The Oudh State, also Kingdom of Oudh, or Awadh State was a princely state in the Awadh region of North India. Historically, Oudh Subah was one of the initial 12 Subahs established by Emperor Akbar during his administrative reforms of 1572-1580 AD. Subahs were divided into sarkars, or districts, Sarkars were further divided into Parganas or Mahals.
As per the present, Awadh geographically included the districts of Ambedkar Nagar, Bahraich, Balrampur, Barabanki, Faizabad, Gonda, Lakhimpur Kheri, Lucknow, Pratapgarh, Raibareli, Amethi,Shravasti, Sitapur, Sultanpur, Unnao, Fatehpur, Kaushambi, Allahabad and Kanpur. The area was known as the granary of India and was important for control of the Doab, a fertile plain between the Ganges and Yamuna rivers.
As the Mughal Empire declined and decentralized, local governors in Oudh began asserting greater autonomy, and eventually Oudh matured into an independent polity. With the British East India Company defeating Oudh at the Battle of Buxar in 1764 AD, Oudh fell into the British orbit. The capital of Oudh was in Faizabad, but the Company's political agents, officially known as ''residents'', had their seat in Lucknow. The Nawab of Oudh, one of the richest princes, paid for and erected a Residency in Lucknow.
Historically the Kingdom of Oudh could be divided into six periods. Mughal Subah of Oudh (1572-1732 AD), Mughal Suzernity (1732-1816 AD), Princely State of Oudh (1816-1858 AD), Merger of Oudh to North-Western Provinces in 1859 AD. In 1902, it was renamed as the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh. In 1935 was renamed to United Provinces (UP) and remained till India's Independence in 1947.
During the Mughal Subah period, the Subah of Awadh (bordering Delhi, Agra, Allahabad and Bihar) was a province administered by a Nizam or Subah Nawab (governor) appointed by the emperor. Nawab, the plural of the Arabic word ''Naib'' meaning assistant, was the term given to ''subahdars'' (provincial governors) appointed by the emperor all over India to assist him in managing the empire.
The Flag
The Coat of Arms
Saadat Ali Khan I, was appointed Nawab of Oudh in 1722 AD, and he established his court in Faizabad, near Lucknow. The Nawabs of Lucknow were the Nawabs of Awadh, but were so referred to because after the reign of the third Nawab, Lucknow became the capital, where British stationed Residents (diplomatic colonial agents) from 1773 AD.
Abul Mansur Mirza Muhammad Muqim Ali Khan, better known as Safdar Jang succeeded Saadat Ali Khan I (his maternal uncle and father-in-law) in 1739 AD. All future Nawabs of Oudh were male descendants of Safdar Jang (a title given by Muhammad Shah, the Mughal emperor). Safdar Jang was also the governor of Kashmir and Ajmer and later gained complete control of administration over the whole of Mughal empire. When Ahmad Shah Bahadur ascended the throne at Delhi in 1748 AD, he was made the Wazir-ul-Mumalik-Hindustan or Prime Minister of Hindustan.
Infact, after the Battle of Buxar in 1764 AD, the British interference in the internal matters of Oudh commenced. They effectively used Oudh as a buffer against the Marathas who were expanding their territories. In 1775 AD, Asaf-ud-Daula acceded to the Nawabship of Oudh, with British aid and from this time onwards Oudh was consistently compliant with the Company, which continued to demand more control over the state.
The kingdom became a British protectorate in May 1816 AD. Throughout the early 1800s until annexation, several areas were gradually ceded to the British. On 7 February 1856 AD on orders of Lord Dalhousie, the king of Oudh, Wajid Ali Shah was deposed, and his kingdom was annexed to British India. Between July 1857 and March 1858, there was an upheaval by Begum Hazrat Mahal, the second wife of Wajid Ali Shah and the regent of Awadh and the son of the deposed king as both joined the Indian First War of Independence of 1857 resulting in the British losing control of the territory. The British however, reestablished control after 18 months.
In 1902, it was renamed the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh. In 1935 was renamed to United Provinces (UP) and remained till India's Independence in 1947.
The grand architecture of Lucknow includes the Rumi Darwaza, once the entrance to the city, Chattar Manzil, initially built for the Wazir, but eventually the residence of the Nawab, Sikandar Bagh, Wazir Ali Shah's summer residence and the Bara and Chota Imambaras to name a few. The characteristics of Awadhi architecture are the absence of iron and beams, use of vaulted ceilings, multiple entrances on facades and parapets on roofs.
Chota Imambara, Lucknow, built in 1838 AD by Muhammad Ali Shah, 3rd Nawab of Awadh
Nawabi introduction,very illuminative.Loved it
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