HISTORY OF LUCKNOW :NAWAB ERA
The early Sultans of Delhi annexed Avadh to their empire and Sultan Iltutmish conferred the aqta of Kasmandi and Mandiaon on Malik Tajuddin Sanjar,alias Tabar Khan.This assignment proves that Lucknow became an important part of the Sultanate of Delhi. Ainul-mulk, son of Mahru, was appointed Governor of Avadh, Zafrabad and Alakhnau(Lucknow) by Mohammad-Ibn Tughluq. Lucknow is referred to by the famous Moroccan traveler Ibn-Batuta in connection with the events, which occurred between 1338 and 1341. Delhi was in the grip of a severe famine, and it was Alakhnau, which supplied large quantities of food grains to the Sultan during his stay at Swargdwari. Thus, the prosperous condition of Lucknow was responsible for the rebellion of Ainul-mulk and his brothers , who were suppressed by Muhammad –bin Tughluq with great difficulty.
In 1394 , khwaja-I-jahan, the founder of the Shaqi dynasty of Jaunpur , brought all the places between Jaunpur and Kanauj under his control. Lucknow became an important station under the Sharqis. Sultan Buhlul Lodi of Delhi annexed Lucknow to his kingdom in 1487-88 and assigned it ,along with Kalpi, to his grandsons Azam Humaum.
It was during his time that a Brahmin Lodhan publicly declared in Lucknow that both Islam and Hinduism were true religions, an incident which indicates the liberal outlook of the people of Lucknow , even at such an early rate . However ,he eventully courted capital punishment an account of his bold assertions. During the reign of Sultan Sikandar Lodi , Mubark Khan succeded Azam Humayun . Later, Ahmad Khan became the Governor of lucknow. He showed unprecedented favours to the Hindus , was accused of apostasy and was consequently dismissed by Sultan Sikander Lodi in 1509 . Ahmad Khan was arrested and sent to royal court and Saeed Khan succeeded him as Governor.
After defeating Ibrahim Lodi in Panipat in 1526 , Babar became the Mughal Emperor of Northern India . his son ,Humayum ,occupied Lucknow and Ayodhya the same year. Lucknow was lost to the afghans for a short while , when Humayun went to fight the army of Rana Sangha , the illustrious Rajput chief famous for his chivalry . Babur reoccupied Lucknow in march 1528 and visited the town on 21 march 1529. This fact indicates the political and strategic importance of the region . Lucknow continued to enjoy its affluence as is evident in a traditon maintained by the Shaikhs of the town ; after his defeat at the hands of Sher Shah Chausa in 1539, Humyum visited Lucknow for a few hours, and the sheikhs presented him ten thousand rupees and fifty horses. After his historic victory , Sher Shah appointed Isakhan with a force of five thousand horsemen to restore peace and order in the territories line between Delhi and Lucknow . He also assigned Lucknow to a noble man , Qadir shah , who later became very powerful . Sher Shah raised the status of the city by establishing silver and copper mints at Lucknow for the first time.
After Humayun’s reoccupation of Delhi in 1556, Lucknow became a permanent part of Mughal Empire in spite of freqent risings, for a decade or so, by the recalcitrant Afghan chiefs in the area .Empror Akbar (r.1516-1605) consolidated the Mughal empire and introduced several administrative and fiscal reforms of far-reaching consequences. Lucknow rose to eminence because the Emperor had a great liking for the place. It became headquarters of Sarkar of the Suba if Avadh.The coppermint was maintained and Akbar is said to have several Mohallas to the south of the chowk. Shahganj is still the most populous locality of Lucknow, where the ruins of the historic gateway popularly known as Akbari Darwaja, may be seen, Built in lakhauri bricks of the early Mughal period the gate consists of deep, lofty arches and raised platforms covered with arched verandahs.
During the peaceful reign of Akbar, Brahmins still formed one of the principal sections of the population and the Emperor was so well disposed towards them that he favoured them with a lakh of rupees. Since then, the Bajpai barhmons of lucknow have been both famous and influential , though the mohalla to which they gave their name was demolished by the British.
