Hamida Banu Begum
Encyclopedia
Hamida Banu Begam, 'Maryam Makani' (1527–1604) was a wife of the second Mughal Emperor, Humayun
, and the mother of Mughal Emperor , Akbar. Her important architectural legacy is the Humayun's Tomb, Delhi, which she commissioned in 1562 CE, and saw through its construction over the next eight years.
Shia, and a friend and preceptor
to Mirza Hindal, the youngest son of first Mughal Emperor and Humayun's father, Babur
. Ali Akbar Jami was also known as Mir Baba Dost, who belonged to the lineage of Ahmad Jami Zinda-fil
. Hamida Banu's mother was Mah Afraz Begum, who married Ali Akbar Jami in Paat
, Sindh
.
She met Humayun
, as a thirteen year old girl and frequenting Mirza Hindal's household, at a banquet given by Dildar Begum, Babar's wife and Humayun's stepmother in Alwar. Mughal Emperor, Humayun was in exile after his exodus from Delhi
, due to the armies of Sher Shah Suri
, who had ambitions of restoring Afghan rule in Delhi
.
Though initially she refused to meet him, eventually after forty days of perusing and eventually at the insistence of Dildar Begum, she agreed to marry the Emperor. She refers to her initial relucatance in her book the Humayunama,
The marriage took place on a day chosen by the Emperor, an avid astrologer, himself employing his astrolabe
, at mid-day on a Monday in September, 1541 (Jumada al-awwal
948 AH
) at Patr. Thus she became his junior wife, after Bega Begum (later known as Haji Begum, after Hajji
), who was the elder wife.
Two years later, after a perilous journey through the desert, on 22 August 1542, she and Emperor Humayun
reached at the Umerkot ruled by Rana Prasad, a Hindu Sodha Rajput, at a small desert town, and the Rana gave them asylam. Two months later she gave birth future Emperor, Akbar on the early morning of 15 October 1542 (fourth day of Rajab
, 949 AH), he was given the name Humayun had heard in his dream at Lahore - the Emperor Jalalu-d-din Muhammad Akbar
In coming years, she took on numerous tough journeys to follow her husband, who was still in flight. First the beginning of the following December she and her new born went into camp at Jūn, after travelling for ten or twelve days. Then in 1543, she made the perilous journey from Sindh, which had Qandahar for its goal, but in course of which Humayun had to take hasty flight from Shal-mastan, ‘through a desert and waterless waste.’ Leaving her little son behind, she accompanied her husband to Persia, here they visited the shrines of her ancestor, Ahmad-e Jami and Shiites shrine, of Ardabil
in Iran
, the place of origin of Safavid dynasty
which helped them immensely in the following years . In 1544, at a camp at Sabzawar
, 93 miles south of Herat
, she gave birth to a daughter, thereafter she returned from Persia with the army given to Humayun by Shah of Iran
, Tahmasp I
, and at Qandahar met Dildar Begum, and her son, Mirza Hindal. Thus, it was not until 15 November 1545 (Ramdan 10th, 952 AH) that she saw her son Akbar again, the scene of young Akbar recognizing his mother amongst a group of women has been keenly illustrated in Akbar's biography, Akbarnama
. In 1548, she and Akbar accompanied Humayun to Kabul.
Meanwhile, Sher Shah Suri died in May 1545, and after that his son and successor, Islam Shah died too in 1554, disintegrating the Suri dynasty rule. In November 1554, when Humayun set out for India, she stayed back in Kabul
. Though he took control of Delhi in 1555, he died within a year of his return, from a fall down the steps of his library at Purana Qila, Delhi
, in 1556 at the age of 47, leaving behind a thirteen year old heir, Akbar, who was to become one of greatest emperors of the empire. Hamida Banu joined Akbar from Kabul, only during his second year of reign, 1557 CE, and stayed with him thereafter, she even intervened into politics on various occasions, most notable during the ouster of Mughal minister, Bairam Khan
, when Akbar came of age in 1560.
