Biography of Muzaffar Jang: The Third Nizam of Hyderabad
Muhyi ad-Din Muzaffar Jang Hidayat, commonly known as Muzaffar Jang, was born around 1715 in Bijapur to Nawab Talib Muhi ud-din Mutawassil Khan, the Naib Subahdar (Deputy Governor) of Bijapur, and Sahibzadi Khair-un-nisa Begum, the daughter of Nizam-ul-Mulk Asaf Jah I, the first Nizam of Hyderabad. His lineage connected him to the Mughal elite, as he was the great-grandson of Nawab Saadullah Khan, the Punjabi Grand Vizier of the Mughal Empire from 1645 to 1656. As a Punjabi Muslim of the Jat tribe, Muzaffar Jang inherited a legacy of political influence and ambition within the Mughal administrative framework.
Muzaffar Jang’s early career saw him appointed to an imperial mansab (rank) of 3,000 zat and 2,000 sowar (cavalry), serving as the Governor of the Carnatic. He later rose to 4,000 zat upon his appointment as Subadar of Bijapur following his father’s death. His proximity to power, as the grandson of Asaf Jah I, positioned him as a key figure in the Deccan’s political landscape.
Rise to Power and the Succession Crisis
The death of Asaf Jah I in 1748 (Fasli 1158, corresponding to May 22, 1748, Old Style) sparked a succession crisis in Hyderabad. Muzaffar Jang’s father, Mutawassil Khan, claimed that Asaf Jah I had granted the subahs of Hyderabad and the Carnatic to his wife, Muzaffar’s mother. Mutawassil transferred these rights to Muzaffar Jang, urging him to seize the Carnatic with the support of Hussain Dost Khan, better known as Chanda Sahib, a seasoned political adventurer then imprisoned by the Marathas in Poona.
Muzaffar Jang secured Chanda Sahib’s release and, with his counsel, assembled a formidable force of 20,000 cavalry and 50,000 infantry. In 1749, they descended into the Kolar plains, challenging Nawab Anwaru’d-din Khan, the Mughal-appointed governor of the Carnatic. This move marked the beginning of Muzaffar Jang’s bid for power and ignited the Second Carnatic War (1749–1754), a conflict that drew in European powers, notably the French and English East India Companies.
The Battle of Ambur and Alliance with the French
Muzaffar Jang’s ambitions were bolstered by his alliance with Chanda Sahib and the French under Governor Joseph François Dupleix. In August 1749, their combined forces, including French artillery and troops led by Chanda Sahib’s son Baza Ali, confronted Anwaru’d-din Khan at the Battle of Ambur. The battle was a decisive victory for Muzaffar Jang’s coalition, with Anwaru’d-din killed and his forces defeated. This triumph allowed Muzaffar Jang and Chanda Sahib to capture Arcot, the Carnatic’s capital, where they consolidated their authority.
Following their victory, they marched to Pondicherry, where they were celebrated with festivities. Muzaffar Jang honored Ananda Ranga Pillai, Dupleix’s influential Tamil diarist and courtier, with the title of Wazarat Vijaya Ananda Ranga Rao, a palanquin, ornaments, and the killadari (governorship) of Chingleput. However, financial constraints plagued their campaign, as Dupleix could not provide the funds needed to sustain their ambitions. Their subsequent expedition to Tanjore, aimed at extracting tribute, yielded little success.
Conflict with Nasir Jang and Captivity
The tide turned when Nasir Jang, Asaf Jah I’s son and the second Nizam, marched south in early 1750 to reclaim the Deccan and Carnatic. Commanding a massive army of 300,000 men, 1,300 elephants, and 800 cannons, Nasir Jang occupied Gingee in March 1750. Facing internal dissent and French troop desertions, Muzaffar Jang and Chanda Sahib abandoned their siege of Tanjore and retreated toward Tiruvati. In a moment of despair, Muzaffar Jang surrendered to Nasir Jang in May 1750, deceived by promises of protection sworn on the Quran. Despite assurances, he was arrested, though his captivity was relatively lenient.
Nasir Jang’s court was divided, with factions supporting either him or Muzaffar Jang. Offers were made to grant Chanda Sahib Trichinopoly, but his demand for Arcot strained negotiations. Meanwhile, Dupleix exploited discontent among Nasir Jang’s Pathan allies, capturing Tiruvati and, later, Gingee Fort, weakening the Nizam’s position.
Ascension to the Nizamship
The turning point came on December 16, 1750, when Nasir Jang was assassinated at Dupleix-Fathabad (Sarasangupettai) near Gingee by Himmat Khan, the Nawab of Kadapa. This event allowed Muzaffar Jang to be released from captivity and ascend as the third Nizam of Hyderabad. On December 31, 1750, he granted territories and titles to Dupleix and the French, rewarding their support. However, his failure to similarly honor his Afghan allies, including the Nawabs of Kurnool, Savanore, and Cuddapah, sowed discord.
Death at the Battle of Lakkireddipalli Pass
Muzaffar Jang’s reign was short-lived. In February 1751, tensions with his Afghan allies escalated into the Battle of Lakkireddipalli Pass in Rayachoti taluka, Kadapa district. During the conflict, the Nawab of Kurnool struck Muzaffar Jang in the head with a spear, killing him instantly on February 13, 1751. The battle also claimed the lives of the Nawabs of Kurnool and Savanore. In the aftermath, French commander Charles de Bussy installed Salabat Jang as the new Nizam, marking another shift in Hyderabad’s leadership.
Muzaffar Jang left behind one son, Nawab Muhammad Sa’ad ud-din Khan Bahadur, who was a minor at the time of his father’s death. He briefly served as Subadar of Bijapur in 1751 but succumbed to smallpox shortly thereafter.