1896. ] W. Irvine—- Later Mughals (1707-1803). 173 
and there pitched his camp near the garden of Ja‘far Khan at the 
eastern extremity of the city.' At first, when he came forward to 
claim the throne, none of the many nobles on whom ‘Azimu-sh-shan 
had heaped so many favours would espouse his cause. Most of them 
declared themselves on the side of Jahandar Shah. Murshid Quli Khan, 
diwan of Bengal, refused to move; nor was this so much to be won- 
dered at, for great jealousy had existed between him and ‘Azimu-sh- 
shan from the first appointment of the latter to Bengal. An attempt 
was made by Farrukhsiyar to supersede Murshid Quli Khan by the 
despatch from Patnah of a new subahdar, Rashid Khan, whose fate 
will be recounted when we come to the history of the provinces in 
Farrukhstyar’s reign. # 
We have already mentioned the defection of Sarbuland Khan. He 
had risen to position through his connection by marriage with ‘Azimu- 
sh-shan. On his falling under Bahadur Shah’s displeasure, ‘Azimu-sh- 
shan gave him refuge and made over to him Sahéndah (in Bundél- 
khand) and other parganahs of the prince’s jagir, as a means of support. 
The understanding between them was that if any great crisis arose, he 
should march at the head of three or four thousand men with a large 
amount of treasure that had been confided to his care. Sarbuland 
Khan acted in direct opposition to all his promises.* Another noble 
who was under equal obligations to the late ‘Azimu-sh-shan was Khan 
Jahan, Bahadur, (otherwise ‘Izzu-d-Daulah, Khan ‘Alam), son of 
Khan Jahan, Kokaltash, ‘Alamgiri. 4 He was a man of the most insuf- 
ferable pride, who made enemies wherever he went. In the early part 
of Bahadur Shah’s reign he lived at Dihli without employment. When 
that emperor was passing near Dihli on his return from the Dakhin, 
1 Stewart’s “‘ caravan-serae,” Hist. Bengal, 384, is derived from the Seir Muta- 
gharin, I, 48. But in the text of that work, Calcutta edition, 12, line 11, the 
words are dar sard-pardah-ha manzil gazid, where sard-pardah means camp, or a 
canvas enclosure round tents, and not a sarde, or inn. 
2 Khafi Khan, II, 707, 708; Ijad, 47 b, 51 a; Stewart, 384; Gladwin, Transactions, 
33. 97, 98. 
3 His biography is in M-ul-u, III, 801. He was born c. 1085 H. (1674), and 
died 1154 H. (19th Jan., 1742), T-i-Mhdi. In the Hadiqatu-l-aqalim, 131, we are 
told that Shékh Allahyar, the author’s father, tried to persuade Sarbuland Khan that 
gratitude required him to join Farrukhsiyar. The author mentions a village, Banz 
or Tapi, in Korah, as the jagir of ‘Azimu-sh-shan, which was then in 8. B. K’s charge. 
He had been sent as Naib to Bengal in the 2nd year of B. Shah. There he quarrelled 
with Zia-ullah Khan (son of ‘Inayat-ullah Khan, Kashmiri), the diwdan, and was 
recalled. Then in the 3rd year B.S. he was sent to the charge of Korah, where 
‘Azimu-sh-shan had his ja@gir (B. M. Or. No. 1690). 
# His biography is in M-ul-w, III, 949, under his former title of Sipahdar Khan. 
His name was Mhd. Muhsin. B. c, 1064 H. (1653-4) d. 1130 H. (Oct. Noy. 1718). 