Hamida now an Empress mother, commissioned the construction of Humayun's Tomb
, Delhi
, in around 1562 CE, six years after his death, and designed by Mirak Mirza Ghiyath, a Persian architect. Over the next eight years she personally supervised the construction of the tomb, where she too was buried after her death on 29 August 1604 (19th Shahriyar, 1013 AH
) in Agra
, just a year before the death of her son Akbar and almost half a century after death of her husband, Humayun. Throughout her years, she was held in high regard by her son Akbar, as English traveller Thomas Coryat
recorded, Akbar carrying her palanquin himself across the river, during one of her journeys from Lahore to Agra. Later when Prince Salim, future king Jahangir
, revolted against his father Akbar, she took upon the case of her grandson, and a reconciliation ensued thereafter, even though has plotted and got Akbar's favorite minister Abu'l-Fazl
killed. Akbar shaved his head and chin only on two occasions, one at the death of foster-mother Jiji Anga and another at the death of his mother.
She was given the title, Maryam
-makānī, dwelling with Mary
, posthumously, as she was considered, 'epitome of innocence' by Akbar. Details of her life are also found in Humayun Nama, written by Gulbadan Begum
, sister of Humayun
, as well as in Akbarnama
and Ain-i-Akbari
, both written during the reign of his son, Akbar.
, the character of Hamida Banu was portrayed by Punam S Sinha. Previously in Hindi epic film Humayun (1945) directed by Mehboob Khan, her role was portrayed by actor, Nargis
Humayun
Nasir ud-din Muhammad Humayun was the second Mughal Emperor who ruled present day Afghanistan, Pakistan, and parts of northern India from 1530–1540 and again from 1555–1556. Like his father, Babur, he lost his kingdom early, but with Persian aid, he eventually regained an even larger one...
, and the mother of Mughal Emperor , Akbar. Her important architectural legacy is the Humayun's Tomb, Delhi, which she commissioned in 1562 CE, and saw through its construction over the next eight years.
Biography
Hamida Banu Begum was born in 1527, to Shaikh Ali Akbar Jami, a PersianPersian people
The Persian people are part of the Iranian peoples who speak the modern Persian language and closely akin Iranian dialects and languages. The origin of the ethnic Iranian/Persian peoples are traced to the Ancient Iranian peoples, who were part of the ancient Indo-Iranians and themselves part of...
Shia, and a friend and preceptor
Preceptor
A preceptor is a teacher responsible to uphold a certain law or tradition, a precept.-Christian military orders:A preceptor was historically in charge of a preceptory, the headquarters of certain orders of monastic Knights, such as the Knights Hospitaller and Knights Templar, within a given...
to Mirza Hindal, the youngest son of first Mughal Emperor and Humayun's father, Babur
Babur
Babur was a Muslim conqueror from Central Asia who, following a series of setbacks, finally succeeded in laying the basis for the Mughal dynasty of South Asia. He was a direct descendant of Timur through his father, and a descendant also of Genghis Khan through his mother...
. Ali Akbar Jami was also known as Mir Baba Dost, who belonged to the lineage of Ahmad Jami Zinda-fil
Sheikh Ahmad-e Jami
Ahmad Ibn Abolhasan Jāmi-e Nāmaghi-e Torshizi better known as Sheikh Ahhmad-e Jami or Sheikh Ahmad-i Jami or Sheikh Ahmad-e jam or Sheikh-e Jam or simply Ahmad-e Jam was a Persian Sufi, Sufi writer, Mystic and poet . His Mazar is located in Torbat-e Jam...
. Hamida Banu's mother was Mah Afraz Begum, who married Ali Akbar Jami in Paat
Paat
Paat, also known as Pat or Goth Pat, is a small town in the Dadu District of Sindh, Pakistan. It is located at 20°28'0N 48°68'0E with an altitude of...
, Sindh
Sindh
Sindh historically referred to as Ba'ab-ul-Islam , is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and historically is home to the Sindhi people. It is also locally known as the "Mehran". Though Muslims form the largest religious group in Sindh, a good number of Christians, Zoroastrians and Hindus can...
.
She met Humayun
Humayun
Nasir ud-din Muhammad Humayun was the second Mughal Emperor who ruled present day Afghanistan, Pakistan, and parts of northern India from 1530–1540 and again from 1555–1556. Like his father, Babur, he lost his kingdom early, but with Persian aid, he eventually regained an even larger one...
