Mirza Najaf Khan
Najaf Khan | |
|---|---|
Najaf Khan Zulfiqar al-Dawlah | |
| Mir Bakshi of the Mughal Empire | |
| In office c. 1772 – 26 April 1782 | |
| Monarch | Shah Alam II |
| Preceded by | Najib al-Dawlah |
| Succeeded by | Najaf Quli Khan |
| Personal details | |
| Born | c. 1723 |
| Died | 26 April 1782 (aged 58–59) |
| Resting place | Najafgarh, near Delhi |
| Relations | Najaf Quli Khan (adopted son) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Mughal Empire |
| Branch/service | Mughal Army |
| Years of service | 1772–1782 |
| Rank | Mir Bakhshi (Commander-in-Chief) |
| Battles/wars |
|
Mīrzā Najaf Khān Bahādur, simply known as Mirza Najaf Khan (1723 – 26 April 1782) was a Mughal nobleman and adventurer of Safavid lineage who came to Delhi around 1740 from Iran after Nader Shah had displaced the Safavid dynasty in 1736. He became a courtier of Mughal emperor Shah Alam II (1740 – 1782). Najaf Khan has been called the "last great general of the Mughal Empire" as after his death, the control of the Mughal territories was taken over by Mahadaji Shinde in 1784/5, and the Mughal authority got reduced to the walls of Delhi.
Najaf Khan married his sister into the family of the Shia Nawabs of Awadh, which resulted in him gaining the title of Deputy Wazir of Awadh, and himself married the daughter of Najib ad-Dawlah. He served during the Battle of Buxar, and was the highest commander of the Mughal army from 1772 till his death in April 1782.