Reign
Immediately after his coup Alivardi Khan had takeover legitimized by the Mughal Emperor Ahmad Shah Bahadur and resumed the policies of Murshid Quli Khan. Although he was the Nawab of Bengal he also used titles such as Nizam, he also chose Faujdars from various regions such as Patna, Dacca and Orissa.
Since 1742 Marathas raided Bengal repeatedly ravage the territories of Alivardi Khan, the Nawab of Bengal, and almost immediately a long Maratha ditch was dug around Calcutta. Alivardi Khan was a brilliant artillery tactician but still his armies were overrun by large force of Marathas from Berar who had arrived to pillage and plunder the territories of the Nawab of Bengal, under the commands of Raghoji I Bhonsle.
In the year 1747, the Marathas led by Raghoji I Bhonsle, began to raid, pillage and annex the territories of the Alivardi Khan. During the Maratha invasion of Orissa, its Subedar Mir Jafar completely withdrew all forces until the arrival of Alivardi Khan and the Mughal Army at the Battle of Burdwan where Raghoji I Bhonsle and his Maratha forces were completely routed. The enraged Alivardi Khan then dismissed the shamed Mir Jafar.
Alivardi Khan's defending armies were overrun in Orissa in the year 1751, despite receiving some assistance from Shuja-ud-Daula. But Orissa was ultimately surrendered to the ravaging Marathas by the Mughal Emperor Ahmad Shah Bahadur. These Maratha raids would continue until 1751, when a peace-treaty was settled between Ahmad Shah Bahadur, Alivardi Khan and Raghoji I Bhonsle.
Alivardi Khan also subdued the revolt of a few unruly Afghans who were trying to separate Bihar from his administration.
According to some historians Alivardi Khan reign of 16 years, was mostly engaged in various wars against the Marathas. Towards the end, he turned his attention to rebuilding and restoring Bengal.
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