, as a thirteen year old girl and frequenting Mirza Hindal's household, at a banquet given by Dildar Begum, Babar's wife and Humayun's stepmother in Alwar. Mughal Emperor, Humayun was in exile after his exodus from Delhi
Delhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
, due to the armies of Sher Shah Suri
Sher Shah Suri
Sher Shah Suri , birth name Farid Khan, also known as Sher Khan , was the founder of the short-lived Sur Empire in northern India, with its capital at Delhi, before its demise in the hands of the resurgent Mughal Empire...
, who had ambitions of restoring Afghan rule in Delhi
Delhi Sultanate
The Delhi Sultanate is a term used to cover five short-lived, Delhi based kingdoms or sultanates, of Turkic origin in medieval India. The sultanates ruled from Delhi between 1206 and 1526, when the last was replaced by the Mughal dynasty...
.
Though initially she refused to meet him, eventually after forty days of perusing and eventually at the insistence of Dildar Begum, she agreed to marry the Emperor. She refers to her initial relucatance in her book the Humayunama,
The marriage took place on a day chosen by the Emperor, an avid astrologer, himself employing his astrolabe
Astrolabe
An astrolabe is an elaborate inclinometer, historically used by astronomers, navigators, and astrologers. Its many uses include locating and predicting the positions of the Sun, Moon, planets, and stars, determining local time given local latitude and longitude, surveying, triangulation, and to...
, at mid-day on a Monday in September, 1541 (Jumada al-awwal
Jumada al-awwal
Jumada al-awwal is the fifth month in the Islamic calendar.We can also find the alternative spelling Jumada al-Ula.The origin of the word is as follows: the word Jumda, from which the name of the month is derived, is used to denote dry parched land: land devoid of rain, and hence denote the dry...
948 AH
Hijri year
The Hijri year is year numbering system used in the Islamic calendar. It commemorates the Hijra , or emigration of Muhammad and his followers to the city of Medina in 622 CE. In Arabic, AH is symbolized by the letter هـ...
) at Patr. Thus she became his junior wife, after Bega Begum (later known as Haji Begum, after Hajji
Hajji
Hajji or El-Hajj, is an honorific title given to a Muslim person who has successfully completed the Hajj to Mecca, and is often used to refer to an elder, since it can take time to accumulate the wealth to fund the travel. The title is placed before a person's name...
), who was the elder wife.
Two years later, after a perilous journey through the desert, on 22 August 1542, she and Emperor Humayun
Humayun
Nasir ud-din Muhammad Humayun was the second Mughal Emperor who ruled present day Afghanistan, Pakistan, and parts of northern India from 1530–1540 and again from 1555–1556. Like his father, Babur, he lost his kingdom early, but with Persian aid, he eventually regained an even larger one...
reached at the Umerkot ruled by Rana Prasad, a Hindu Sodha Rajput, at a small desert town, and the Rana gave them asylam. Two months later she gave birth future Emperor, Akbar on the early morning of 15 October 1542 (fourth day of Rajab
Rajab
Rajab is the seventh month of the Islamic calendar. The lexical definition of Rajaba is "to respect", of which Rajab is a derivative.This month is regarded as one of the four sacred months in Islam in which battles are prohibited...
, 949 AH), he was given the name Humayun had heard in his dream at Lahore - the Emperor Jalalu-d-din Muhammad Akbar
Ardabil
Ardabil is a historical city in north-western Iran. The name Ardabil probably comes from the Zoroastrian name of "Artavil" which means a holy place. Ardabil is the center of Ardabil Province. At the 2006 census, its population was 412,669, in 102,818 families...
in Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
, the place of origin of Safavid dynasty
Safavid dynasty
The Safavid dynasty was one of the most significant ruling dynasties of Iran. They ruled one of the greatest Persian empires since the Muslim conquest of Persia and established the Twelver school of Shi'a Islam as the official religion of their empire, marking one of the most important turning...
which helped them immensely in the following years . In 1544, at a camp at Sabzawar
Sabzawar
Sabzawar is a town in Afghanistan, situated at an elevation of 3550 ft on the left bank of the river Harud, 93 miles south of Herat. Sabzawar was once a city of considerable size, and still possesses a fortress with sides of about 200 or 250 yards...
