Azamgarh

Azamgarh stands on the Tamsa River in the eastern plains of Hindustan. Much of the surrounding country once belonged to the ancient kingdom of Kosala, and local tradition places the hermitage of the sage Durvasa near the meeting of the Tamsa and Majhuee rivers. The town itself takes its name from Azam, a descendant of the Gautam Rajputs of Mehnagar.

Azam founded the town and its fort in 1665. His father Vikramajit belonged to a family in which some members had embraced Islam, while his brother Azmat built a fort and established a market at Azmatgarh. The family's estates later passed through a succession of relatives; after Azmat's death, his son Ekram shared in their management, and another son, Mohhabat, continued to exercise power after Ekram died without an heir.