How the Nizams 'stole' Hyderabad: Understanding origins of Asaf Jah dynasty

Seven Nizams of the Asaf Jah dynasty ruled over Hyderabad state for over 224 years, from 1724 to 1948. Read to find out how they came to rule over the Deccan Plateau

On September 17, 1948, the state of Hyderabad was liberated from the rule of Nizam. The Nizams ruled the state for 224 years, from 1724 to 1948. In the period, seven Nizams of the Asaf Jahi dynasty presided over the throne. The seventh, Asaf Jah Mir Osman Ali Khan, signed the instrument of accession, and Hyderabad became a part of India.

Where did Nizams come from?

Hailing from Samarkand in Uzbekistan, Asaf Jahi was originally a Turkic dynasty. The grandfather of the first Nizam, Khaja Abid, visited India for the first time in 1655 and presented himself at