Farrukhsiyar
On the 20th of August 1683, Muhammad Farrukhsiyar was born in Aurangabad on the Deccan Plateau to a Kashmiri mother named Sahiba Niswan. He spent his early years governing Dhaka after his father Azim-ush-Shan recalled him from Bengal in 1707. The year 1712 marked a turning point when Azim-ush-Shan anticipated Bahadur Shah I's death and ordered Farrukhsiyar to march toward Patna. On the 21st of March, Farrukhsiyar proclaimed his father's accession while issuing coinage in his name. By the 6th of April, he learned that Jahandar Shah had defeated his father with help from an alliance orchestrated by Zulfiqar Khan Nusrat Jung. Farrukhsiyar considered suicide but was dissuaded by friends from Bengal before joining Hussain Ali Khan and Abdullah Khan. They clashed with Syed Abdul Ghaffar Khan Gardezi near Khajwah where 12,000 troops were lost. After a night-long artillery fight at Samugarh east of Agra on the 10th of January 1713, Jahandar Shah fled and was imprisoned. The following day Farrukhsiyar proclaimed himself emperor. On the 12th of February he captured Delhi's Red Fort and citadel. An executioner carried Jahandar Shah's head mounted on a bamboo rod atop an elephant while another elephant bore the body.
Farrukhsiyar defeated Jahandar Shah with aid from the Sayyid brothers yet remained powerless within months. Abdullah Khan demanded the post of wazir after leading Farrukhsiyar's army against Jahandar Shah. Farrukhsiyar initially offered him regent status as wakil-e-mutlaq but eventually yielded to make him prime minister. His brother Hussain Ali Khan became Mir Bakhshi or Commander-in-Chief. Historian William Irvine noted that close aides Mir Jumla III and Khan Dauran sowed suspicion in Farrukhsiyar's mind about potential usurpation. Hussain Ali Khan wrote to Abdullah Khan describing Farrukhsiyar as "a man who paid no regard to claims for service performed, one void of faith, a breaker of his word and altogether without shame". The emperor could not confront them because the Sayyid Brothers maintained control of the strongest part of the army. Thus they became de facto rulers of the empire despite Farrukhsiyar holding nominal authority. By 1715, Farrukhsiyar had given Mir Jumla III power to sign documents on his behalf stating "The word and seal of Mir Jumla are my word and seal".
Maharaja Ajit Singh of Marwar captured Ajmer with support from Marwari nobles and expelled Mughal diplomats from his state. Hussain Ali Khan left Delhi for Ajmer on the 6th of January 1714 accompanied by Sarbuland Khan and Afrasyab Khan. As his army reached Sarai Sahal, Ajit Singh sent diplomats who failed to negotiate peace. Ajit Singh retreated to deserts hoping to dissuade battle but surrendered at Merta. Mughal authority was restored in Rajputana when Ajit Singh gave his second daughter Kunwari Indira Kanwar as bride to Farrukhsiyar. His son Kunwar Abhai Singh was compelled to accompany him to see the emperor. In early 1713, Farrukhsiyar unsuccessfully sent subahdar Chabela Ram to defeat Jat leader Churaman. Raja Jai Singh II began besieging Thun fort on the 19th of November 1716 after negotiations failed. By January 1718, the siege lasted over a year while rain came late in 1717 increasing commodity prices. Raja Jai Singh II wrote to Farrukhsiyar saying he had overcome "many encounters" with Jats. He offered three million rupees to government and two million rupees to minister if they championed his cause. On the 19th of April 1718, Churaman accepted Mughal authority after paying five million rupees via Syed Abdullah.
Banda Singh Bahadur captured parts of Punjab region by early 1710s despite failures by emperors Bahadur Shah I and Jahandar Shah. In 1714 Sirhind faujdar Zainuddin Ahmad Khan attacked Sikhs near Ropar. Farrukhisyar sent 20,000 troops under Qamaruddin Khan, Abdus Samad Khan and Zakariya Khan Bahadur to defeat him. After eight-month siege at Gurdaspur, Banda Singh Bahadur surrendered when ammunition ran out. He was paraded around Sirhind then brought to Delhi where he was imprisoned in Tripolia. The emperor promised to spare Sikhs who converted to Islam but William Irvine noted "not one prisoner proved false to his faith". On the 19th of June 1716 Farrukhsiyar executed Banda Singh Bahadur and followers despite wealthy Khatris offering money for release. Banda's eyes were gouged out, limbs severed, skin removed before death. A procession carried 780 Sikh prisoners with 2,000 heads hung on spears and 700 cartloads of slaughtered heads used to terrorize population. Inayatullah Kashmiri set fire to Hindu area of Srinagar and forbade Pandits from wearing turbans while re-imposing Jizyah tax after Aurangzeb's death.
