In the vibrant mosaic of 18th-century South India, Sadatullah Khan, born Muhammad Say adjoining textyid in 1651, carved a remarkable path from a humble Nawayat trooper to the Nawab of the Two Carnatics. Governing from Arcot between 1710 and 1732, he navigated the complexities of Mughal administration, regional alliances, and European interactions with notable skill. Drawing from historical texts like the Sadat-namah, Maasir-ul-Umara, and Tuzuk-i-Walajahi, this post explores his origins, rise, governance, and the pivotal role of his predecessor, Nawab Daud Khan, in shaping the Carnatic’s political landscape.
Humble Origins and Entry into Mughal Service
Muhammad Sayyid, later known as Sadatullah Khan, was born in 1651 to the Nawayat, a community of Arab descent that settled in India’s Konkan region after fleeing the tyranny of Hajjaj bin Yusuf. Historical accounts vary on their origins: the historian Tabari links them to the Quraysh tribe, the History of Yemen to sailors, and Jami’ul-luhab to Kufa’s nobles. Alongside his younger brother Ghulam Ali, Muhammad Sayyid sought service in Emperor Aurangzeb’s camp under dire circumstances. His short stature and plain appearance initially led to rejection, but, as the Tuzuk-i-Walajahi recounts, an amulet reportedly won him imperial favor, astonishing officers when he was appointed as a trooper.
From this modest start, Muhammad Sayyid’s diligence propelled him into the ranks of the Mansabdars, Mughal officers tasked with military and administrative duties. By 1708, he served as diwan and faujdar under Nawab Daud Khan, managing finances and military affairs in the Carnatic, setting the stage for his ascent.
Appointment as Nawab and Administrative Mastery
In 1713, following Emperor Farrukh Siyar’s succession, Sadatullah Khan was appointed Nawab of the Two Carnatics—encompassing the coastal Payanghat and upland Balaghat—under Nizam-ul-Mulk, as noted in the Sadat-namah. Some sources, like the Maasir-ul-Umara, suggest his Nawabship began under Aurangzeb, but he was the acknowledged Nawab from 1710 to 1732. Based in Arcot, where Daud Khan had relocated the Carnatic headquarters from Gingee to the Palar River’s southern bank, he governed a vast region stretching from Guntur to Cape Comorin.
Sadatullah Khan’s administration was marked by efficiency and equity. As chronicler Narayanan describes, he collected nazar and peshkash from killedars, jaghirdars, mansabdars, and poligars—local chiefs established since the time of regional Rajas. He dispatched amildars to gather amani dues from crown (khalsa) lands and managed revenues from the koti at Bhandar (Masulipatam), remitting 15 lakhs annually to the Mughal treasury (Huzur) as per the jari. He fortified Mylapore, building a bungalow, and secured a 1708 farman granting five villages—Tiruvottiyur, Nungambakam, Vyasarpadi, Kathiwakam, and Sattangadu—as a free gift, effective October 5, 1708, after protracted rent negotiations.
His strategic appointments strengthened his control. He named Roy Dakhiniray as his diwan and secured the killedari of Vellore for his brother Ghulam Ali, who received a mansab of 1,000 via imperial farman and tasvimama. He also appointed trusted killedars for forts like Karnatakghad, Kailasghad, Wandiwash, and Timiri, obtaining Mughal approval for each. The emperor granted him a mansab of 3,000 and the title Sadatullah Khan, recognizing his growing influence.
Diplomatic Relations and Regional Influence
Sadatullah Khan excelled in diplomacy, maintaining cordial ties with neighboring rulers, including the Rajas of Trichinopoly, Tanjore, Madura, and Venkatagiri, ensuring steady tribute flows. He cultivated favor with Mughal officials (mutsadis) through gifts, reports (takhrir), and donations (paridana), earning praise as a capable administrator. His adherence to the Twelve Imams and Ja’fari sect reflected his Nawayat heritage, while his support for kin—inviting relatives from Konkan and granting them jagirs and forts—bolstered his regional network. Having no children, he adopted his uncle’s son, naming him Khan Bahadur.
The Tuzuk-i-Walajahi, authored by Burhan-ibn-Hasan, a rival family’s historian, praises his 25-year tenure—20 years as deputy (Naib) and five as Nawab (Nazim)—for its justice and welfare focus. Narayanan lauds his cleverness, noting his equitable revenue collection and timely remittances to the Mughal headquarters, which pleased the emperor and fulfilled expectations of his youthful promise.
Daud Khan’s Role and English Interactions
Sadatullah Khan’s rise was shaped by Nawab Daud Khan, deputy to Zulfikar Khan and Nawab of the Carnatic and Gingee from 1700. Daud Khan moved the headquarters from Gingee to Arcot by 1704, managing the faujdari in line with predecessors like Zulfikar Khan. His interactions with the English at Madras reveal a volatile yet pragmatic relationship. In 1699, while at San Thome, he requested “sundry sorts of liquors” from the English, who sent presents via Nicolo Manucci, a Venetian resident of Madras. Deeming them inadequate, Daud Khan threatened to appoint a governor for Black Town and develop San Thome, though Manucci reported a favorable reception.
In July 1701, Daud Khan arrived at San Thome with 10,000 troops, prompting Governor Pitt to prepare for conflict. The Nawab accepted gifts, including wines and cordials, but became too inebriated to visit an English ship. A subsequent blockade halted goods to Madras, causing residents of Egmore, Purasawakam, and Triplicane to flee. The English sought Dutch and Danish aid, paying 25,000 rupees to lift the blockade, with Daud Khan returning plundered goods. In 1706, he visited San Thome again, receiving a large dinner but not entering the fort due to his large escort. In 1708, he arrived with 2,500 troops, grumbling about insufficient presents, and later requested 1,000 bottles of liquor from Golconda, receiving 250 and two European mastiffs. These episodes highlight the delicate balance Sadatullah Khan inherited, managing European settlements alongside Mughal duties.
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