The family of the Nizams of Hyderabad is one of the most illustrious that ever came to

India. Khaja Abid, grandfather of the first Nizam, was born in Aliabad near Samarkhand in the kingdom of Bukhara. His father, Alam Shaik, was a well-known Sufi and celebrated man of letters. Alam Shaik originally belonged to Suhraward, a town in Kurdistan, and his descent can be traced to Shaik Shahabuddin Suhrawardy, who was a great spiritual teacher and author of eminent works of Islamic philosophy. Khaja Abid's mother was of the family of Mir Hamdan, a distinguished Syed of Samarkhand.Khaja Abid, who had held the high office of Qazi (Judge) and Shaik-ul-Islam, first visited India during the reign of Shah Jehan (Mughal Emperor) in 1655 on his way to Mecca. He presented himself at the Imperial Court where he won favours and robe of honour. He was offered a position in the Emperor's service, which he agreed to accept after his return from Mecca.In 1657 Khaja Abid returned from his pilgrimage and joined the service of Aurangzeb (Mughal Emperor). At that time Aurangzeb was in the Deccan preparing for the war of succession to the Mughal throne. Khaja Abid, besides being a learned man, was well versed in the art of war. Aurangzeb gave him an important post in the Imperial army. He was granted a high rank of 3000 Zat and 500 Sawars and the title of 'Khan'.After succeeding in the war of succession, Aurangzeb made him the Governor of Ajmer and subsequently of Multan with the title of 'Qalich Khan'. He served the Emperor with distinction particularly during the early years of Aurangzeb's reign while he was consolidating and restoring peace in his newly acquired territory.On 30th January, 1687 during the siege of Golconda while leading the Imperial armies against the Qutb Shahi King, Qalich Khan died when he was struck fatally by a cannon ball. Qalich Khan was survived by five sons, and his eldest son Shahabuddin Khan, entitled Ghaziuddin Khan Feroz Jung, earned the position of highest distiction in the Mughal Court. He married Safia Khanum, daughter of Saadullah Khan, the famous Prime Minister of Shah Jehan, and by her had a son named Qamaruddin, afterwards the celebrated Nizam-ul-Mulk, the founder of the Asaf Jahi Dynasty..After the illustrious era of the Qutub Shahis, the city of Hyderabad came under the rule of the mighty Mughal Aurangazeb. Mir Qamaruddin, the son of an able officer of Aurangazeb was a favorite of the emperor. He served as a minister under the Mughal emperor Muhammad Shah and was conferred with the title of Asif Jah. Consequently he rose to the post of the Viceroy of Deccan while still very young. In due course, he wielded such undisputed power that the enraged Aurangazeb ordered his assassination. The task was entrusted to Mobariz Khan, the local governor of Hyderabad. But this was not to happen. The attempt backfired and Mobariz Khan was killed in A.D. 1724.

A Brief History Of ...

The Asif Jahi ( Nizams) Dynasty

QUTUB SHAHI TOMBS

The Asif Jahi dynasty spanned seven

generations from A.D. 1724 to 1948, a period

much longer than the preceding Qutub Shahis.

Mir Qamaruddin assumed the title of Nizam- Emperor. Such was his loyalty.

ul-Mulk and conducted himself as a Asif Jah passed away in 1948, at the ripe old independent prince. This led to the age of 77. He is remembered as a resolute and establishment of the Asif Jahi dynasty, named able administrator, yet devoted to his family after the title of it's founder.and friends. He laid the firm foundations of the

The Asif Jahi dynasty spanned seven Asif Jahi dynasty in the Deccan.

generations from A.D. 1724 to 1948, a period

much longer than the preceding Qutub

Shahis. The state covered an extensive 95,337 The fourth son of the Nizam-ul-Mulk, Nizam Ali

sq. miles - An area larger than Mysore or Khan was born on 24th February, 1734. He

Gwalior and the size of Nepal and Kashmir put assumed the Subedari of the Deccan at the

together! With the diversity of languages and age of 28 years and ruled the Deccan for

peoples, sheer size and culture Hyderabad almost 42 years - The longest period among

gained a nationwide the Nizams. His reign was one of the

importance under most important chapters in the

t h i s d y n a s t y . history of the Asaf Juhi dynasty.

