Frequent wars of succession during the later Mughal period divided the nobility into a number of factions in order to protect their interest. When it came to the question of succession, each group of nobility, after assessing the candidate's position, decided to support the one who had the greatest chance to win. It was a gamble. In case of success, the supporters got high and lucrative posts and attractive titles, but in case of defeat they not only lost their wealth, property and status, but in some cases faced death on the charges of treason and infidelity. However, in spite of this danger, this drama continued and the nobility survived on the weakness of the king who depended on their support to retain his throne.
Under these circumstances two brothers emerged to play the role of king makers. They were Hussain Ali Khan and Abdullah Khan who belonged to the family of sadaat-i-barah whose members were famous for their chivalry and bravery in the battlefield. Both brothers supported Farrukhsiyar (1713-1810) against Jahandar Shah (1712-1713) who became the emperor after a bloody battle in which he killed Farrukhsiyar's father and brothers. With the help of the Sayyid brothers Farrukhsiyar defeated Jahandar Shan in 1711 and executed him to clear his way to become king.
Farrukhsiyar's ascension to the throne made the Sayyid brothers powerful because without their support it would not have been possible for him to win the battle for succession. Jahandar Shah's supporters faced the royal wrath.
Their palaces and wealth were confiscated and awarded to the Sayyid brothers. Prominent nobles who lost their properties included Nusrat Jang whose palace was awarded to Hussain Ali Khan. The Sayyid brothers imprisoned I'tiqad Khan and tortured him to reveal the location of his hidden treasures. The same treatment was meted out to the sons of Sh'ista Khan. The confiscated wealth was distributed among the followers of the new king.
However, the honeymoon period was soon over. In the system of kingship, sharing of power and authority created doubts and suspicions between shareholders. There were intrigues and counter intrigues. The Sayyid brothers were more powerful militarily while the emperor had only the charisma of his family name. It was a one-sided conflict and the military power won; one day Farrukhsiyar was dragged from his harem and imprisoned under inhuman condition. The servants of the Sayyid brothers not only insulted the emperor but also slapped and kicked him.
Finally, he was strangulated on the order of the Sayyid brothers. After the assassination of the emperor the royal treasury was plundered by the brothers. Abdullah Khan, who was a depraved debauch, took three beautiful women of the royal harem for himself. This shocked the population of Delhi but they endured it silently.
There was no dearth of princes who were ready to sit on the throne; the Sayyid brothers helped two such prices, Rafiud Darajat (1719) and then his brother Rafiud Dola (1719), attain the throne. Both died within a short span of time leaving the throne empty again. Meantime another prince Nikoser (1719), declared himself the emperor at Agra but he too was defeated by the brothers. The capture of Agra fort provided them the opportunity to seize the centuries old accumulated treasure of the Mughal emperors including the costly and precious things belonging to Nurjahan and Mumtaz Mahal.
However the situation started to change when Roshan Akhtar became the emperor under the title of Muhaad Shah (1719-1748). By this time a rival faction of nobility was tired of the Sayyid brothers and their misuse of power. Thus a conspiracy was hatched and Mir Haider Kashghari was paid a princely sum of one lakh rupees to kill Hussain Ali Khan.
As soon as the news of this murder spread there was panic and confusion in the royal camp. Hussain Ali Khan's rivals immediately plundered his treasury; they were followed by camp followers who took full advantage of the chaos and looted whatever they got. According to one historian, within a short span of time there was no trace of Hussain Ali Khan's camp. Everything belonging to him was taken away. Each beggar of the camp collected nearly three thousand ashrafis and became rich.
Abdullah Khan, who was on his way to the Deccan, received the news of his brother's death. He immediately decided to return and take revenge. He wrote to his maternal uncle Najmuddin Ali Khan, who was in charge of the princes who were confined at Shahjahanabad, to place Prince Sultan Ibrahim on the throne in order to legitimise his action in his name. But the time for king making was over. Abdullah Khan fought a battle against the royal army but was defeated and taken prisoner. His treasury was also confiscated. He spent the rest of his life in prison.
There is a lesson in the history of the Sayyid brothers. If somebody becomes too ambitious and greedy, the burden crushes him without any mercy. Secondly, accumulating wealth at the cost of others results in rivalry which ultimately leads to the downfall of the person. Thirdly, wealth cannot save you from the wrath of the people. Once a powerful man becomes powerless, all his followers and supporters leave him to face the music alone.