The earliest known Mughal Governor of Lucknow, appointed during the reign of Akbar, was Hussain Khan Tukriya. He was transferred from there in1568, and was succeeded by Mahdi Qasim Khan ,a manasabdar of four thousands, to whom Akbar gave Lucknow as tuyul. But shortly afterwards in 1572, Lucknow was bestowed on Sikandar Khan, a retired governor of Avadh, who died in the following year. It was then given to Khwaja Amiruddin Mahmud Khwaja Jahan who was Wazir – I – Mustaqil ( permanent minister) of Hindustan. He passed away in Lucknow in 1574. During the closing year of Akbars’s reign Jawaharlal Khan was subedar of Avadh. His naib (deputy), Qasim Mahmud of Bilgram, founded Mahmud Nagar and Shahganj and built the Akbari Darwaza mentioned above.
Shaikh Abdur Rahim, one of the noble Shaikzadas of Lucknow, appears to have received a substantial Jagir during the reigne of akbar and rose to high rank of seven hundred horsemen.The Emperor had a great liking for him. In a state of intoxication, Abdur Rahim stabbed himself at Sialkot in 1586 when the Emperor was retreating from Kabul. He recovered after a short time and paid a visit to Akbar in1598. He died in Lucknow evidently at a rip old age. According to the Ain-I-akbari and the Maassirul-Umara, an 18th –century biographil study of Mughal nobleman, he had a Brahim wife named Kishna. After the death of her husband she laid out a garden, built houses, a sarai and a tank to honour the memory of her late husband. She also acquired villages for cultivation and horticulture, and maintained the garden in which the Saikh was laid to rest. Whoever passed by that way – from a Panchhazari (five thousand) mansabar to a common soldier- was entertained by her according to his status or rank. This generosity towards her guest continued even when she was old and blind thus for nearly sixty years she kept her husband’s name alive. Shaikh Abdur Rahim and his family members are buried in the Nadan mahal tombs at Lucknow.
Sayyid Kamaluddin Haidar Husaini told the story of Shaikh Abdur Rahim’s elevation to a high rank, and attributed the construction of the Panch Mahal and Machhli Bhavan to him. Lucknow continued to remain in possession of his descendants, Who enjoyed high offices under the Mughal emperors until the appointment of Saadat Khan Burhanul-Mulk as Governor of Avadh in 1732.
The famous historian Abul Fazl paid glowing tributes to the delightful surrounding of Lucknow, to its pleasant climate, its flowers and fruit and particularly to its different varities of rice- - unmatched in whiteness, freshness, fragrance and taste. Lucknow attained further importance during the region of Emperor Akbar. The District of Lucknow formed part of the Sarkar of that name in the Suba of Avadh. The name and areas of the mahal of the Lucknow sarkar correspond closely with the parganas of the present day.
The development of Lucknow continued unhampered during the time of Emperor Jahangir(r.1605-1627).It was then famous for the manufacture of bows. Jahangir had visited Lucknow during the reign of his father and is believed to have founded Mirza Mandi, part of which lay to the west of the site of Machli Bhavan.
The European traveler De-laet testifies to the fact that Lucknow was a thriving center of trade, a Magnum Emporium in the reign of Jahangir. It lay en route from Agra to Jaunpur. Tradition has it that grant of a permit for trade, valid for one year, was issued by the Emperor to a French merchant. This permit allowed the merchant to amass an immense fortune , part of which he used to build a mansion, which came to be known as Firangi Mahal. On the expiry of the stipulated period, the permit was withdrawn and the French merchant left Lucknow.
Emperor Shah Jahan(r.1627-2658) is reported to have appointed Sultan Ali Shah Quil Khan’s sons, Mirza Fazil and Mansur founded Fazil Nagar and Mansur Nagar to south-west of Akbari Darwaza. Later, Muhammed Ashraf, the brother of Mutamad khan Muhammad Sharif, who apparently succeeded Sultan Ali Shah Quil Khan, built magnificent building and laid the foundation of the sarai and the locality of Ashrafabad, which lies further south of Shahganj and is thickly populated by distinguished Kayasthas, Brahmins and other families.
He also laid out a garden ,which was a public resort. According to chronogram inscribed on the gate garden was named Bustan-i-Dustan ,or the garden of friends and dates to A.H1040 (A.D.1630-31). Muhammad Ashraf’s brother is said have founded Musharaffabad or Naubasta, a southward continuation of Ashrafabad. Another nobleman , Pir Khan, founded Garhi Pir Khan, which lies to west of city.
