The long reign of Muhammad Shah (1719–1748) marked one of the most dramatic turning points in the history of the Mughal Empire. He inherited an empire weakened by succession battles, dominated by ambitious nobles, and threatened by rising regional powers. Although the Sayyid Brothers were eliminated early in his reign, Muhammad Shah lacked the political will and administrative discipline needed to restore central authority. His indulgent lifestyle earned him the title “Rangeela”, symbolizing his love for pleasure, arts, and courtly entertainment at a time when the empire desperately needed strong leadership. During his rule, the Mughal Empire underwent irreversible fragmentation, culminating in the devastating invasion by Nadir Shah of Persia in 1739.
The Fall of the Sayyid Brothers and the Rise of Asaf Jah
By the time Muhammad Shah ascended the throne, the influence of the Sayyid Brothers had reached its peak. Their dominance had created unrest among other nobles, particularly those of Turani and Irani origin. A powerful faction of nobles united under Chin Qilich Khan, later known as Asaf Jah. He was a distinguished Mughal noble, an experienced administrator, and one of the strongest military leaders in the empire.
The nobles, along with the emperor’s silent support, sought to end the Sayyid Brothers’ control. In 1720, Hussain Ali Khan was assassinated and Abdullah Khan was removed from power. With their elimination, the balance of power shifted, but instead of restoring strong imperial authority, it opened the door to greater provincial autonomy. Muhammad Shah lacked the character to centralize the state, and nobles like Asaf Jah recognized the futility of serving a weak court.
A Pleasure-Loving Emperor and Administrative Decline
Muhammad Shah’s reign is defined by his indulgence in music, dance, paintings, poetry, and luxury. He patronized Khayal singing, elevated Kathak into a refined court dance form, and encouraged cultural flourishes in Delhi. Yet, this artistic brilliance stood in contrast to the decay of the empire.
The emperor allowed court politics, factional rivalry, and personal pleasures to dominate his attention. His failure to discipline nobles or reform governance meant that imperial authority collapsed in the provinces. The absence of strong leadership ensured that the empire became a mere shadow of its former self.
Rise of Autonomous States: Bengal, Awadh, and Hyderabad
One of the most defining outcomes of Muhammad Shah’s weak rule was the fragmentation of the Mughal Empire into autonomous states. The Mughal center had lost the ability to impose its will on provincial governors, who now turned into independent rulers.
- Bengal (1717) under Murshid Quli Khan : Effectively autonomous, Bengal became one of the wealthiest and most efficient regional states.
- Awadh (1722) under Saadat Khan : Established a stable regional power with its own administrative structure and revenue system.
- Hyderabad (1724) under Asaf Jah (Nizam-ul-Mulk) : Chin Qilich Khan resigned from Delhi, declared autonomy, and founded the Asaf Jahi dynasty, which ruled Hyderabad for more than two centuries.
These states still paid nominal respect to the Mughal emperor, but the empire had practically dissolved into regional kingdoms. Muhammad Shah became an emperor only in name, with power slipping irreversibly from Delhi.
Nadir Shah’s Invasion: A Catastrophe for the Mughals
The most devastating event of Muhammad Shah’s rule was the invasion of Nadir Shah, the Persian conqueror whose military genius and brutality changed the course of Indian history.
The Battle of Karnal (1739)
The Mughal army, though numerically superior, was poorly led, undisciplined, and riddled with factional conflicts. Nadir Shah crushed them in a matter of hours at Karnal, exposing the empire’s hollow military structure.
Massacre and Looting of Delhi
After entering Delhi, a quarrel between citizens and Persian soldiers triggered Nadir Shah’s wrath. He ordered a massacre, resulting in the deaths of nearly 20,000 to 30,000 civilians.
Looting the Wealth of the Mughals
Nadir Shah looted unimaginable wealth, including:
- The Peacock Throne (Takht-i-Taus) of Shah Jahan
- The Koh-i-Noor diamond
- The Darya-i-Noor diamond
- Enormous quantities of gold, silver, and jewels
The Mughal treasury was emptied, leaving the empire financially crippled. Even more tragically, the invasion shattered the psychological prestige of the Mughal dynasty. After 1739, no one in India feared or respected the Mughals as a sovereign power.
Saadat Khan’s Role
An important detail often forgotten is that Saadat Khan of Awadh played a role in inviting Nadir Shah, initially hoping to strengthen his own influence against rival nobles. Instead, the act became one of the greatest miscalculations in Indian history, directly contributing to the empire’s humiliation.
Conclusion
Muhammad Shah’s reign represents the final stage of meaningful Mughal sovereignty. Although culturally vibrant, his era saw the collapse of imperial control, rise of independent states, and a catastrophic invasion that shattered the Mughal aura forever. The emperor’s indulgent lifestyle and inability to reform governance accelerated fragmentation and created conditions for future foreign domination. By the time he died in 1748, the Mughal Empire had lost its power, prestige, military strength, and financial stability. Only its name survived—its authority had vanished.
FAQ
When did Muhammad Shah rule the Mughal Empire?
He ruled from 1719 to 1748, a long but politically weak period marked by fragmentation and external invasions.
Who was Asaf Jah?
Asaf Jah, also known as Chin Qilich Khan, was a leading Mughal noble who helped eliminate the Sayyid Brothers and later founded the autonomous state of Hyderabad in 1724.
Why was Muhammad Shah called “Rangeela”?
He was deeply fond of luxury, music, dance, poetry, and artistic pleasures, leading contemporaries to label him a pleasure-loving or “Rangeela” emperor.
What were the main states that became autonomous during Muhammad Shah’s reign?
Bengal under Murshid Quli Khan (1717), Awadh under Saadat Khan (1722), and Hyderabad under Asaf Jah (1724).
What happened in the Battle of Karnal (1739)?
Nadir Shah defeated the Mughal army decisively, exposing the empire’s military weakness.
Why did Nadir Shah massacre Delhi’s population?
An altercation between locals and Persian soldiers led Nadir Shah to order mass killing in retaliation.
What treasures did Nadir Shah take from India?
The Peacock Throne, Koh-i-Noor, Darya-i-Noor, jewels, gold, and massive wealth from Delhi.
How did Muhammad Shah’s reign contribute to the decline of Mughal power?
His weak leadership, indulgence in luxury, inability to control nobles, and failure to reform administration allowed regional states to break away.
Why did Asaf Jah leave the Mughal court to form Hyderabad?
He was frustrated with factional politics and the emperor’s weakness, so he chose autonomy for stable governance.
What was the significance of the Sayyid Brothers’ fall for Muhammad Shah?
Although their fall freed the emperor from their control, it also removed a strong administrative structure, leaving a vacuum that he was too weak to fill.
How did regional states maintain a relationship with the Mughal emperor?
They accepted Mughal suzerainty ceremonially but exercised complete political and financial autonomy.
What weaknesses of the Mughal Empire were revealed by Nadir Shah’s invasion?
Poor military leadership, internal divisions, weak finances, ineffective administration, and loss of central authority.
