In 1743, the Carnatic region of South India was plunged into chaos, marked by political instability, factional rivalries, and foreign interventions. At the heart of this turmoil was the intervention of Nawab Asaf Jah I, the Nizam of Hyderabad, who sought to restore order and assert Mughal authority in the region. This blog post delves into the dramatic events of the Nizam’s campaign, the rise of Anwaru’d-din Khan, and the tragic murder of the young prince Muhammad Sayyid Khan, drawing from historical accounts such as the Tuzak-i-Walajahi and Tamil chronicles.
A Region in Disarray
Following the assassination of Nawab Safdar Ali Khan in 1742, the Carnatic descended into disorder. The Subah’s notables, including Hirasat Khan of Satgadh, rallied to support the two young sons of Safdar Ali, particularly the elder, 10-year-old Sahibzada Muhammad Sayyid Khan. They sent a detailed report to Nawab Asaf Jah I, deploring the chaotic state of the Carnatic’s faujdari and petitioning for Muhammad Sayyid to be installed as Nawab. The region faced additional challenges, including the defiance of Himmat Khan, the Pathan Nawab of Kurnool, who had murdered a subordinate of the Bijapur Subahdar and withheld tribute.
Responding to the crisis, Asaf Jah mobilized a formidable force—80,000 cavalry and 200,000 infantry—and marched to the Carnatic in early 1743, advised by his trusted courtier Imam Sahib, a former ally of Nawab Dost Ali. The Nizam’s objectives were clear: restore Mughal authority, address administrative abuses, and settle the succession dispute in Arcot.
The Nizam’s Campaign and the Siege of Trichinopoly
Upon arriving in the Carnatic, Asaf Jah received the oath of allegiance from Muhammad Sayyid Khan in Arcot. However, instead of entrusting the boy to his relatives in Wandiwash, the Nizam placed him under the care of his own officers, signaling his intent to maintain tight control over the region. His next target was Trichinopoly, a strategic fortress held by the Maratha governor Murari Rao Ghorepade since their conquest in 1740.
After six months of intermittent operations, Asaf Jah’s forces compelled Murari Rao to evacuate Trichinopoly on August 29, 1743. The Nizam appointed Khaja Abdulla Khan to govern the Subah of Arcot and tasked him with re-establishing Mughal authority around Trichinopoly. Meanwhile, Asaf Jah remained in the Carnatic until March 1744, working to restore order through administrative reforms. His officers, including Khaja Niyamatullah Khan and Diwan Puran Chand, increased the region’s revenues from 35 to 45 lakhs, showcasing effective governance.
During this period, both the English at Madras and the French at Pondicherry competed for the Nizam’s favor, sending embassies and gifts. The English sought confirmation of their land grants and minting rights, previously bestowed by Muhammad Sayyid Khan during his refuge in Madras after his father’s assassination. These diplomatic maneuvers underscored the growing European influence in the Carnatic’s politics.
The Mysterious Death of Khaja Abdulla Khan
In April 1744, Asaf Jah appointed Khaja Abdulla Khan as the nazim of the Carnatic Payenghat and prepared to return to Hyderabad. Tragically, the same night Khaja Abdulla took leave of the Nizam, he died suddenly in his tent. The Tuzak-i-Walajahi provides a vivid account: after attending to his affairs and preparing for morning prayers, Khaja Abdulla collapsed while washing his left foot, “falling on his face in eternal prostration.” The Hadiqatu’l-Alum attributes his death to “excessive joy” at his elevation, but rumors circulated of foul play, implicating Anwaru’d-din Khan and the scheming Murtaza Ali Khan of Vellore.
Anwaru’d-din Khan’s Rise to Power
With Khaja Abdulla’s sudden death, Asaf Jah appointed Anwaru’d-din Khan as the new nazim of the Carnatic in April 1744. Anwaru’d-din, a seasoned administrator who had served as faujdar of Ellore and Rajahmundry, was well-versed in Deccan and Carnatic politics. The Nizam, who had taken a liking to young Muhammad Sayyid, instructed Anwaru’d-din to govern as a caretaker until the boy came of age, promising him the faujdari in the future. To ensure Anwaru’d-din’s loyalty, his second son, Muhammad Ali Khan (later Nawab Walajah), was sent to Hyderabad as a hostage.
Anwaru’d-din ascended the musnud in Arcot, receiving customary tributes and confirming the region’s killedars in their posts. He treated Muhammad Sayyid with care, but his rule faced resistance from supporters of Nawab Saadatullah Khan’s family, who viewed him as an outsider. The Tamil Chronicle recounts a poignant moment when Safdar Ali’s mother presented her grandson to Asaf Jah, who promised to preserve the family’s legacy through the boy’s future rule.
The Tragic Murder of Muhammad Sayyid Khan
The hope for Muhammad Sayyid’s future rule was shattered in June 1744, when the 10-year-old prince was assassinated by an Afghan mercenary during a marriage celebration. The murder, carried out in a pandal, sparked widespread outrage. Many suspected Murtaza Ali Khan, the notorious killedar of Vellore and Safdar Ali’s brother-in-law, of orchestrating the act, with some whispers pointing to Anwaru’d-din’s involvement. The public’s sympathy for the young prince underscored the deep-seated tensions within the Carnatic’s ruling elite.
To clear his name, Anwaru’d-din took decisive action, expelling Afghan mercenaries from Arcot and driving Pathans toward the western Ghats. He sent a detailed account to Asaf Jah, denying any complicity in the murder. Despite suspicions, Asaf Jah, lacking a suitable alternative, confirmed Anwaru’d-din as Nawab, citing his experience and service. The decision, however, did little to quell the unrest among Saadatullah Khan’s partisans, setting the stage for further intrigue.
The Nizam’s intervention in 1743 was a pivotal moment in the Carnatic’s history, aimed at restoring Mughal authority amid chaos. Asaf Jah’s campaign reasserted control over Trichinopoly, reformed administration, and elevated Anwaru’d-din Khan to power. Yet, the mysterious death of Khaja Abdulla Khan and the tragic assassination of Muhammad Sayyid Khan highlighted the region’s volatile politics, marked by betrayal and ambition. These events not only shaped the Carnatic’s trajectory but also underscored the complex interplay of Mughal, Maratha, and European influences in 18th-century South India.
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