, 93 miles south of Herat
Herat
Herāt is the capital of Herat province in Afghanistan. It is the third largest city of Afghanistan, with a population of about 397,456 as of 2006. It is situated in the valley of the Hari River, which flows from the mountains of central Afghanistan to the Karakum Desert in Turkmenistan...
, she gave birth to a daughter, thereafter she returned from Persia with the army given to Humayun by Shah of Iran
Safavid dynasty
The Safavid dynasty was one of the most significant ruling dynasties of Iran. They ruled one of the greatest Persian empires since the Muslim conquest of Persia and established the Twelver school of Shi'a Islam as the official religion of their empire, marking one of the most important turning...
, Tahmasp I
Tahmasp I
Tahmasp or Tahmasb I was an influential Shah of Iran, who enjoyed the longest reign of any member of the Safavid dynasty...
, and at Qandahar met Dildar Begum, and her son, Mirza Hindal. Thus, it was not until 15 November 1545 (Ramdan 10th, 952 AH) that she saw her son Akbar again, the scene of young Akbar recognizing his mother amongst a group of women has been keenly illustrated in Akbar's biography, Akbarnama
Akbarnama
The ' , which literally means Book of Akbar, is the official chronicle of the reign of Akbar, the third Mughal Emperor , commissioned by Akbar himself and written in Persian by his court historian and biographer, Abul Fazl who was one of the nine jewels in Akbar's court...
. In 1548, she and Akbar accompanied Humayun to Kabul.
Meanwhile, Sher Shah Suri died in May 1545, and after that his son and successor, Islam Shah died too in 1554, disintegrating the Suri dynasty rule. In November 1554, when Humayun set out for India, she stayed back in Kabul
Kabul
Kabul , spelt Caubul in some classic literatures, is the capital and largest city of Afghanistan. It is also the capital of the Kabul Province, located in the eastern section of Afghanistan...
. Though he took control of Delhi in 1555, he died within a year of his return, from a fall down the steps of his library at Purana Qila, Delhi
Delhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
, in 1556 at the age of 47, leaving behind a thirteen year old heir, Akbar, who was to become one of greatest emperors of the empire. Hamida Banu joined Akbar from Kabul, only during his second year of reign, 1557 CE, and stayed with him thereafter, she even intervened into politics on various occasions, most notable during the ouster of Mughal minister, Bairam Khan
Bairam Khan
Bairam Khan also Bayram Khan was a important military commander, general of the Mughal army, a powerful statesman and regent at the court of the Mughal emperors Humayun and Akbar.-Background:...
, when Akbar came of age in 1560.
Hamida now an Empress mother, commissioned the construction of Humayun's Tomb
Humayun's Tomb
Humayun's tomb is the tomb of the Mughal Emperor Humayun. The tomb was commissioned by Humayun's wife Hamida Banu Begum in 1562 AD, and designed by Mirak Mirza Ghiyath, a Persian architect...
, Delhi
Delhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
, in around 1562 CE, six years after his death, and designed by Mirak Mirza Ghiyath, a Persian architect. Over the next eight years she personally supervised the construction of the tomb, where she too was buried after her death on 29 August 1604 (19th Shahriyar, 1013 AH
Hijri year
The Hijri year is year numbering system used in the Islamic calendar. It commemorates the Hijra , or emigration of Muhammad and his followers to the city of Medina in 622 CE. In Arabic, AH is symbolized by the letter هـ...
) in Agra
Agra
Agra a.k.a. Akbarabad is a city on the banks of the river Yamuna in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, India, west of state capital, Lucknow and south from national capital New Delhi. With a population of 1,686,976 , it is one of the most populous cities in Uttar Pradesh and the 19th most...
, just a year before the death of her son Akbar and almost half a century after death of her husband, Humayun. Throughout her years, she was held in high regard by her son Akbar, as English traveller Thomas Coryat
Thomas Coryat
Thomas Coryat was an English traveller and writer of the late Elizabethan and early Jacobean age. He is principally remembered for two volumes of writings he left regarding his travels, often on foot, through Europe and parts of Asia...
recorded, Akbar carrying her palanquin himself across the river, during one of her journeys from Lahore to Agra. Later when Prince Salim, future king Jahangir
Jahangir
Jahangir was the ruler of the Mughal Empire from 1605 until his death. The name Jahangir is from Persian جهانگیر,meaning "Conqueror of the World"...
