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Sultan Farrukh-sir who had not yet finished settling his accounts with Sultan M‘azu-d- din, on the way receiving news ofvJafar Khan’s victory and Raghid Khan’s defeat was depressed. In short, when near Akbara- bad (Agra)a battle 1 ensued between Farrukh-sir and Sultan M‘azu-d- din Jahandar Shah, the Syeds of Barba,* on the side of Muham¬ mad Farrukh-sir, dieplaying self-sacrifice, exhibited heroic valour. On the side of M‘azu-d-din, Khan Jahan Bahadur Koknltasji Khan, who wa£ the Pay-Master General of the Army, was killed, owing to the carelessness of the Amiru-l-Umara Zu-l-fuq&r Khan.® And M’azu-d-din’s other noblemen, especially the Mughal noblemen, being in conspiracy with the noblemen of Farrukh-sir, exhibited treachery during the battle. In consequence, great confusion, arose in - the army of M‘HZU-d-din Jahandar Shah. Becoming depressed by observing the fate of JD?an Jahan Bahadur, Jahandat 1 See description of the battle in December 1712 in Seir-ul-Mntakhenn, Vol. II, p. 392. _ ' 8 The Syed brothers of Barba were Syed Husain Ali Kban, Nazim of t e §ubah Of Patna and Syed Abdullah Kh5n, Nazim of the $ubah of Allahabad. The Scb’-ul-Mutatherin (Vol. II, pp. 387,388, 391 , 392 ), .gives a detailed account ns to how these Syed brothers helped Farrukh-sir in the war of succession. These Syed brothers subsequently fell out with Farrnkh-sir and imprisoned him and had him killed (Seir, Vol. II, p. 419). For a life of Syed Husain Ah Khan, see MaasiV-uM/mara, Vol. I, p. 321. 1 He was a eon of Asad KhSn, the Prime Minister of Anranpob. H,s name wo, Mohammad T.mnil, aod his title, wore ' Zn-l-foqir Kh.n Arntr-el-Omars Na?rat JaDg.’ See Masiir-ul-Umara, p. 93, Vol. II, for his life. 273 ghah fled str&iglit to Sbabjahanabad to the house of ‘A$ad Khan Asifn-d-daulah, 1 the Chief Minister of the Empire. Immediately after, Am iru-l-Uroara, son of Asifu-d-daulah, presented himself before his father, and coonselled the latter to shelter the Emperor. The father, not considering it expedient' to throw in his lot with Jahandar Shah, kept the latter under surveillance. Then Sultan Muhammad Farrukh-sir, without encountering any further opposi¬ tion, ascended the Imperial throne at Akbnrabad (Agra), towards the end of the year 1124 A. H. From Akbarabad (Agra), Farrukh-sir swiftly marched to Shahjahanabad (Delhi), whero he slew Jahandar Shah and the Amiru-l-Umara.* ACCESSION OF SULTAN FARRUKH-SIR TO THE THRONE OF DELHI. On hearing of the accession of Emperor Farrukh-sir, Nawab Jafar ghan sent presents and tribute, and remitted the entire balance of the Imperial revenue. In return, the Nawab received patents confirming him in the united offices 3 of the Nizaraat and Dewani of the three Subahs of Bengal, Behar, and Orissa. The Nawab was also recipient of a rich Khilat. The Nawab’s repre¬ sentations to the new Emperor continued to receive attentive consideration, as during former regimes. The Nawab became an object of-envy to his contemporaries and peers. For instance, on Jafar Khan’s representation to the Emperor, Nagar Set’s uncle 1 His name was Mohammad Ibrahim, and his titles wore A?ifo-d-danlah Jumlatul-Mulk Asad Khan. Ho was related by marriage to Emina-d-dauloh Asaf Khin, and became Prime Minister under Emperor Aurangzob. (See his life in Maasir-ul-Umara , Vol. I, p. 310, and in Seir , Vol. II, p. 406.) Ho was a statesman of eminence and sagacity. On his son, Znlfaqqar Khan’s assassination, he composed the following pathetio epitaph :— u by b cU^-i ^ * See Seir-ul Hutakherin, Vol. II, p. 395 (Pore. text). The corpse of Jahan¬ dar Shah was placed on an elephant, and tbo corpso of Zulfuqqor Khan waa tied to its tail. s This waa a very unwise departure from the old Mugfcal policy of keeping tho two offices distinct, in that it encouraged later on the growth of disloyal intrigues against the Central Authority iu Delhi. 35 274 and agent, Fatefc Chand Sahu, whose services had won the good graces of the Khan, was invested with the title of Jftgat Set, and appointed to the office of Treasurer-General of Bengal. Syed Husain ‘Ali Khan, the Paymaster-General, who was a brother of Qutb-ul-Mnlk ‘Abdullah Khan Vazir, aspired after the title of Nasirjang, which title Jafar Khan held. As it was not consonant with the Imperial regulations that two persons should simultane¬ ously hold ono title, an Imperial mandate was issued to Jafar Khan, suggesting an exchange of titles. Although the Syed brothers were persouages of immense influence and power, Jafar Khan resented their impudence, declined to exchange his title, and sent the follow¬ ing manly reply to the Emperor : “ This old servant has no hanker¬ ing after names or titles ; but tho title which it pleased the late Emperor ‘Alamgir (Aurangzeb) to confer on him, ho declines to barter.” When Syed Razi Khan died, at the desire of Jafar IDian, Emperor Farrukh-sir