Nine years old, and already a king
Muhammad Shah III's accession is dated to his childhood: "Mahomed Shah ascended the throne of the Deccan in his ninth year; and the affairs of government were conducted as in the reign of his late brother, by Khwaja Jehan and Khwaja Mahmood Gawan, under the direction of the Queen-mother" (vol. II, p. 477). A footnote on the same page identifies him as one of three sons Hoomayoon the Cruel left behind. The chapter's argument closes the long reign it summarises with an illness that would not release him: "The King falls sick of a fever—becomes convalescent—indulges in wine, which brings on a relapse, and he dies" (vol. II, p. 477).