Mahabat Khan
Encyclopedia
Mahabat Khan (full title Mahabat Khan Khan-e-Khanan Sipah-Salar Zamana Beg Kabuli, born Zamana Beg) (died 1634), was a prominent Mughal
general and statesman, perhaps best known for his coup against the Mughal Emperor Jahangir in 1626.
, Afghanistan
to a distinguished and wealthy Rizvi
Sayyid
family and his descendants are as follows Mahmood Ahmed Khan, Hassan Ahmed Khan, Gaffar Ahmed Khan, Basheer Ahmed Khan, and Aziz Ahmed Khan all sons of late Mohammed Ahmed Khan. His father, Ghayur Beg Kabuli, was a native of Shiraz
, Iran
, who migrated to Kabul
and settled among the local tribes. Ghayur Beg began his career in the army of Mirza Muhammad Hakim, the Mughal
ruler of Afghanistan
, and upon the death of Mirza Hakim in July, 1585, he migrated to India
with his family, and entered into the service of the Mughal Emperor Akbar.
rise to the throne in 1605, he was granted the honorific title 'Mahabat Khan,' and was promoted to the rank of commander of 1,500 men, and bakhshi (treasurer) of the emperor's private privy purse. Mahabat Khan rose to prominence in in 1623, when he was made commander of the Mughal forces sent to defeat the unsuccessful rebellion of Prince Khurram (who later went on to become Emperor Shah Jahan
) in the Deccan. For his loyal service, he was recognized as a 'pillar of the state', and was ultimately promoted to chief commander of the Mughal army, with a personal force of 7,000 men.
, a province far removed from the Mughal capital at Lahore
. Furthermore, in an effort to humiliate him in the imperial court, Nur Jahan had him charged with disloyal conduct and ordered him to return to Lahore
to face trial. As a result of Nur Jahan's machinations against him, Mahabat Khan decided to take action, and so in 1626, he led an army of loyal Rajput
soldiers to the Punjab
. He had also brought the wives and families of many of them, so that, if driven to extremity, they would fight to the last for the lives and honour of themselves and their familieshttp://mahabatkhan.sainthwar.tripod.com/index.html. Meanwhile, Jahangir
and his retinue were preparing to head to Kabul
, and were encamped on the banks of the River Jhelum. Mahabat Khan and his forces attacked the royal encampment, and successfully took the emperor hostage; Nur Jahan, however, managed to escape. Mahabat Khan declared himself emperor of India
at Kabul
, however his success was short-lived.
Nur Jahan, with the help of nobles who were still loyal to Jahangir
, came up with a plan to free her husband. She surrendered herself to Mahabat Khan, and once reunited with her husband, put her plan into action. She had Jahangir
convince Mahabat Khan that he was satisfied with the current arrangement, as it had freed him from her clutches. Mahabat Khan believed that he had won over the former emperor, failing to realize that Jahangir
was in fact siding with Nur Jahan. Consequently, he decreased the Rajput
guards that he had placed around Jahangir
, and prepared to return to Lahore
with the captive emperor. Meanwhile, Nur Jahan arranged for an army to meet them en route to Lahore
; in the ensuing battle, Nur Jahan's forces were victorious, and Jahangir
was freed from captivity. After battle, many Rajput soldiers were sold in the markets of kabul. Mahabat Khan with the help of Raja Nathu Mall of Majhaulihttp://mahabatkhan.sainthwar.tripod.com/index.html settled the remaining wounded rajputs and their family in the forests of Gorakhpur
, Uttarpradesh. These rajputs are today aligned with Sainthwar kshatriyas of those region. Thus Mahabat Khan's brief reign lasted approximately 100 days.
Mahabat's first name was Mahipat Singh. After converting his religion from Rajput to Muslim, he took the name Mahabat Khan, as a great general of Delhi Mughal Sultanate. He was married to princess Kalyani, daughter of Govind Singh.
. However, with the death of Jahangir
shortly thereafter in the October of 1627, Mahabat Khan was able to go unpunished. Upon Prince Khurram's rise to the throne as Emperor Shah Jahan
, Mahabat Khan was appointed governor of Ajmer
. He was later transferred to a post in the Deccan, where he died in 1634. His body was carried back to Delhi
, where he was buried on the ground of the shrine of Qadam Sharif. Upon his death, his eldest son, Mirza Amanullah, was awarded the title 'Khan Zaman', while his second son, Luhrasp, was granted his late father's title, 'Mahabat Khan.'