conferred the Diwani of the Subah of Bengal on Mirza Asadu-l-lah, son of Shuja‘u-d-din Muhammad Khan, Nazim of Orissa, by tho daughter of Jafar Khan, bestowing at the same time on the Mirza the title of Sarfaniz Khan. As Jafar Khan had no son, and Sarfaraz Khan was his maternal grandson, shewing foresight, he purchased from the income of his personal jagir the zamindari of Qismat Chunahkhali in Parganah Kholhar- bah in the district of Murshidabad from Muhammad Aman, the Taluqdar of the aforesaid Qismat, in the name of Mirza Asadu-l- lah Sarfaraz Khan, named the said zamindari Asadnagar, and caused it to be entered in the Imperial and Provincial Qanungo’s registers. This estate came to be known as Khaa Taluq, so that after his death it might afford subsistence to his descendants, and after the pay¬ ment of revenue from its income its surplus might be at their disposal. And in the same year, the Deputy Governorship of Jahangirnagar (Dacca) was bestowed on Mirza Lutfu-l-lab, a son- in-law of Shuja‘u-d-din Muhammad Khan. The Mirza at -he same time received the title of Murehid Quli Khan. In that on the 9th Rabin-l-Sani 1131 A.H. the Emperor Farrukh-sir was slain, 1 1 Between Farrukh-sir and tho Syed brothers, ill-feeling broke ont through tho instigation of one Mir Jumla (who possessed great influence over Farrukh-sir, having been Qazi of Dacca, when Farrukh-sir was there as Deputy Nazim). This ill-feeling was fanned by Ratan Qhand, the cratty Diwan of tho Vazir Qutb-ul-Mulk Syed Abdullah, brother of Syed Ho*-n Ali Khan. This ill-feeling which not only paralysed the Administration, 275 through the treachery of ‘Abdullah Khan tho Vizir and Husain *Ali Khao. the Paymaster-General, the Syeds of Barha raised Sultan Hafi‘u-d-darajat, 1 son of Prince Rafi‘u-sh-shan, son of Bahadur Shah, to the throne. For four or five months, ruling nominally, this Emperor died of consumption. After this, Rafi‘u- d-darajat’s second brother, named Sultan Rafi‘u-d-daulah, 8 was brought out from captivity, and placed on tho throne, and was styled Shah Jahan the Second. The latter also, like his elder brother, for hve or six months sot nominally on the throne. At the time when the Imperial army was engaged in repelling Sultan Neko Sir, son of Sultan Akbar, and grandson of Emperor Alamgir, who had invaded Akbarabad (Agra), Shah Jah&n the Second also died. And tho Syeds of Barha and other Imperial noblemen, at the end of tho year 1131 A.H., bringing out Sultan Raushan Akhtar, son of Jahan Shah, from the citadel of Shahjabanabad (Delhi),and marching with him day and night, reached Akba>abad (Agra), and in the beginning of U32i A.H. they placed him~on the Imperial throne, and sty led him Abu-1- Fattah Na§iru-d-din Muhammad Shah Gbazi. 3 A poet has said:— oA Wf J1 “ He was a bright star, now he has waxed into a moon, Joseph has returned from captivity, and has become a king.” Nawab Jafar ghan, hearing of the accession of Muhammad Shah to the Imperial throne, scut presents and tribute, and received but undermined for ever the prestige of the old illustrious Timurido IIouso >b detailed in tho Scir-ul-Mutakherin, Vol. II, pp. 407, 409,415, 410, 418, 419, and 420. The 8yed brothers, to the detriment of tho Stnto and to their own lasting dishonour, made tho Imperial Unghal throno of Delhi, at this time, a football for their own selfish aims and personal ambitions. (Seo extracts from Khafi Khin’s history at p. 420, Vol II, Seir). 1 In Seir-ul-Mutalherin, Vol. II, p. 419, it 16 related the Syed brothers raised to the throno Shamsu-d-din Abul BarkatRafi'a-d-dnrnjat, son of Bafin-1- Qadr, and grandson of Bahadur ghah, at the ago of twenty, in 1131 A.H. 8 See Seir-ul-Mutakhcrin, Vol. II, p. 421. Tho ambitious Syed brothers now virtually ruled ovor the Mnghal Empiro in India. s 8ee Seir, Vol. II, pp. 422, 423. At this time ltatan Qljnnd was tho evil genius of Qmb-ul-Mulk Syed Abdullah tho Vazir, and had tho impudence of nominating persons to even tho QaswJn'j™, for which lio was onco snubbed by hiB master. 276 in return patents confirming him in his former offices, and adding thereto the Sabahdari of Orissa. In short, owing to the undne influence exercised over the administration by Syeds Husain ‘Ali Khan aud ‘Abdn-l-lah Khan from the reign of Farrukh-sir till that period, the affairs of the Empire had suffered much in eclat , and owing to constant changes in Emperors the administration of the country had fallen into chaos. The people of Bengal were, however, free from the troubles incidental to revolutions in the kingly office, as Jafar Khan ruled over that Province with great vigour. In his time no harm ensued to Bengal at the hands of the Mahrattas. The Christian Danes who had no factory in Bengal, and carried on commercial transactions through the agency of the French, with the advice of the latter, offering nazar, applied for permission to erect a factory at Bangibazar.