| Surname: | Asaf Jahi Dynasty |
| Titles: | Nizam-ul-Mulk Nawab |
| Other Names: | Nizams of Hyderabad |
| Coat Of Arms: | Hyderabad Coat of Arms.jpg |
| Coat Of Arms Caption: | Coat of Arms of the Nizam of Hyderabad |
| Founder: | Asaf Jah I |
| Final Ruler: | Osman Ali Khan |
| Styles: | His Exalted Highness |
| Estate: | Chowmahalla Palace |
| Founding Year: | 31 July 1724 |
| Deposition: | 17 September 1948 |
The Asaf Jahi was a Muslim dynasty that ruled the Hyderabad State.[1] The family came to India in the late 17th century and became employees of the Mughal Empire. They were great patrons of Indo-Persian culture, language, and literature, and the family found ready patronage.
The dynasty was founded by Mir Qamar-ud-Din Siddiqi, a Viceroy of the Deccan—(administrator of six Mughal governorates) under the Mughal emperors from 1713 to 1721. He intermittently ruled after Aurangzeb's death in 1707 and under the title Asaf Jah in 1724. The Mughal Empire crumbled and the Viceroy of the Deccan, Asaf Jah I, declared himself independent, whose domain extended from the Narmada River in the North to Trichinopoly in the South and Masulipatnam in the east to Bijapur in the west.[2]
Nawab Khwaja Abid Siddiqi, the grandfather of the first Nizam, was born in Aliabad near Samarkand in the kingdom of Bukhara in modern-day Uzbekistan. His father, Alam Shaik, was a well-known Sufi and celebrated man of letters. Khwaja Abid's mother was from the family of Mir Hamdan, a distinguished Syed of Samarkhand. The first Nizam's mother was the daughter of Sadullah Khan, the Grand vizier (1645-1656) of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan.[3]
After succeeding in the war of succession, Aurangzeb made him the Governor of Ajmer and subsequently of Multan with the title of Qalich Khan. He served the Emperor with distinction particularly during the early years of Aurangzeb's reign while he was consolidating and restoring peace in his newly acquired territory.[4]
Asaf Jah's father Ghazi ud-Din Khan Feroze Jung I was a military general under Aurangzeb. Under the command of Feroze Jung, Hyderabad was sieged and later occupied by the Mughals.[5]
See main article: Asaf Jah I. The founder of this dynasty was Mir Qamaruddin Khan, a noble and a courtier of the Mughal Muhammad Shah, who negotiated a peace treaty with Nadirshah got disgusted with the intrigues that prevailed in Delhi. He was on his way back to the Deccan, where, earlier he was a Subedar. But he had to confront Mubariz Khan, as a result of a plot by the Mughal emperor to kill the former. Mubariz Khan failed in his attempt and he was himself slain. This one took place in AD 1724, and henceforth Mir Qamaruddin, who assumed the title of Nizam-ul-Mulk, conducted himself as an independent ruler. Earlier, while he was one of the Ministers of the Mughal emperor Muhammad Shah, the latter conferred on him the title of Asaf Jah. Thus begins the Asaf Jahi rule over Golconda with the capital at Aurangabad.[6]
See main article: Asaf Jah II. The fourth son of the Nizam-ul-Mulk, Nizam Ali Khan was born on 24 February 1734. He assumed the Subedari of the Deccan at the age of 28 years and ruled the Deccan for almost 42 years - the longest period among the Nizams.[7] His reign was one of the most important chapters in the history of the Asaf Jahi dynasty. Among his efforts to consolidate the Nizam empire was the shift of the Deccan capital from Aurangabad to Hyderabad. He ruled the Deccan at a most critical period and got very successful support from the House of Paigah.[8] He protected the Deccan from the attack of the Marathas and Tippu Sultan of Mysore by signing a mutual protection treaty with the British.
After a reign that played a pivotal role in the establishment of the Nizam dynasty, Nizam Ali Khan Siddiqi died in 1803 at the age of 69. He was buried at the Mecca Masjid alongside the tomb of his mother Umda Begum.
See main article: Asaf Jah III. Mir Akbar Ali Khan Siddiqi Sikander Jah, Asaf Jah III was born on 11 November 1768. After the death of Nizam Ali Khan, he became the Subedar Jah was ratified by the emperor Shah Alam II and also conferred all his father's titles on Sikander Jah.[9]
See main article: Asaf Jah IV. Mir Farkhunda Ali Khan Siddiqi Nusir-ud-Dawlah was born in Bidar on 25 April 1794. He was the eldest son of Sikander Jah and after his father's death, he succeeded him on 23 May 1829.[10]
See main article: Asaf Jah V. Mir Tahniath Ali Khan Siddiqi Afzal-ud-daula was born in Kuruduwadi on 11 October 1827. He was the eldest son of Nawab Nasir-ud-daula. He ascended the throne on 18 May 1857 and Indian mutiny was started on 17 July 1857 Rohillas attacked the residency but Sir Salar Jung put down the attack with a firm hand. Similarly, trouble started in Solapur but the Maharaja of Solapur was unable to control it.
