Successor States: Bengal, Awadh and Hyderabad
Modern History › India on the Eve of British Conquest · Topic 3.5
Successor states were Mughal provinces that became virtually independent and hereditary under their governors: Hyderabad (Nizam-ul-Mulk), Awadh (Saadat Khan) and Bengal (Murshid Quli Khan). They did not challenge the emperor's nominal sovereignty.
6 min read · UPSC Prelims · History · India on the Eve of British Conquest
At a Glance
- What it is Mughal provinces that turned into virtually independent hereditary states
- Hyderabad Nizam-ul-Mulk (Kilich Khan), Asaf Jah house, Shakr-Kheda 1724
- Awadh Saadat Khan (Burhan-ul-Mulk), 1722
- Bengal Murshid Quli Khan, 1717; Plassey Alivardi Khan Ruled from 1740…">Alivardi Khan from 1740
- Exam link UPSC Prelims, Modern History: India on the Eve of British Conquest
Where Does It Fit?
This is the fifth topic of the category on India on the eve of British conquest. The earlier topics explained why the Mughal Empire weakened. This topic and the next describe the states that rose in its place. The next topic covers the independent and new states. Previous topic: Jagirdari Crisis and the Shifting Allegiance of Zamindars. See also Hyderabad State (Asaf Jahi/Nizam Dynasty).
What Kinds of Regional States Emerged?
The states that emerged from the decline of the Mughal Empire fall into three broad categories.
| Category | Meaning | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Successor states | Mughal provinces that turned into states after breaking away; governors set up virtually independent and hereditary authority but did not challenge the emperor’s sovereignty | Awadh, Bengal, Hyderabad |
| Independent kingdoms | States that came up mainly because of the destabilisation of Mughal control over the provinces | Mysore and the Rajput states |
| New states | States set up by rebels against the Mughal empire | Maratha, Sikh and Jat states |
This topic covers the successor states. The others follow in the next topic and in the one on the Marathas.
How Did Hyderabad Begin?
The founder of the Asaf Jah house of Hyderabad 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 appointed Mubariz Khan as a full viceroy of the Deccan. He decided to fight Mubariz Khan, defeated him and later killed him in the Battle of Shakr-Kheda (1724). He then took control of the Deccan. In 1725 he became viceroy and gave himself the title of Asaf Jah. In 1724 he also served as wazir under Muhammad Shah, as seen in the topic on the later Mughal rulers.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Founder | Kilich Khan, Nizam-ul-Mulk |
| Dynasty | Asaf Jah |
| Decisive battle | Shakr-Kheda, 1724, defeating Mubariz Khan |
| Title taken | Asaf Jah, in 1725 |
How Did Awadh Begin?
The founder of the independent principality of Awadh was Saadat Khan, popularly known as Burhan-ul-Mulk. He was a Shia. He joined a conspiracy against the Sayyid brothers, which won him an increased mansab. Later, driven out of the court, he was prompted to found a new independent state; the summary dates the founding to 1722.
Saadat Khan committed suicide under pressure from Nadir Shah, who was demanding a huge sum of booty from him. Safdar Jang succeeded him as Nawab of Awadh.
How Did Bengal Begin?
Murshid Quli Khan was the founder of the independent state of Bengal, dated 1717 in the summary. He was a capable ruler and made Bengal prosperous. He was succeeded in 1727 by his son Shuja-ud-din.
Shuja-ud-din’s successor, Sarfaraz Khan, was killed in 1740 by Alivardi Khan, the deputy governor of Bihar, at Gheria. Alivardi Khan took power and made himself independent of the Mughal emperor by giving an annual tribute. The later history of Bengal under Alivardi Khan and Siraj-ud-daula leads to the Battle of Plassey in 1757.
| State | Founder | Date | Key successors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hyderabad | Nizam-ul-Mulk (Kilich Khan) | 1724-25 | Asaf Jah house |
| Awadh | Saadat Khan (Burhan-ul-Mulk) | 1722 | Safdar Jang |
| Bengal | Murshid Quli Khan | 1717 | Shuja-ud-din (1727); Sarfaraz Khan; Alivardi Khan (1740) |
What Did the Successor States Have in Common?
The governors of these states set up virtually independent and hereditary rule while the emperor remained the nominal head. They did not challenge the Mughal ruler’s sovereignty, which shows the emergence of an autonomous polity in these territories. As an analytical point, this arrangement let the governors keep the legitimacy of the empire while ruling as kings in all but name.
The same three provinces later became the centres of English influence: the Company first fought the Nawab of Bengal, then dealt with Awadh and Hyderabad through treaties and the Subsidiary Alliance system.
Why Is This Topic Important?