Mughal Empire
The Mughal Empire , or Mogul Empire in traditional English usage, was an imperial power from the Indian Subcontinent. The Mughal emperors were descendants of the Timurids...
general and statesman, perhaps best known for his coup against the Mughal Emperor Jahangir in 1626.
Family background
Mahabat Khan was born in KabulKabul
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...
, Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
to a distinguished and wealthy Rizvi
Rizvi
Rizvi or Rizavi is the Urdu pronunciation for the Persian surname Razavi or the Arabic surname Radawi/Ridhawi. It is a surname commonly associated with Shia Muslims who believe they are the descendants of the 8th Shiite Imam and a descendant and successor of Prophet Mohammad through his daughter...
Sayyid
Sayyid
Sayyid is an honorific title, it denotes males accepted as descendants of the Islamic prophet Muhammad through his grandsons, Hasan ibn Ali and Husain ibn Ali, sons of the prophet's daughter Fatima Zahra and his son-in-law Ali ibn Abi Talib.Daughters of sayyids are given the titles Sayyida,...
family and his descendants are as follows Mahmood Ahmed Khan, Hassan Ahmed Khan, Gaffar Ahmed Khan, Basheer Ahmed Khan, and Aziz Ahmed Khan all sons of late Mohammed Ahmed Khan. His father, Ghayur Beg Kabuli, was a native of Shiraz
Shiraz
Shiraz may refer to:* Shiraz, Iran, a city in Iran* Shiraz County, an administrative subdivision of Iran* Vosketap, Armenia, formerly called ShirazPeople:* Hovhannes Shiraz, Armenian poet* Ara Shiraz, Armenian sculptor...
, 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...
, who migrated to 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...
and settled among the local tribes. Ghayur Beg began his career in the army of Mirza Muhammad Hakim, the Mughal
Mughal Empire
The Mughal Empire , or Mogul Empire in traditional English usage, was an imperial power from the Indian Subcontinent. The Mughal emperors were descendants of the Timurids...
ruler of Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
, and upon the death of Mirza Hakim in July, 1585, he migrated to India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
with his family, and entered into the service of the Mughal Emperor Akbar.
Career in the Mughal Army
Upon his arrival in India, Zamana Beg enjoyed a rapid ascent though the ranks of the Mughal army. He began his military career in the personal forces of Crown Prince Salim (who later went on to become Emperor Jahangir). Having endeared himself to the crown prince, he was soon made an officer in charge of 500 men. Upon JahangirJahangir
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"...
rise to the throne in 1605, he was granted the honorific title 'Mahabat Khan,' and was promoted to the rank of commander of 1,500 men, and bakhshi (treasurer) of the emperor's private privy purse. Mahabat Khan rose to prominence in in 1623, when he was made commander of the Mughal forces sent to defeat the unsuccessful rebellion of Prince Khurram (who later went on to become Emperor Shah Jahan
Shah Jahan
Shah Jahan Shah Jahan (also spelled Shah Jehan, Shahjehan, , Persian: شاه جهان) (January 5, 1592 – January 22, 1666) Shah Jahan (also spelled Shah Jehan, Shahjehan, , Persian: شاه جهان) (January 5, 1592 – January 22, 1666) (Full title: His Imperial Majesty Al-Sultan al-'Azam wal Khaqan...
) in the Deccan. For his loyal service, he was recognized as a 'pillar of the state', and was ultimately promoted to chief commander of the Mughal army, with a personal force of 7,000 men.
Rebellion
Mahabat Khan's success in quelling Prince Khurram's rebellion was not met with pleasure by many members of the Mughal court, who began to fear and resent the general's growing prestige and influence. Empress Nur Jahan was especially concerned, and in an effort to curb Mahabat Khan's rising power, she arranged to have him made governor of BengalBengal
Bengal is a historical and geographical region in the northeast region of the Indian Subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal. Today, it is mainly divided between the sovereign land of People's Republic of Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal, although some regions of the previous...
, a province far removed from the Mughal capital at Lahore
Lahore
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
. Furthermore, in an effort to humiliate him in the imperial court, Nur Jahan had him charged with disloyal conduct and ordered him to return to Lahore
Lahore
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
to face trial. As a result of Nur Jahan's machinations against him, Mahabat Khan decided to take action, and so in 1626, he led an army of loyal Rajput
Rajput
A Rajput is a member of one of the patrilineal clans of western, central, northern India and in some parts of Pakistan. Rajputs are descendants of one of the major ruling warrior classes in the Indian subcontinent, particularly North India...
soldiers to the Punjab
Punjab region
The Punjab , also spelled Panjab |water]]s"), is a geographical region straddling the border between Pakistan and India which includes Punjab province in Pakistan and the states of the Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh and some northern parts of the National Capital Territory of Delhi...