In 1717 Farrukhsiyar issued a farman granting British East India Company right to reside and trade in Mughal Empire. They traded freely except for yearly payment of 3,000 rupees given as gratitude for surgeon William Hamilton curing Farrukhsiyar of disease. Company received dastak passes allowing movement of goods which officials misused for personal gain. Farman permitted duty-free trade in Bengal province where employees used passes for private trade angering Nawab Alivardi Khan. The company was allowed to issue dastak passes that became tools for corruption rather than regulated commerce. This concession laid groundwork for future British dominance though immediate effects remained limited to Bengal region. The agreement reflected Farrukhsiyar's need for financial support during his struggle against powerful nobles.
By middle of 1718 serious conflict broke out at Mughal court when emperor appointed new Deccan officials without minister approval. Abdullah Khan canceled these appointments causing fury as emperor tried eliminating him with small Rajput force under Jai Singh Kachhwaha. In October Husain Ali Khan marched north with cavalry infantry armed with matchlocks and artillery joined by Balaji Vishwanath adding Maratha horsemen. They claimed purpose was negotiating hostage exchange but actually intended replacing emperor with easier-to-control ruler. In February 1719 Husain Ali Khan made dramatic entrance into Delhi ignoring formal court rules. Under pressure Farrukhsiyar removed key officials including Jai Singh II. When emperor refused giving up palace fortress control, angry confrontation occurred in court. Abdullah Khan removed emperor's guards seizing palace while Farrukhsiyar hid in women's quarters. Loyal commanders clashed with Maratha forces unable to install their own candidate. Sayyid brothers chose young Prince Rafi-ud-darjat as new ruler after failed attempt capturing Prince Bidar Dil. Farrukhsiyar captured blinded and killed in prison on the 9th of April 1719. Ajit Singh reclaimed widowed daughter along dowry returning to Jodhpur on the 16th of July 1719.
Town of Farrukhnagar in Gurgaon district south of Delhi named for him during his reign. He built Sheesh Mahal palace and Jama Masjid mosque there. Town of Farrukhabad in Uttar Pradesh also named after him. On coins issued during Farrukhsiyar's reign phrase inscribed read "Sikka zad az fazl-i-Haq bar sim o zar/ Padshah-i-bahr-o-bar Farrukhsiyar" meaning by grace of true God struck on silver and gold emperor of land and sea. One hundred sixteen coins from his reign displayed at Lahore Museum and Indian Museum Kolkata minted in Kabul Kashmir Ajmer Allahabad Bidar Berar. Posthumously known as Shahid-i-marhum or martyr received with mercy. His third wife Bai Bhup Devi entered imperial harem on the 3rd of July 1717 after brother Kirat Singh sent her to Delhi following message from Mufti of Delhi.
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Common questions
When was Muhammad Farrukhsiyar born and where?
Muhammad Farrukhsiyar was born on the 20th of August 1683 in Aurangabad on the Deccan Plateau to a Kashmiri mother named Sahiba Niswan.
How did Farrukhsiyar become emperor after defeating Jahandar Shah?
Farrukhsiyar defeated Jahandar Shah with aid from the Sayyid brothers and proclaimed himself emperor on the 11th of January 1713 following an artillery fight at Samugarh east of Agra. He captured Delhi's Red Fort and citadel on the 12th of February 1713 while Jahandar Shah fled and was subsequently executed.
Why did the Sayyid Brothers control the Mughal Empire under Farrukhsiyar?
The Sayyid Brothers maintained control of the strongest part of the army making them de facto rulers despite Farrukhsiyar holding nominal authority. Abdullah Khan demanded the post of wazir and Hussain Ali Khan became Mir Bakhshi or Commander-in-Chief to enforce their power over the empire.
What farman did Farrukhsiyar issue to the British East India Company in 1717?
In 1717 Farrukhsiyar issued a farman granting the British East India Company right to reside and trade in the Mughal Empire for a yearly payment of 3,000 rupees. The agreement allowed duty-free trade in Bengal province through dastak passes which officials misused for personal gain.
When and how was Muhammad Farrukhsiyar killed by the Sayyid Brothers?
Farrukhsiyar was captured blinded and killed in prison on the 9th of April 1719 after Husain Ali Khan marched north with cavalry infantry armed with matchlocks and artillery. The emperor refused giving up palace fortress control leading to an angry confrontation where Abdullah Khan removed his guards and seized the palace.