Hyderabad Feudatory (हैदराबाद जागीरदार)

Hyderabad State Feudatory Coins

The Hyderabad State had multiple centers of power and multiple participants who negotiated their power within the state. Amongst those participants dotting the countryside were the capitals of the samasthan (Hindu kingdoms) kings whose origins predated the arrival of Muslim rule in the Deccan.

These kingdoms began as military service providers to the Kakatiya and Vijayanagar empires of the fourteenth to sixteenth centuries. As the Deccan came under Indo-Muslim rule, they negotiated their power and authority with their new masters. Over time, their survival and resilience led them to become the oldest members of Hyderabad’s polity. At the same time, they shared their position within the Nizam’s dominions with other nobles.

These kingdoms were led by rajas and sometimes their wives, ranis (queens). Hyderabad State had fourteen samasthans. As rulers within the Nizam’s dominions, and as neighbors to British India, the samasthan families negotiated their power vis-à-vis the Nizam’s government, and at times, through the Nizam with the British.

The characteristic of a feudatory state is that it operates under the over lordship of another sovereign or state and owe feudal homage or allegiance to that overlord.

Hyderabad became a large sovereign state when it broke away in about 1724 from the Mughal Empire. As a former Mughal Subah it covered much of the Deccan and several depending (feudal) states owed allegiance (loyalty) to Hyderabad and therefore are called feudatory states.

Hyderabad Feudatories - Elichpur

1 Paisa - Asaf Jah IV/V, KM#10a

Obv : Lion facing left

Rev : Inscription

Details :
Plain edge
KM#10a

Hyderabad Feudatories - Kankurti mint

1 Rupee - Shah Alam II 

Obv : Shah Alam II

Rev : Mint name at the bottom

Details :
Plain edge

1 Rupee - Shah Alam II 

Obv : Shah Alam II

Rev : Mint name at the bottom

Details :
Plain edge

Hyderabad Feudatories - Narayanpett, Dilshadabad mint 

1 Rupee - Shah Alam II, KM#C40

Obv : Sikka mubarak badshah ghazi
Ruler : Shah Alam II

Rev : Sana julus zarb in middle & mint name
AH 1178

Details :
Plain edge
KM#C40

1 Rupee - Shah Alam II, KM#C40

Obv : Sikka mubarak badshah ghazi
Ruler : Shah Alam II
Mintmark : ती

Rev : Sana julus zarb in middle & mint name
AH 1186
Mintmark : ल

Details :
Plain edge
KM#C40

1 Rupee - Shah Alam II, KM#C40

Obv : Sikka mubarak badshah ghazi

Ruler : Shah Alam II
Mintmark : गॊ

Rev : Sana julus zarb in middle & mint name
AH 1186
Mintmark : ल

Details :
Plain edge
KM#C40

References :

• http://thehobbyofkings.blogspot.in/2014/11/the-feudatory-coins-of-hyderabad-state.html
• South Asian Coins & Paper Money (INDIAN EDITION) - Krause Publication