The assassination of Nasir Jang, the second Nizam of Hyderabad, on December 16, 1750, was a pivotal moment that reshaped the Carnatic’s political landscape during the Second Carnatic War (1749–1754). Sparked by the French capture of Gingee Fort and orchestrated through treachery within his own ranks, Nasir Jang’s death elevated his nephew Muzaffar Jang and bolstered French influence under Joseph François Dupleix.
This blog post, drawing heavily from the Tamil Chronicle of Narayana Pillai, alongside contemporary accounts like Ananda Ranga Pillai’s diary and European assessments by historians such as Robert Orme and G.B. Malleson, explores the events leading to this dramatic assassination and its profound impact on South India.
The French Triumph at Gingee: A Wake-Up Call
The French capture of Gingee Fort on September 11, 1750, sent shockwaves through the Carnatic, rousing Nasir Jang from his strategic lethargy. Renowned for its impregnability—having resisted Mughal general Zulfiqar Khan for seven years (1691–1698) and captured by Shivaji only through negotiation—Gingee’s fall to a small French force led by Charles de Bussy was a humiliating blow. The Tamil Chronicle notes the fort’s significance, and its loss to the French, supported by Dupleix’s cunning strategy, elevated their prestige among local rulers and European rivals.
Alarmed, Nasir Jang resolved to either crush or conciliate the French. He initially pursued diplomacy, sending two officers to negotiate with Dupleix, who demanded the restoration of Muzaffar Jang to his former power, the appointment of Chanda Sahib as Nawab of Arcot, and French retention of Gingee until Nasir Jang returned to Hyderabad. These terms were unacceptable, prompting the Nizam to prepare for war.
Nasir Jang’s March and the Wandiwash Interlude
In late September 1750, Nasir Jang ordered his army, now reduced to 60,000 infantry, 45,000 cavalry, 700 elephants, and 360 cannons from its earlier strength post-Battle of Ambur (1749), to march toward Gingee. By November–December 1750 (month of Karthigai), he moved from Arcot to the plain of Elangadu, aiming to attack Pondicherry and disrupt French operations.
En route, Nasir Jang stopped at Wandiwash, where the killadar, Ghulam Takya Khan, initially prepared to resist. Advised by his son Ali Naqi, who served as his vakil in the Nizam’s camp, Takya Khan chose submission. The Tamil Chronicle details how he sent a letter of obedience with a customary nazar (tribute) and hosted Nasir Jang, Muhammad Ali Khan, and other nobles in his durbar hall, seating them according to rank and presenting gifts of dress and money. Takya Khan later visited Nasir Jang’s camp, securing confirmation of his jagir (land grant), while Ali Naqi remained with the Nizam. From Wandiwash, Nasir Jang advanced to Vellimedupet, northeast of Gingee, near the French encampment.
French Maneuvers and a Captured Ally
The French, allied with Muzaffar Jang and Chanda Sahib, were encamped near Gingee. During a movement of French troops under Muzaffar Khan Garde via Villupuram, Nasir Jang’s sardars engaged them, capturing Muzaffar Khan and imprisoning him in the Nizam’s camp, as noted in the Tamil Chronicle. Heavy rains and the scattered disposition of Nasir Jang’s army—distributed across multiple locations—further weakened his position, setting the stage for treachery.
The Assassination Plot: The Tamil Chronicle’s Account
The Tamil Chronicle of Narayana Pillai provides a gripping account of the assassination plot, emphasizing the treachery of Himmat Bahadur Khan, the Nawab of Kurnool and one of Nasir Jang’s 22 amirs. Harboring ambitions to usurp the Nizam’s position, Himmat Bahadur secretly contacted French commander La Touche, proposing a night attack on Nasir Jang’s camp. He promised to strike down the Nizam and deliver the Carnatic to the French, assuring a decisive cannonade that would overwhelm the Nizam’s forces.