Saiyid Nizam Murtaza Khan, son of the famous Sadr Jahan of Pihani was also appointed Faujdar of lucknow by Shah Jahan and was pensioned in the twenty-fourth regnal year of the Emperor .The old copper mint continued to function during the reign of Shah Jahan. The English factory records from 1646 to 1654 show that factory was doing brisk business in sugar, indigo and calico at Lucknow . These commodities, brought from different parts of Avadh were sent to important center of English trade in India . Cloth was also bleached at Lucknow and then forwarded. Emperor Aurangzeb (r.1658-1707) is reported to have visited Lucknow on his return from Ayodhya , and ordered the construction of the impressive mosque on Lakshaman Tila. Shaikh Pir Muhammad, a contemporary scholar and saint, who had migrated from Jaunpur, also lies buried in a square tomb to the north –east of the mosque. His learning and piety attracted large numbers of student and scholars from different part of the country and his manuscripts are preservsd in the Rampur Raza library . The school founded by him remained an important center of learning for about a century after his death in A.H.1080(A.D.1668-69). In his thirty-seventh regnal year , Aurangzeb awarded the haveli knows as the Firangi Mahal to the sons of Mulla Qutbuddin of Barabanki.
Among the Governors of Lucknow during Aurangzeb’s regin was Jamal Khan,who replaced Irij Khan. During the reign of Muhammed Shah , Girdhar Nagar, son of Daya Bahadur, was the subedar of Avadh . He was the nephew of Chhabila Ram Nagar , the Governor of Allahabad. After his uncle’s death Girdhar Nagar revolted and attempted to hold Allahabad for himself. He was unsuccessful and quickly summated to his overload who appointed him Governor of Avadh . His wife founded Rani katra, to the east of Daulatganj in Lucknow.
NAWABS OF AVADH
Burhan-ul-Mulk - 1722 - 1738
Safdar Jung - 1738 - 1753
Shuja-ud-Daula - 1753 - 1774
Asaf-ud-Daula - 1774 - 1798
Wazir Ali Khan - 1798 - 1798
Saadat Ali Khan - 1798 - 1814
Ghaziuddin Haider - 1814 - 1827
Nasiruddin Haider - 1827 - 1837
Muhammad Ali Shah - 1837 - 1842
Amjad Ali Shah - 1842 - 1847
Wajid Ali Shah - 1847 - 1856
Of all the dependencies of the Mughal Empire, Avadh had the newest dynasty whose founder was the descendant of a noble family of Nishlapur in Khurasan. Mir Muhammmad Amin, entitled Saadat Khal, was the son of Mir Basir who came to India 1707 along with his eldest son, Muhammad Baquir. Mir Mohammad Amin also came to join him in 1708-09,but his father had already passed away. At first, Mir Muhammad Amin entered the service of an amil and later joined Sarbuland Khan, Faujdar of Kara manikpur. His extraordinary performance soon elevated him to a mansab under Farruk Siyar,who became emperor in 1713.
Muhammad Amin was instrumental in the accession of Muhammad Shah and the over through of the Saiyyid brothers, Abdullah Khan and Husain Ali, Who attempted to become kind-makers. Consequently, he was favoured with rapid Promotion and was given the title of Saadast Khan Bahadur in 1720. On the transfer of Raja Girdhar Nagar to Malwa on 9 September,1722, he was appointed Governor of Avadh. Although he continued to be interested in the politics of the Mughal court, he played decisive roles in the affairs of Avadh in general and Lucknow in particular. The city of Lucknow was the stronghold of the Shaikhzadas, whose recalcitrant attitude was causing concern to the Mughal emperor. For establishing his supremacy as governor of Avadh, Saadat Khan made a diplomatic alliance with the Shaiks of Kakori . One night, Saadat Khan, with his chosen troops, surprise the Shaikhzadas who were defeated and reduced to submission, and the sword hanging in Shaikhan Darwaza was pulled down. The Panch Mahal and Mubarak Mahal, both palaces of the Shaikhzadas, were occupied by the governor at a nominal rent This event was followed by the submission of several chieftains and aggressive Zamindars of the Mughal authority. The Mughal emperor conferred on Saadat Khan the title of Burhanul-Mulk (symbol of the state). Saadat Khan consolidated his position very soon. Peace was now ensured for the habitants, and highways were secure for caravans. These factors resulted in the growth of trade and commerce. Irwin rightly says that Saadat Khan “was probably the first governor to make the power of central government felt through the province”. He mostly resided at Ayodha and Lucknow. He chose the fish as his emblem and it later became the most popular symbol of Avadh, appearing on gates, doorways and cornices of official and private building for more than two hundred years.
