Born in a
Rathore Rajput family, Najaf Quli converted to Islam and quickly rose to high position under the patronage of Mirza Najaf Khan as one of his lieutenants. During 1775/76 Mirza was involved in a prolonged war against the
Jats of Bharatpur in modern-day
Haryana, who were in an open rebellion against the Mughal government. In 1775 the Jat army supported by a 5,000-strong contingent of
Begum Samru was defeated by Najaf Quli Khan in the battle of Barsana, and the territories of
Gurgaon,
Rewari,
Jhajjar,
Narnaul and
Ballabhgarh were annexed by Mirza. By March 1776 the Jat capital of
Dig had been captured as well. Soon Mirza Najaf Khan, now the
Mir Bakhshi, had to focus his attention towards the
Rohilla Afghans who under
Zabita Khan Yousafzai for long had been a thorn for the Mughals. Zabita Khan's father
Najib-ud-Daula Yousafzai had been the de facto ruler of Delhi as the regent of the emperor until his death in 1770. Mirza accompanied with 5000 soldiers and artillery arrived at
Panipat where he fought against Zabita Khan and his
Sikh allies on 14 September 1777. The battle went on until night. The next day Sikh allies of Zabita Khan fled to
Sirhind and Zabita Khan was forced to sign peace treaty with Mirza. As a part of peace treaty Mirza Najaf Khan married the sister of Zabita Khan while Zabita Khan's daughter (the sister of
Ghulam Kadir) was married to Najaf Quli Khan. In return his estates were restored to him. In 1778 Najaf Quli married the daughter of the Kashmiri vizier of Mughal Empire, Majad-ud-Daula. In November 1779 Najaf Quli marched against the Raja of
Kanud fort, Balwant Singh who had captured some of villages belonging to his estates and after treacherously massacring him along with 30 of his nobles, captured the fort on 17 March 1780. Najaf Quli made Kanud as his new stronghold and carved out a principality for him consisting of
Mewat and
Shekhawati regions. Najaf Quli later declared himself to be independent ruler of Gurgaon, Rewari, Jhajjar, Narnaul and
Rohtak, with Gokalgarh as capital. After the death of Mirza Najaf Khan in April 1782 the Delhi became a scene of civil war among his four generals and ultimately all except Najaf Quli got killed. Shah Alam ultimately invited
Mahadaji Shinde as the regent. In 1785 Najaf Quli was sent by Mahadaji to Jaipur to realise the tribute. In January 1788 Najaf Quli met Shah Alam and put forward his claims over the territories of
Gokulgarh and Rewari as well as over the position of Mir Bakhshi. Shah Alam was forced to please him and confirmed him on his holdings. In October 1788
Mirza Ismail Beg was sent by Mahadaji Shinde to take away control of his principality. Ismail Beg conquered Gurgaon and Rewari but could not capture Kanud itself, and ultimately abandoned its siege on 27 November 1789. In May 1790 Najaf Quli was restored his estates by Mahadaji in return for his help to defeat Ismail Beg, who had now become the enemy of the Marathas. Ismail Beg was ultimately forced to flee. Najaf Quli died on 23 August 1791 at Kanud. After his death his widow (the daughter of Zabita Khan) gained control of his principality until she died in March 1792 from a cannon ball shot, and the principality was annexed by Mahadaji. == References ==