The Nawabs of Bhopal were the
Muslim
Muslims ( ar, المسلمون, , ) are people who adhere to Islam, a monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic tradition. They consider the Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, to be the verbatim word of the God of Abrah ...
rulers of
Bhopal
Bhopal (; ) is the capital city of the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh and the administrative headquarters of both Bhopal district and Bhopal division. It is known as the ''City of Lakes'' due to its various natural and artificial lakes. It i ...
, now part of
Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh (, ; meaning 'central province') is a state in central India. Its capital is Bhopal, and the largest city is Indore, with Jabalpur, Ujjain, Gwalior, Sagar, and Rewa being the other major cities. Madhya Pradesh is the seco ...
,
India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
. The
nawab
Nawab (Balochi language, Balochi: نواب; ar, نواب;
bn, নবাব/নওয়াব;
hi, नवाब;
Punjabi language, Punjabi : ਨਵਾਬ;
Persian language, Persian,
Punjabi language, Punjabi ,
Sindhi language, Sindhi,
Urd ...
s first ruled under the
Mughal Empire
The Mughal Empire was an early-modern empire that controlled much of South Asia between the 16th and 19th centuries. Quote: "Although the first two Timurid emperors and many of their noblemen were recent migrants to the subcontinent, the d ...
from 1707 to 1737, under the
Maratha Empire
The Maratha Empire, also referred to as the Maratha Confederacy, was an early modern Indian confederation that came to dominate much of the Indian subcontinent in the 18th century. Maratha rule formally began in 1674 with the coronation of Shi ...
from 1737 to 1818, then under
British rule
The British Raj (; from Hindi ''rāj'': kingdom, realm, state, or empire) was the rule of the British Crown on the Indian subcontinent;
*
* it is also called Crown rule in India,
*
*
*
*
or Direct rule in India,
* Quote: "Mill, who was hims ...
from 1818 to 1947, and independently thereafter until it was
acceded to the Union of India in 1949. The female nawabs of Bhopal held the title Nawab Begum of Bhopal.
List of rulers of Bhopal
Nawabs of Bhopal
![Bhopali Ragini c](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8e/Bhopali_Ragini_c._1630-40_43182009.jpg)
# Nawab
Dost Muhammad Khan
Dost Mohammad Khan Barakzai (Pashto/ Persian: ; 23 December 17929 June 1863), nicknamed the Amir-i Kabir, Also titled Amir al-Mu'minin, was a member of the Barakzai dynasty and one of the prominent rulers of the Emirate of Afghanistan. His 37-yea ...
(circa 1672-1728); founded the
state of Bhopal in 1707 and ruled it until 1728. He also founded the city of
Islamnagar, founded by Dost Mohammad Khan in 1716 and early 1720s.
# Nawab Sultan Muhammad (1720-?); ruled from 1728 to 1742.
#* Nawab Yar Muhammad Khan (1709-1742), Regent of Bhopal; 1728-1742.
# Nawab
Faiz Mohammad Khan
Faiz Muhammad Khan Bahadur, (r.1742–1777) the third Nawab of Bhopal, was the son of Yar Muhammad Khan, the second Nawab of Bhopal (as a reagent), and the stepson of Mamola Bai a very influential Hindu wife of Y Muhammad and a direct descen ...
(1731-1777); ruled from 1742 to 1777.
# Nawab Hayat Muhammad Khan (1736-1807); ruled from 1777 to 1807.
# Nawab Ghaus Muhammad Khan (1767-1826); ruled from 1807 to 1826.
# Nawab Muiz Muhammad Khan (circa 1795-1869); ruled from 1826 to 1837. He was succeeded by his wife Qudsia Begum.
# Nawab Jahangir Muhammad Khan (1816-1844); ruled from 1837 to 1844. He was succeeded by his daughter
Shah Jahan Begum.
Nawab Begums of Bhopal
#
Qudsia Begum
Qudsia Begum, born Udham Bai ( 1768) was a wife of Mughal emperor Muhammad Shah and mother of emperor Ahmad Shah Bahadur. She was an administrator and served as de facto regent of India from 1748 to 1754.
Early years
A Hindu by origin, Udham Bai ...
