Ashraf Ali Khan

Ashraf Ali Khan
Motamul ul-Mulk (Guardian of the country) Mubarak ud-Daulah (Auspicious of the state) Feroze Jang (Victor in war)
Reign	1770 - September 6, 1793
Coronation	March 21, 1770 (12 years old)
Titles	Nawab Nazim of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa (Nawab of Bengal)
Born	1759 (Probably)
Died	September 6, 1793
Predecessor	Najabut Ali Khan
Successor	Baber Ali Khan
Dynasty	Najafi
Father	Mir Jafar
Mother	Babbu Begum
Children	12 sons and 15 daughters.
Religious beliefs	Islam

Sayyid Ashraf Ali Khan (1759 – September 6, 1793), better known as Mubarak ud-Daulah (spelled also as: Mubaraq ud-Daulah), was the Nawab of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa. He was the son of Mir Jafar and Babbu Begum.

He ascended the throne on March 21, 1770 after his half-brother, Nawab Najabut Ali Khan's death on March 10, 1770. Ashraf Ali Khan was succeeded by his son, Baber Ali Khan after his death on September 6, 1793.

Life

Early years

Nawab Nazim Ashraf Ali Khan, better known as Mubarak ud-Daulah was the son of Mir Jafar by Babbu Begum. He succeeded his half brother, Nawab Nazim Najabut Ali khan, at the age of 12 years, after Najabut Ali Khan's death on March 10, 1770. Warren Hastings appointed Mubaraq ud-Daulah's stepmother, Munny Begum, his guardian though, his mother Babbu Begum was alive. The reason that why the guardianship was not given Babbu Begum has never been satisfactorily explained.

Later years

Nawab Nazim Mubaraq ud-Daulah (enthroned) with his son, Baber Ali Khan in the Nawab's Durbar with British Resident, Sir John Hadley. Inscribed on the back in ink and pencil is: 'Nabob's Durbar and reception of the English Resident at Morshedabad'.

In 1790, the Queen of the Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II, asked, through Lord Cornwallis, for one of Nawab Mubarak ud-Daulah's daughters in marriage with her son. The Nawab rejected the offer in the following terms, in a letter to Lord Cornwallis:

Please request the Queen to pass over the matter. I cannot, by any means, accede to the proposal. there are many obstacles in the matter. Moreover, there is a longstanding usage in my family, that our daughters can never be given in marriage to any one other than Sayyids. If I act contrary to this, my family custom, I shall be ruined. At all events, my mother and I cannot accept the offer.
—Nawab Nazim Mubarak ud-Daulah of Bengal

Although, the Nawab, then had 13 daughters, and to some extent regarded himself as a servant of the Emperor, he, for family reasons, did not allow the marriage of one of the 13 with even such an honourable prince as the Prince of Delhi.

Death and succession

Nawab Nazim Mubarak ud-Daulah died on September 6, 1793. He was succeeded by his son, Baber Ali Khan after his death.

Marriage

Principal wives

The following are the principal wives of Nawab Nazim Ashraf Ali Khan:

Mut‘ah wives

The following are the mut‘ah wives of Nawab Nazim Ashraf Ali Khan:

Children

The following is the list of the children of Nawab Nazim Ashraf Ali Khan:

See also

• List of rulers of Bengal
• History of Bengal
• History of India

External links

• Site dedicated to Nawab Nazim Ashraf Ali Khan, better known as Mubarak ud-Daulah