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The Syed brothers refers to Syed Hassan Ali Khan Barha (afterwards Abdullah Khan) and Syed Hussain Ali Khan Barha.
Syeds of Barha
The Syeds of Barha are descendents of Abul Farah, of Wasit in Iraq; Several hundred years ago, at a date which cannot be fixed exactly, Abul Farah and his twelve sons came from Wasit to Mughal Empire, settling at first in four villages near Patiala, in the sarkar of Sirhind and subah of Delhi. From these villages the four branches, into which they are divided, derive their names. Then crossing the Jamuna, they formed a settlement on the eastern side of the upper Doaba, half way between Mirat and Saharanpur, in a sandy, unproductive piece of country, possibly at that time very sparsely inhabited. The etymology of the name Barha is disputed; perhaps it is from the word bara (twelve), with some allusion to the number of their villages.
From the time of Akbar the Great, the men of this brave, proud and lavish clan were famous as military leaders, and by their bravery had acquired a traditional right to lead the vanguard of the Mughal troops.
Early Appointments of the Syed Brothers in the Mughal Empire
The two Syed brothers, who now come into such prominence, were not the mere upstarts, men of yesterday. Besides the prestige of Syed lineage, of descent from the famous Barha branch of that race, and the personal renown acquired by their own valor, they were the sons of a man who had held in Emperor Alamgir's reign first the subahdari or Governorship of Bijapur in the Deccan and then that of Ajmer, appointments given in that reign either to Princes of the blood or to the very foremost men in the State. Their father, Syed Abdullah Khan titled Syed Miyan, had risen in the service of Ruhullah Khan, Emperor Alamgir's Mir Bakhshi, and finally, on receiving an imperial mansab (rank), attached himself to the eldest Prince Muhammad Mu’azzam Shah Alam (later Emperor Bahadur Shah).
Syed Hassan Ali Khan (afterwards Abdullah Khan) and Syed Hussain Ali Khan, two of the numerous sons of Syed Miyan were men of about 46 and 44 years of age respectively in 1712. About 1697 or 1698 the elder brother was faujdar of Sultanpur, Nazarbar in Baglana, subah Khandesh, after that, of Siuni-Hoshangabad also in Khandesh, then again of Nazarbar coupled with Thalner in sarkar Asir of the same subah. Subsequently he obtained charge of Aurangabad. The younger brother, Hussain Ali Khan, who is admitted by every one to have been a man of much greater energy and resolution than his elder brother, had in Emperor Alamgir's reign held charge first of Ranthambore, in subah Ajmer, and then of Hindaun-Bayana, in subah Agra.
After Prince Mu’izz ud-Din Jahandar Shah, the eldest of Emperor Bahadur Shah's sons, had been appointed in 1106 H. (1694-5) to the charge of the Multan province, Hassan Ali Khan and his brother followed him there. In an expedition against a refractory Baloch zamindar, the Syeds were of opinion that the honors of the day were theirs. Prince Mu’izz ud-Din Jahandar Shah thought otherwise, and assigned them to his then favorite administrator Isa Khan Mian. The Syeds quitted the service in dudgeon and repaired to Lahore, where they lived in comparative poverty, waiting for employment from Munim Khan, the nazim of that place. When Emperor Alamgir died and Prince Muhammad Mu’azzam Shah Alam, reached Lahore on his march to Agra to contest the throne, the Syeds presented themselves, and their services were gladly accepted. In the battle of Jajau or Jajowan on the 18th Rabi I, 1119 H. (June 18, 1707), they served in the vanguard and fought valiantly on foot, as was the Syed habit on an emergency. A third brother, Syed Nur ud-Din Ali Khan, was left dead on the field, and Hussain Ali Khan was severely wounded. Though their rank was raised and the elder brother received his father's title of Abdullah Khan, they were not treated with such favor as their exceptional services seemed to deserve, either by the new Emperor or his vizier.
