Get complete information on Ahmad Shah

Get complete information on Ahmad Shah

After the death of his father Muhammad Shah in April 1748, Ahmad Shah was put on the throne of Delhi. The new Emperor was “a good natured imbecile” who had received no training for war or administration. “From his infancy to the age of 21, he had been brought up among the women of harem in neglect and poverty and often subjected to his father’s brow-beating.”

The affairs of the state fell into the hands of “a cabal of eunuchs and women”, headed by the Queen Mother Udham Bai, who before her marriage with Muhammad Shah, was a public dancing girl, She promoted worthless men into high office, receiving large presents in money for every appointment. No one cared for the administration and the Governors and nobel misappropriated the royal revenues. Their example was followed by strong landlords who usurped the lands of their weak neighbours.

Ahmad Shah excelled his predecessors in his sensual pursuits. His harems extended over full Kos where from all males were excluded and the Emperor spent a week and sometimes a month in the company of women.

In the field of administration also, the Emperor did many foolish things. In November 1713, he appointed his two and half year old son. Mahmud as Governor of the Punjab and also named Muhammad Amin, a one-year old baby, as the Deputy under him. The Governorship of Kashmir was conferred on Tala Said Shah, a one-year old boy and a boy of 15 years of age was appointed as his Deputy. Those appointments were made at a time when the danger of Afghan invasions was very great.

Ahmad Shah favoured Javid Khan, his chief eunuch, who became the leader of the court party. Javid Khan came to be known as Nawab Bahadur and he dominated the whole of the administration. He plotted against Safdarjung, the Wazir. There was utter confusion in the country.

In 1947, Ahmad Shah Abdali-invaded the Punjab but retired after getting a heavy indemnity. In 1752, he attacked the Punjab again. The Governor of the Punjab was defeated and Ahmad Shah Abdali marched towards Delhi. With a view to avoid destruction at Delhi, the Mughal Emperor made peace by ceding the Punjab and Multan to Ahmad Shah Abdali.

Delhi became a hot bed of intrigues and rival factions disputed power. The most important minister at the court at that time was Safdarjang, the Nawab Wazir of Awadh. He became so arrogant that he began to give orders without consulting the Emperor. The Emperor retaliated by forming a court party headed by Javid Khan. When Javid Khan was assassinated, the Mughal Emperor chose Ghazi-ud-Din Imad-ul-Mulk, grandson of Nizam-ul-Mulk as his Chief Minister. There was a struggle for power between Imad-ul-Mulk and Safdarjang. Imad-ul-Mulk asked ^for Maratha help. Ahmed Shah was deposed and Alamgir II was put on the throne. Ahmad Shah was blinded and imprisoned.