In 1748 Muhammad Shah was succeeded by his son Ahmad Shah, who shortly afterwards was appointed Safdar Jang. The Durrani invasions of Nadir Shah in 1739 and Ahmad Shah Durrani in 1748 had severely shaken the stability of the central government, and given to the provincial governors a dangerous degree of power.
Ahmad Shah succeeded Muhammad Shah in 1748, and shortly afterwards became Safdar Jang. The Durrani invasions by Nadir Shah in 1739 and Ahmad Shah Durrani in 1748 had severely weakened the central government's stability, resulting in provincial governors holding significant power.