The Kings of Awadh (Oudh), 1133-1273 H/1721-1856 AD
Legend & Design
Legend & Design
Obverse
Field
Bottom line sikka zad bar sim wa zar
Top line az fazl-i rabb-i dhu’l-minan
Second line ghazi al-din haydar-i ‘ali
Third line nasab 1241 shah-i zaman
“He struck a coin on gold and silver by the grace of God of Many Bounties, Ghazi al-Din Haydar of exalted lineage, King of the World, 1241”
Reverse
In centre
the arms of Haydar regnal year 7 flanked by two fishes facing one another surrounded by a katar with crown above supported by two tigers holding pennants
Margin
Bottom line darb suba-yi awadh
Within two fishes sana 7
To the right of the coat of arms julus-i
Above coat of arms maymanat-i
To left of coat of arms manus
Top line dar al-saltana lakhnaw
“Struck in the province of Awadh, year 7 of the accession of prosperous fortune, the Abode of the Sultanate Lucknow”
Historical Note
Historical Note
Awadh (or Oudh) is made up of the Lucknow and Faizabad divisions of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It was annexed to the Sultanate of Delhi at the end of the twelfth century AD, and then to the Mughal territories by the emperor Akbar. It was after the death of Awrangzib in 1118 (1707), when Mughal power began to decline, that the Nawabs of Awadh were able to assert their independence.
The founder of the dynasty, Sa‘adat Khan Burhan al-Mulk added Benares, Ghazipur, Jaunpur and Chunar to his dominions, and his successor, Safdar Jang was appointed vizier of the Mughal empire in 1161 (1748). His son, Shuja‘ al-Dawla came into conflict with the rising power of the British East India Company, who, after defeating him in 1178 (1764) turned Awadh into a buffer state against the Marathas. Shuja‘ al-Dawla was succeeded by his incapable son Asaf al-Dawla, then by his son, Sa‘adat ‘Ali Khan.
Ghazi al-Din Haydar ibn Sa‘adat acceded to the throne on his father’s death in 1229 (1814). With the support of the British Governor General, Lord Hastings, Haydar declared his independence five years later with the royal titles Abu’l-Muzaffar Mu’izz al-Din Shah-i Zamin Ghazi al-Din Haydar, and he was the first of the Nawabs of Awadh to assume the title of king.
To proclaim his high estate he spent twenty million rupis on a throne of gold and silver studded with jewels. He also struck a silver medal, with a full-face portrait of himself, to commemorate the beginning of his reign.
Coins in Haydar’s name bear a Persian distich on the obverse and his coat of arms on the reverse. This innovation may have been sparked by British influence, which made Haydar feel he was being modern and European.
As a ruler Ghazi al-Din Haydar was not a success, for his debauchery, maladministration, extravagance and dishonesty hastened the decline of the Awadh dynasty.
He was, however, generous to the poor and a patron of architecture. Among his buildings in Lucknow were the Qadam Rasul, containing a stone said to be marked with the footprint of the Prophet Muhammad, and the imposing Imambara Shah Najaf, the mausoleum where he was buried in 1243 (1827).
