Ali Vardi Khan
| Ali-Vardi Khan | |
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Nawab Nazim of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa (Nawab of Bengal) Shuja ul-Mulk (Hero of the country) Hashim ud-Daula (Sword of the state) Mahabat Jang (Horror in War) |
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| Reign | 29 April 1740 – 9 April 1756 |
| Predecessor | Sarfaraz Khan |
| Successor | Siraj ud-Daulah |
| Spouse(s) | Sharf-un-Nisa (sister of Sayyid Ahmed Najafi and daughter of Sayyid Hussain Najafi) |
| Issue | |
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Full name
Mirza Muhammad Ali (Alivardi Khan / Alahvirdi Khan)
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| Father | Shah Quli Khan (Mirza Muhammad Madani) |
| Mother | A daughter of Nawab Aqil Khan Afshar (Mir Muhammad Askari) |
| Born | Before 10 May 1671 Deccan |
| Died | 10 April 1756 (aged 84) Murshidabad |
| Buried | Khushbagh, Murshidabad |
| Religion | Shia Islam |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance | Mughal Empire |
| Service/branch | Nawab of Bengal |
| Rank | Subadar |
| Battles/wars | Nader Shah's invasion of the Mughal Empire, Mughal-Maratha Wars |
| Battle of Burdwan | |||||||
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| Part of Maratha invasions of Bengal | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 Bengal
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 Maratha Empire
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Alivardi Khan Umar Khan Mohmand Mustafa Khan Bahadur Musaib Khan Mohmand (KIA) |
Janoji Bhonsle | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 10,000+ infantry, cavalry and elephant-force | ~40,000 cavalry | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| unknown | heavy | ||||||
Ali Vardi Khan (Bengali: আলীবর্দী খাঁ, 1671 – 9 April 1756) was the Nawab of Bengal during 1740–1756. He toppled the Nasiri Dynasty of the Nawabs and took powers of the Nawab. He is also one of the few Mughal-era leaders known for his victory during the Battle of Burdwan against the Maratha Empire.
Alivardi Khan's father was Shah Quli Khan (Mirza Muhammad Madani) and his mother was the daughter of Nawab Aqil Khan Afshar (Mir Muhammad Askari). Alivardi's birth name was Mirza Muhammad Ali. He was a Muslim. His father was an Arab and an employee of Azam Shah, the son of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. Azam Shah also employed the sons of Mirza Muhammad. But after the death of Azam Shah, the family fell into poverty. His two sons Muhammad Ali and Mirza Ahmed managed to find employment under the Subahdar (Provincial governor) of Orissa, Shuja-ud-Din Muhammad Khan. After Shuja-ud-Din was promoted to the post of the Nawab of Bengal, the two brothers' future prospects widened.
In 1728, Shuja-ud-Din promoted Muhammad Ali to Faujdar (General) of Rajmahal and entitled him as Alivardi Khan. In 1733, he was assigned as the Naib Nazim (Deputy Subahdar) of Bihar. A year later he was titled Shuja ul-Mulk (Hero of the country), Hassemm ud-Daula (Sword of the state) and Mahabat Jang (Horror in War) and the rank of Paach Hazari Mansabdar (The rank holder of 5000) by Nawab Shuja ud-Din and returned to Azimabad.
Alivardi Khan aspired for larger authority. On 10 April 1740 in the Battle of Giria, he defeated and killed Shuja ud-Din's successor, Sarfaraz Khan. Thus he took control of Bengal and Bihar. Then on 3 March 1741 he defeated Rustam Jang, deputy governor of Orissa and a relative of Sarfaraz Khan, in the battle of Phulwarion. Orissa also came under control of Alivardi Khan.
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Wikipedia