Rafi ud-Darajat
Mirza Rafi ud-Darajat (Persian: میرزا رفیع الدین درجات)(Persian pronunciation: [rafi ʊdard͡ʒɑːt]; 1 December 1699 – 6 June 1719), the youngest son of Rafi-ush-Shan and the nephew of Azim-ush-Shan, was the eleventh Mughal Emperor. He was placed on the throne by a brotherhood of nobles known as the Sayyids of Barha, after they had executed the previous emperor Farrukhsiyar and had made themselves the badishahgar(king-makers).[1][2]
| Rafi-ud-Darajat رفیع الدین درجات | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Padishah Al-Sultan Al-Azam | |||||
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| 11th Mughal Emperor | |||||
| Reign | 28 February – 6 June 1719 | ||||
| Predecessor | Farrukhsiyar | ||||
| Successor | Shah Jahan II | ||||
| Regent | Sayyid brothers | ||||
| Born | 1 December 1699 Mughal Empire | ||||
| Died | 6 June 1719 (aged 19) Agra, Mughal Empire | ||||
| Burial | Mausoleum of Khwaja Qutbuddin Kaki, Delhi | ||||
| Spouse | Inayat Banu Begum | ||||
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| House | House of Babur | ||||
| Dynasty |  Timurid dynasty | ||||
| Father | Rafi-ush-Shan | ||||
| Mother | Nur-un-Nisa Begum | ||||
| Religion | Sunni Islam (Hanafi) | ||||
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Reign
Syed Brothers
As previous emperor Furrukhsiyar was deposed by Sayyid brothers, Rafi ud-Darajat owed his throne to the Syed Brothers took full advantage of this. They wanted him to be a puppet ruler and so took steps to curtail his power.
Rival claim to throne
The reign of Rafi ud-Darajat was one of turbulence. On 18 May 1719, less than three months after his own accession, Rafi ud-Darajat's uncle, Nekusiyar, assumed the throne at the Agra Fort as he thought he was more eligible for the post.
The Syed Brothers were extremely determined to defend the emperor they had raised to the throne and punish the offender. They swiftly succeeded. Only three months after Nekusiyar's enthronement, the fort surrendered and Nekusiyar was captured. He was respectfully received by the Amir ul-Umara and confined at Salimgarh where he died in 1723.
Death
Before dying, Rafi ud-Darajat requested that his elder brother be enthroned. Accordingly, on 6 June 1719, after a reign of 3 months and six days, he was dethroned. Two days later his brother, Rafi ud-Daulah, was enthroned. Rafi ud-Darajat died of Tuberculosis or was murdered at Agra, 6 June 1719. His remains were interred near the shrine of Sufi saint Khawaja Qutbuddin Bakhtiar Kaki at Mehrauli in Delhi.
Ancestry
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References
- Mohammad Yasin. Upper India Publishing House. 1958. p. 18.
- Krishna S. Dhir (2022). The Wonder That Is Urdu. p. 120. ISBN 9788120843011.
