297Safdar Jang and the Bundela and Bhadauria Chiefs Immediately after his succession to the governorship of Awadh, Safdar Jang received a congratulatory letter from Jagat Raj which also conveyed the Bundela chief’s condolence on the death of Burhan-ul-Mulk. Safdar Jang’s reply assured him of a continuation and further consolidation of the old friendship between the two houses. He also expressed the hope of meeting him to discuss some matters personally.105

Himmat Singh, the zamindar of Bhadawar and Safdar Jang exchanged letters regularly informing each other of the progress of their respective plans.106 In 1740, Himmat Singh was at the court. In one of his letters, Safdar Jang acknowledged the information Himmat Singh had despatched to him about the activities of Nizam-ul-Mulk at the court.107

Relations between Safdar Jang and the Bundelas may also be viewed against the background of the latter having entered into an offensive (p.280) agreement with the Marathas. In 1733 the Bundelas had agreed to join the peshwa’s standard when he invaded Mughal territory;108 yet Safdar Jang, a noble of the Mughal empire, assured them of his friendship. Evidently the nobles’ own interests had precedence over any other considerations, including the security of the empire. This is further illustrated from Burhan-ul-Mulk’s attitude toward the problems of the defence of the empire against the Persian invader in 1739, as well as from the details of the relationship between the court and the new subadars during the last phase of the period of our study.