Nawabs of Bengal

The Nawabs of Bengal (the Nawab Nizam of Bengal and Orissa) were the rulers of the provinces of Bengal and Orissa. Between 1717 and 1772, they were the rulers of the province of Bengal.

Nawab Nazim of Bengal and Orissa (1717–1880)a and Nawab Bahadur of Murshidabad (1882–1971)b Nawabs of Bengal and Murshidabad
1717–1765
Motto: Nil Desperandum "There is no cause for despair, never despair"
Capital	Murshidabadc
Common languages	English Persian Bengali Hindi Urdu Arabic
Government	Nobility
Historical era	Mughal Empire British India
• Emergence of the Mughal Empire	1526
• Established	1717
• Battle of Plassey	23 June 1757
• Battle of Buxar	22 October 1764
• Abolition of the title of Nawab of Bengal	1880
• Abdication of Mansoor Ali Khan, the last Nawab of Bengal	1 November 1880
• Emergence of the Nawab of Murshidabad	17 February 1882
• Article 18 of the Indian Constitution abolishes titles, except those given by the Government of India to those who have made their mark in military and academic fields	26 January 1950
• Disestablished	1765
Population
• 1901	75 million
Preceded by Succeeded by Bengal Sultanate Delhi Sultanate Mughal Empire Company rule in India Bengal Presidency British Raj
Today part of	India Bangladesh
Title abolished in 1880 After Indian independence in 1947, followed by the promulgation of the Indian Constitution on 26 January 1950, which marked the transformation of the Dominion of India into the Republic of India, the Article 18 of the Indian Constitution abolished all titles, except those given by the Government of India to those who have made their mark in military and academic fields. However, under the policy of Privy Purse nobles were allowed to enjoy certain privileges and keep their titles. However, this policy was abolished in 1971 by the twenty-sixth Amendment of the Constitution of India. Thus the title of the "Nawab Bahadur of Murshidabad" was officially, constitutionally and legally abolished in 1971. Murshidabad was the capital for both the Nawabs of Bengal and the Nawabs of Murshidabad.

The last independent Nawab of Bengal, Siraj ud-Daulah, was betrayed in the Battle of Plassey by Mir Jafar. He lost to the British, who in 1757, installed Mir Jafar on the throne and established itself as a political power in Bengal.

In 1765 the system of 'dual government' meant the Nawabs ruled on behalf of the British, and were puppets to the British. In 1772 the system was abolished and Bengal was brought under direct control of the British. In 1793, when the Nizamat (governorship) of the Nawab was also taken away from them, they remained as the pensioners of the British East India Company. The last Nawab of Bengal, Mansur Ali Khan abdicated on 1 November 1880 in favour of his eldest son, Hassan Ali Mirza.