The Nawab of Awadh or the Nawab of Oudh (IPA: /ˈaʊd/) was the title of the rulers who governed the state of Oudh or Awadh in India during the 18th and 19th centuries. The Nawabs of Awadh belonged to a dynasty of Qaraqoyunlu origin from Nishapur, Iran. In 1724, Nawab Sa'adat Khan established the Oudh State.
As the Mughal Empire declined, the emperors lost their power and became puppets and prisoners of their new overlords, the Marathas. Awadh thus grew stronger and more independent. The capital city at the time was Faizabad.
All of these rulers used the title of Nawab.