The line of succession to the former throne of Hyderabad was by male primogeniture, regardless of legitimacy. As per Mughal Turkic custom, however, the ruling Nizam could exercise the option of designating any eligible male member of the dynasty as his successor.
Possibly the wealthiest ruling dynasty in the world during the early 20th century, the Nizams of Hyderabad ruled over a vast and largely autonomous principality in central India from the early 18th century until 1948. Descended from a senior Mughal governor, the family is related by marriage to the imperial Ottoman dynasty. Each successive Nizam ("viceroy") adopted the title of "Asaf Jah" ("Dignified Equal of the Minister of Solomon"), and was fully styled as "Nizam of Hyderabad and Berar."
In September 1948, a year after Indian independence, the principality was forcibly merged into India, with the last ruling Nizam, Asaf Jah VII, losing his sovereignty two years later upon the promulgation of the Indian constitution. He continued to maintain an official status as the Rajpramukh ("ruling head") of Hyderabad State until the position was abolished in 1956. At his death in 1967, he was succeeded by his grandson as the last officially recognised Nizam of Hyderabad. In 1971, the Indian government officially derecognised the dynasty, revoking its official status.
Currently, the primary line of descent is from the last ruling Nizam, Mir Osman Ali Khan Bahadur, though there are numerous descendants in the male line from earlier Nizams.