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Rh We hear mention made of the title of Subahdar (Governor of a Subah, or province) of Oudh as early as 1280 A. D., but the title could not properly be given till, in 1590 A. D., Akbar Shah divided the Empire of Hindustan into 12 Subahs, of which Oudh was one. The boundaries of the Subahs differed from those of the present province of Oudh, chieﬂy in the fact that they included part of the Gorakhpur District, but excluded Tulsipur, and a large part of what is now the Fyzabad District. Of this Subah it is impossible to say that any one place was the capital. The Subahdars seem to have been constantly changed, seldom keeping their place more than three or four years. Most of them were Delhi favorites, who remained at Court the greater part of the year and then came down to Oudh to collect the revenue, marched about the country and, when they had got all they could, went back again.

Sadat Khan, the progenitor of the Kings of Oudh, descended from a noble Sayyid family, was a merchant who came from Persia to seek his fortune in Hindustan. He combined with the usual qualities of a good soldier, the rare talents required for an able administrator. His original name was Mahomed Ameen. In the year 1705, while still but a lad, he arrived at Patna, to join his father and elder brother, who had preceded him thither. On his arrival, finding the former dead, he and his brother proceeded to push their fortunes at Delhi. His first service was with Nawab Sirbulund Khan, whom, however, he soon quitted, resenting a taunt uttered by his master on occasion of some trifling neglect. The youth took his way to Court, where he soon acquired favour; and having materially assisted his imbecile Sovereign in getting rid of Hussain Ali, Governor of Bihar, (the younger of the Sayyids of Bara, who were at that time dragooning the King) Mahomed Ameen was rapidly promoted to the Viceroyalty of Oudh, with the title of sadat Khan. He found the Province in great disorder, but soon reduced the refractory spirits and greatly increased the revenue. He protected the husbandman, but crushed the petty chiefs who aimed at independence.