considered as the Architect General of Lucknow. With the ambition to outshine the glory of Mughal architecture he built a number of monuments and developed the city of Lucknow into architectural marvel. He patronized the construction of Rumi Darwaza also known as Turkish Gateway and Bara Imambara. Unlike the Mughal monuments which are known for the use of red sandstone and white marble, the monuments of Lucknow under nawab were built of brick coated with lime.
The Nawab of Awadh Saadat-Ali-Khan Signed the Treaty of Subsidiary alliance with the British in 1801.
The last nawab of Awadh was Wajid-Ali-Shah. Due to his passion for music and dance he significantly contributed toward the development of performing arts in Awadh. He composed many Thumri and was instrumental in the evolution of Lucknow gharana of Kathak.
The Regional Kingdom of Hyderabad
Mir Shahbuddin Khan
Mir Qamaruddin Khan
Mir Nizam Ali Khan
Mir Akbar Ali Khan
Mir Farkhona Ali Khan
Mir Tahniath Ali Khan
Mir Mahbood Ali Khan
Mir Osam Ali Khan
It was founded by Mir Qamaruddin Khan also known as Nizam-ul-Mulk and chin Qalich Khan. He eatablished the Asaf Jhai dynasty that ruled over the kingdom of Hyderabad for the next 7 generations. The Battle of Shakar Kheda fought on 11th October 1724 between the Mughal forces Md. Shah and the forces of Nizam was important conflict that led to establishment of the authority of nizam over Hyderabad. When Nadir Shah invaded in 1729, it was Nizam-ul-Mulk who convinced him to end the violence by his army in the city of Hyderabad. He was followed by series of nizam who acknowledge the subsidiary alliance of British. Nizam Ali Khan sign this alliance in 1789 making Hyderabad the first Indian State to enter into the British system of alliance.
The last nizam of Hyderabad was Osman Ali Khan who surrender his kingdom on 13th sept 1948 after the defeat in Operation Polo conducted by Indian forces for the merger of Hyderabad into the Union of India.
The Regional Kingdom of Punjab
The foundation of independent Punjab kingdom was Maharaja Ranjit Singh, who was the leader of Sukerchakia Misl. He said to be the leader with the modern vision who made Lahore his capital in 1779. He established European style army. Signed the Treaty of Amritsar in 1809. He took Khonir Diamond from Shah Shya the grandson of Ahmed Shah Abdali. He also singed Tripartite Treaty between Shah Shuja and English East India Company. He renovated the Sikh tribe with marble and gold. His death in 1839 was followed by weak successor i.e. Kharak Singh, Naw Nihial Singh, Sher Singh and Dalip Singh. During the time of these rulers the Sikh Kingdom decline and finally British annexed Punjab by defeating the Sikh army in First Anglo-Sikh War, 1845-46 and Second Anglo-Sikh War, 1848-49.
The Regional Kingdom of Jats
In 1669 the Jats launched their Ist significant revolt against the Mughals in the region of Mathura. Gokla was the leader of revolt. Following a series of conflict between Jats and Mughals Churaman and Badam Singh were successful in establishing on independent Jat Kingdom of Bharatpur in 18th century. Under the regime of Maharaja Surajmal (1755 to 1763) the Jat power reach to climax of glory and braveness. He not only establish effective administration but also significantly expanded the states area. His kingdom consisted of Agra, Mathura, Merrut and Aligarh. He built the Lohagarh fort which became one of most powerful fort in India. The British army attempted to conquer the fort 13 times but they could not enter the fort even once. Maharaja Surajmal is known as Plato of Jat tribe and Jat odysseus due to his political vision and intellacult.
The Jat ruler has addicts, after pragmatic relationship with the British which move around the period of resistance and period of alliances. Maharaja Jaswant Singh of Bharatpur provided great Support for the British during the revolt of 1857. In Augh 1947 the state of Bharatpur merge. The last ruler was Maharaja Vajendra Singh.
The Rajput Kingdom of 18th Century
The Rajput State maintain high degree of autonomy during Mughal rule in India. These States were known for their martial tradition patronage of art and tradition. Initially the English East India Company was reluctant to intervein in the affairs of the Rajput Kingdom. It was only after the collapse of Martha power that the British interfere and establish subsidiary alliance with the Rajput Kingdom. Later to coordinate and supervise the relationship between the British govt and these states, Rajputana Agency was established in 1832. It was headed by a British political agent. The first person to be appointed to this post was Abhram Locket. The office of agency was initially established at Ajmer but later transfer to Mount Abu in 1845 because of the administrative convince, climate and strategic consideration. However Ajmer remain a chief commissioner province of British Empire in India.