. He had also brought the wives and families of many of them, so that, if driven to extremity, they would fight to the last for the lives and honour of themselves and their familieshttp://mahabatkhan.sainthwar.tripod.com/index.html. Meanwhile, 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"...
and his retinue were preparing to head to 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...
, and were encamped on the banks of the River Jhelum. Mahabat Khan and his forces attacked the royal encampment, and successfully took the emperor hostage; Nur Jahan, however, managed to escape. Mahabat Khan declared himself emperor of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
at 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...
, however his success was short-lived.
Nur Jahan, with the help of nobles who were still loyal to 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"...
, came up with a plan to free her husband. She surrendered herself to Mahabat Khan, and once reunited with her husband, put her plan into action. She had 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"...
convince Mahabat Khan that he was satisfied with the current arrangement, as it had freed him from her clutches. Mahabat Khan believed that he had won over the former emperor, failing to realize that 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"...
was in fact siding with Nur Jahan. Consequently, he decreased the Rajput
Rajput
A Rajput is a member of one of the patrilineal clans of western, central, northern India and in some parts of Pakistan. Rajputs are descendants of one of the major ruling warrior classes in the Indian subcontinent, particularly North India...
guards that he had placed around 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"...
, and prepared to return to Lahore
Lahore
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
with the captive emperor. Meanwhile, Nur Jahan arranged for an army to meet them en route to Lahore
Lahore
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
; in the ensuing battle, Nur Jahan's forces were victorious, and 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"...
was freed from captivity. After battle, many Rajput soldiers were sold in the markets of kabul. Mahabat Khan with the help of Raja Nathu Mall of Majhaulihttp://mahabatkhan.sainthwar.tripod.com/index.html settled the remaining wounded rajputs and their family in the forests of Gorakhpur
Gorakhpur
Gorakhpur is a city in the eastern part of the state of Uttar Pradesh in India, near the border with Nepal. It is the administrative headquarters of Gorakhpur District and Gorakhpur Division. Gorakhpur is one of the proposed capitals of the Purvanchal state which is yet to be formed...
, Uttarpradesh. These rajputs are today aligned with Sainthwar kshatriyas of those region. Thus Mahabat Khan's brief reign lasted approximately 100 days.
Family
Mahabat Khan was the son of Sagar Singh, the younger brother of Rana Pratap. Sagar Singh left Mewar for Rana Pratap that he was no appropriate for heir.Mahabat's first name was Mahipat Singh. After converting his religion from Rajput to Muslim, he took the name Mahabat Khan, as a great general of Delhi Mughal Sultanate. He was married to princess Kalyani, daughter of Govind Singh.
Later life and death
Following his unsuccessful coup, Mahabat Khan fled to the Deccan. There, Prince Khurram convinced him to surrender himself to JahangirJahangir
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"...
. However, with the death of 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"...
shortly thereafter in the October of 1627, Mahabat Khan was able to go unpunished. Upon Prince Khurram's rise to the throne as Emperor Shah Jahan
Shah Jahan
Shah Jahan Shah Jahan (also spelled Shah Jehan, Shahjehan, , Persian: شاه جهان) (January 5, 1592 – January 22, 1666) Shah Jahan (also spelled Shah Jehan, Shahjehan, , Persian: شاه جهان) (January 5, 1592 – January 22, 1666) (Full title: His Imperial Majesty Al-Sultan al-'Azam wal Khaqan...
, Mahabat Khan was appointed governor of Ajmer
Ajmer
Ajmer , formerly written as Ajmere, is a city in Ajmer District in Rajasthan state in India. Ajmer has a population of around 800,000 , and is located west of the Rajasthan state capital Jaipur, 200 km from Jodhpur, 274 km from Udaipur, 439 km from Jaisalmer, and 391 km from...
. He was later transferred to a post in the Deccan, where he died in 1634. His body was carried back to 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...
, where he was buried on the ground of the shrine of Qadam Sharif. Upon his death, his eldest son, Mirza Amanullah, was awarded the title 'Khan Zaman', while his second son, Luhrasp, was granted his late father's title, 'Mahabat Khan.'