Muzaffar Jung - Reign

Reign

Initially, he was appointed to an Imperial mansab of 3,000 zat and 2,000 sowar and later promoted to 4,000 zat on his appointment to Bijapur. He was Subadar of Bijapur after the death of his father. When his grandfather Nizam-ul-Mulk died in 1748, he decided to stake his claim to the throne in opposition to his uncle, Nasir Jung. This resulted in the first major direct involvement of the Europeans in Indian domestic politics. He joined hands with his Carnatic ally Chanda Sahib and the French while Nasir Jung joined hands with his Carnatic ally Muhammad Ali Khan Walajah and the British. Eventually the serious situation in Deccan and Carnatic would result in the Second Carnatic War. During the war Muzaffar Jung was briefly captured in March, 1750 after the Battle of Villianur. But after the assassination of Nasir Jung, he was released and took the throne of Hyderabad, December 16, 1750. He granted territories and titles to Dupleix and the French on December 31, 1750. He failed however, to honor his Afghan allies in a similar way. The resulting disagreement led to the Battle of Lakkireddipalli Pass in the Rayachoti taluka, where the Nawab of Kurnool struck him in the head with a spear, February 13, 1751 killing him instantly, after which the Nawab of Kurnool was also immediately cut down. At this critical juncture the French commander De Bussy made the decision to install Salabat Jung as the new Nizam.