, revolted against his father Akbar, she took upon the case of her grandson, and a reconciliation ensued thereafter, even though has plotted and got Akbar's favorite minister Abu'l-Fazl
Abu'l-Fazl ibn Mubarak
Shaikh Abu al-Fazl ibn Mubarak also known as Abu'l-Fazl, Abu'l Fadl and Abu'l-Fadl 'Allami was the vizier of the great Mughal emperor Akbar, and author of the Akbarnama, the official history of Akbar's reign in three volumes, and a Persian translation of the Bible...
killed. Akbar shaved his head and chin only on two occasions, one at the death of foster-mother Jiji Anga and another at the death of his mother.
She was given the title, Maryam
Maryam (name)
Maryam or Mariam is the Aramaic and Arabic name of Miriam the sister of Moses and of Mary the mother of Jesus |‘Īsā]]), mentioned in the Greek translation of the Tanakh or Old Testament known as the Septuagint, in the original Greek text of the New Testament, and in the original Arabic text of the...
-makānī, dwelling with Mary
Mary (mother of Jesus)
Mary , commonly referred to as "Saint Mary", "Mother Mary", the "Virgin Mary", the "Blessed Virgin Mary", or "Mary, Mother of God", was a Jewish woman of Nazareth in Galilee...
, posthumously, as she was considered, 'epitome of innocence' by Akbar. Details of her life are also found in Humayun Nama, written by Gulbadan Begum
Gulbadan Begum
The Imperial Princess Gulbadan Begum was a Perso-Turkic Princess, the daughter of Emperor Zāhir ud-Dīn Mohammad Babur of India, she is most known as the author of Humayun Nama, the account of the life of her brother, Humayun...
, sister of Humayun
Humayun
Nasir ud-din Muhammad Humayun was the second Mughal Emperor who ruled present day Afghanistan, Pakistan, and parts of northern India from 1530–1540 and again from 1555–1556. Like his father, Babur, he lost his kingdom early, but with Persian aid, he eventually regained an even larger one...
, as well as in Akbarnama
Akbarnama
The ' , which literally means Book of Akbar, is the official chronicle of the reign of Akbar, the third Mughal Emperor , commissioned by Akbar himself and written in Persian by his court historian and biographer, Abul Fazl who was one of the nine jewels in Akbar's court...
and Ain-i-Akbari
Ain-i-Akbari
The Ain-i-Akbari or the "Institutes of Akbar", is a 16th century, detailed document recording the administration of emperor Akbar's empire, written by his vizier, Abu'l-Fazl ibn Mubarak...
, both written during the reign of his son, Akbar.
In popular culture
In Jodhaa Akbar, a 2008 Indian epic film, directed by Ashutosh GowarikerAshutosh Gowariker
Ashutosh Gowariker is an Indian film director, actor, writer and producer. He is known for directing the films Lagaan , Swades , Jodhaa Akbar , What's Your Raashee and Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey...
, the character of Hamida Banu was portrayed by Punam S Sinha. Previously in Hindi epic film Humayun (1945) directed by Mehboob Khan, her role was portrayed by actor, Nargis
Nargis
Nargis Dutt , born Fatima Rashid but known by her screen name, Nargis, was an Indian film actress. She is widely regarded as one of the greatest actresses in the history of Hindi cinema. She made her screen debut as a child in Talash-E-Haq in 1935, but her acting carer began in 1942 with Tamanna...
Further reading
- Humayun-Nama : The History of Humayun by Gulbadan BegumGulbadan BegumThe Imperial Princess Gulbadan Begum was a Perso-Turkic Princess, the daughter of Emperor Zāhir ud-Dīn Mohammad Babur of India, she is most known as the author of Humayun Nama, the account of the life of her brother, Humayun...
, Tr. by Annette S. Beveridge (1902). New Delhi, Goodword, 2001. ISBN 81-87570-99-7. E-book at Packard Institute Excerpts at Columbia Univ.