Farrukhsiyar

Farrukhsiyar (reigned 1713–1719 CE) was the Mughal Emperor of India, known primarily for his accession to the throne with the assistance of the influential Sayyid Brothers and for issuing a series of farmāns (royal decrees) that significantly benefited the British East India Company. His reign marked the continuing decline of Mughal central authority and the rising power of court factions, regional governors, and European trading companies in India.

Early Life and Accession

Farrukhsiyar was born in 1683 CE at Aurangabad to Azim-ush-Shan, the second son of Emperor Bahadur Shah I. He belonged to the illustrious Timurid–Mughal dynasty founded by Babur. During his youth, the Mughal Empire was vast but already showing signs of administrative decay following the long reign of Aurangzeb (1658–1707).
After the death of Bahadur Shah I in 1712, a succession struggle broke out among his sons and grandsons. Farrukhsiyar, then the Subahdar (governor) of Bengal, rose in rebellion against his uncle Jahandar Shah, who had seized the throne. With the decisive support of the Sayyid Brothers—Sayyid Hassan Ali Khan Barha (Abdullah Khan) and Sayyid Husain Ali Khan Barha—Farrukhsiyar defeated Jahandar Shah at the Battle of Agra in 1713 and proclaimed himself Emperor.

Administration and Role of the Sayyid Brothers

Upon ascending the throne, Farrukhsiyar rewarded the Sayyid Brothers with high offices: Abdullah Khan was made Wazir (Prime Minister) and Husain Ali Khan became Mir Bakshi (Commander-in-Chief). However, their growing influence effectively reduced the Emperor to a nominal figurehead.
The Sayyid Brothers became the de facto rulers of the Mughal Empire, controlling appointments, finances, and provincial administration. They sought to stabilise the crumbling empire by placating regional governors and promoting fiscal reforms. Nevertheless, their dominance over imperial politics aroused resentment among the old nobility and even Farrukhsiyar himself.
Farrukhsiyar’s repeated attempts to overthrow the Sayyids through conspiracies and alliances with rival nobles failed. His weakness as a ruler and vacillating temperament further undermined his authority.

Relations with the British East India Company

One of the most enduring aspects of Farrukhsiyar’s reign was his favourable treatment of the British East India Company. In 1717 CE, he issued a series of farmāns that granted significant commercial privileges to the Company.
These included:

• Permission for duty-free trade in Bengal, Gujarat, and Hyderabad (except for a small annual payment of ₹3,000 in Bengal).
• Exemption of Company goods from customs duties when sold to Indian merchants.
• The right to issue dastaks (passes) for the movement of goods, which Indian officials could not question.
• Permission to purchase land around Calcutta, facilitating the future expansion of the settlement.

These farmāns, often referred to as the Magna Carta of the East India Company, greatly enhanced British economic influence and undermined Mughal revenue collection in Bengal. Over time, they contributed to the Company’s political rise in India, culminating in British control over Bengal by the mid-eighteenth century.

Foreign and Regional Affairs

Farrukhsiyar’s reign coincided with growing instability in the Mughal provinces. The Rajputs, Jats, and Sikhs all asserted regional autonomy. The Marathas, under leaders such as Shahu and Balaji Vishwanath, were consolidating power in western India.
In 1719, Farrukhsiyar sent Husain Ali Khan to suppress the Marathas, but the campaign failed to produce lasting results. Instead, a peace agreement was reached, recognising Shahu as the legitimate Maratha ruler and allowing him to collect Chauth (one-fourth of revenue) and Sardeshmukhi (ten per cent) from the Deccan provinces — an arrangement that eroded Mughal sovereignty.

Decline and Deposition

Farrukhsiyar’s growing hostility towards the Sayyid Brothers eventually led to open conflict. He attempted to remove them by forming secret alliances with rival nobles and foreign elements, including the Nizam-ul-Mulk, but his efforts were unsuccessful.
In 1719 CE, the Sayyid Brothers, supported by sections of the army and nobility, deposed Farrukhsiyar after a brief siege of the Red Fort in Delhi. He was captured, blinded, and eventually killed in prison on 9 April 1719. The Sayyid Brothers then installed puppet emperors — Rafi-ud-Darajat, Rafi-ud-Daula (Shah Jahan II), and later Muhammad Shah — marking the complete erosion of imperial authority.

Character and Assessment

Farrukhsiyar is often described by historians as indecisive, weak-willed, and easily influenced. Despite his personal ambition, he lacked the political acumen necessary to manage the turbulent court politics of the time. His dependence on the Sayyid Brothers and subsequent betrayal of them reflected the instability and factionalism that plagued the Mughal court in the eighteenth century.
Yet, his reign remains historically significant for several reasons:

• It symbolised the transition from centralised imperial rule to factional dominance in Mughal politics.
• His farmāns laid the foundation for British commercial and political expansion in India.
• It illustrated the growing assertiveness of regional powers such as the Marathas and the decline of Mughal control beyond the imperial heartland.