The two Syeds managed to quarrel with Khanazad Khan, the vizier Munim Khan's second son, and though the breach was healed by a visit to them from the vizier in person, there is little doubt that this difference helped to keep them out of employment. Hussain Ali Khan is also said to have offended Prince Mu’izz ud-Din Jahandar Shah. The morning after the battle of Jajau, the Prince visited their quarters to condole with them on the death of their brother, Syed Nur ud-Din Ali Khan, and in so doing launched out into praises of their valor. Hussain Ali Khan met these overtures in an aggressive manner, saying that what they had done was nothing, many had done as much, their valor would be known when their lord was deserted and alone, and the strength of their right arm had seated him on the throne. Prince Mu’izz ud-Din Jahandar Shah was vexed by this speech, and refrained from making any recommendation to his father in their favor. Nay, he did his best to prevent their obtaining lucrative employment, and we read of their being obliged to rely upon the Emperor's bounty for their traveling expenses, which were necessarily great, as they were kept in attendance on the Court while it was constantly on the march.
In Shaban 1120 H. (Oct. 1708) Abdullah Khan had been named to the subah of Ajmer, then in a disturbed state owing to the Rajput rising, a condition of things with which Syed Shuja’at Khan seemed hardly capable of dealing. Syed Abdullah Khan had barely more than reached Delhi, in order to raise new troops and make other preparations, when the Emperor, Bahadur Shah, changed his mind and Shuja’at Khan was received again into favor and maintained in his Government. At length, by the favor of Prince Azim-ush-shan, Abdullah Khan on the 21st Dhu al-Qida 1122 H. (10th Jan. 1711) became that Prince's deputy in the province of Allahabad. About two years earlier (11th Muharram 1120 H., 1 April 1708), the same patron had nominated the younger brother Hussain Ali Khan, to represent him in another of his Governments, that of Bihar, of which the capital was at Azimabad Patna.
Succession Crises of 1712
When Prince Farrukhsiyar first arrived at Azimabad, Hussain Ali Khan was away on an expedition, apparently the recapture of Rohtas fort of Bihar, which about this time had been seized by one Muhammad Raza Rayat Khan. The Syed had felt annoyed on hearing that Farrukhsiyar had issued coin and caused the khutba to be read in his father, Prince Azim-ush-shan's, name, without waiting to learn the result of the impending struggle at Lahore. Thus on his return to his head-quarters his first impulse was to decline altogether that Prince's overtures. In truth, no attempt could well look more hopeless than that upon which Prince Farrukhsiyar wished to enter. The Prince's mother now hazarded a private visit to the Syeds mother, taking with her little grand-daughter. Her arguments rested on the fact that the Syeds position was due to the kindness of the Prince's father. That father, two brothers, and two uncles had been killed, and the Prince's own means were insufficient for any enterprise. Let Hussain Ali Khan then choose his own course, either let him aid Prince Farrukhsiyar to recover his rights and revenge his father's death, or else let him place the Prince in chains and send him a prisoner to Emperor Jahandar Shah. Here the Prince's mother and daughter bared their heads and wept aloud. Overcome by their tears, the Syeda called her son within the harem. The little girl fell bareheaded at his feet and implored his aid. His mother told him that “whatever was the result he would be a gainer: if defeated, his name would stand recorded as a hero till Judgment Day; if successful, the whole of Hindustan would be at their feet and above them none but the Emperor”. Finally she exclaimed, “If you adhere to Emperor Jahandar Shah, you will have to answer before the Great Judge for disavowing your mother's claim upon you.”
