Page:Gazetteer of the province of Oudh ... (IA cu31924073057345).pdf/485

 MAN 477 tájir, Khan Alam, and over the remaining sarkárs was placed Ali Quli Khan. At the same time Janesar Khan was appointed faujdar of Sarkfr Mánikpur. Charged with the general superintendence of the whole Subah was Safdar Jang's Díwán, Rája Newal Ráe. The Rohilla invasion. Next in the order of events comes the famous Rohilla invasion (occasioned by the illiberal conduct of Safdar Jang in dis- possessing the widow of the Jágírdar of Farukhabad, Qaem Khan Ban- gash, of her territory, which resulted in Ahmad Khan Bangash, the bro- ther, taking up arms in alliance with the Rohillas against the wrongdoer), in the course of which “the Wazír was himself wounded; the Rohillas proceeded to carry their arms into his country; and though beaten off from Lucknow and Bilgrám they penetrated to Allahabad, and set the power of the wazír and the emperor alike at defiance."* This took place in 1163 Hijri (A.D. 1750). The Díwán Newal Ráe lost his life in one of these engagements. The next year, 1164 Hijri, Safdar Jang came to Gutni, † and, with the aid of the Mahrattas and the Játs, defeated the Rohillas, and drove them into the lower branches of the Himalayas, which form their boundary on the north-east. The Rohillas, as has been previ- ously stated, were in possession of the city of Allahabad for forty-five days, and they sacked and plundered it. An attempt was made to eject Safdar Jang's faujdar, Janesar Khan, from Mánikpur, and to place Kále Khan's nephew, Usmán, in possession. This attempt, however, proved unsuccess- ful, for Tanesar Khan met the forces of Usmán Khan near Fatehpur, and effectually prevented any attack on Mánikpur. Usman Khan drew off his troops and joined his uncle Kale Khan before the walls of Allahabad. Revolt and death of Safdar Jang.-In 1161 Hijri (A.D. 1754), Alamgir II. succeeded the murdered Ahmad Shah. The self-appointed wazír and regicide Gházi-ud-dín at once took advantage of his position to annoy and humble his old enemy Safdar Jang. Accordingly he caused a sanad to be drawn up in favour of Khan Alám for the entire subah of Allahabad, and sent it to him. Khan Alam, on receiving it, forwarded it to Safdar Jang, who was at that time near Partabgarh. The latter wrote and congratulated his old lieutenant; at the same time he sent instructions to his nephew, Muhammad Quli Khan, in the fort of Allahabad to hold it against any attempt of Khan Alam, and simultaneously made overtures to the Mah- rattas inviting them to come and take possession of the strongholds of Karra and Kora. Thus were the emperor's commands set at defiance by this daring and unscrupulous prince, who however departed this life shortly after in the year 1170 Hijri (A.D. 1756). Events after the death of Safdar Jang.-After the death of Safdar Jang a dispute arose between his son Shujá-ud-daula, and his nephew, Muhammad Quli Khan, regarding the division of territory. It was at last + Five miles from Mánikpur, on the Ganges, opposite Karta, op wbich occasion Rája Pir- thipat was murdered. Elphinstone puts the date of Safdar Jang's death at 1167 Hijri. I cannot but think this is a mistake. The " Makhzan-al Taxárišb” and other reliable published works unite in making it t170 Hijrt. 61
 * Elphinstone's History of India, 6th Edo., page 736.