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Born about the year 1840. The Nawáb Bahádur bears the courtesy title of "His Excellency" as a Member of the Council of State and Minister of His Highness the Nizám. With his brother, Sir Khurshid Jáh (q.v.), and his cousin, Sir Asmán Jáh (q.v.), he is the present representative of the great and powerful Shamsiya family, the first among the noble families of Hyderabad, which has been frequently connected by marriage with the ruling House, and entrusted with the hereditary command of the Paigah or Household Troops of the Nizám. Descended from the famous captain, Shaikh Abul Khair Khán, Imám Jang, Shamsher Bahádur, who was a Mansabdár in Málwá under the Emperor Aurangzeb. He attached himself to the fortunes of the great Asaf Jáh, the founder of the Hyderabad dynasty, under whose banner he rose to the highest commands. In 1745 he defeated a force of Mahrattas; and under the successors of Asaf Jáh, the Nizáms Násir Jang and Salábat Jang, he continued his successful career. In 1752 he died at Burhánpur; and was succeeded by his son, Abul Fateh Khán Teg Jang, who became the first Noble of the Nizám Ali, obtaining the command of the Paigah or Household Troops, immense territorial possessions, and the titles of Shams-ud-daulá, Shams ul-Mulk, and Shams-ul-Umará. He died in 1876, when campaigning in Panghul; and was succeeded by his son, who at the early age of four had received from the Nizám the titles of Ba-ud-din Khán, Imám Jang, Khurshid-ud-daulá, and Khurshid-ul-Mulk. He succeeded to all the honours of his father, and became a famous scholar and savant, receiving at various times the titles of Teg Jang, Shams-ud-daulá, Shams-ul-Mulk, Shams-ul-Umará, Bahádur, and in 1827 the title of Amir-i-Kabir. In 1849 he became for a short time Prime Minister of Hyderabad. He died in 1862, leaving two sons, Umdat-ul-Mulk (who became Amir-i-Kabir), and Ikhtidár-ul-Mulk (who became Vikar-ul-Umará). The former died in 1877, when the latter succeeded him in the family honours, and as co- Regent of the State adding the title of Amir-i-Kabir to that of Vikár-ul-Umará. He died in 1881, leaving two sons, the Nawáb Sir Khurshid Jáh (q.v.) and the Nawáb Ikbál-ud-daulá, who became the Vikár-ul-Umará. Both these noblemen, like their kinsman Sir Asmán Jáh, have shared the fortune of their ancestor, in allying themselves in marriage with Princesses of the Royal House of Hyderabad. The Vikár has two sons, who have been most carefully educated under both Indian and English tutors, and who are both promising scholars and exceedingly popular. The Vikár has always taken an active share in the administration of His Highness's government, and is one of the most experienced and accomplished statesmen in India. He is also famous as the first sportsman in India; and in this capacity has always been most generous in providing the finest tiger-shooting for many