The surprise at Sikandrabad

01The emperor against his minister

In 1754 Imad-ul-Mulk, by then Mir Bakhshi, was besieging the Jat fort of Kumher with Maratha help under Raghunathrao and Malhar Rao Holkar. Emperor Ahmad Shah, afraid of his overmighty noble, moved out of Delhi with an army and camped at Sikandrabad, east of the Yamuna, meaning to join hands with Imad’s rivals. When the Kumher siege ended, Holkar’s horse turned north against him.

02Flight and deposition

Late in May 1754 Holkar’s horsemen burst on the imperial camp. There was hardly a fight. The emperor, his mother and his wazir escaped to Delhi, abandoning baggage, guns and many of the palace women. Imad-ul-Mulk entered the capital, had himself made wazir, and on 2 June 1754 deposed Ahmad Shah, who was blinded with his mother. A son of Jahandar Shah was crowned as Alamgir II.

Dynasty · 1733–1948 CEHolkars of IndoreMalhar Rao Holkar, a shepherd’s son from Hol near Jejuri, rose under Bajirao I to hold western Malwa. His daughter-in-law Ahilyabai ruled from Maheshwar for twenty-eight years and rebuilt temples across Bharat, including the Kashi Vishwanath temple that stands today.Read →