Subahdar: Difference between revisions

VisualWikitext
(Content Updated.)
 
No edit summary
 
(6 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
'''Subahdar''' viceroy or governor of a ''sub''''a''''h'' of the Mughal empire. For governance, the Mughal empire was divided into a number of Subahs (provinces). The head of a [[subah]] was variously called: subahdar, nazim, sahib-i-subah, faujdar-i-subah etc. The governor of the ''Subah Bangala'' was called 'Subahdar';. He was also often addressed as Nazim. Like the two principal ministers at the centre, the [[diwan]] and the mir bakshi , the provincial governors were generally appointed from amongst officers holding the highest ranks or ''Mansabs''. Sometimes Mughal princes also were appointed subahdars of important provinces.  
'''Subahdar''' viceroy or governor of a ''subah'' of the Mughal empire. For governance, the Mughal empire was divided into a number of Subahs (provinces). The head of a [[subah]] was variously called: subahdar, nazim, sahib-i-subah, faujdar-i-subah etc. The governor of the ''Subah Bangala'' was called 'Subahdar'. He was also often addressed as Nazim. Like the two principal ministers at the centre, the [[diwan]] and the mir bakshi , the provincial governors were generally appointed from amongst officers holding the highest ranks or ''Mansabs''. Sometimes Mughal princes also were appointed subahdars of important provinces.  


In fact, the subahdars formed the hard core of the ruling aristocracy. Normally, the most trusted members of the imperial family and the bureaucracy were appointed subahdars. Being the civil and military head of the subah, the subahdar held a very crucial post. A rebellion on the part of a subahdar was sure to have a telling effect on the imperial authority as well as on the territorial integrity of the empire. Shortly after the death of the last Mughal in 1707, the Nizam of Hyderabad and the [[nawab]]s of Oudh and Bengal (all actually subahdars) became autonomous chiefs of their respective subahs rendering the empire a ridiculous fiction.  
In fact, the subahdars formed the hard core of the ruling aristocracy. Normally, the most trusted members of the imperial family and the bureaucracy were appointed subahdars. Being the civil and military head of the subah, the subahdar held a very crucial post. A rebellion on the part of a subahdar was sure to have a telling effect on the imperial authority as well as on the territorial integrity of the empire. Shortly after the death of the last Mughal in 1707, the Nizam of Hyderabad and the [[nawab]]s of Oudh and Bengal (all actually subahdars) became autonomous chiefs of their respective subahs rendering the empire a ridiculous fiction.  


The jurisdiction and powers of a subahdar were elaborately defined in the procedures of imperial administration. He was directly appointed by, and responsible to, the emperor. Constitutionally, he had no power to transgress the limits set by the emperor. In balancing his powers, the provincial [[diwan]], who was again appointed directly by the emperor, was assigned with supreme powers as regards revenue administration. As regards finance, the subahdar had no control over the ''diwan'' nor had the diwan over the subahdar as regards administration. They were mutually independent of each other. While Prince [[azim-us-shan]], the subahdar of Bengal once made an attempt to influence [[murshid quli khan]] (the diwan) to sanction him money irregularly, the diwan complained to the emperor pointing out the irregularity. The emperor censured the subahdar and appreciated the stand of the diwan. This is an instance of duality of powers in the Mughal provincial administration.
The jurisdiction and powers of a subahdar were elaborately defined in the procedures of imperial administration. He was directly appointed by, and responsible to, the emperor. Constitutionally, he had no power to transgress the limits set by the emperor. In balancing his powers, the provincial diwan, who was again appointed directly by the emperor, was assigned with supreme powers as regards revenue administration. As regards finance, the subahdar had no control over the ''diwan'' nor had the diwan over the subahdar as regards administration. They were mutually independent of each other. While Prince [[Azim-us-Shan|azim-us-shan]], the subahdar of Bengal once made an attempt to influence [[Murshid Quli Khan|murshid quli khan]] (the diwan) to sanction him money irregularly, the diwan complained to the emperor pointing out the irregularity. The emperor censured the subahdar and appreciated the stand of the diwan. This is an instance of duality of powers in the Mughal provincial administration.
 
 
 
<p align=center style="text-align:center">Chronology of Bengal'' ''Subahdars (1575-1770 AD).
 
