Reign of Emperor Akbar in Firozabad
The city was known in the olden days as Chandwar Nager. It was renamed as Firozabad in 1566 by Faraz Shah Mansab Dar during the reign of Mughal Emperor Akbar. On his way to a pilgrimage in Gaya, Todarmal was looted by robbers in Firozabad, which was merely a small town then. When Todarmal informed Akbar about the same, the emperor sent Faraz Shah to the town to improve the law and order situation. Shah succeeded in destroying the bandits and his tomb still stands in this city.
Firozabad – Upgrading to a Pargana
The gazeteer of Agra and Mathura mentions that Firozabad was upgraded to the status of a pargana in 1596. Mughal Emperor Jahangir, son of Akbar, ruled the town from 1605 to 1627. During the reign of succeeding Emperor Shah Jahan, it was given as a jagir to Nawab Sadulla Manihar.
Rule of Jats and Marathas in Firozabad
After 1739, the Jats of Mahawan ruled the city for three long decades after killing the then ruler Faujdar Hakim Kajim Ali Bahadur Jang Manihar. During the end of the 18th century, Himmat Bahadur Manihar managed to seize control of Firozabad with help of Marathas. An ordnance factory was established in the city by D. Wayan, the French army chief of the Marathas. This finds mention in the book Travels in India by Mr. Thomas Traving.
British Rule in Firozabad
The beginning of the 18th century saw a change of control of the city. The British took over Firozabad in 1802 under the able leadership of General Lek and General Vellajally. During the early days of the British regime, the city fell in the Etawah district. Sometime later, however, it was attached to the Aligarh district. In 1832, it was again attached to the new district of Sadabad. Finally in 1833, it was joined to Agra.
Role of Firozabad in Indian Freedom Struggle
The struggle for Indian Independence from British domination also left its impact on Firozabad. In 1857, the year of the famous Sepoy Mutiny, the Zamindar of Chandwar, the Chauhans of Mainpuri and the local Mallahs became active freedom fighters. The then British East India Company sent an eminent Urdu poet Munir Shikohabadi to exile in the harsh prisons of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (Kala Pani) as punishment for his role in the Indian freedom struggle. That did not deter Indians and the people of the city also took part in other historical freedom movements, such as the Khilafat movement, the Dandi March (Salt March) and the Quit India Movement to drive the British away from the country. Finally on February 2, 1989, the Government of Uttar Pradesh passed an executive order and the district of Firozabad was established.