, (ruler from 1819 to 1837) - In 1819, 18-year-old Qudsia Begum (also known as Gohar Begum) took over the reins after the assassination of her husband. She was the first female ruler of Bhopal. She declared that her 2-year old daughter Sikander will follow her as the ruler. None of the male family members dared to challenge her decision. She ruled till 1837 when she died having adequately prepared her daughter for ruling the state. She was succeeded by her son-in-law Jahangir Muhammad Khan who married her daughter Sikandar Begum.
#
Nawab Sikandar Begum (ruled from 1860 to 1868)
#
Begum Sultan Shah Jehan (ruled from 1844 to 1860 and 1868 to 1901) - Shahjahan was the only surviving child of Sikandar Begum, sometime Nawab of Bhopal by correct title, and her husband Jahangir Mohammed Khan. She was recognised as ruler of Bhopal in 1844 at the age of six; her mother wielded power as regent during her minority. However, in 1860, her mother Sikandar Begum was recognised by the British as ruler of Bhopal in her own right, and Shahjahan was set aside. During her reign the first postage stamps of the Bhopal state were issued. In 1876 and 1878 there were issues of half and quarter anna stamps. Those of 1876 have text "HH Nawab Shahjahan Begam" in an octagonal frame; the 1878 stamps the same text in a round frame and the Urdu form of the Begum's title. The last stamps bearing her name were issued in 1902 with inscription: "H.H. Nawab Sultan Jahan Begam".
#
Begum Kaikhusrau Jahan (ruled from 1901 to 1926, died 1930)
Titular rulers
#
Al-Haj
The Hajj (; ar, حَجّ '; sometimes also spelled Hadj, Hadji or Haj in English) is an annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, the holiest city for Muslims. Hajj is a mandatory religious duty for Muslims that must be carried o ...
Nawab
Nawab (Balochi language, Balochi: نواب; ar, نواب;
bn, নবাব/নওয়াব;
hi, नवाब;
Punjabi language, Punjabi : ਨਵਾਬ;
Persian language, Persian,
Punjabi language, Punjabi ,
Sindhi language, Sindhi,
Urd ...
Sir
''Sir'' is a formal honorific address in English for men, derived from Sire in the High Middle Ages. Both are derived from the old French "Sieur" (Lord), brought to England by the French-speaking Normans, and which now exist in French only as ...
Hafiz Muhammad
Hamidullah Khan
Hajji Nawab Hafiz Sir Hamidullah Khan (9 September 1894 – 4 February 1960) was the last ruling Nawab of the princely salute state of Bhopal. He ruled from 1926 when his mother, Begum Kaikhusrau Jahan Begum, abdicated in his favor, until 19 ...
Bahadur
GCSI
The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1861. The Order includes members of three classes:
# Knight Grand Commander (:Knights Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India, GCSI)
# ...
,
GCIE
The Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria on 1 January 1878. The Order includes members of three classes:
#Knight Grand Commander ( GCIE)
#Knight Commander ( KCIE)
#Companion ( CIE)
No app ...
,
CVO (1894-1960); ruled from 1926-1947, serving as nominal ruler to his death in 1960. Last of the sovereign Nawabs of Bhopal.
#
Sajida Sultan, Begum of Bhopal
Nawab Begum Sajida Sultan Ali Khan Pataudi (4 August 1915 – 5 September 1995) was the daughter of the Nawab of Bhopal, Hamidullah Khan, and the wife and Begum Consort of Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi, the 8th Nawab of Pataudi, and in her own ri ...
(1915 - 1995); ruled from (1960-1971), titular Begum of Bhopal until 1971 when India abolished royal entitlements through the 26th Amendment to the Constitution of India.
The 26th amendment of the Indian constitution
/ref>
Family tree
The family tree of the ruling dynasty is given below:
*Sardar Khair Muhammad Khan Orakzai
The Orakzai are a Pashtun tribe native to the Orakzai Agency and parts of Kurram Agency located in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. They speak the language Pashto.