Subahdars
 
Tenure
 
Khan-i-Khanan Munim Khan
 
1575
 
Khan-i-Jahan Hosen Quli Beig
 
1576-76
 
Ismail Quli (Acting)
 
1578-79
 
Muzaffar Khan Turbati
 
1579-80
 
Khan-i-Azam Mirza Aziz Kokah
 
1583
 
Wazir Khan
 
1583
 
Shahbaz Khan
 
1583-85
 
Sadiq Khan
 
1585-86
 
Shahbaz Khan (2nd term)
 
1586
 
Wazir Khan
 
1586-87
 
Syed Khan
 
1587-94
 
Raja Mansingh
 
1594-1606
 
Qutubuddin Khan Kokah
 
1606-07
 
Jahangir Quli Beig
 
1607-08
 
Islam Khan Chishti
 
1608-13
 
Sheikh Hosanga (Acting)
 
1613-14
 
Qasim Khan Chishti
 
1614-17
 
Ibrahim Khan Fath-i-Jang
 
1617-24
 
Darab Khan (when Bengal was occupied by Shahjahan)
 
1624-25
 
Mahabat Khan
 
1625-26
 
Mukarram Khan Chishti
 
1626-27
 
Fidai Khan alias Mirza Hedayetullah
 
1627-28
 
Qasim Khan Juyini
 
1628-32
 
Azam Khan Mir Muhammad Baqr
 
1632-35
 
Islam Khan Mashhadi
 
1635-39
 
Saif Khan (Acting)
 
1639
 
Prince Shah Shuja
 
1639-60
 
Mir Jumla alias Khan-i-Khanan Muazzam Khan
 
1660-63
 
Dilir Khan (Acting)
 
1663
 
Daud Khan (Acting)
 
1663-64
 
Shaista Khan
 
1664-78
 
Fidai Khan alias Azam Khan Koka
 
1678
 
Prince Muhammad Azam
 
1678-79
 
Shaista Khan (2nd term)
 
1680-88
 
Khan-i-Jahan Bahadur
 
1688-89
 
Ibrahim Khan
 
1689-97
 
Prince Azimuddin (Azim-us-Shan) mostly in absentia, Farrukh Siyar and Khan-i-Alam being the deputies in succession
 
1697-1712
 
Farkhunda Siyar (infant son of Farrukh Siyar, in absentia, Murshid Quli Khan was the deputy)
 
1713
 
Mir Jumla alias Muzaffar Jang (in absentia, Murshid Quli continued as the deputy)
 
1713-16
 
Murshid Quli Khan
 
1717-27
 
Shujauddin Muhammad Khan
 
1727-39
 
Sarfaraz Khan
 
1739-40
 
Alivardi Khan
 
1740-56
 
Sirajuddaula
 
1756-57
 
Mir Jafar Ali Khan
 
1757-60
 
Mir Qasim
 
1760-63
 
Mir Jafar Ali Khan (2nd term)
 
1763-65
 
Nazimuddaula
 
1765-66
 
Saifuddaula
 
1766-70
 


<p align=left style="text-align:left">
Chronology of Bengal Subahdars (1575-1770 AD).
{| class="table table-bordered table-hover"
|-
| Subahdars  || Tenure
|-
|Khan-i-Khanan Munim Khan || 1575
|-
|Khan-i-Jahan Hosen Quli Beig || 1576-76
|-
|Ismail Quli (Acting) || 1578-79
|-
|Muzaffar Khan Turbati || 1579-80
|-
|Khan-i-Azam Mirza Aziz Kokah || 1583
|-
|Wazir Khan || 1583
|-
|Shahbaz Khan || 1583-85
|-
|Sadiq Khan || 1585-86
|-
|Shahbaz Khan (2nd term) || 1586
|-
|Wazir Khan || 1586-87
|-
|Syed Khan || 1587-94
|-
|Raja Mansingh || 1594-1606
|-
|Qutubuddin Khan Kokah || 1606-07
|-
|Jahangir Quli Beig || 1607-08
|-
|Islam Khan Chishti || 1608-13
|-
|Sheikh Hosanga (Acting) || 1613-14
|-
|Qasim Khan Chishti || 1614-17
|-
|Ibrahim Khan Fath-i-Jang || 1617-24
|-
|Darab Khan (when Bengal was occupied by Shahjahan) || 1624-25
|-
|Mahabat Khan || 1625-26
|-
|Mukarram Khan Chishti || 1626-27
|-
|Fidai Khan alias Mirza Hedayetullah || 1627-28
|-
|Qasim Khan Juyini || 1628-32
|-
|Azam Khan Mir Muhammad Baqr || 1632-35
|-
|Islam Khan Mashhadi || 1635-39
|-
|Saif Khan (Acting) || 1639
|-
|Prince Shah Shuja || 1639-60
|-
|Mir Jumla alias Khan-i-Khanan Muazzam Khan || 1660-63
|-
|Dilir Khan (Acting) || 1663
|-
|Daud Khan (Acting) || 1663-64
|-
|Shaista Khan || 1664-78
|-
|Fidai Khan alias Azam Khan Koka || 1678
|-
|Prince Muhammad Azam || 1678-79
|-
|Shaista Khan (2nd term) || 1680-88
|-
|Khan-i-Jahan Bahadur || 1688-89
|-
|Ibrahim Khan || 1689-97
|-
|Prince Azimuddin (Azim-us-Shan) mostly in absentia, Farrukh Siyar and Khan-i-Alam being the deputies in succession || 1697-1712
|-
|Farkhunda Siyar (infant son of Farrukh Siyar, in absentia, Murshid Quli Khan was the deputy) || 1713
|-
|Mir Jumla alias Muzaffar Jang (in absentia, Murshid Quli continued as the deputy) || 1713-16
|-
|Murshid Quli Khan || 1717-27
|-
|Shujauddin Muhammad Khan || 1727-39
|-
|Sarfaraz Khan || 1739-40
|-
|Alivardi Khan || 1740-56
|-
|Sirajuddaula || 1756-57
|-
|Mir Jafar Ali Khan || 1757-60
|-
|Mir Qasim || 1760-63
|-
|Mir Jafar Ali Khan (2nd term) || 1763-65
|-
|Nazimuddaula || 1765-66
|-
|Saifuddaula || 1766-70
|}


