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The Seven Cities of Delhi


brother Azam, Governor of the Deccan, on the same field, near Agra, where their father had defeated Dara. Six hundred and fifty thousand men are said to have been engaged on both sides, and the result was a victory for Muazzim, who ascended the throne with the title of SHAH ALAM BAHADUR SHAH. A third brother, Kambaksh, endeavoured to wrest the empire from him, but was unsuccessful, and died of his wounds. Bahadur Shah seems to have done nothing of importance at Delhi, and died in 1710, at Lahore, during an expedition against the Sikhs. His body was brought to Delhi, and buried near the shrine of Kutb-ud-din.

The reign of the next emperor, JAHANDAR SHAH, was a short one. He had to fight for his throne with his brothers, and was only successful by the aid of one Zulficar Khan, whom he appointed prime minister and virtual ruler of his dominions, while Jahandar gave himself up to pleasure. He became completely infatuated with a dancing-girl, and desired to appoint her relatives to all the important posts — a course of conduct which aroused the anger and disgust of two brothers, Sayyads, named Abdulla Khan and Hasan Khan. These two took up arms against him, and defeated him near Agra, forcing him to fly; but he was captured and put to death, and230