Bourbons Of Bhopal

Update: Balthazar Bourbon recognized as the eldest descendant of French royals
Earlier related post: The French Connection

After Jean-Philippe's death, Alexandre became favorite of Akbar's son the Emperor Jahangir. In 1740 when Nadir Shah sacked Delhi, the Bourborns moved to Gwalior. Salvador-de-Bourbon was made the killedar of Gwalior fort. The Marhattas under Mahadji Scindia captured the fort and imprisoned the Bourbon family. In 1780, Colonel Popham, captured Gwalior fort, and rescued the Bourborn family.

Salvador moved on to neighboring Bhopal, who was welcomed by Mamola Bai and given a grant of land. Salvador de Bourbon was known as Inayat Masih in Bhopal and soon became a leading figure of the Bhopal court. Inayat Masih was a close associate of Wazir Mohammad Khan, who was the defacto ruler of Bhopal during the period of 1812-16. A major seige was faced by Bhopal during this period, and saw Wazir Mohammad Khan, his son Nazar Mohammad Khan, Inayat Masih and his son Shahzad Masih - Balthazar-de-Bourbon - fight side by side. During this sieze, Bhopal saw the ladies of Bhopal led by Zeenat Begum and her 14 year old daughter Qudsia fight side by side of the males. Qudsia was later married to Nazar Mohammad Khan. Nazar was killed in a so called accident at a very early age, which saw Qudsia take over the reigns of Bhopal. Shahzad Masih was instrumental in pacifying the emerging force of the England with his fluent english and royal bearing. Shahzad Masih was a scholar, military strategist and brilliant organoser, his hobby was to dismantle and reassemble clocks. He learnt Urdu and Farsi to the extent that he wrote poetry under the nam de plume of Fitrat.

Vitold de golish, a French traveler and author of books on the Indian princely states, records that Shahzad Masih and young regent, Qudsia, became lovers soon after the young widow assumed power as Regent. After a while the scandal of the romance between Qudsia and Shazad Masih started to reverberate around Bhopal's court circle. During this period, the Bourbons were so powerful that half of Bhopal was under there control. The throne of Bhopal was disputed - and could have been gladly granted to the Bourbons if they had chosen to ask the East India Company for it. However Shahzad Masih chose to remain loyal, and married a a young english girl from Delhi named Isabella Stone, on the advise of Begum Qudsia. Isabella struck up a warm friendship with Begum Qudsia, and bore Shahzad two children - Salvador and Maria. She was given the title of "Sarkar Dulhan" and continued to live on in Bhopal - even after Shahzad was poisoned by the Afghan nobles in the court. A Catholic church, cemetry and and a school are attributed to Sarkar Dulhan in Bhopal's Jahangirabad area, as is also a palace in the Lakherapura area known as Sarkar Dulhan Ki Haweli (now ruined).

The bourbons continue to live in Bhopal , though a downturn in their fortune came during Shahjehan Begum's rule when her consort, Siddiq Hassan - a bigoted Wahabi - persecuted the Christian Bourbons. There has been no substantiation of the affair between Shahzad and Qudsia Begum. The western visitor Vitold de Garish could not fathom the very eastern friendship of these two humans and conveniently categorized it as love.

Update: Balthazar Bourbon recognized as the eldest descendant of French royals

Earlier related post: The French Connection