- Core of regional history The three successor states are the most asked part of eighteenth-century politics
- Direct facts Founders, titles and the Battle of Shakr-Kheda are Prelims items
- Link to the Company Bengal, Awadh and Hyderabad are where the Company expanded first
What Came Next?
The next topic covers the independent kingdoms of Mysore, Kerala and the Rajputs, and the new states of the Jats, Sikhs and Rohillas. Next topic: Independent Kingdoms: Mysore, Kerala and the Rajputs, Jats and Rohillas.
Key People and Terms
- Successor state A Mughal province that became hereditary and virtually independent
- Nizam-ul-Mulk The title of Kilich Khan, founder of Hyderabad
- Asaf Jah The title he took in 1725, giving the dynasty its name
- Burhan-ul-Mulk The title of Saadat Khan, founder of Awadh
- Safdar Jang Saadat Khan’s successor as Nawab of Awadh
- Alivardi Khan The ruler who took power in Bengal in 1740
Exam Corner
Points to Remember
- Three categories: successor, independent, new states.
- Hyderabad: Nizam-ul-Mulk; Shakr-Kheda 1724; Asaf Jah in 1725.
- Awadh: Saadat Khan Burhan-ul-Mulk, 1722; succeeded by Safdar Jang.
- Bengal: Murshid Quli Khan, 1717; Alivardi Khan took power in 1740.
- Successor states did not challenge the emperor’s sovereignty.
Do Not Confuse With
- Successor and independent states Successor states were Mughal provinces; independent kingdoms like Mysore arose from lapse of Mughal control
- Nizam-ul-Mulk and Burhan-ul-Mulk The first founded Hyderabad; the second founded Awadh
- Murshid Quli Khan and Alivardi Khan Murshid founded the state; Alivardi took it in 1740
Memory Hook
Hyderabad by Shakr-Kheda, Awadh by Saadat Khan, Bengal by Murshid Quli.
Mains Angle
Questions ask how regional states arose. These points add depth.
- Autonomy within form They kept the emperor’s name while ruling hereditarily
- Economic strength Provinces like Bengal were prosperous, which made independence possible
- Entry points for the Company These states became the first targets of English intervention
A Question You May Face
An original practice question, not a past paper question.
“Describe the rise of the successor states in the eighteenth century with reference to Hyderabad, Awadh and Bengal.”
How to Answer
- Define Define successor states and place them among the three categories.
- Give founders Nizam-ul-Mulk, Saadat Khan and Murshid Quli Khan with dates.
- Common features Hereditary governors, nominal loyalty to the emperor.
- Conclude Say that these states filled the vacuum before the English.
GS Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
What are successor states in eighteenth-century India?
Successor states were Mughal provinces that turned into states after breaking away from the empire. Their governors set up virtually independent and hereditary authority, without challenging the emperor's sovereignty. Examples are Awadh, Bengal and Hyderabad.
Who founded Hyderabad?
Hyderabad was founded by Kilich Khan, popularly known as Nizam-ul-Mulk, the founder of the Asaf Jah house. He defeated and killed Mubariz Khan in the Battle of Shakr-Kheda in 1724, and in 1725 became viceroy of the Deccan with the title Asaf Jah.
Who founded Awadh?
Awadh was founded by Saadat Khan, popularly known as Burhan-ul-Mulk, who was a Shia. He joined a conspiracy against the Sayyid brothers, rose in rank and founded an independent state, which Safdar Jang inherited after Saadat Khan took his life under pressure from Nadir Shah.
Who founded the independent state of Bengal?
Murshid Quli Khan founded the independent state of Bengal and made it prosperous. His son Shuja-ud-din succeeded him in 1727, and in 1740 Alivardi Khan, deputy governor of Bihar, killed Sarfaraz Khan at Gheria and took power, paying annual tribute to the emperor.
How did the successor states relate to the Mughal emperor?
The successor states did not challenge the sovereignty of the Mughal emperor, but their governors established virtually independent and hereditary rule. This showed the emergence of autonomous polities, with the emperor remaining a nominal head.
Which three categories of regional states emerged after Mughal decline?
The regional states fall into three categories: successor states such as Awadh, Bengal and Hyderabad, independent kingdoms such as Mysore and the Rajput states, and new states set up by rebels against the Mughals, such as the Maratha, Sikh and Jat states.
PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis
1 Hyderabad was founded by Kilich Khan, Nizam-ul-Mulk.
He took the title Asaf Jah in 1725.
2 The founder of Awadh was Murshid Quli Khan.
He founded Bengal; Awadh was founded by Saadat Khan.
3 Alivardi Khan killed Sarfaraz Khan at Gheria in 1740.
He then made Bengal independent in practice.
4 Mysore and the Rajput states are examples of successor states.
They are independent kingdoms.
5 The Battle of Shakr-Kheda was fought in 1724.
Nizam-ul-Mulk defeated Mubariz Khan.
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