Saadat Khan died on 19 March 1739, and his son-in-law, Muhammad Maqim, who had been his deputy between 1724 and 1739, succeeded him. He was given the title of Abul Mansur khan by the emperor. Muhammad Maqim had already distinguished himself by achieving notable success in every expedition led by Burhanul-Mulk, gaining the post of Mir Atish or superintendent of the Royal Artillery. The Mughal emperor Ahmad Shah appointed him as Wazir on 29 June 1748. with the title of Safdar Jang.
Safdar Jang’s most trusted officer was Raja Newal Rai, who was killed in fighting the forces of the Afgan Nawab Ahmad Khan Bangash of Farrukhabad on 13 August 1750 at Khudaganj. The Bangash became so powerful that they defeated the forces of the wazir and occupied Lucknow. But the occupation was short-lived, since the Shaikhzadas of Lucknow could not tolerate the atrocities committed by the Bangash offcials. They revolted under the leadership of Muizuddin khan and expelled kthem from Lucknow. Consequently, Avadh again came under the administration of the Nawas Wazir. Soon, Safdar Jang had to leave for Delhi where conspiracies against him were rampant. Safdar Hang died on 5 October 1754, while struggling to reconsolidate his position.
The palaces of the Shaikhzada of Lucknow which were taken over by Nawab Saadat Khan Burhanul-Mulk were finally declared the property of the Nawab Wazir by Safdar Jang and the Shaikhzadas were granted seven hundred acres of land in Dugawan, in exchange.
Safdar Jang’s son, Shujaud-Daula, succeed him to Wazarat. He lived mostly at Faizabad. During this period the Nawab was subjected to frequent interference by the British who curtailed his freedom with regard to the maintenance of troops and the signing of treaties with other regional rulers. The British extracted fifty lakhs of rupee from Shujaud-Daula and appointed a Resident at Lucknow. Like Safdar Jang, Shujaud-Daula also had a Hindu minister, a Brahmin named Beni Bahadur. In spite of the of interference by the British, Shujaud-Daula administered Avadh well. The economy of the province continued to flourish and the city of Faizabad was adorned with stately buildings, both secular and religious. Lucknow also continued to enjoy lkagrarian land commercial prosperity. The Europeans writers, Franklin and scott, described Sjujaud-Daula as “An excellent magistrate, a lover of justice and anxiously desirous for the prosperity of his country, wise and dignified in character, affable, humane and generous".
From its foundation in 1600 until the 1750s, the English East India Company confined itself largely to coastal commercial concerns - Madras (1640), Bombay (1668) and Calcutta (1690). As a joint stock corporation, it had as one of the goals to pay satisfactory dividends to its share holders which it did generously till 1858. The Company's victory over the Bengal Armies at Plassey in 1757 - left the company in possession of vast territory (three times the size of England). This conquest brought the English into direct collision with the aggresive political ambtions of current ruler of Avadh, Shuja-ud-Daula. Awadh and the Company first directly challeged each other when Shuja-ud-Daula marched his armies against the English, under the Mughal banner in 1764. The Company crushed these armies at the battlefield of Buxar. But given the vast extent of the Avadh the Company shrank from attempting to assert its own direct rule. The Company sought an Indian ruler to entrust with these lands. It decided to restore Shuja-ud-Daula to authority, but as its subordinate ally, and an effective buffer against hostile forces. He had proven abilities which Company desired to exploit. In the treaty of 1765, the company selected for annexation only part of Nawab's holdings and rest were restored to him on payment of Rs. 50,00,000. The ease with which the Nawab paid this vast sum whetted the Company's expectations of future extractions. To manage its relations with the ruler, the Company appointed a political agent, or Resident, at the Avadh court. Until 1772, the Company had transmitted the occasional message through an officer in its army stationed nearby but now the Resident would supervise the Company's interest. This Resident not only gradually moved to monopolise communications between the Nawab and the Company , he eventually intervened in virtually all aspects of the affairs of the state , thus estabilishing a system of indirect rule.
Shujaud-Daula died on 26 January 1775, at the age of forty-three, leaving a full treasury supported by abundant revenue. After Shujaud-Daula came the most popular Wazir of the empire, Nawab Asafud-Daula who transferred his seat of government from Faizabad to Lucknow. According to lthe Tarikh-Farha Bakhsh, the process of transfer commenced from the very first year of his accession. “All the equipments and degrees were transferred to the Lucknow and the cantonment and workshops and elephants, bullocks, and everything connected with government and the state, gathered there. The market for the camp-followers, troops and all servants of the Government, old and new left Faizabad and went to Lucknow.
