Hyderabad State (Asaf Jahi/Nizam Dynasty)
Medieval History › Regional Kingdoms · Topic 3.7
Hyderabad State was founded by Kilich Khan, Nizam-ul-Mulk Asaf Jah, who defeated the viceroy Mubariz Khan at Shakr-Kheda in 1724 and took the Deccan. His dynasty ruled until 1948, allied with the British against Mysore, accepted the Subsidiary Alliance in 1798 and was annexed by India in Operation Polo.
5 min read · UPSC Prelims · History · Regional Kingdoms
At a Glance
- Founder Kilich Khan, Nizam-ul-Mulk Asaf Jah
- Decisive battle Shakr-Kheda, 1724
- Title Asaf Jah, taken in 1725
- Alliance with the British Subsidiary Alliance, 1798
- End Operation Polo, 1948
- Exam link UPSC Prelims, Medieval History: Regional Kingdoms
Where Does It Fit?
This is the seventh topic of the category on regional kingdoms. The previous topic described the Jat state, and this topic turns to the largest successor state of the Mughal Deccan. The next topic covers Mysore under Haidar Ali and Tipu Sultan. Previous topic: Rajaram State builders Churaman, Badan Singh, Suraj Mal…">Jat Kingdom of Bharatpur. See also Successor States: Bengal, Awadh and Hyderabad.
How Did Hyderabad Begin?
In short: Hyderabad State began as a Mughal governor’s practical independence in the Deccan after the empire weakened, and the Asaf Jahi dynasty ruled it from 1724 to 1948.
The founder was Kilich Khan, popularly known as Nizam-ul-Mulk. Zulfikar Khan had first conceived the idea of an independent state in the Deccan, but with his death in 1713 the dream remained unfulfilled. Kilich Khan was disgusted with the Mughal emperor, who had made Mubariz Khan a full viceroy of the Deccan. He fought and defeated Mubariz Khan and killed him in the battle of Shakr-Kheda in 1724. He then took control of the Deccan, became viceroy in 1725 and took the title Asaf Jah. In 1724 he also served as wazir under Muhammad Shah.
What Kind of State Was Hyderabad?
| Type | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Successor state | A Mughal province that turned into a state when its governor set up virtually independent and hereditary rule |
| Relation to the emperor | The governors did not challenge the emperor’s sovereignty, which stayed nominal |
| Other examples | Awadh and Bengal |
The setting was the Mughal Deccan, which Aurangzeb had spent his last decades trying to hold. After his death the empire’s hold on the south faded, and a governor with a base in the Deccan could keep revenues and troops for himself. The Marathas made Hyderabad a protectorate at times and took chauth from it.
How Did Hyderabad Deal with the Marathas, Mysore and the British?
The Nizam fought and lost to the Marathas on several occasions in the eighteenth century. In the wars against Mysore, the Nizam sided with the English in the Third Anglo-Mysore War, and Cornwallis thought his army more a hindrance than a help. By the Treaty of Seringapatam in 1792 the Nizam received the lands from the Krishna to beyond the Pennar. Lord Wellesley made the Nizam the first state to accept the Subsidiary Alliance, in September 1798 and again in 1800. The Nizam then joined the English in the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War in 1799 and got the districts of Gooty and Gurramkonda. The alliance placed his foreign policy and defence under the British, and after the Maratha defeat in 1818 the state stayed under British influence.
What Is the Timeline of Hyderabad State?
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1713 | Zulfikar Khan dies; his plan of an independent Deccan state is unfulfilled |
| 1724 | Nizam-ul-Mulk defeats Mubariz Khan at Shakr-Kheda |
| 1725 | Takes the title Asaf Jah as viceroy |
| 1792 | Treaty of Seringapatam; the Nizam gains land from the Krishna to beyond the Pennar |
| 1798 | First to accept the Subsidiary Alliance |
| 1799 | Nizam supports the English against Tipu |
| 1818 | After the Maratha defeat the state stays under British influence |
| 1948 | Operation Polo; annexation |
| 1950 | The Nizam accedes to India |
How Did the State End?
