Bhopal

Princely States

Dost Muhammad was an Afghan who came to India during the reign of Aurangzeb and settled in Jalalabad in Uttar Pradesh. He killed a person there and fearing arrest, he fled to Delhi where he joined a contingent going South to fight the Marathas. It is not known if he ever fought in Deccan but we know that he joined the service of the Raja of Sitamau as a mercenary and from then on, he offered mercenary services to the kingdoms in the area. While on field, he left his belongings with Muhammad Faruk, the Governor of Bhilsa who on hearing a rumour of Dost Muhammad’s death appropriated his belongings. However, Dost Muhammad returned back but was able to get hold only of a part of what he left with Muhammad Faruk.

While under the service of Anand Singh Solanki, Anand Singh was summoned to Delhi on an errand. He left his estate under the charge of Dost Muhammad but died in Delhi and his mother soon after. Dost Muhammad seized all the valuables and fled to Berasia which was on lease by Taj Muhammad Khan. He took a lease of Berasia from him and using it as a base, expanded his territory. Jagadishpur was seized from Deora Rajputs by treachery and he made it his capital city under the name of Islam Nagar.