Afzal ad-Dawlah, Asaf Jah V

Who was Afzal ad-Dawlah, Asaf Jah V?

Afzal ad-Dawlah, Asaf Jah V Mir Tahniyath Ali Khan Siddiqi was the ruling Nizam of Hyderabad, India, from 1857 to 1869.

Asaf Jah V's realm was divided into five subahs and sixteen districts; each subah was headed by a Subedar and each district by a Taluqdar. Reforms during his reign, by his Prime Minister Salar Jung, included the establishment of a governmental central treasury in 1855. Asaf Jah V reformed the Hyderabad revenue and judicial systems, instituted a postal service and constructed the first rail and telegraph networks. In 1861 he was awarded the Star of India.

Asaf Jah V was the eldest son of Naser ud Daula Mir Farqunda Ali Khan Asaf Jah IV and his wife Sahebzadi Dialwar unisa Begum Saheba. He married three times, first to Sahebzadi Mahboob Begum Saheba, second to Sahebzadi Allah Rakhi Begum and third to Sahebzadi Hussaini Begum Saheba, and produced four sons and six daughters. He died at Hyderabad on 26 February 1869, and was buried at the Mecca Masjid mosque.