The first Nizam of Hyderabad was Qamar-ud-din Khan, also known as Asaf Jah I. He was appointed as the governor of the Deccan by the Mughal emperor and later established his independent rule in 1724, founding the Asaf Jahi dynasty.
Reference to the name Mir Qamar-ud-din Khan Siddiqi Bayafandi, as the person starting the Nizam dynasty of Hyderabad, could confuse students of Asian history. The fact is that the name Mir Qamar-ud-din Khan Siddiqi Bayafandi and Asaf Jah 1, refer to the same person. The Nizam dynasty with Asaf Jah I as its founder, started in 1725.
As the first Nizam Asaf Jah 1 not only founded the Nizam dynasty, but also laid the foundation of the Nizam Empire’s administration in the Deccan region, with Hyderabad as its center of power.
Some reports wrongly claim that he as the first Nizam, founded the city of Hyderabad. The city was founded earlier by Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah in 1591, Asaf Jah I made Hyderabad the capital and political center of his empire.
Besides laying the foundation for the wealth and power of the Nizam dynasty starting with Asaf Jah 1, also played a constructive role in improving the lives of people in Hyderabad and the broader Deccan region. His administration brought political stability to a region previously affected by Mughal decline and Maratha invasions. This allowed economic and social life to flourish.
While Asaf Jah I initiated the accumulation of wealth, including vast quantities of gold, diamonds, pearls, and other jewels, Proper record-keeping of these treasures was inconsistent or loosely maintained. The Nizams controlled the Golconda diamond mines, a significant reason for the rapid growth of wealth. However detailed records and audited transactions, of priceless diamonds were lacking.
It would be fair to say that, Asaf Jah I ensured that his rule wasn’t just about expanding power, but also about building a sustainable and inclusive administration—one that would serve as the foundation for the success of later Nizams.