Historians however, Among his efforts to consolidate the

are quick to mention N i z a

t h at t h e N i z a m s m empire was

could not parallel the contributions made to the shift of the

the state by the Qutb Shahis.Deccan capital

f r o m

Aurangabad to

Born on 11th August 1691, Mir Qamaruddin Hyderabad. He

was a courageous warrior and extremely loyal r u l e d t h e

to the Mughal emperor. Aurangazeb gave him Deccan at a

the name Qamaruddin. At the age of six he most critical

came to the court with his father and work p e r i o d . H e

awarded the title of "Munsab". The emperor protected the

took a special liking to the boy and predicted Deccan from

his future greatness. At the age of 20 he the attack of

received the title "Chin Qalich Khan" from the Marathas and Tippu Sultan of Mysore by

emperor Aurangazeb and was soon given the signing a mutual protection treaty with the

governorship of the Bijapur. British.

Nadir Shah's invasion of Delhi took place in After a reign that played a pivotal role in the

1 7 3 8. It was Mir establishment of the Nizam dynasty, Nizam Ali

Q a m a ru d d i n Khan died in 1803 at

who intervened and the age of 69. He was

n e g o t i a t e d a buried at the Mecca

s u c cessful truce. Masjid alongside the

I m p ressed with the tomb of his mother

N i z am-ul-Mulk's Umda Begum.

abili ty, the Shah

offe red the empire

o f India to him.

M i r Q z m z r u d d i n

refu s e d , o w i n g This Akbar Ali Khan

a l l e giance to the

Nizam 2 : NIZAM ALI KHAN (1734-1803)

Nizam 1 : MIR QAMARUDDIN (1671-1748)

Nizam 3 : MIR AKBAR

ALI KHAN (1768-

1829)

Nizam II

Nizam III

Nizam I

.After the illustrious era of the Qutub Shahis, the city of Hyderabad came under the rule of the mighty Mughal Aurangazeb.

Sikander Jah was born on 11th Nov 1768 .After

the death of the Nizam Ali Khan he became the

Subedar Jah was ratified by the emperor Shah

Alam Khan and he also conferred all his father's

titles on Sikander Jah

Mir Mahaboob Ali Khan was born on 17th August 186. He was the only son of Nawab

Mir Farkhanda Al i Afzal-Khan Nusir-ud-Daulu ud-was born in Bidar on 25 Daulth April 1794. He was the eldest son of Sikander Jan and after his father's death he succeeded him on 23 rd may 1829.During the reign of his father a number of Brit ish o f f i c e r s w e r e employed on several

civil services. Hence on ascending the throne is 1829 one of the first ads of this highness was to request the Governor general ,Lord William Bentick to the European officers.

a .When his father died he was two years and seven months old. He was installed as the Munsab by Sir Salar Jung the Great, Nawab Rasheeduddin Khan, Shar-ul-Ummul and the Resident, there functioned as the Reyab. Shar-

Mir Tahniath Ali ul-Ummul passed away on 12th Decemer,1881 Khan Afzal-ud- and Salar Jung become the sole regent. He daula was born was remembered administrator and regent till on 11th October his death.1827 .He was teh eldest son of Nawab Nasir-ud-d a u l a . H e a s c e n d e d t h e throne on 18th Mir Osman Ali Khan may 1857 and w a s b o r n i n Ind ian mut iny Hyderabad on 5th was stated on A p r i l , 1 8 8 6 a t 17th July 1857 P u r a n i H a v e l i .

Rohilas attacked the residency but Sir Salar Since he was the Jung put down he attack with a firm hand. h e i r - a p p a r e n t , Similarly trouble was stated in Sholapur but the great attention was maharaja of Sholapur was unable to control p a i d t o h i s transferred to the Nizam by the English yielding e d u c at i o n , a n d retained of Rs. 21 lakh per annum but Derar was eminent scholars retained in trust by the British for the purpose were engaged to specified in the treaty of 1853. teach him English,

Urdu, Persian. On 14th April, 1906 he

Nizam 4 : MIR Nizam 6 : MIR MAHBOOB ALI KHAN (1866-1911)FARKUNDA ALI KHAN

(1794-1857)

Nizam 5 : MIR TAHNIATH ALI K H A N ( 1 8 2 7 -1869)

Nizam 7 : MIR OSMAN ALI KHAN (1886-1967)

Nizam IV

Nizam V

Nizam VII

Nizam Vi

Salar Ju g o the so r t was n bec me le egen . He r admin trat r and egent i isremembe ed is o r t ll h

deat .h

was married to Dulhan Pasha Begum, daughter of Nawab Jahangir Jung, at Eden Bagh at the age 21.

A Few Pictures During The Nizams At A Glance....

Currency UnitsSome Royal Jewellery that the Nizams used

A Family Photograph of Nizam VI

A Vintage Car of those Times....