Wazir Ali Khan

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Wazir Ali Khan ( Urdu وزیر علی خان; Hindi वज़ीर अली खान IAST Vazīr Alī Khān ; * 1781 in Lucknow ; † May 1817 in Fort William of Kolkata ), was at the age of 17 for a short time the successor of his adoptive father on the throne of Avadh .

Life

Wazir Ali Khan was adopted by the prodigal nawab of Avadh, Asaf ad-Dowla Amani , who, despite his harem of 500 women, had no legitimate offspring. Ali's mother, bought pregnant by Asuf, was the daughter of a servant. Ali, who is said to have a penchant for cruelty, was his "father's" favorite from the start and received an education appropriate to a prince. The 13-year-old's wedding in Lucknow in 1795 cost £ 300,000.

When Asuf died in 1797, Ali succeeded him to the throne ( musnud ) on January 21, 1798 , the adoption carried out according to Mohammedan law was recognized by the British. Soon after, the colonial rulers accused him of ingratitude. Governor General Sir John Shore (1751-1834) advanced with 12 battalions and replaced him with Saadat Ali Khan II , his uncle. Wazir Ali Khan, exiled to Benares , who ruled from September 21, 1797 to January 21, 1798, received a pension of Rs 200,000  .

Attack on Colonial Officer Davis' House (February 14, 1799)

Since he showed himself unruly in his place of exile, he was supposed to be exiled further away - initially in Kolkata. The British resident, Mr. Cherry, wanted to announce this measure at breakfast on January 14, 1799. The deposed man appeared with an armed escort. When the argument broke out, he gave the British a blow with his sword, his bodyguards rushed into the room and hacked Cherry and two other Europeans to pieces. Then the house was attacked by Mr. Davis, who defended himself and his family on the stairs.

The British quickly organized a force under General Erskine who drove the insurgents and their helpers from Benares in a few days.

In the Betoul district , Wazir Ali Khan gathered a few thousand supporters. After these were beaten by a British attack, he then fled to the residence of the Raja of Jaipur . He delivered him to the British at Arthur Wellesley's request , but on the condition that his life was spared and he was not put in chains. Ali was taken to Fort William in Kolkata. There he was locked in an iron cage, where he died after a little over 17 years at the age of 36. He was buried in the Muslim cemetery of Casia Baguan.

literature

personal data
SURNAME Wazir Ali Khan
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Vizier Ali
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Indian ruler
DATE OF BIRTH 1781
PLACE OF BIRTH Lucknow
DATE OF DEATH May 1817
Place of death Calcutta