Alivardi Khan and Bengal Politics

Alivardi Khan ruled as the Nawab of Bengal from 1740 to 1756. His reign represented a pivotal era of autonomous administration in the Bengal Subah, marked by continuous military struggles against Maratha incursions and strict regulation of European trading companies.

Accession to the Throne of Bengal

Alivardi Khan was originally named Mirza Muhammad Ali. He started his political career under Nawab Shuja-ud-Din, who appointed him as the Deputy Governor (Naib Nazim) of Bihar in 1733.

The Battle of Giriya (1740)

• Following Shuja-ud-Din’s death in 1739, his son Sarfaraz Khan ascended the throne of Bengal.
• Sarfaraz Khan was an inefficient ruler who alienated key state officials, including the merchant Jagat Seth and military leaders.
• Alivardi Khan marched from Patna to Murshidabad and defeated Sarfaraz Khan at the Battle of Giriya in April 1740.
• He secured official imperial confirmation (farman) from Mughal Emperor Muhammad Shah by sending a payment of two crore rupees.

Maratha Incursions and the Treaty of 1751

Between 1741 and 1751, Bengal faced constant invasions by Maratha forces under Raghuji Bhonsle of Nagpur. These raids, led by Maratha general Bhaskar Pandit, devastated the agricultural economy of Bengal and Bihar.

Impact of Maratha Raids (Bargi Invasions)

• The Maratha cavalry plundered rural districts, leading to the destruction of silk and textile manufacturing centers.
• In response to the threat, European merchants in Calcutta constructed a defensive ditch in 1742, which became known as the Maratha Ditch.

Peace Settlement of 1751

• Exhausted by a decade of warfare, Alivardi Khan signed a peace treaty with Raghuji Bhonsle in 1751.
• Bengal ceded effective control of Odisha (Orissa) to the Marathas.
• The Nawab agreed to pay an annual tribute (chauth) of 12 lakh rupees to the Marathas.
• The treaty stabilized Bengal’s southern borders, allowing Alivardi Khan to focus on internal revenue restoration.

Policies Toward European Trading Companies

Alivardi Khan recognized the economic benefits of foreign commerce but maintained firm sovereign control over European merchants.

Containment of European Fortifications

• He prohibited the British East India Company and the French East India Company from fortifying their commercial factories in Calcutta and Chandernagore.
• When European wars broke out, he forbade any military hostilities between the British and French within his territory.
• He famously compared Europeans to bees, stating that they would yield honey if left alone, but would sting to death if disturbed.

Revenue Demands and Regulatory Control

• He extracted heavy financial contributions from European trading firms to fund his military campaigns against the Marathas.
• He strictly enforced transit duties and prevented the misuse of trade permits (dastaks).

Political Administration and Succession Crisis

Alivardi Khan reorganized provincial administration by appointing trusted relatives to key positions. However, the lack of a male heir created internal court factions.

Key Administrative Appointments

• Ghaseti Begum: His eldest daughter, married to Nawazish Muhammad Khan (Governor of Dhaka).
• Muna Begum: His second daughter, married to Sayyid Ahmad Khan (Faujdar of Purnea).
• Amina Begum: His youngest daughter, whose son Mirza Muhammad (Siraj-ud-Daulah) was designated as the official heir-apparent.

Death and Immediate Aftermath

• Alivardi Khan died of dropsy on April 9, 1756, at the age of 80.
• His grandson Siraj-ud-Daulah succeeded him at the age of 23.
• His succession was challenged by Ghaseti Begum, Shaukat Jung (Faujdar of Purnea), and military commander Mir Jafar, creating internal instability that the British East India Company exploited.

Administration and Economic Overview

Key Historical Facts

Alivardi Khan’s father, Shah Quli Khan (Mirza Muhammad Madani), served as an official under Mughal Prince Muhammad Azam Shah. Alivardi Khan gained administrative experience in Bihar, where he suppressed local rebellious zamindars such as the Ujjainia Rajputs of Bhojpur. During the Maratha invasions, his primary military commander was Mustapha Khan, an Afghan general who later revolted against him in Bihar in 1745 before being killed in battle. Alivardi Khan kept the administration of Bengal largely free from direct Delhi control, though he regularly sent imperial tribute when state finances permitted. He refused to allow European powers to build artillery defenses or deploy foreign garrisons in Bengal, maintaining an army consisting primarily of Afghan mercenaries and local levies. His death in April 1756 removed a capable administrator who had balanced court politics, foreign trade, and territorial security, directly leading to the succession crisis that resulted in the Battle of Plassey 14 months later.