Four months after his accession, Asafud-Daula had to sign a fresh treaty with the British on 21 May 1775. While it affirmed “friendship and perfect union” between the Nawab and the East India Company, it also stipulated that the Nawab should employ no Europeans without the sanction of the Company, that neither party should consent to any proposal made to it by the Emperor of Delhi against the other, that Kara and Allahabad should always remain in possession of Nawab, and (Banaras) Jaunpur, Ghazipur and other possession of Raja Chet Singh yielding an annual revenue of twenty-three lakhs, should be ceded to the company. Also, all arrears due against Asafud-Daula’s father were to be paid by the Nawab. The company on its part undertook to defend Avadh, Kara, Allahabad and the recent acquisitions of Shujaud-Daula in Rohilkhand and the Doad. It guranteedthe protection of the ruler from external and internal enemies and stationed troops for service in Avadh and surrounds, the Company organised the Oudh Auxiliary Force at the ruler's expense.
During Shujaud-Daula’s time, the country’s economy, agriculture and commerce were flourishing and the people seemed very happy under his government. This prosperous scenario appears to have changed, because by the year 1783, the country was far more than that of Delhi and Banaras, which is why the company continued to increase their claims from the Nawab of Avadh. Moreover, Delhi was already robbed of its grandeur and wealth. The Company used the Resident to extract the range of sources it desired from Avadh. Governor Generals frequently stressed to Residents the Company's need to extract cash from the ruler. Overall between 1764 and 1856, the Company extracted in cash atleast Rs. 60,00,000 in penalities and Rs. 52,00,000 in loans at below market interest rates and Rs. 90,00,000 in subsidies for troops. In addition the Company regarded Awadh as prime recruiting ground for its army and administration.
Sir John Shore, Governor General, visited Lucknow in 1797 and forced Nawab Asafud-Daula to pay five and a half lakhs of rupee per annum to the company for the maintenance of additional troops, both of Indian and European origin. The Nawab was not inclined to accept the demand. He fell seriously ill soon thereafter, and refusing to take medicines, died a few days later, on 20 September 1797. He was laid to rest in his celebrated Imambara. Asafud-Daula was responsible for the overall development and extension of city of Lucknow, and built several stately edifices and ornamental gardens, which still give their names to the old Mohallas.
Nawab Asafud-Daula was a passionate builder and it is said that a building was barely completed before he would start on a new project. In this respect he became a legend in this lifetime. During his reign, the nobility were also great patrons of art and architecture. Ahis Hindu ministers built mosques while Muslims courtiers helped the Hindus in the construction of buildings specific to their faith. Almas Ali Khan gave substantial amounts to the Hindus for the construction of temples. The Nawabs is known to have spent six lakhs of rupees on Holi.
The greatest building project under the Nawabs of Awadh was the construction of the magnificent Imambara, which was started and completed by Nawab Asafud-Daula. According to Mirza Abu Talib Isfahani, the Imambara was completed in the year A.H. 1205 (A. D.1790-91), when the making of tazias was also started. He mentions that the Nawab Wazir spent ten lakhs of rupees annually on building projects, a practice introduced from the start of his reign. When a building was completed it was occupied by the Nawab fir a day of two and thereafter abandoned, remaining empty, dark and unswept.
Asafud- Daula was succeeded by his son Wazir Ali, whose accession was challenged by his uncle Saadat Ali, on grounds of his spurious birth, but Wazir Ali’s claim was accepted by the British. However, Sir John Shore’s constricting policies annoyed Wazir Ali who relished his freedom. As a result he was superceded by Saadat Ali Khan, who agreed to please the Governer General. Saadat Ali Khan was summoned from Varanasi and proclaimed Nawab Wazir on 21 January 1798, and a trearty of seventeen articles was signed in pursuance of the previous understanding between him and the Governor- General.
The Nawab had to give up the Allahabad Fort and pay rupees eight lakhs for its repairs. Moreover, the annual subsidy paid by the the Nawab Wazir, which amounted to over fifty-six lakhs. The Nawab had to surrender the district of Rohilkhand, Farrukhabad, Mainpuri, Etawah, Kanpur, Fatehgarh, Allahabad, Azamgarh, Basti and Gorakhpur.