See main article: Asaf Jah VI. Mir Mahboob Ali Khan was born in Tandur on 17 August 1866. He was the only son of Nawab Afzal-ud-Daula Asaf Jah V. When his father died he was two years and seven months old. He was installed as the Munsab by Sir Salar Jung I, Nawab Rasheeduddin Khan, Shams ul Ummra and the residents, there functioned as the Reyab. Shar-ul-Ummul died on 12 December 1881 and Salar Jung became the sole regent. He was remembered as administrator and regent till his death.[11] [12] after the death of Sir Salar Jung I Sir Viqar-ul-Umra became the next Regent and guardian of Mahboob Ali Khan and served as Prime Minister of Hyderabad[13]
He is popularly known for his efforts to abolish the practice of Sati[14] and for having supernatural healing powers against Snakebite.[15]
See main article: Asaf Jah VII. Mir Osman Ali Khan was born in Hyderabad on 5 April 1886 at Purani Haveli. Since he was the heir-apparent, great attention was paid to his education, and eminent scholars were engaged to teach him English, Urdu, Persian. On 14 April 1906, he married Dulhan Pasha Begum, daughter of Nawab Jahangir Jung, at Eden Bagh, at the age of 21.[16]
He is credited for various reforms in education and development and remembered for being a truly secular[17] King by giving yearly donations to various temples.[18] He made large donations to educational institutions in India and abroad. He donated Rs 10 Lakh to the Banaras Hindu University[19] and Rs 5 Lakh to the Aligarh Muslim University.[20]
He set up the Osmania University,[21] Osmania General Hospital, Osmania Medical College, State Bank of Hyderabad, South India's first airport -the Begumpet Airport, Nizamia Observatory, Government Nizamia General Hospital, etc.[22]
The Nizam was reported to have fathered 34 children including 16 sons and 18 daughters[23] [24] [25] [26] [27] [28]
| width=8% | Image | width=15% | Titular Name | width=15% | Personal Name | width=8% | Date of birth | width=8% | Nizam From | width=8% | Nizam Until | width=8% | Date of death |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nizam-ul-Mulk, Asaf Jah I | Mir Qamar-ud-din Khan | 20 August 1671 | 31 July 1724 | 1 June 1748 | |||||||||
| Nasir Jung | Mir Ahmed Ali Khan | 26 February 1712 | 1 June 1748 | 16 December 1750 | |||||||||
| Muzaffar Jung | Mir Hidayat Muhi-ud-din Sa'adullah Khan | ? | 16 December 1750 | 13 February 1751 | |||||||||
| Salabat Jung | Mir Sa'id Muhammad Khan | 24 November 1718 | 13 February 1751 | 8 July 1762 (deposed) | 16 September 1763 | ||||||||
| Nizam-ul-Mulk, Asaf Jah II | Mir Nizam Ali Khan | 7 March 1734 | 8 July 1762 | 6 August 1803 | |||||||||
| Sikander Jah, Asaf Jah III | Mir Akbar Ali Khan | 11 November 1768 | 6 August 1803 | 21 May 1829 | |||||||||
| Nasir-ud-Daula, Asaf Jah IV | Mir Farqunda Ali Khan | 25 April 1794 | 21 May 1829 | 16 May 1857 | |||||||||
| Afzal-ud-Daula, Asaf Jah V | Mir Tahniyath Ali Khan | 11 October 1827 | 16 May 1857 | 26 February 1869 | |||||||||
| Asaf Jah VI | Mir Mahbub Ali Khan | 17 August 1866 | 26 February 1869 | 29 August 1911 | |||||||||
| Asaf Jah VII | Mir Osman Ali Khan | 6 April 1886 | 29 August 1911 | 17 September 1948 (deposed) | 24 February 1967 | ||||||||
Nasir Jung, Muzaffar Jung and Salabat Jung:- * These three rulers are not enumerated in the order of the Asaf Jah's, mainly because they were not granted the title of ASAF JAH by the Mughal Emperor.
| Personal Name | width=8% | Date of birth | width=8% | Nizam From | width=8% | Nizam Until | width=8% | Date of Death | Note(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asaf Jah VIII | Mir Barkat Ali Khan | 6 October 1933 | 24 February 1967 | 5 November 1971(deposed) | 15 January 2023 | Government of India recognised him in 1964 as heir-apparent to Asaf Jah VII, and following his grandfather's demise in 1967, he succeeded to his rank, dignity, and title. His coronation took place at Chowmahalla Palace on April 6, 1967, and he was recognised as Ruler of Hyderabad on April 14, 1964, by the Government of India. However, due to 26th Amendment to the Constitution of India, he ceased to enjoy his princely pensions, titles, and privileges. | |||
| Asaf Jah IX | Mir Muhammad Azmet Ali Khan | 23 July 1960 | 20 January 2023 | Azmet Jah acceded to the throne of the former Hyderabad State on 14 January 2023, following the death of Asaf Jah VIII.[31] Azmat Jah's ceremonial coronation took place on 20 January 2023, at Chowmahalla Palace. | |||||