Rise of Regional States in Mughal India during the 18th Century
Classification of Regional States in Mughal India
Successor States: These were the Mughal provinces that turned into states after breaking away from the empire. Though they did not challenge the sovereignty of the Mughal ruler, the establishment of virtually independent and hereditary authority by their governors showed the emergence of autonomous polity in these territories. Examples: Awadh, Bengal, Hyderabad.
Independent Kingdoms: These states came into existence primarily due to the destabilization of the Mughal control over the provinces. Examples: Mysore, Rajput states.
The New States: These were the states set up by the rebels against the Mughal empire. Examples: Maratha, Sikh, Jat states.
Survey of Key Regional Kingdoms in Mughal India
Hyderabad: The founder of the Asaf-Jah house of Hyderabad was Kilich Khan, popularly known as Nizam-ul-Mulk. He defeated and later killed Mubariz Khan in the Battle of Shakr-Kheda (1724) and assumed control of the Deccan. In 1725, he became the viceroy and conferred on himself the title of Asaf-Jah.
Awadh: The founder of the independent principality of Awadh was Saadat Khan, popularly known as Burhan-ul-Mulk. He was succeeded by Safdar Jang as the Nawab of Awadh after his suicide under pressure from Nadir Shah.
Bengal: Murshid Kuli Khan was the founder of the independent state of Bengal. His successor, Sarfaraz Khan, was killed in 1740 by Alivardi Khan, who assumed power and made himself independent of the Mughal emperor by giving yearly tribute.
Rajputs: The Rajputs tried to re-establish their independence in the 18th century. They controlled the entire territory extending from the south of Delhi up to the western coast.
Mysore: Haider Ali and his son Tipu Sultan ruled the state of Mysore and were involved in constant warfare with the British.
Kerala: Martanda Varma established an independent state of Kerala with Travancore as his capital and made efforts to organize his army along the Western model.
Jats: The Jats, under leaders like Churaman, Badan Singh, and Suraj Mal, established the Jat state of Bharatpur and extended its territory significantly.
Sikhs: The Sikhs, under leaders like Guru Gobind Singh, Banda Bahadur, and Ranjit Singh, established a strong kingdom of Punjab.
Marathas: The Marathas, under the leadership of the Peshwas, challenged Mughal authority and established their rule in Malwa and Gujarat.
Rohilakhand and Farukhabad: These states emerged due to the Afghan migration into India and the collapse of authority in north India following Nadir Shah's invasion.
Nature and Limitations of Regional States in 18th Century India
The independent political systems that emerged in the provinces continued to maintain ties with the Mughal imperial authority and acknowledged the emperorβs importance as an umbrella.
The polity that emerged in these states was regional in character and functional with the collaborative support of the different local groups like the zamindars, merchants, local nobles, and chieftains.
The regional states had certain limitations: they failed to develop a system based on sound financial, administrative, and military organization, and were backward in science and technology.
The constant warfare these states had with neighboring regional powers prevented any one state from ultimately dominating and replacing the Mughal power with a stable polity at an all-India level.
The jagirdari crisis intensified as income from agriculture declined, and the number of contenders for a share of the surplus multiplied, leading to economic stagnation despite the prosperity of trade.
.png)