But even then, the subahdar was the chief of the province and responsible for its defence and good governance. For political consideration, the Mughal Court did not approve of long terms for subahdars, and generally transferred or recalled them, with exceptions, after their tenures of two to three years. But compared to subahdars of other provinces, Bengal subahdars, however, had always enjoyed much longer tenures. On an average, Bengal subahdars stayed in office uninterruptedly for more than six years, whereas in other provinces the tenure was, generally, below four years.  
But even then, the subahdar was the chief of the province and responsible for its defence and good governance. For political consideration, the Mughal Court did not approve of long terms for subahdars, and generally transferred or recalled them, with exceptions, after their tenures of two to three years. But compared to subahdars of other provinces, Bengal subahdars, however, had always enjoyed much longer tenures. On an average, Bengal subahdars stayed in office uninterruptedly for more than six years, whereas in other provinces the tenure was, generally, below four years.  


Between 1704 to 1717, the centre appointed several subahdars, but those appointments were more rhetorical than real, because none of the incumbents came to Bengal to assume their office. During the period, virtual ruler of the subah was Murshid Quli Khan, the founder of the ''nawabi'' regime. From Murshid Quli Khan to [[sirajuddaula]], all subahdars, who were commonly known as 'nawab'; in Bengal history, were self-proclaimed and later confirmed by the centre theoretically. [Sirajul Islam] [Islam, Sirajul  Chief Editor, Banglapedia]
Between 1704 to 1717, the centre appointed several subahdars, but those appointments were more rhetorical than real, because none of the incumbents came to Bengal to assume their office. During the period, virtual ruler of the subah was Murshid Quli Khan, the founder of the ''nawabi'' regime. From Murshid Quli Khan to [[sirajuddaula]], all subahdars, who were commonly known as 'nawab' in Bengal history, were self-proclaimed and later confirmed by the centre theoretically. [Sirajul Islam]


[[bn:সুবাহদার]]
[[bn:সুবাহদার]]

Latest revision as of 07:10, 13 July 2021

Subahdar viceroy or governor of a subah of the Mughal empire. For governance, the Mughal empire was divided into a number of Subahs (provinces). The head of a subah was variously called: subahdar, nazim, sahib-i-subah, faujdar-i-subah etc. The governor of the Subah Bangala was called 'Subahdar'. He was also often addressed as Nazim. Like the two principal ministers at the centre, the diwan and the mir bakshi , the provincial governors were generally appointed from amongst officers holding the highest ranks or Mansabs. Sometimes Mughal princes also were appointed subahdars of important provinces.

In fact, the subahdars formed the hard core of the ruling aristocracy. Normally, the most trusted members of the imperial family and the bureaucracy were appointed subahdars. Being the civil and military head of the subah, the subahdar held a very crucial post. A rebellion on the part of a subahdar was sure to have a telling effect on the imperial authority as well as on the territorial integrity of the empire. Shortly after the death of the last Mughal in 1707, the Nizam of Hyderabad and the nawabs of Oudh and Bengal (all actually subahdars) became autonomous chiefs of their respective subahs rendering the empire a ridiculous fiction.

