Lucknow’s foundations were laid in the 13th century a.d., a fairly recent date as compared to other cities in India. Lakshman Tila, the central part of the city, is believed to have been the site where a fort was built by a clan from Bijnor. By the end of the 13th century a.d., the fort had fallen into the hands of the Sharqi rulers of Jaunpur, who held it till a.d. 1476. In the 1540s, the fort was annexed by the Sultan of Delhi, Sher Shah Sur (reigned a.d. 1540-45).

During the Mughal Emperor Akbar’s reign (a.d. 1556-1605), Oudh, as Lucknow was then called, flourished under imperial patronage. In 1724, the Mughal Emperor Muhammad Shah, appointed Nawab Sadat Khan Burhan-ul-Mulk as the Governor of Oudh. Thus began the reign of the Nawabs over Oudh, which continued till the close of the 18th century a.d.