The most outstanding ruler of the 18th century among the several Rajput state was Raja Sawai Jai Singh of Amer. He performed vedic sacrifices to assert his sovereignty. He built the city of Jaipur which was designed by Vidhya Dhar Bhattacharyya. He has great interest in Mathematics and Astronomy. He establish 5 observatories (Jantar Mantar in Delhi, Jaipur, Uijan, Varashi, and Mathura ). He took steps to abolish sathi and made efforts to encourage the remarriage of widows. He also worked to cure the excessive and wasteful expenditure incurred during the Rajput weeding. He translated Euclid's text on Geometry into Sanskrit.
Independent Kingdom of Mysore
The rise of Mysore as a powerful regional kingdom in south India in 18th century under Haider Ali and Tipu Sultan in one of the most important development of history in peninsular India. Around 1761 Haider Ali become the de facto ruler of Mysore by establishing his influence upon the Wodeyar dynasty. He reorganized the army by producing European style discipline artillery and modern weapons with the help of French experts. In 1765 he establish a modern armory in Dindigul (Tamil Nadu) to produce the modern weapons. After his death in 1788 his son Tipu Sultan introduced several administrative reforms and economic policies so as to make Mysore as one of the most powerful kingdom of it's time.
Tipu Sultan and Haider Ali fought 4 major wars against the English East India Company. These wars resulted in the final defeat of Mysore. A large part of the Mysorian territory was annexed by Britishers. Over smaller part of Mysore they placed a ruled of Wodeyar dynasty and Signed a treaty of Subsidiary Alliance with Britishers.
Carnatic Kingdom
During the Mughal period the Carnatic Subha covers the parts of present day Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. Sanaullah Khan was the last Mughal governor of Carnatic. He also regarded as the first independent nawab of Carnatic.
The Carnatic become region of conflict between English East India Company which led to 3 Carnatic wars fought in the 18th century. These wars resulted in victory of English East India company. Finally the nawab of Carnatic Azim-ud-Daulah sign a treaty of subsidiary alliance with the British. The last nawab of Carnatic is Md. Ghose Khan, who died in 1855 without any biological heir Lord Dalhousie annexed Carnatic on the grounds of Doctrine of Lapse.
Travancore Kingdom
The Kingdom of Travancore existed from 1729 until 1947. It cover the part of modern day Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The founder of the kingdom is Marthanda Varma who fought against the Dutch in the Battle of Colachel, 1741 in which the Dutch forces under the command of De Lennoy was defeated. He donated the wealth of his kingdom to Sree Padmanabha and since his time the ruler's of the Travancore Kingdom are known as Padmanabhadas.
The British didn't directly annexed but brought it under indirect control because it signed subsidiary alliance with British East India Company and it maintain perpetual friendship. This system of alliance allows Britishers to treat the kingdom as while while controlling his military and foreign affairs through a British resident.
Sree Chithira Balarama Varma were the last ruled king of the princely state of Travancore. He was a progressive ruler who implemented major social reforms most notably the temple entry proclamation which allows all Hindus to enter temple. He also established university of Travancore in 1937, modernize the industrial sector of kingdom and expanded public transport. He signed the Instrument of Assertion to join Indian Union ending his ruling power in 1949.
The rise of Maratha in 18th Century
The 18th century witness the remarkable rise of Marathas as most powerful indigenous force in Indian polity specially under the leadership of Peshwas. The period witness the rise of the power and prestige of the Peshwa during rime of Martha Chhatrapati Shahu, who impressed by the ability of Balaji Vishwanath appointed him as a Peshwa in 1730. Balaji Negotiated with the Sayeed Brothers and gain the rights to collect Chauth and Sardeshmukhi in the Mughal provinces of Deccan. This led the foundation of Peshwa supremacy.
By the middle of 18th century, the Marathas under the Peshwas become very powerful. However, their defeat in the 3rd Battle of Panipat led to their decline.
Third Battle of Panipat
The Battle was fought on 14th Jan 1761 between the Maratha forces and the invading army of the Afghan ruler Ahmed Shah Abdali was supported by the Indian allies i.e. Najib-ud-Daulah, the leader of Rohillas and Shuja-ud-Daulah the nawab of Awadh. During the war Maratha Chhatrapati was Raja Ram II who was adopted son of Saho. The actual command of Maratha forces in battle was Sadashiv Rao Bhau (Nephew of the Peshwa Balaji Baji Rao). The nominal command was given to Vishwas Rao (the son of Balaji Baji Rao). Ahmed Shah Abdali win the battle which led to end of the Maratha power in Northern Indian. According to one estimate about 50K Maratha soldiers died in the battle field along with Maratha commanders Vishwas Rao and Sadha shiv Rao. The peshwa himself did not survive after hearing the tragic news of defeat.
One of the most important long term of consequences of the battle was the creation of power vacuum in the Northern India which greatly benefited the British East Indian Company. Over the next few decades the British gradually filled this vacuum and emerged as the dominant power of India.