At these words Hussain Ali Khan took up the women's veils and replaced them on their heads swearing a binding oath that he would espouse the Prince's cause. The next night Prince Farrukhsiyar presented himself at the Khan's house, saying that he had come either to be seized and sent to Emperor Jahandar Shah or to enter into an agreement for the recovery of the throne. The Syed bound himself finally to fight on Prince Farrukhsiyar's behalf. He wrote at once to his elder brother, Abdullah Khan, at Allahabad, inviting him to join the same side, and Prince Farrukhsiyar addressed a farman to him making many promises, and authorizing him to expend the Bengal treasure, then at Allahabad, on the enlistment of troops. It is quite clear that at this time, or soon afterwards, the two chief places in the Empire, those of Vizier and of Amir ul Umara were formally promised to the two brothers as their reward in case of success. Abdullah Khan, on being superseded at Allahabad, gives in his adhesion to Prince Farrukhsiyar.
At first Abdullah Khan’s intention was to submit to Emperor Jahandar Shah, the de facto Emperor, to whom he sent letters professing his loyalty and offering his services. Three months before the death of Emperor Bahadur Shah, he had gone out towards Jaunpur to restore order. In this he was not successful and the pay of his soldiers fell into arrears. The men raised a disturbance, and Abdullah Khan's only anxiety was to escape from them and take shelter within the fort of Allahabad. He promised publicly that as soon as he reached the city, all the collections then in the hands of his agents should be made over to the troops. On the return march, word came of Emperor Bahadur Shah's death.While Abdullah Khan was still in expectation of a favorable reply to his letter to Emperor Jahandar Shah, he was surprised to learn that his Government had been taken from him, and that the deputy of the new governor was on his way to take possession. The province had been granted to a Gardezi Syed of Manikpur, subah Allahabad, one Raji Muhammad Khan, who had risen to notice in the recent righting at Lahore, and through the reputation thereby acquired, had been appointed Mir Atish or general of artillery. The new governor nominated as his deputy his relation, one Syed Abdul Ghaffar (a descendant of Syed Sadar Jahan, Sadar-us-Sadur, Pihanwi).
Syed Abdul Ghaffar obtained contingents from one or two zamindars and collected altogether 6,000 to 7,000 men. When he drew near to Karra Manikpur,Abul Hasan Khan, a Syed of Bijapur, who was Abdullah Khan's Bakhshi, advanced at the head of 3,000 men to bar his progress. At the Battle of Sarai Alam Chand on August 2, 1712 with Abul Hasan Khan's victory for Abdullah Khan it became clear now that the Syeds were allied against the Emperor for the new contender Prince Farrukhsiyar.
Prince Farrukhsiyar, meanwhile, had marched out with an army along with Syed Hussain Ali Khan Barha from Patna to Allahabad to join Syed Abdullah Khan as soon as possible. Emperor Jahandar Shah learning of the defeat of his General Syed Abdul Ghaffar sent his own son Prince Azzu-ud-Din along with Generals Lutfullah Khan and Khwaja Hussain Khan Dauran to face this army. The Second Battle of Khajwah was fought in Fatehpur District, Uttar Pradesh on November 28, 1712.Prince Farrukhsiyar decisively defeated Prince Azzu-ud-Din forcing Emperor Jahandar Shah and his Vizier the Great Zulfiqar Khan Nusrat Jung to take the field. At the Battle of Agra 1713 fought on January 10, 1713, Prince Farrukhsiyar won decisively and became the Emperor of the Mughal Empire succeeding his uncle Jahandar Shah.
Rise of the Syed Brothers
After his victory at the Battle of Agra 1713 Emperor Farrukhsiyar on the way from Agra to Delhi, and after arrival at Delhi, conferred many new appointments and new titles on his generals and noblemen. Syed Abdullah Khan was awarded titles Nawab Qutb-ul-mulk, Yamin-ud-daulah, Syed Abdullah Khan Bahadur Zafar Jung, Sipah-salar, Yar-i-wafadar and became Vizier or Prime Minister. Syed Hussain Ali Khan was appointed first Bakhshi with the titles of Umdat-ul-mulk, Amir-ul-Umara, Bahadur, Feroze Jung, Sipah Sardar.
