When did Asaf-ud-Daula become the Nawab of Awadh?
Asaf-ud-Daula assumed power in Lucknow on the 28th of January 1775 after his father Shuja-ud-Daula died. He was twenty-six years old when he inherited a throne that was far from secure.
Questions about Asaf-ud-Daula
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What happened to the two million pounds sterling found in the vaults of Umat-ul-Zohra?
The widow claimed the entire sum under terms of a will that was never produced for inspection. Warren Hastings secured a loan of 26 lakh rupees from her in exchange for land worth four times that amount and later confiscated these jagirs due to evidence linking her complicity to the rising of Chait Singh.
Why did Asaf-ud-Daula move the capital from Faizabad to Lucknow?
He moved the capital of Awadh from Faizabad to Lucknow in 1775 while simultaneously negotiating treaties with colonial powers. This decision coincided with heavy financial burdens as the East India Company demanded repayment for past military support.
How many people worked on the Bara Imambara during the famine of 1784?
Over 20,000 people including commoners and noblemen worked on the project to build this massive edifice. Workers received payment for their labor regardless of whether they built or demolished structures during daytime hours and secret night demolitions.
Who designed the Rumi Darwaza and when was it modeled after Istanbul?
The Rumi Darwaza or Turkish Gate stands sixty feet tall and was modeled after the Sublime Porte in Istanbul in 1784. It represents one of the earliest examples of cultural exchange between Ottoman Turkey and Awadh.