2019-04-09 Tue

Alivardi Khan was a Nawab of Bengal from 1740 to1756 AD. A Shiite Muslim by religion, Alivardi Khan was the son of Mirza Muhammad Madani, who served Azam Shah, the son of the great Mughal ruler, Aurangzeb. His mother was a descent of the Turkish tribe of Afshar.

He overthrows the Nasiri Dynasty and took powers of the Nawab. He is one of the few Mughal era leaders known for his victory during the Battle of Burdwan against the Maratha Empire.

In the year 1740, he defeated Sarfaraz Khan in the battle of Giria and became the Nawab of Bengal. Alivardi khan put up a brave fight against the Afghan invasions and this took a heavy toll on his health.

During the reign, he issued silver Rupee from Murshidabad, and Jahangirnagar mint. These coins were struck in the name of Mughal rulers. The coin given above in the image also belongs to his reign. It depicts the Rosette mint mark and Persian legend ‘Sikka Mubarak Badshah Ghazi Alamgir’ on its obverse face while the reverse of the coin read as ‘Zarb Jahangirnagar Sarah 2 Julus Mainamat Manus’.

Alivardi Khan passed away in Murshidabad. His youngest daughter's son Siraj-ud-Daulah succeeded him in April 1756. Alivardi Khan lies buried in Khushbagh.

Image Source: Classical Numismatic Gallery