Asaf Jahi dynasty

Why is in news? Titular eighth Nizam Mir Barkat Ali Khan Mukarram Jah Bahadur laid to rest Asaf Jahi dynasty mausoleum in Hyderabad

The Asaf Jahi was a Muslim dynasty that ruled the Kingdom of Hyderabad. The family came to India in the late 17th century and became employees of the Mughal Empire.

They were great patrons of Persian culture, language, and literature, the family found a 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, assumed the title of Nizam-ul-Mulk.

Nizam-ul-Mulk, also known as Chin Qilich Kamaruddin Khan, Mir Qamar-ud-din Khan Siddiqi Bayafandi, Asaf Jah, and Nizam I, was the first Nizam of Hyderabad and a loyal nobleman and General of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb.

The Mughal Empire crumbled and the Viceroy of the Deccan, Asaf Jah I, declared himself independent, whose domain extend from the Narmada river in the North to Trichinopoly in the South and Masulipatnam in the east to Bijapur in the west.

He was a noble and a courtier of the Mughal Muhammad Shah, who negotiated for a peace treaty with Nadir shah, the Iranian invader; got disgusted with the intrigues that prevailed in Delhi.

After Nizam I, Asaf Jah, died in AD 1748. There was a tussle for power among his son, Nasir Jung, and grandson Muzaffar Jung.

The English supported Nasir Jung whereas Muzaffar Jung got support from the French.

These two heirs were subsequently killed by Nawabs of Kurnool and Cuddapah, one after another, in AD 1750 and AD 1751, respectively.

The third son of Nizam I, Salabat Jung became the ruler as Nizam under the support of the French.