Yakut Khan
Encyclopedia
Yakut Khan was a Siddi
Naval Admiral
and administrator of Janjira Fort who first served under Bijapur Sultanate and later under the Mughal Empire
. His real name was Siddi Qasim Khan but was given the title of Yakut Khan by Emperor Alamgir
. During a Muhgal-English conflict he laid siege to the British-held Bombay in 1689.
The Siddi
s are a community of African ancestry that live in much of Karnataka
and Kerala
, India
. They were loyal to the Mughals
and had earned a reputation as excellent sea-farers.
In October, 1672, Khan entered the seven islands of Bombay
and attacked the Marathas with whom they were at war with. Khan returned the following year, on 10 October 1673, after destroying the towns of Pen and Nagothane.
Yakut Khan, along with Khariyat Khan, had earlier saved the Portuguese
from the Marathas left by Sambhaji
at Chaul
. In return, they enjoyed a cordial relationship in the otherwise tense political climate.
In 1689, the Mughal Emperor
Aurangzeb
ordered the Khan to attack Bombay for the third time after Indian vessels sailing to Surat
were captured in 1686. In April 1689, the Siddis laid siege to the British fortification
to the south. The British governor Sir John Child appealed to Aurangzeb
. In February 1690, the Mughals agreed to halt the attack in return for 150,000 rupees (Over a billion USD at 2008 conversion rates) and Child's dismissal. Child's untimely death in 1690 however, resulted in him escaping the ignominy of being sacked.
Enraged at the agreement, Sakat withdrew his forces on 8 June 1690 after razing the Mazagaon Fort.
Khan died in 1733.
Siddi
The Siddi, Siddhi, or Sheedi , also known as Habshi, are an Indian and Pakistani ethnic group of Afro-Arab and/or Black African descent. The Siddi population is currently estimated to be 20,000–55,000, with Gujarat and Hyderabad in India the main population centre. Siddis are mainly Sufi Muslims,...
Naval Admiral
Admiral
Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet . It is usually abbreviated to "Adm" or "ADM"...
and administrator of Janjira Fort who first served under Bijapur Sultanate and later under the Mughal Empire
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...
. His real name was Siddi Qasim Khan but was given the title of Yakut Khan by Emperor Alamgir
Alamgir
Alamgir may refer to:*Alamgir I, also known as Aurangzeb, ruler of the Mughal Empire 1658–1707*Alamgir II, ruler of the Mughal Empire 1754–1759*Alamgir Hashmi, English avant-garde poet*Alamgir , a pioneer of pop music in Pakistan...
. During a Muhgal-English conflict he laid siege to the British-held Bombay in 1689.
The Siddi
Siddi
The Siddi, Siddhi, or Sheedi , also known as Habshi, are an Indian and Pakistani ethnic group of Afro-Arab and/or Black African descent. The Siddi population is currently estimated to be 20,000–55,000, with Gujarat and Hyderabad in India the main population centre. Siddis are mainly Sufi Muslims,...
s are a community of African ancestry that live in much of Karnataka
Karnataka
Karnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...
and Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
, 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...
. They were loyal to the Mughals
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...
and had earned a reputation as excellent sea-farers.
In October, 1672, Khan entered the seven islands of Bombay
Seven islands of Bombay
The seven islands of Bombay were an archipelago of islands that were, over a span of five centuries, connected to form the area of the modern city of Mumbai in India. The seven islands were gradually physically united through land reclamation projects...
and attacked the Marathas with whom they were at war with. Khan returned the following year, on 10 October 1673, after destroying the towns of Pen and Nagothane.
Yakut Khan, along with Khariyat Khan, had earlier saved the Portuguese
Portuguese people
The Portuguese are a nation and ethnic group native to the country of Portugal, in the west of the Iberian peninsula of south-west Europe. Their language is Portuguese, and Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion....
from the Marathas left by Sambhaji
Sambhaji
Sambhaji Raje Bhosle was the eldest son and successor to Emporer Shivaji, the founder of the Maratha empire.- Early life :...
at Chaul
Chaul
Chaul is a former city of Portuguese India, now in ruins. It is located 60 km south of Mumbai, in Raigad District of Maharashtra state in western India....
. In return, they enjoyed a cordial relationship in the otherwise tense political climate.
In 1689, the Mughal Emperor
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...
Aurangzeb
Aurangzeb
Abul Muzaffar Muhy-ud-Din Muhammad Aurangzeb Alamgir , more commonly known as Aurangzeb or by his chosen imperial title Alamgir , was the sixth Mughal Emperor of India, whose reign lasted from 1658 until his death in 1707.Badshah Aurangzeb, having ruled most of the Indian subcontinent for nearly...
ordered the Khan to attack Bombay for the third time after Indian vessels sailing to Surat
Surat
Surat , also known as Suryapur, is the commercial capital city of the Indian state of Gujarat. Surat is India's Eighth most populous city and Ninth-most populous urban agglomeration. It is also administrative capital of Surat district and one of the fastest growing cities in India. The city proper...
were captured in 1686. In April 1689, the Siddis laid siege to the British fortification
Fort George, Bombay
Fort George was an extension built to the fortified walls of Bombay to the east on the site of the former Dongri Fort in 1769. The hill on which the old Dongri fort stood was razed, and in its place Fort George was built. In 1862, The fort was demolished.-History:The fort was long and about a...
to the south. The British governor Sir John Child appealed to Aurangzeb
Aurangzeb
Abul Muzaffar Muhy-ud-Din Muhammad Aurangzeb Alamgir , more commonly known as Aurangzeb or by his chosen imperial title Alamgir , was the sixth Mughal Emperor of India, whose reign lasted from 1658 until his death in 1707.Badshah Aurangzeb, having ruled most of the Indian subcontinent for nearly...
. In February 1690, the Mughals agreed to halt the attack in return for 150,000 rupees (Over a billion USD at 2008 conversion rates) and Child's dismissal. Child's untimely death in 1690 however, resulted in him escaping the ignominy of being sacked.
Enraged at the agreement, Sakat withdrew his forces on 8 June 1690 after razing the Mazagaon Fort.
Khan died in 1733.