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Shuja-ud-Daula

Shuja-ud-Daula (19 January 1732-26 January 1775) was the Nawab of Awadh and Vizier of Delhi from 5 October 1754 to 26 January 1775, succeeding Safdar Jang and preceding Asaf-ud-Daula.

Biography[]

Shuja-ud-Daula was born in Delhi, Mughal Empire in 1732, the son of Mughal grand vizier Safdar Jang. Shuja-ud-Daula served under Bengali nawab Alivardi Khan during his wars with Raghoji I Bhonsle and his Marathas, becoming a respected man. Shuja-ud-Daula succeeded his father as Nawab of Oudh in 1753, and his rivalry with the Maratha-appointed Mughal vizier Imad-ul-Mulk led Shuja-ud-Daula to support the Afghan emperor Ahmad Shah Durrani and renegade Mughal minister Najib ad-Dawlah's invasion of India in 1759.

Shuja-ud-Daula in battle

Shuja-ud-Daula in battle

Shuja-ud-Daula became Grand Vizier for Shah Alam II and challenged the Maratha-appointed usurper Shah Jahan III, and he also contributed troops to the Second Battle of Sikandarabad in 1760 and the Third Battle of Panipat in 1761, despite briefly considering joining Sadashivrao Bhau's alliance. In 1764, he was defeated by the British at the Battle of Buxar, and he was again defeated in 1765 while fighting the British as an ally of the Marathas. He died at his capital of Faizabad in 1775.

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