Later Mughals (Akbar II)

Akbar II

Portrait of Akbar II

Source:- Mughal Archieves

Akbar II lived from 22 April 1760 – 28 September 1837, also known as Akbar Shah II, was the 19th Mughal emperor from 1806 to 1837. He was the second son of Shah Alam II and the father of Bahadur Shah Zafar, who would eventually succeed him and become the last Mughal emperor.

Akbar had almost no power due to the increasing British influence in India through the East India Company. He sent Ram Mohan Roy as an ambassador to Britain and gave him the title of Raja for his pension. During his regime, in 1835, the East India Company discontinued issuing coins in his name. 

Akbar II was credited with starting the Hindu–Muslim unity festival Phool Walon Ki Sair.

Early Life

Akbar II with his father Shah Alam II

Source:- Wikipedia

Prince Mirza Akbar was born on 22 April 1760 to Emperor Shah Alam II at Satna, while his father was in exile. In 1782, he was appointed the viceroy of Delhi until 1799. 

 

He witnessed humilitation of the Imperial Family, as well as starved. When Shah Jahan IV fled, Mirza Akbar was become Emperor with the title of Akbar Shah II, and was to remain acting emperor even after the reinstallment of his father Shah Alam II, till January 1789.

Reign of Emperor

Emperor Akbar II ruled over an empire limited to the Red Fort in Delhi alone. The cultural life of Delhi as a whole flourished during his reign. However, his attitude towards East India Company officials was not good especially when they regarded him as merely their pensioner. The British therefore reduced his authority to 'King of Delhi' in 1835 and the East India Company ceased to act as the mere lieutenants of the Mughal Empire as they did from 1803 to 1835. Simultaneously they replaced Persian text with English text on the company's coins, which no longer carried the emperor's name.

The British encouraged the Nawab of Oudh and the Nizam of Hyderabad to take royal titles to further diminish the Emperor's status and influence. Out of deference, the Nizam did not, but the Nawab of Awadh did so.

He is also known to have bestowed the title Nawab upon the Nawab of Tonk and Nawab of Jaora.

Akbar II appointed the Social reformer Ram Mohan Roy, to appeal against his treatment by the East India Company and for his pension given him the title of Raja. Ram Mohan Roy then visited England, as the Mughal envoy to the Court of St. James. Ram Mohan Roy submitted a well-argued memorial on behalf of the Mughal ruler, but to no avail.

Death of Emperor

Tomb of Akbar II

Source:- Wikipedia

The grave of Akbar II lies within a marble enclosure adjoined to the Moti Masjid near the dargah at Mehrauli, Delhi. The Mughal emperors Bahadur Shah I, (Shah Alam I) and Shah Alam II are also buried here