EPISODE · Jun 22, 2026 · 8 MIN
The Forgotten Mughal Empress: Alivardi Khan and Bengal's Last Stand
from The Hidden History of Bengal: Kingdoms, Empires, and Revolution — Fexingo History · host Fexingo
In 1740, a middle-aged general named Alivardi Khan seized the throne of Bengal, launching a reign that would be the last gasp of Mughal independence before the British conquest. This episode follows his rise from an Afghan mercenary to the de facto emperor of Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa, his brutal wars against the Maratha Bargis, and the devastating famine of 1741-51 that reshaped the region. We explore his complex relationship with the Jagat Seth banking family, his military reforms, and the succession crisis that paved the way for Siraj-ud-Daulah's disastrous rule. Along the way, we visit the bloody fields of Gheria, the walls of Murshidabad, and the court intrigues that made Alivardi both a legend and a warning. A story of ambition, plague, and the twilight of an era. #AlivardiKhan #MughalBengal #MarathaInvasions #Bargis #Famine1741 #BattleOfGheria #JagatSeth #Murshidabad #NawabOfBengal #SirajUdDaulah #MurshidQuliKhan #NasiriDynasty #ShujaUdDin #SarfarazKhan #RobertClive #EastIndiaCompany #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
What this episode covers
In 1740, a middle-aged general named Alivardi Khan seized the throne of Bengal, launching a reign that would be the last gasp of Mughal independence before the British conquest. This episode follows his rise from an Afghan mercenary to the de facto emperor of Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa, his brutal wars against the Maratha Bargis, and the devastating famine of 1741-51 that reshaped the region. We explore his complex relationship with the Jagat Seth banking family, his military reforms, and the succession crisis that paved the way for Siraj-ud-Daulah's disastrous rule. Along the way, we visit the bloody fields of Gheria, the walls of Murshidabad, and the court intrigues that made Alivardi both a legend and a warning. A story of ambition, plague, and the twilight of an era. #AlivardiKhan #MughalBengal #MarathaInvasions #Bargis #Famine1741 #BattleOfGheria #JagatSeth #Murshidabad #NawabOfBengal #SirajUdDaulah #MurshidQuliKhan #NasiriDynasty #ShujaUdDin #SarfarazKhan #RobertClive #EastIndiaCompany #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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The Forgotten Mughal Empress: Alivardi Khan and Bengal's Last Stand
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