Location
The Orakzai belong to the Tirah valley located in FATA or ...
of the Mirazi Khel branch of the Orakzais of Tirah
**Mir Quli Khan siddiqui
*** Mir Hazar Khan siddiqui
**** Sardar Muhammad Jalal Khan Lohari (d. 1717)
***** Sardar Muhammad Yar Khan
****** Sardar Dilawar 'Ali Khan
******* Sardar Iman 'Ali Khan
******** Sardar Hasan 'Ali Khan
********* Sardar Mansur Khan
********** Baqi Muhammad Khan (d. 1860s)
*********** ''Nawab'' Ahmad 'Ali Khan Bahadur, Nawab Consort of Bhopal (1854-1902) m. 1874.
X. Nawab Sultan Kaikhusrau Jahan Begum Sahiba, Nawab Begum of Dar ul-Iqbal-i-Bhopal GCSI
The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1861. The Order includes members of three classes:
# Knight Grand Commander (:Knights Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India, GCSI)
# ...
, GCIE
The Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria on 1 January 1878. The Order includes members of three classes:
#Knight Grand Commander ( GCIE)
#Knight Commander ( KCIE)
#Companion ( CIE)
No app ...
, CI, GBE (1858-1930; r. 1901-1926, when she abdicated in favour of her son)
************
XI. Hajji Hafiz Muhammad Hamidu'llah Khan Bahadur, Nawab of Dar ul-Iqbal-i-Bhopal GCSI
The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1861. The Order includes members of three classes:
# Knight Grand Commander (:Knights Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India, GCSI)
# ...
, GCIE
The Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria on 1 January 1878. The Order includes members of three classes:
#Knight Grand Commander ( GCIE)
#Knight Commander ( KCIE)
#Companion ( CIE)
No app ...
, CVO (1894-1960; r. 1926-1949; titular Nawab and family head: 1949-1960)
*************
XII. Mehr-i-Taj Sajida Sultan Begum Sahiba, Nawab Begum of Dar ul-Iqbal-i-Bhopal (1915-1995; titular Nawab Begum and family head: 1960-1995 (legal status and recognition as Nawab Begum revoked December 1971). m. ''Nawab'' Muhammad Iftikhar 'Ali Khan Bahadur, Nawab of Pataudi (1910-1952)
************** XIII. Sahela Sultan, titular Nawab Begum of Bhopal (1940 - 2020), Head of Royal House of Bhopal, m. Bashir Yar Jung and Muhammad Mansur 'Ali Khan Bahadur, Nawab of Pataudi, (1941-2011; titular Nawab of Pataudi: 1952-2011 (derecognised 1971);
*************** XIV. Muhammad Saif Ali Khan
Saif Ali Khan (; born Sajid Ali Khan Pataudi; 16 August 1970) is an Indian actor and film producer who works in Hindi films. Part of the Pataudi family, he is the son of actress Sharmila Tagore and cricketer Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi.
Khan ...
, Nawab of Pataudi (b. 1970; titular Nawab of Pataudi: 2011–present
**************** ''Sahibzada'' Muhammad Ibrahim 'Ali Khan (b. 2001.)
** Sardar Khan Muhammad Khan
*** Sardar Jan Muhammad Khan
**** Sardar Nur Muhammad Khan (d. 1714)
*****''Sardar'' Aqil Muhammad Khan (d. 1742) ''Wazir'' to Nawab Dost Muhammad Khan. Joint Nawab Regent of Bhopal: 1728-1742
*****
I. Dost Muhammad Khan Bahadur, Nawab of Dar ul-Iqbal-i-Bhopal (1672-1728; Nawab of Bhopal: 1723; r. 1723-1728)
******''Nawab'' Yar Muhammad Khan Bahadur, Nawab Regent of Bhopal (1709-1742). Joint Nawab Regent of Bhopal: 1728-1742
*******
III. Faiz Muhammad Khan Bahadur, Nawab of Dar ul-Iqbal-i-Bhopal (1731-1777; r. 1742-1777)
*******
IV. Hayat Muhammad Khan Bahadur, Nawab of Dar ul-Iqbal-i-Bhopal (1736-1807; r. 1777-1807)
********
V. Ghaus Muhammad Khan Bahadur, Nawab of Dar ul-Iqbal-i-Bhopal (1767-1826; r. 1807-1826)
*********
VI. Muiz Muhammad Khan Bahadur, Nawab of Dar ul-Iqbal-i-Bhopal (c. 1795?-1869; r. 1826-1837)
********* ''Nawab Begum'' Qudsia Begum Sahiba, Nawab Begum Regent of Bhopal CI (1801-1881; Nawab Begum Regent of Bhopal: 1819-1837). m. ''Nawab'' Nasir Muhammad Khan Bahadur, Nawab Regent of Bhopal (1793-1819; Regent of Bhopal: 1816-1819) and had issue - see below.