In spite of the high-handed policies of theBritish, Nawab Saadat Ali khan left a full treasury. Mir Ghulam Ali and Kamaluddin Haidar have paid lavish tributes to his efficient administration and the measures he took for the welfare of the people. Nawab Saadat Ali died in July 1814, and was succeeded by his son, Ghaziuddinn Haidar. The British again resorted to new methods of obtaining benefits from the flourishing treasury of Avadh. In 1814, a million rupees were borrowed for the Nepal war. A second million was borrowed the following year, but this debt was liquidated in 1816 by the accession of Khairagh and the Terai area of the foothills of Nepal, extending from Koiraial in the border of Gorakhpur on the east. Ghaziuddin Haidar also presented to the company a fully –equipped regiment of cavalry at his own expense and supplied a large number of elephants as well. In a clever political move, Lord Hasting persuaded Ghaziuddin Haidar to assume the title of Shah or king. Sir Henry Lawrence rightly remarked that the move was made to excite “a rivalry between the Avadh and Delhi families, the Nawabs having hitherto paid descendants of the Mughal all outward homage, and affecting still to consider themselves only as lieutenants of the emperor. This arrangement was some what akin to some of masqueraded with which the company commenced their career”.
A very interesting glimpse of Lucknow is a available in Bishop Heber’s Journal of 1824-25. “Lucknow”, he wrote, “remained the Dresden of travelers, and one of its streets the High Street of Oxford”. Notwithstanding the cautions he had received against moving freely among its armed population, he says, “we found invariable civility and good nature, people backing their carts and elephants to make room for us and displaying on the whole far greater spirit of hospitality and accommodation than foreigners would have met with in London”. The king also impressed him enough to evoke a comparison with James I. “He was fond, as I have observed, of study and in all points of Oriental philology and philosophy, is really reckoned a learned man, besides having a strong taste for mechanics and chemistry”.
Ghazuiddin Haidar died on 18 October 1827, his son Nasiruddin Haidar ascended the throne. He was regarded as a very benevolent prince by the people of Avadh, and his generosity is remembered in Lucknow even today. During his reign he granted monthly allowance of three thousand rupee to the students of the Lucknow College. He built two big hospitals- the Shahi Yunani Shafa Khana and the Darush Shafa,which provided free medical treatment, lodging and food for the poor. He also built a Sehatkhana for lepers at Badshah Nagar. He is said to have prohibited the buying and selling of slaves, a practice which, though rare in Avadh, was still prevalent in several parts of India. Moreover, he made zealous efforts to provide for the protection and security of his people.
Nasiruddin Haidar died suddenly on 7 July 1837 and his step-mother, Padshah Begum, placed her son Munna Jan on the throne in the Lal Baradari. The British repeated their intervening role, crowned Muhammad Ali Shah king of Avadh and made him pay one lakh sixty thousand pounds per annum.
Muhammad Ali Shah introduced several administrative reforms. He dismissed the fiddlers and buffoons. He also succeeded in reviving the amani system of revenue(the direct collection of taxes by the state officials) introduced by Nawab Saadat Ali Khan, over as portion of the territory, a system of revenue which earned him thirty-five lakhs of rupee.
Muhammad Ali Shah died on 16 May 1842, and was laid to rest ion his magnificent Imambara at Hussainabad. His son Amjad Ali Shah became the king and reigned peacefully for five years. He was responsible for the construction of the fashionable market at Hazratganj and the Imambara of Sibtainabad in which he was buried upon his heritage of Lucknow. death on 13 February 1847 . The last king of Avadh was his son, Wajid Ali Shah, whose fame as a lover of art, poetry, drama and music has survived till this day. He himself was a poet, composing verse in chaste Urdu. His monumental palaces and gardens, namely the Kaisar Bagh complex and chhatar Manzil, are part of the celebrated architectural works. Over the years from 1764 to 1856, the Company had on several occasions proposed the annexation of Avadh and finally in 1856 the Directors authorised the Governor General Dalhousie to annex the state on the ambiguous ground of misgovernment. The Kingdom of Avadh was annexed to British East India Company in 1856. The ruler paid off his army and ordered all his officials and officers to cooperate with the British Company while he proceeds to Calcutta, to bring his case to the notice of the Governor General and (then to England) to intercede with Her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen. To no avail.
The British forces took over Lucknow after a bloody battle in 1858.
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