La Touche, skeptical of Himmat Bahadur’s intentions, demanded an oath on the Quran to confirm his sincerity. The Tamil Chronicle recounts how Himmat Bahadur sent a copy of the Quran through a messenger, pledging his commitment. Convinced, La Touche agreed to the plan. Initially, Himmat Bahadur signaled a favorable moment, leading La Touche to advance toward Neganur, six miles northeast of Gingee. However, he later sent contradictory information, claiming the timing was unsuitable, forcing La Touche to retreat. Four days later, Himmat Bahadur confirmed a new opportunity, and La Touche advanced via the Desur road, reaching the ahadi (elite guard) of Nasir Jang’s camp four nazhigais (approximately 96 minutes) before dawn.
As the French fired on the camp, Nasir Jang ordered his topkhana (artillery) darogha to respond, but the initial shots used only powder, proving ineffective. The French penetrated deeper, prompting Nasir Jang to order his elephant and mount its howdah. The jamadar of the Kurch chouki urged caution, warning that the French were few and likely invited by a traitor, suggesting a delay until sunrise when Maratha and Muhammad Ali’s forces could join. Nasir Jang, irritated, dismissed the advice, exclaiming, “You are haram to me,” and insisted on joining Himmat Bahadur, whom he trusted as a brother.
Despite further protests from the jamadar and the mahout, who noted the elephant’s reluctance, Nasir Jang ordered it driven toward Himmat Bahadur’s position, accompanied by his brothers Salabat Jang, Basalat Jang, and Nizam Ali Khan. Approaching Himmat Bahadur’s elephant, Nasir Jang lamented, “There are so many treacherous amirs in the camp and not one would go to attack the French troops who have advanced into our midst.” Without hesitation, Himmat Bahadur raised his pistol, shot Nasir Jang, who sank into his howdah, and then leaped into the Nizam’s howdah. He severed Nasir Jang’s head, fixed it on a spear, and raised it aloft as dawn broke, as vividly described in the Tamil Chronicle.
Chaos and French Plunder
The sight of Nasir Jang’s head on a spear caused panic. Muhammad Ali Khan, joined by his bakshi Ghazanfar Ali Khan and Maratha allies, arrived armed but fled toward Trichinopoly via Desur, Pennatur, and the Manalurpet jungle upon seeing the Nizam’s fate. The French, seizing the opportunity, advanced to Nasir Jang’s personal encampment, plundering a treasure worth two million sterling in money and jewels, a windfall that enriched their ranks. To commemorate this triumph, Dupleix established Fath-abad (Town of Victory) near the site, though its exact location remains debated.
Aftermath and Regional Impact
Nasir Jang’s assassination freed Muzaffar Jang, who ascended as the third Nizam of Hyderabad on December 31, 1750, granting territories and titles to Dupleix and the French. However, his reign ended abruptly in February 1751 at the Battle of Lakkireddipalli Pass. The assassination exposed the fragility of Mughal authority, weakened by internal betrayals and European interference, and bolstered French dominance in the Carnatic until later reversals in the war.
The assassination of Nasir Jang was a critical moment in the Second Carnatic War, a proxy conflict between the French and English East India Companies amid the Mughal succession crisis following Asaf Jah I’s death in 1748. The French, under Dupleix, leveraged alliances with Muzaffar Jang and Chanda Sahib, while the English supported Muhammad Ali. The Tamil Chronicle’s account, corroborated by Ananda Ranga Pillai’s diary, highlights the role of Himmat Bahadur’s treachery and the French’s strategic opportunism, illustrating the volatile interplay of local and and colonial ambitions.
The assassination of Nasir Jang on December 16, 1750, was a dramatic turning point in the Carnatic, driven by Himmat Bahadur Khan’s betrayal and the French’s bold intervention. The Tamil Chronicle vividly captures the treachery, from the Quran oath to the fatal pistol shot, underscoring the chaos that engulfed Nasir Jang’s camp. This event, set against the backdrop of Gingee’s fall and the Second Carnatic War, marked a shift toward French ascendancy and highlighted the declining Mughal grip on South India. The establishment of Fath-abad symbolized this triumph, leaving a legacy of intrigue and power struggles that shaped the region’s history.
Sources:
- Ananda Ranga Pillai. (1904–1928). The Private Diary of Ananda Ranga Pillai. Edited by J. Frederick Price and K. Rangachari. Madras: Government Press.
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Bayly, C. A. (1988). Indian Society and the Making of the British Empire. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
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