******
II. Sultan Muhammad Khan Bahadur, Nawab of Dar ul-Iqbal-i-Bhopal (1720-after 1742; r. 1728-1742)
****** ''Nawabzada'' Fazil Muhammad Khan
******* ''Mian'' Sharif Muhammad Khan (d. 1787)
******** ''Nawab'' Wazir Muhammad Khan Bahadur, Nawab Regent of Dar ul-Iqbal-i-Bhopal (1766-1816; Regent of Bhopal: 1808-1816)
*********''Mian'' Amir Muhammad Khan (d. 1854)
**********
VII. Jahangir Muhammad Khan Bahadur, Nawab of Dar ul-Iqbal-i-Bhopal (1816-1844; r. 1837-1844). m.
VIII. Sikander Begum Sahiba, Nawab Begum of Dar ul-Iqbal-i-Bhopal (1817-1868; Nawab Begum Regent of Bhopal: 1847-1860; Nawab Begum of Bhopal: 1860-1868)
***********
IX. Nawab Sultan Shah Jahan Begum Sahiba, Nawab Begum of Dar ul-Iqbal-i-Bhopal GCSI
The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1861. The Order includes members of three classes:
# Knight Grand Commander (:Knights Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India, GCSI)
# ...
, CI (1838-1901; r. 1844-1860, 1868-1901)
************
X. Nawab Sultan Kaikhusrau Jahan Begum Sahiba, Nawab Begum of Dar ul-Iqbal-i-Bhopal GCSI
The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1861. The Order includes members of three classes:
# Knight Grand Commander (:Knights Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India, GCSI)
# ...
, GCIE
The Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria on 1 January 1878. The Order includes members of three classes:
#Knight Grand Commander ( GCIE)
#Knight Commander ( KCIE)
#Companion ( CIE)
No app ...
, CI, GBE (1858-1930; r. 1901-1926, when she abdicated in favour of her son) m. ''Nawab'' Ahmad 'Ali Khan Bahadur, Nawab Consort of Bhopal (1854-1902) - see above
********* ''Nawab'' Nasir Muhammad Khan Bahadur, Nawab Regent of Bhopal (1793-1819; Regent of Bhopal: 1816-1819). m. ''Nawab Begum'' Qudsia Begum Sahiba, Nawab Begum Regent of Bhopal (1801-1881; Nawab Begum Regent of Bhopal: 1819-1837). and had issue:
**********
VIII. Sikander Begum Sahiba, Nawab Begum of Dar ul-Iqbal-i-Bhopal GCSI
The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1861. The Order includes members of three classes:
# Knight Grand Commander (:Knights Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India, GCSI)
# ...
(1817-1868; Nawab Begum Regent of Bhopal: 1847-1860; Nawab Begum of Bhopal: 1860-1868)
See also
* List of Sunni Muslim dynasties
The following is a list of Sunni Muslim dynasties.
Asia
Middle East Arabian Peninsula
* Banu Wajih (926–965)
*Sharif of Mecca (967–1925)
* Al Uyuniyun (1076–1253)
*Sulaymanids (1063–1174)
*Mahdids (1159–1174)
*Kathiri (Hadhramaut) ( ...
* Pathans of Madhya Pradesh
The Pathans of Madhya Pradesh are an Urdu-speaking Pashtun community settled in the present-day Indian state of Madhya Pradesh as well as a small minority of internal migrants and their descendants in neighbouring Chhattisgarh state, which was ...
References
{{reflist
External links
The Begums of Bhopal
Bhopal
Bhopal (; ) is the capital city of the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh and the administrative headquarters of both Bhopal district and Bhopal division. It is known as the ''City of Lakes'' due to its various natural and artificial lakes. It i ...
People from Bhopal
History of Bhopal
1707 establishments in India