनके उत्तराधिकारी करते, तो निश्चय ही भारत का इतिहास भिन्न होता। खाफी खाँ ने लिखा है कि जो लोग कट्टरपंथी और स्वार्थी नहीं थे, उन्हें सैयद बंधुओं के शासन से कोई शिकायत नहीं थी। वे अपने समय के हातिम थे।
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