Nizam Ali Khan, Asaf Jah II

Nawab Mir Nizam Ali Khan Siddiqi Bayafandi Bahadur Asaf Jah II (7 March 1734 – 6 August 1803) was the Nizam of Hyderabad State in South India between 1762 and 1803. He was born on March 7, 1734 as fourth son to Asaf Jah I and Umda Begum. His official name is Asaf Jah II, Nizam ul-Mulk, Nizam ud-Daula, Nawab Mir Nizam 'Ali Khan Siddiqi Bayafandi Bahadur, Fath Jang, Sipah Salar, Nawab Subedar of the Deccan.

Faujdar of the Deccan
Nizam Ali was appointed as the leading commander and administrator of the Deccan in the year 1759, his successful methods of fighting against the Marathas had earned him much repute as a capable commander.

He was defeated at the Battle of Udgir, by Sadishivarao Bhau after the assassination of Alamgir II.

Shah Alam II' Subedar of the Deccan
After the Marathas were routed during the Third Battle of Panipat in the year 1761, Nizam Ali and his army of 60,000 immediately advanced and repulsed them as far as Puna and forced them to sue for lasting peace. Nizam Ali then seized the Bidar Fort and later arrested Salabat Jung, this action of Nizam Ali Khan was ratified by the Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II, who issued a Firman terminating Salabat Jung (supported by the French East India Company), from his position as the Subedar of Deccan and appointing Nizam Ali Khan Asaf Jah II as his successor.

Asaf Jah II became the Subedar of the Deccan on July 8, 1762. He transferred his capital from Aurangabad to Hyderabad in 1763 as Aurangabad was very close to Maratha Territory and therefore prone to aggression.

Supporting Shah Alam II
Immediately after recapturing the throne Shah Alam II in 1772, came under the influence of Nizam Ali Khan the Nizam of Hyderabad, an ineffective ruler who could not increase his vassal state or expand its power.

Nizam's incoherence with Hyder Ali
Nizam Ali Khan was very fearful of the rise of highly capable figures such as Hyder Ali and made every effort to downgrade the relations between the Mughal Emperor and the Sultanate of Mysore.

Nizam's intervention against the Peshwa
In 1762, Raghunathrao allied with the Nizam due to mutual distrust and differences with Madhavrao Peshwa. The Nizam marched towards Poona. In 1763, Madhavrao II defeated Nizam at Battle of Rakshasbhuvan and signed a treaty with the Marathas.

In 1795, he was defeated by Madhavrao II's Marathas at the Battle of Kharda and was forced to cede Daulatabad, Aurangabad and Sholapur and pay an indemnity of Rs. 30 million.

A French general, Monsieur Raymond, served as his military leader, strategist and advisor.

Fall of Mysore
The following year, he realized that the fall of Tipu Sultan was eminent and thus, he entered into Subsidiary Alliance with the British East India Company. Thus Hyderabad, which is in both area and population comparable to the United Kingdom, became a princely state within the British Raj.

Death
Asaf Jah II died at Chowmahalla, Hyderabad at the age of 69 on August 6, 1803.