The death of Nizam-ul-Mulk Asaf Jah I in 1748 marked a pivotal moment in the history of the Deccan and the Carnatic, triggering a succession crisis that reverberated across South India. His passing unleashed a power struggle involving Mughal nobles, regional warlords, and European powers, particularly the French, who sought to exploit the ensuing chaos. This blog post delves into the events surrounding Asaf Jah’s death, the subsequent claim to the Carnatic by his grandson Muzaffar Jang, and the escalating tensions that set the stage for conflict, drawing from historical accounts and additional context to illuminate this turbulent period.
The Death of Asaf Jah I
Nizam-ul-Mulk Asaf Jah I, the founder of the Asaf Jahi dynasty and the first Nizam of Hyderabad, died in 1748 (Fasli 1158, equivalent to May or June 1748). According to the Tamil diarist Ananda Ranga Pillai, news of his death reached Arcot on June 2, 1748 (May 22, Old Style), 16 days after the event. Asaf Jah, a towering figure who had consolidated Mughal authority in the Deccan and exerted influence over the Carnatic, left a power vacuum that destabilized the region. His death caused profound grief among his allies, including Nawab Anwaru’d-din Khan, the nazim of the Carnatic, and his son Muhammad Mahfuz Khan, who recognized the loss of a stabilizing force.
Asaf Jah’s son, Nasir Jang, was with his father at the time of his death. Rather than immediately claiming the Nizam’s mantle, Nasir Jang marched north to the Narmada River at the invitation of his brother, Ghaziuddin Khan, in Delhi, leading a formidable army of horsemen, infantry, and gunners. This move temporarily shifted focus from the Deccan, leaving the Carnatic vulnerable to competing claims and external interventions.
The Succession Crisis and Muzaffar Jang’s Claim
The death of Asaf Jah sparked a succession crisis, as various factions vied for control of his domains, including the Carnatic and the Subah of Hyderabad. Mutawassil Khan, a son-in-law of Asaf Jah and the governor of Molhair, asserted that the late Nizam had bequeathed the Carnatic and Hyderabad to his daughter, Mutawassil’s wife. He transferred these rights to his son, Hidayat Mohiu’d-din Khan, known as Muzaffar Jang, instructing him to seize the Carnatic. Mutawassil Khan, who had previously aided Asaf Jah in quelling a rebellion by Nasir Jang in 1741, saw an opportunity in the power vacuum. He emphasized the importance of aligning with Hussain Dost Khan, better known as Chanda Sahib, a seasoned Mughal noble and former faujdar who was then a prisoner of the Marathas in Poona.
Mutawassil Khan secured Chanda Sahib’s release from Maratha captivity, honored him with robes, and sent him with Muzaffar Jang to conquer the Carnatic. He recommended that Muzaffar Jang appoint Chanda Sahib as faujdar of Arcot if they succeeded. In 1749 (Fasli 1159), Muzaffar Jang and Chanda Sahib assembled a formidable force of 20,000 horsemen and 50,000 infantry and descended into the Kolar plains, threatening Mughal authority in the Carnatic.
Anwaru’d-din’s Response and the French Involvement
Nawab Anwaru’d-din Khan, the incumbent nazim of the Carnatic, reacted swiftly to the threat posed by Muzaffar Jang and Chanda Sahib. Returning from the south through Gingee, he rallied troops and munitions in Arcot, joined by his son Muhammad Ali Khan (later Nawab Walajah) and allies Najib Khan and Hussain Khan Tahir. Anwaru’d-din aimed to block the invaders’ advance from the west into the Arcot valley, preparing for a confrontation to defend his position.
Complicating matters, Chanda Sahib’s son, Baza Ali, was in Pondicherry, allied with French Governor Joseph François Dupleix. Baza Ali joined his father with a contingent of French soldiers and artillery, positioning themselves in Anwaru’d-din’s rear. The French, seeking to expand their influence in the Carnatic amid the First Carnatic War (1746–1748) and its aftermath, saw Chanda Sahib as a valuable ally to counter both Mughal and English interests. This alliance foreshadowed the Battle of Ambur (August 3, 1749), where Anwaru’d-din would face Muzaffar Jang, Chanda Sahib, and their French allies, resulting in his defeat and death.
Historical Context: The Carnatic in Turmoil
The succession crisis following Asaf Jah’s death was emblematic of the broader decline of Mughal authority in South India. The Carnatic, nominally under Hyderabad’s suzerainty, had become a battleground for competing Mughal nobles, regional chieftains, and European powers. The Marathas, who had previously raided the Carnatic and held Chanda Sahib captive, remained a potent force, while the English at Fort St. David and the French at Pondicherry vied for influence over local rulers.
Anwaru’d-din, appointed nazim in 1744, faced constant challenges to his authority, including the murder of the boy-prince Muhammad Sayyid Khan in 1744, for which he was suspected of complicity. His efforts to maintain neutrality between the French and English were strained by his sons’ opposing alliances—Mahfuz Khan with the French and Muhammad Ali with the English. The arrival of Muzaffar Jang and Chanda Sahib, backed by French artillery, escalated these tensions, setting the stage for the Second Carnatic War (1749–1754).
The Role of Chanda Sahib
Chanda Sahib, a cunning and ambitious figure, was central to the Carnatic’s political upheavals. His earlier conquests of Trichinopoly and Madurai in the 1730s, followed by his capture by the Marathas in 1740, had not diminished his influence. Released in 1748, he quickly reasserted himself as a key player, leveraging his experience and French support to challenge Anwaru’d-din. His alliance with Muzaffar Jang aimed not only to seize the Carnatic but also to establish a power base independent of Hyderabad’s control, reflecting the fragmented nature of Mughal governance.
Aftermath and Legacy
The succession crisis precipitated by Asaf Jah’s death culminated in the Battle of Ambur in 1749, where Muzaffar Jang and Chanda Sahib, with French assistance, defeated and killed Anwaru’d-din. This victory briefly established Chanda Sahib as Nawab of the Carnatic and Muzaffar Jang as Nizam of Hyderabad, though both faced further challenges. Nasir Jang’s return from the north led to renewed conflict, and the Carnatic became a theater of war involving the French, English, and Marathas.
The crisis underscored the weakening of Mughal central authority and the growing influence of European powers, particularly the French under Dupleix, who sought to install puppet rulers to secure trade and territorial advantages. The English, supporting Muhammad Ali Khan, eventually prevailed, cementing their dominance in the Carnatic by the 1760s. The events of 1748–1749 thus marked a turning point in South India’s transition from Mughal to colonial dominance.