Alamgir || (1754-1759)

Aziz-ud-Din, the second son of Jahandar Shah, was raised to the throne by Ghazi-ud-Din after he deposed Ahmad Shah Bahadur in 1754. On ascending the throne, he took the title of Alamgir and tried to follow the approach of Aurangzeb Alamgir. At the time of his accession to throne he was an old man of 55 years. He had no experience of administration and warfare as he had spent most of his life in jail. He was a weak ruler, with all powers vested in the hand of his Wazir, Ghazi-ud-Din Imad-ul-Mulk. In 1756, Ahmad Shah Abdali invaded India once again and captured Delhi and plundered Mathura. Marathas became more powerful because of their collaboration with Ghazi-ud-Din, and dominated the whole of northern India. This was the peak of Maratha expansion, which caused great trouble for the Mughal Empire, already weak with no strong ruler.

The relations between Alamgir and his Wazir, Ghazi ud-Din Khan Feroze Jung III, by this time had gotten worse. Alamgir was murdered by Nawab Mir Ghazi ud-Din Khan Feroze Jung III (grandson of Asaf Jah I), and the son of Alamgir, Ali Gauhar succeeded him.

Aziz-ud-Din, the second son of Jahandar Shah, was raised to the throne by Ghazi-ud-Din Imad-ul-Mulk after he deposed Ahmad Shah Bahadur in 1754, whom he blinded, imprisoned and later killed (1775). During Ahmad Shah's reign, the Persian ruler, Nader Shah had sacked Delhi (1738-1739) and carried off both the Peacock Throne and the Koh-i-Noor diamond, both symbols of Moghul prestige and so much treasure that Persians subsequently enjoyed a three year holiday from taxation. According to Schimmel, et al, Ahmad Shah had been raised by "women" and taught nothing about military matters.