Rajputana Campaign 1714
The Rajput States had been in veiled revolt from the imperial authority for 50 years. Emperor Bahadur Shah had been unable, owing to more pressing affairs, to reduce the Raja’s effectually. During the confusion which arose on that monarch's death, Ajit Singh, after forbidding slaughtering cows by Muslims for food and the call for prayer from the Alamgiri mosque, besides ejecting the imperial officers from Jodhpur and destroying their houses, had entered the imperial territory and taken possession of Ajmer. Early in Emperor Farrukhsiyar's reign it was determined that this encroachment must be put an end to; and as the Raja's replies to the imperial orders were not satisfactory, it was necessary to march against him.
Hussain Ali Khan left Delhi on January 6, 1714. After a brief campaign Raghunath, a munshi in the service of Maharaja Ajit Singh of Jodhpur came to negotiate peace.Hussain Ali Khan thus advanced to Mairtha, where he halted until the terms of peace had been arranged. The terms were that the Raja should give one of his daughters in marriage to the Emperor, in the mode which they styled Dola that the Raja's son, Abhay Singh, should accompany Hussain Ali Khan to Court, and that the Raja in person should attend when summoned. Zafar Khan Roshan ud-Daulah arrived at Court on the 5th Jamadi I, 1126 H. (18 May, 1714), with the news.
Clash of the Nobles
During Hussain Ali Khan's absence, Ubaidullah Khan better known as Mir Jumla III became more and more powerful. Emperor Farrukhsiyar had made over his seal to this favorite, and was often heard to say openly:
- "The word and seal of Mir Jumla are the word and seal of Farrukhsiyar."
On his side, Abdullah Khan was immersed in pleasure and found little or no leisure to devote to State affairs. Nor, being a soldier who had come into office without much preparation for civil affairs, was he very competent to deal with the details of administration, for which, moreover, he had no natural taste.
Everything was left to his man of business, Ratan Chand, a Hindu of the Baniya caste, and a native of a village near the Syeds home at Jansath. He had been recently created a Raja with the rank of 2,000 zat. The chief dispute centered upon the question of appointments to office, the fees paid by those receiving appointments being a recognized and most substantial source of emolument. Ratan Chand, in addition to these customary fees, exacted large sums, which were practically bribes or payments for the grant of the appointment.
By Mir Jumla's independent action in bringing forward candidates and affixing the seal to their warrants of appointment, without following the usual routine of passing them through the Vizier’s office, the emoluments of both Abdullah Khan and of his head officer were considerably curtailed. It is a matter of little wonder, therefore, that Abdullah Khan felt aggrieved at the unusual powers placed in the hands of a rival such as Mir Jumla. This noble was much more accessible than the Vizier, and was not given to the extortionate practices of Ratan Chand. Naturally, men in search of employment or promotion sought his audience-hall rather than that of Abdullah Khan.
The Vizier suffered, in this way, both in influence and in income. Moreover, Mir Jumla allowed no opportunity to pass without depreciating the Syed brothers, and brought forward arguments of every sort to prove that they were unfitted for the offices that they held.
The Syed brothers could never be certain from day to day that some new plot was not being hatched for their destruction. The Rajputana campaign was the means of unmasking one of these schemes. Secret letters had been, dispatched to Maharaja Ajit Singh, urging him to strenuous resistance, and inviting him, if he could, to make away with Syed Hussain Ali Khan Barha. These letters came into Hussain Ali Khan's possession and through them he acquired proof of Emperor Farrukhsiyar's double-faced dealings. In the interval of Hussain Ali Khan's absence, Abdullah Khan had found the greatest difficulty in maintaining his position at Court. All the power was in the hands of Mir Jumla. Every day messages came from Emperor Farrukhsiyar, couched in various forms, but all urging him to resign the office of Vizier. Abdullah Khan now wrote letters to his brother enjoining him to return to Delhi with all possible speed. In response to these calls, Hussain Ali Khan, as we have seen, reached the capital again on the 5th Rajab 1126 H. (16 July, 1714).