The jurisdiction and powers of a subahdar were elaborately defined in the procedures of imperial administration. He was directly appointed by, and responsible to, the emperor. Constitutionally, he had no power to transgress the limits set by the emperor. In balancing his powers, the provincial diwan, who was again appointed directly by the emperor, was assigned with supreme powers as regards revenue administration. As regards finance, the subahdar had no control over the diwan nor had the diwan over the subahdar as regards administration. They were mutually independent of each other. While Prince azim-us-shan, the subahdar of Bengal once made an attempt to influence murshid quli khan (the diwan) to sanction him money irregularly, the diwan complained to the emperor pointing out the irregularity. The emperor censured the subahdar and appreciated the stand of the diwan. This is an instance of duality of powers in the Mughal provincial administration.

Chronology of Bengal Subahdars (1575-1770 AD).

Subahdars Tenure
Khan-i-Khanan Munim Khan 1575
Khan-i-Jahan Hosen Quli Beig 1576-76
Ismail Quli (Acting) 1578-79
Muzaffar Khan Turbati 1579-80
Khan-i-Azam Mirza Aziz Kokah 1583
Wazir Khan 1583
Shahbaz Khan 1583-85
Sadiq Khan 1585-86
Shahbaz Khan (2nd term) 1586
Wazir Khan 1586-87
Syed Khan 1587-94
Raja Mansingh 1594-1606
Qutubuddin Khan Kokah 1606-07
Jahangir Quli Beig 1607-08
Islam Khan Chishti 1608-13
Sheikh Hosanga (Acting) 1613-14
Qasim Khan Chishti 1614-17
Ibrahim Khan Fath-i-Jang 1617-24
Darab Khan (when Bengal was occupied by Shahjahan) 1624-25
Mahabat Khan 1625-26
Mukarram Khan Chishti 1626-27
Fidai Khan alias Mirza Hedayetullah 1627-28
Qasim Khan Juyini 1628-32
Azam Khan Mir Muhammad Baqr 1632-35
Islam Khan Mashhadi 1635-39
Saif Khan (Acting) 1639
Prince Shah Shuja 1639-60
Mir Jumla alias Khan-i-Khanan Muazzam Khan 1660-63
Dilir Khan (Acting) 1663
Daud Khan (Acting) 1663-64
Shaista Khan 1664-78
Fidai Khan alias Azam Khan Koka 1678
Prince Muhammad Azam 1678-79
Shaista Khan (2nd term) 1680-88
Khan-i-Jahan Bahadur 1688-89
Ibrahim Khan 1689-97
Prince Azimuddin (Azim-us-Shan) mostly in absentia, Farrukh Siyar and Khan-i-Alam being the deputies in succession 1697-1712
Farkhunda Siyar (infant son of Farrukh Siyar, in absentia, Murshid Quli Khan was the deputy) 1713
Mir Jumla alias Muzaffar Jang (in absentia, Murshid Quli continued as the deputy) 1713-16
Murshid Quli Khan 1717-27
Shujauddin Muhammad Khan 1727-39
Sarfaraz Khan 1739-40
Alivardi Khan 1740-56
Sirajuddaula 1756-57
Mir Jafar Ali Khan 1757-60
Mir Qasim 1760-63
Mir Jafar Ali Khan (2nd term) 1763-65
Nazimuddaula 1765-66
Saifuddaula 1766-70

But even then, the subahdar was the chief of the province and responsible for its defence and good governance. For political consideration, the Mughal Court did not approve of long terms for subahdars, and generally transferred or recalled them, with exceptions, after their tenures of two to three years. But compared to subahdars of other provinces, Bengal subahdars, however, had always enjoyed much longer tenures. On an average, Bengal subahdars stayed in office uninterruptedly for more than six years, whereas in other provinces the tenure was, generally, below four years.

Between 1704 to 1717, the centre appointed several subahdars, but those appointments were more rhetorical than real, because none of the incumbents came to Bengal to assume their office. During the period, virtual ruler of the subah was Murshid Quli Khan, the founder of the nawabi regime. From Murshid Quli Khan to sirajuddaula, all subahdars, who were commonly known as 'nawab' in Bengal history, were self-proclaimed and later confirmed by the centre theoretically. [Sirajul Islam]

Retrieved from "http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Subahdar&oldid=12123"