Rafi ud-Darajat

The 10th Mughal Emperor was Rafi ud-Darajat, the youngest son of Rafi-ush-Shan and nephew of Azim ush Shan. On 28 February 1719, he replaced Furrukhsiyar and was declared Badshah by the Syed Brothers. Tuberculosis was the cause of his death.

Role of the Syed Brothers

The Syed Brothers took full advantage that Rafi ud-Darajat owed his reign to them. They wanted him to rule as a puppet, so they took steps to limit his power. The Syed Brothers toppled the former monarch Furrukhsiyar, who had attempted to maintain his independence.

Rival Claim to the Throne

Rafi ud-reign Darajat's was filled with upheaval. Rafi ud-uncle, Darajat's Nekusiyar, assumed the throne in the Agra Fort on 18 May 1719, less than three months after his accession, believing he was more qualified for the position. The Syed Brothers were adamant about defending and punishing the monarch they had raised to the throne. They were quickly successful. The fort succumbed three months after Nekusiyar's enthronement, and Nekusiyar was taken. The Amir ul-Umara greeted him with honour and imprisoned him at Salimgarh, where he died in 1723.

Rafi ud-Darajat desired that his elder brother be crowned before he died. As a result, he was dethroned on 6 June 1719, after a reign of three months and six days. Rafi ud-Daulah, his brother, was crowned two days later. Rafi ud-Darajat died of tuberculosis or was assassinated on 6 June 1719 at Agra. His ashes were placed to rest near the Mehrauli shrine of Sufi saint Khawaja Qutbuddin Bakhtiar Kaki.