For the next two or three months the breach between the Emperor and the minister, although far from closed, was not sensibly widened. The Syeds, as was natural, looked on Farrukhsiyar's accession to the throne as the work of their hands, and resented the grant of any share of power to other persons. On the other hand, the small group of Farrukhsiyar's intimates, men who had known him from his childhood and stood on the most familiar terms with him, were aggrieved at their exclusion from a share in the spoil. The two men selected to confront the Syeds were Khwaja Asim Khan Dauran and Mir Jumla III. They were both promoted to the rank of 7,000 horse: they were placed, the former at the head of 5,000 Wala-shahi, and the latter of 5,000 Mughal troopers. Many of their relations were pushed forward into high rank, and counting these men's troops, each of the two nobles had at his command over ten thousand men. Among the signs of this favoritism was the order passed on the 12th Shaban September 2, 1713, permitting Mir Jumla to entertain 6,000 horsemen, who were to be specially paid from the imperial treasury. These were raised by Amanat Khan, his adopted son, from Mughals born in India, and some seventy lakhs of Rupees for their pay were disbursed from the treasury, the rules as to descriptive rolls of the men and branding of the horses being set aside. No order was issued by Farrukhsiyar without the advice and approval of the above two men.
In this exercise of authority Mir Jumla assumed the lead, till at length Abdullah Khan was only the nominal, while he was the real vizier. The two Syeds bowed for the time to the Emperor's will, and made no opposition to these usurpations.
Mir Jumla and Khan Dauran talked well, but evaded dealing with the kernel of the matter. Mir Jumla, having no real strength of character, knew that he was not fitted to enter the lists as a champion to fight the Syeds.He therefore made excuses and drew to one side. Khan Dauran was in reality a mere braggadocio, a big talker; and he was frightened that if he should ever be called on to take the lead, he may lose his life in the attempt to destroy the Syeds.
As for the Emperor, his own troops and those of his relations were unequal to an attack on the Syeds. The imperial and Wala-shahi troops comprised many low-caste men and mere artisans held commands. The Emperor had no proof of their fighting quality.So it was decided once more to resume friendly relations with the Syed brothers. Eventually Islam Khan would negotiate a settlement whereby Mir Jumla was forced out of office in Delhi and sent to Bihar.
As Hussain Ali Khan would not come to Court until Mir Jumla had left, the latter received his audience of dismissal on December 16, 1714. Four days afterwards,December 20, 1714, Hussain Ali Khan entered the palace with his men, observing the same precautions as in the case of Abdullah Khan. The Emperor and the Mir Bakhshi exchanged compliments, under which their real sentiments were easily perceived. Some months before this time Hussain Ali Khan had obtained in his own favor a grant of the Deccan provinces, in super session of Nizam-ul-Mulk Chin Kilich Khan (Mir Qamar ud-Din). He had then no intention of proceeding there in person, but meant to exercise the government through a deputy, Daud Khan Panni.
Confrontation with the Emperor
Deposition of Several Emperors
Death
Descendants
Their present day descendants are known as Saadat-e-Barha and still mainly reside in various parts of the Northern Indian subcontinent.
Also known as
There are several different spellings and terms for the Saiyid Brothers.
- Saiyad brothers
- Sayads of Barha
- Saiyid Brothers
- Saadat Bara
- Saiyids of Barha
- Saiyids of Baraha
- Saiyids of Bara
- Saeeds of Barha
- Saids of Barha
- Sayeeds of Barha
- Sayids of Barha
- Sayeed brothers
- Saeed brothers
See also
Saadat-e-Bara/Saadat-e-Barha These villages may have been originally settled by the Saiyid brothers.
Saadat Khan He played a major role in the overthrow of the Saiyid Brothers.
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