Alivardi Khan

Alivardi Khan (Bengali: আলীবর্দী খাঁ, Bengali pronunciation: [alibordi kʰã]; 1676 – 9 April 1756) was the fourth Nawab of Bengal from 1740 to 1756. He toppled the Nasiri dynasty by defeating Sarfaraz Khan in the Battle of Giria and assumed power himself.

During much of his reign Alivardi encountered frequent Maratha raids under Raghoji Bhonsle, culminating in the surrender of the province of Orissa in a peace settlement in 1751. He also faced Afghan rebellions in Bihar as well as a revolt from his grandson Siraj ud-Daulah, though these were suppressed.

Alivardi spent the latter part of his reign rebuilding Bengal. He was a patron of the arts and resumed the policies of Murshid Quli Khan. He maintained a politically neutral stance with the European powers in the subcontinent and prevented any infighting amongst them in his dominions. He was succeeded by Siraj ud-Daulah in 1756.