Alamgir II
Mirza Aziz-ud-Din Muhammad was born on the 6th of June 1699 at Burhanpur. He spent forty years behind bars before becoming emperor in 1754. His father Jahandar Shah lost a war of succession to Farrukhsiyar after the death of Bahadur Shah I. Asaf Jah I imprisoned Aziz-ud-Din in 1714 following that conflict. The young prince remained captive until Ghazi ud-Din Khan Feroze Jung III released him four decades later. At age 55, he ascended the throne without any experience in administration or warfare. Most of his life had been spent in jail rather than governing an empire. He took the title Alamgir II and attempted to follow Aurangzeb's centralized approach. Imad-ul-Mulk placed him there as a weak figurehead who would not object to the vizier's regime.
Imad-ul-Mulk hired Maratha mercenaries to execute his orders while keeping all imperial revenues for himself. He starved Alamgir II's family and persecuted Ali Gauhar, the elder son of the emperor. Relations between the ruler and his usurping vizier deteriorated rapidly during this period. The Mughal Empire began to re-centralize when many Nawabs sought coordination with the Emperor against the Marathas. This development was unwelcome to Imad-ul-Mulk who sought to strengthen his authoritarianism. His Amir-ul-Umara and Mir Bakhshi continued to be Mirza Ashraf, the son of Khan Dowran VII. The vizier used the undaunted support of the Marathas to maintain control over the court. All power rested firmly in the hands of Imad-ul-Mulk while the emperor remained powerless.
Ahmad Shah Durrani marched into Lahore in 1756 after Moin-ul-Mulk died. His widow Mughlani Begum had desperately sought assistance from the Afghan leader to halt succession struggles. Durrani appointed Timur Shah Durrani as viceroy at Lahore under the protection of Jahan Khan. He then plundered Sikh and Hindu inhabitants in the eastern regions of Punjab. In January 1757, Alamgir II met Ahmad Shah Durrani near Delhi alongside nobles like Najib-ul-Daula. Their forces engaged the Marathas in combat and threatened to overthrow Imad-ul-Mulk's regime during the sacking of Delhi. Durrani returned to Kabul leaving his son Timur Shah Durrani to consolidate garrisons inside Lahore. They founded the Zamzama cannon with the help of Mughal metalsmiths. The alliance strengthened when Timur married Alamgir II's daughter Zuhra Begum in February 1757.
In July 1757, Raghunathrao led the Marathas to reject the alliance between the Durrani Empire and the Mughal Empire. They encamped 30 km opposite the Red Fort and occupied all villages by the Jamuna river. The angry Maratha set ferries ablaze and stopped food supplies from entering Delhi. Najib-ul-Daula positioned heavy artillery outside the vicinity of the Red Fort but could not gain assistance from Durrani. After resisting for more than five months, he surrendered and withdrew to Najibabad. When the Marathas entered Delhi, the emperor fled to Bharatpur State along with his royal family. Mosques and Shrines built by the Mughals were desecrated while the city was looted. The Peshwa conspired to place Vishwasrao upon the Mughal throne. A Jat regiment sent by Suraj Mal later plundered Delhi before allowing the royal family to return from Bharatpur.
The Seven Years' War broke out in 1756 involving Alamgir II as a participant beyond India's boundaries. He requested French assistance to put down the Maratha Confederacy through De Bussy. The Emperor asked if it was possible for De Bussy to dispatch a contingent of 1000 men to protect Delhi. He promised to pay a hefty sum for their maintenance and settle disputes in favor of the French East India Company. In 1755, the Swedish East India Company operated in Surat as a co-belligerent of Alamgir II. They assisted the first Nawab of Junagadh. Salabat Jung's forces utilized heavy muskets known as Catyocks which fired more rapidly than cannons. These weapons reversed the fortunes of the Maratha rebels during conflicts in the Deccan. De Bussy captured the Northern Circars from the British but Forde retaken them in 1758.
Imad-ul-Mulk plotted to murder the Mughal Emperor Alamgir II and his family in November 1759. Fearing backlash after Prince Ali Gauhar escaped from Delhi, the vizier acted quickly. A pious man came to meet him at Kotla Fateh Shah where Alamgir II set out immediately. Assassins stabbed him repeatedly while he tried to greet this holy figure. The death was mourned throughout the Mughal Empire particularly by the Muslim populace. Ali Gauhar managed to escape before the assassination took place. Imad-ul-Mulk aligned himself with Sadashivrao Bhau and launched a counterattack against Najib-ud-Daula. This conflict lasted 15 days resulting in the defeat of Najib-ud-Daula who was driven north. Ahmad Shah Durrani later recaptured Delhi and placed it under the nominal authority of Shah Alam II.
The character of Alamgir II appeared in the 2019 Bollywood war epic Panipat portrayed by S. M. Zaheer. He also featured in the 1994 TV series The Great Maratha played by Arun Bali. Silver rupees were issued in his name during AH 1172 which corresponds to approximately 1758. Posthumous coins struck in Arkat bore his name for the Madras Presidency mint. His reign symbolizes the decline of the Mughal Empire as a historical period. Modern portrayals examine his role amidst the chaos of regional powers like the Marathas and Durrani Empire. Historians view him as a figurehead whose power was entirely controlled by others. His death marked the end of an era where emperors held actual authority over their vast territories.
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Common questions
When was Alamgir II born and where did he spend his early life?
Mirza Aziz-ud-Din Muhammad was born on the 6th of June 1699 at Burhanpur. He spent forty years behind bars before becoming emperor in 1754.
Who imprisoned Alamgir II and for how long did he remain captive?
Asaf Jah I imprisoned Aziz-ud-Din in 1714 following that conflict. The young prince remained captive until Ghazi ud-Din Khan Feroze Jung III released him four decades later.
What happened to Alamgir II during the Maratha siege of Delhi in July 1757?
The emperor fled to Bharatpur State along with his royal family when the Marathas entered Delhi. Mosques and Shrines built by the Mughals were desecrated while the city was looted.
How did Alamgir II die and who ordered his assassination?
Imad-ul-Mulk plotted to murder the Mughal Emperor Alamgir II and his family in November 1759. Assassins stabbed him repeatedly while he tried to greet a pious man at Kotla Fateh Shah.
Which foreign powers supported Alamgir II during the Seven Years War?
He requested French assistance to put down the Maratha Confederacy through De Bussy. In 1755, the Swedish East India Company operated in Surat as a co-belligerent of Alamgir II.