former princely state of south-central India, founded by Nizam-ul-Mulk (Mir Qamar-ud-Din), who was intermittently viceroy of the Deccan under the Mughal emperors from 1713 to 1721 and who resumed the post again under the title Asaf Jah in 1724, at which time he became virtually independent. He founded the dynasty of the Nizams of Hyderabad. The British and the French participated in the wars of succession that followed his death in 1748.

After temporarily siding with Hyder Ali, the ruler of Mysore, in 1767, Nizam 'Ali accepted British ascendancy in Hyderabad by the Treaty of Masulipatam (1768). From 1778 a British resident and subsidiary force were installed in his dominions. In 1795 Nizam 'Ali Khan lost some of his territories, including parts of Berar, to the Marathas. When he turned to the French, the British increased their subsidiary force stationed in his domain. The Nizam's territorial gains as an ally of the British against Tippu Sultan in 1792 and 1799 were ceded to the British to meet the cost of that force.

Surrounded, except in the west, by territory owned by or dependent upon the British, Nizam 'Ali Khan in 1798 was forced to enter into an agreement placing his country under British protection, becoming the first Indian prince to do so. His independence in internal matters, however, was confirmed. Nizam 'Ali Khan was a British ally in the second and third Maratha Wars (1803-05, 1817-19), and Nizam Nasir-ud-Dawlah and Hyderabad's military contingent remained loyal to the British during the Indian Mutiny (1857-58).

In 1918 Nizam Mir Usman 'Ali was given the title "His Exalted Highness," though the British government of India retained the right to intervene in his domain in case of misrule. Hyderabad remained a peaceful but somewhat backward princely state as the movement for independence gathered strength in India. Hyderabad's Muslim Nizams ruled over a population that was predominantly Hindu.

When the Indian subcontinent was partitioned in 1947, the Nizam elected to resume independent status rather than join India. On Nov. 29, 1947, he signed a standstill agreement with India to last one year, and Indian troops were withdrawn. Difficulties persisted, however; the Nizam continued his efforts to assert his autonomy; India insisted that Hyderabad join India; and the Nizam appealed to King George VI of Great Britain. On Sept. 13, 1948, Hyderabad was invaded by India, and within four days Hyderabad's accession to India was achieved. After a period of military and provisional civil government, a popular ministry and legislature were set up in the state in March 1952.

On Nov. 1, 1956, the state of Hyderabad ceased to exist administratively. It was divided (along linguistic lines) among the states of Andhra Pradesh, which took the Telangana districts; Mysore, which took the Kannada-speaking districts; and Bombay. Berar had already been merged with Madhya Pradesh.

The Nizams of Hyderabad comprised a Muslim dynasty that had ruled over a predominantly Hindu population, and it is a tribute to the dynasty's government that its Hindu subjects over the years had made no effort to evict the Muslim aristocracy by allying themselves with the Marathas, with Mysore, or with the European powers.