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Nizam ← 1720 – 1948 → Flag Capital Hyderabad Language(s) Dakhni , later Urdu Government Monarchy Nizam  - 1720-1748 Qamar-ud-din Khan, Asaf Jah I  - 1869-1911 Mahbub Ali Khan, Asaf Jah VI History  - Established 1720  - Operation polo 1948

Nizam, a shortened version of Nizam-ul-Mulk, meaning Administrator of the Realm, was the title of the native sovereigns of Hyderabad state, India, since 1719, belonging to the Asaf Jah dynasty. The dynasty was founded by Mir Qamar-ud-Din, a viceroy of the Deccan under the Mughal emperors from 1713 to 1721 and who intermittently ruled under the title Asaf Jah in 1724, and After Aurangzeb's death in 1707, the Mogul empire crumbled and the viceroy in Hyderabad, the young Asaf Jah, declared himself independent.

The scions, known as The Nizams, ruled a kingdom larger than France. They were among the wealthiest people in the world. Seven nizams ruled Hyderabad for two turbulent centuries until Indian independence in 1948.

The Asaf Jahi rulers were great patrons of literature, art, architecture,culture, Jewelry collection and rich food.

The Nizams ruled the state until its annexation into the Indian Union in 1948.

Contents 1 Origin of the title 2 Rise of the Nizams 3 Successors 4 Palaces of the Nizams 5 Abdication 6 References 7 See also 8 Further reading 9 External links

Nizām-ul-mulk was a title first used in Urdu around 1600 to mean Governor of the realm or Deputy for the Whole Empire. The word is derived from the Arabic word, nizंām (نظام), meaning order, arrangement. The Nizam was referred to as Ala Hadrat /Ala Hazrat or Nizam Sarkar, meaning His Exalted Highness (Only the last Nizam had this title).

The first Nizams ruled on behalf of the Mughal emperors. But, after the death of Aurangazeb, the Nizams split away from the Mughals to form their kingdom. When the British achieved paramountcy over India, the Nizams were allowed to continue to rule their princely states. The Nizams retained power over Hyderabad State until its annexation into the Indian Union in 1948, after Indian independence.

The Asaf Jah dynasty had only seven rulers; however there was a period of 13 years after the rule of the first Nizam when three of his sons (Nasir Jung, Muzafar Jung and Salabath Jung) ruled. They were not officially recognized as the rulers.

A legend about the first Nizam states that, on one of his hunting trips he was offered some kulchas (an Indian bread) by a holy man and was asked to eat as many as he could. The Nizam could eat seven kulchas and the holy man then prophesied that seven generations of his family would rule the state.

The Nizams, by an honored Hyderabad tradition that no Nizam has ever left India no matter how good a reason might exist for doing so, they believed, "the Sovereign is too precious to his people ever to leave India.".

Ever since Hyderabad stood aloof from the great first war of Indian Independence of 1857 while betraying many Indians and also at time acting against those who opposed british such as Haidar Ali and Tipu Sultan, its Royal Family have been accorded by British Royalty special honors and the Nizam was given the official status of Faithful Ally.

1. Mir Qamaruddin Khan, Nizam ul Mulk, Asaf Jah I (1720-1748)
2. Mir Ahmed Ali Khan, Nizam-ud-Dowlah Nasir Jang (1748-1750)
3. Nawab Hidayat Mohi-ud-din Sa'adu'llah Khan Bahadur, Muzaffar Jang (1750-1751)
4. Nawab Syed Mohammed Khan, Amir ul Mulk, Salabat Jang (1751-1762)
5. Nawab Mir Nizam Ali Khan Bahadur, Nizam ul Mulk, Asaf Jah II (1762-1803)
6. Nawab Mir Akbar Ali Khan Sikandar Jah, Asaf Jah III (1803-1829)
7. Nawab Mir Farkhonda Ali Khan Nasir-ud-Daulah, Asaf Jah IV (1829-1857)
8. Nawab Mir Tahniat Ali Khan Afzal ud Daulah, Asaf Jah V (1857-1869)
9. Fateh Jang Nawab Mir Mahboob Ali Khan, Asaf Jah VI (1869-1911)
10. Fateh Jang Nawab Mir Osman Ali Khan, Asaf Jah VII (1911-1948)

The Asaf Jahis were prolific builders. Several palaces of the Nizams were:

• Chowmahalla Palace
• Purani Haveli
• King Kothi Palace
• Hyderabad House, New Delhi.
• Mahboob Mansion
• Falaknuma Palace
• Bella Vista
• Hill Fort Palace
• Chiran Palace

The princely state had one of the finest palaces in India with rich adornments. Fine objects of art and furnishings in the palaces reflect the grandeur.

The landmarks like the Andhra Pradesh High Court, Jubilee Hall, Asafia library, The Assembly building, the Osmania Arts College and the Osmania Medical College are among their notable constructions.

The Nizams liked the European style of architecture and created a fusion of European traditions with Hindu and Islamic forms and motifs.

Main Article: Operation Polo

After the British left India in 1947, Hyderabad state did not accede to either of the new dominion of India or Pakistan. In September 1948, the Indian government launched Operation Polo, swiftly overrunning the Nizams' forces and annexed the state into India.

Each of the Nizams is buried in the royal graves at the Makkah Masjid, near Charminar, except for the last Nizam, Mir Osman Ali Khan, who has willed that he be buried in his mausoleum in the Judi Mosque facing King Kothi Palace.

• Zubrzycki, John. (2006) The Last Nizam: An Indian Prince in the Australian Outback. Pan Macmillan, Australia. ISBN 978-0-3304-2321-2.
• University of Queensland feature

• Hyderabad State
• History of Hyderabad
• Salar Jung family
• HMAS Nizam, a Royal Australian Naval vessel named for the Nizam prince who helped finance her construction

• Mughal Administration of Deccan Under Nizamul Mulk Asaf Jah, 1720-48 A.D.By M. A. Nayeem, Indian Council of Historical Research, University of Poona, Dept. of History [1]

• Photos on Columbia University website
• University of Queensland
• New York Times - A Graceful City of Two Cultures
• Detailed genealogy of the Nizams of Hyderabad
• Article on some aspects of life in erstwhile Hyderabad state
• History of Hyderabad state
• Narendra Luther, An authority on History of Hyderabad
• The lost world Article by historian William Dalrymple, from The Guardian