Rafi ud-Darajat was the youngest son of Rafi-ush-Shan and the nephew of Azim ush Shan. He was the 10th Mughal Emperor.

Rafi ud-Darajat – Emperor Reigned for Shortest Period

Rafi ud-Darajat was the youngest son of Rafi-ush-Shan and the nephew of Azim ush Shan. He was the 10th Mughal Emperor. On 28 February 1719, he succeeded Furrukhsiyar, being declared Badshah by the Syed Brothers. He died from Tuberculosis.  

Role of the Syed Brothers

As Rafi ud-Darajat owed his throne to the Syed Brothers they took full benefit of this. They wanted him to be a puppet ruler and so took steps to curtail his power. 

The previous emperor Furrukhsiyar was removed by the Syed Brothers as he had tried to maintain his independence.

Rival

The reign of Rafi ud-Darajat was one of disturbance. On 18 May 1719, less than three months after his accession, Rafi ud-Darajat’s uncle, Nekusiyar, seized the throne at the Agra Fort. He thought he was more suitable for the position.

The Syed Brothers were very determined to defend the emperor they had raised to the throne and punish the offender. They quickly succeeded. Only three months after Nekusiyar’s enthronement, the fort surrendered and Nekusiyar was captured. He was politely received by the Amir ul-Umara and confined at Salimgarh where he died in 1723.

Death of Rafi ud-Darajat

Before dying, he demanded that his elder brother be enthroned. Therefore, on 6 June 1719, after a reign of 3 months and six days, he was dethroned. 

Two days later his brother, Rafi ud-Daulah, was enthroned. Rafi ud-Darajat died of Tuberculosis or was killed at Agra, 6 June 1719. His remains were buried near the shrine of Sufi saint Khawaja Qutbuddin Bakhtiar Kaki at Mehrauli in Delhi.

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