Hyderabad was ruled by the Nizams from 1724 to 1948, with its capital at Hyderabad. Osman Ali Khan, Asaf Jah VII, ruled from 1911 to 1948 and was given the title Faithful Ally of the British Empire. After Indian independence the Nizam sought to stay independent, and India launched Operation Polo in September 1948 and annexed the state. The Nizam acceded in 1950, and in 1956 the state was divided among Andhra Pradesh, Bombay State and Mysore. For the early eighteenth-century context, see Successor States: Bengal, Awadh and Hyderabad.
Why Is This Topic Important?
- Successor states A core example of a Mughal province becoming a state
- Subsidiary Alliance First state to accept it
- Long history Runs from 1724 to 1948
What Came Next?
The next topic covers Mysore under Haidar Ali and Tipu Sultan. Next topic: Kingdom of Mysore (Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan).
Key People and Terms
- Kilich Khan Original name of Nizam-ul-Mulk
- Asaf Jah Title and dynasty name
- Shakr-Kheda Battle of 1724
- Mubariz Khan Viceroy defeated and killed
- Nizam Ruler of Hyderabad
- Operation Polo 1948 action by India
Exam Corner
Points to Remember
- Shakr-Kheda 1724; title Asaf Jah 1725.
- First to accept the Subsidiary Alliance: 1798.
- The Nizam joined the English against Tipu.
- Operation Polo: 1948.
- Founder’s original name: Kilich Khan.
Do Not Confuse With
- Nizam-ul-Mulk and Nizamuddin Auliya Founder of Hyderabad versus the Chishti saint
- Hyderabad and Awadh Deccan successor state versus north Indian successor state
- Asaf Jah I and Asaf Jah VII Founder versus last Nizam
Memory Hook
Kilich beats Mubariz, takes Asaf Jah, allies with the English, ends with Polo.
Mains Angle
Questions on Hyderabad usually link it to the successor states and the Subsidiary Alliance. These points add depth.
- Origin Provincial governor in a weakening empire
- Policy Balance between Marathas, Mysore and the British
- End Annexation in 1948
A Question You May Face
An original practice question, not a past paper question.
“How did Hyderabad emerge as a successor state of the Mughal Empire, and how did it relate to the British?”
How to Answer
- Rise Nizam-ul-Mulk at Shakr-Kheda.
- Status Nominal loyalty, real independence.
- British Mysore wars and Subsidiary Alliance.
- End 1948.
GS Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
Who founded Hyderabad State?
Kilich Khan, known as Nizam-ul-Mulk, founded the Asaf Jahi line. He defeated and killed the viceroy Mubariz Khan at Shakr-Kheda in 1724, took the Deccan, and became viceroy in 1725 with the title Asaf Jah.
Why is Hyderabad called a successor state?
Hyderabad is a successor state because it began as a Mughal province whose governor set up virtually independent and hereditary rule while the emperor remained nominal head. Awadh and Bengal are the other main examples of such states.
What was Hyderabad's role in the Mysore wars?
The Nizam sided with the English in the Third Anglo-Mysore War, receiving land between the Krishna and the Pennar by the treaty of 1792, and with the English in the Fourth Mysore War of 1799, receiving the districts of Gooty and Gurramkonda as his share.
Which state first accepted the Subsidiary Alliance?
The Nizam of Hyderabad was the first to accept Wellesley's Subsidiary Alliance, in September 1798 and again in 1800. It put the state's defence and foreign relations under the control of the English, in return for protection.
How did Hyderabad State end?
India launched Operation Polo in September 1948 and annexed Hyderabad after the Nizam sought independence. The Nizam acceded in 1950, and the old state was divided in 1956 among Andhra Pradesh, Bombay State and Mysore.
PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis
1 Nizam-ul-Mulk defeated Mubariz Khan at Shakr-Kheda in 1724.
He took the title Asaf Jah in 1725.
2 The Nizam of Hyderabad was the first to accept the Subsidiary Alliance.
He did so in 1798.
3 Hyderabad State was annexed by India in 1948.
The action was Operation Polo.
4 Zulfikar Khan founded Hyderabad State.
He conceived the idea but died in 1713.
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