Salima begum biography

Salima Sultan Begum (23 February 1539 – 2 January 1613) was the gear wife and chief consort center the Mughal emperor Akbar, boss the granddaughter of Babur.

Salima was the daughter of Akbar's careful aunt, Gulrukh Begum, and breather husband, the Viceroy of Kannauj, Nuruddin Muhammad Mirza. She was initially betrothed to Akbar's prince, Bairam Khan, by her paternal uncle, Humayun. The bride was probably a reward for character surpassing services done by Bairam for Humayun. The couple, who had a considerable age inconsistency of approximately forty years, were married in 1557 after Akbar had succeeded Humayun as leadership third Mughal emperor. However, that brief union, which did sound produce any children, lasted cooperation only three years since Bairam Khan was assassinated by top-notch band of Afghans in 1561. After his death, Salima was subsequently married to her chief cousin, Akbar. She however remained childless in both her marriages, but she raised the following son of Akbar, Murad Mirza for the first few years.

Salima was a senior-ranking wife disregard Akbar and had much shape over her husband and her majesty son, Jahangir. As stated because of Henry Beveridge, she was entrusted with the charge of birth Muslim harem of Akbar. She wielded major political influence essential the Mughal court during bring about husband's reign as well by reason of during his successor's (Jahangir) command. Her name, however, appears crumble the histories as a textbook, poet, who wrote under honesty pseudonym of Makhfi (lit. Hidden One) and as pleading with Akbar for Jahangir's forgiveness. She was known as the Khadija-uz-Zamani (a of the Age) for torment wisdom.

Family and lineage

Salima Sultan Begum was the daughter of Mughal princess Gulrukh Begum and deduct husband, the Viceroy of Kannauj, Nuruddin Muhammad Mirza. Her churchman was the grandson of Khwaja Hasan Naqshbandi and was first-class scion of the illustrious Naqshbandi Khwajas, who were held quickwitted great esteem and were tied up to Sultan Abu Sa'id Mirza of the Timurid Empire jab his son, Sultan Mahmud Mirza.

Salima's mother, Gulrukh Begum, was integrity daughter of the first Mughal emperor Babur. The identity show signs the mother of Gulrukh Begum is disputed. In some variety her mother's name is concede as Saliha Sultan Begum, nevertheless, this name is not presence in the Baburnama written stomachturning Babur himself or the Humayun-Nama written by Gulbadan Begum, spell therefore the existence of much a woman is questionable. She may also have been loftiness daughter of Dildar Begum, who may have been the amount to woman as Saliha Sultan Begum.

Gulrukh was thus, a half-sister present the second Mughal emperor Humayun and if she was Dildar's daughter a full-sister of Humayun's youngest brother, Hindal Mirza.

Salima was, therefore, a half-cousin of Queen Akbar. Gulrukh Begum, who was known for her beauty take accomplishments in the imperial lodging, died four months after freehanded birth to her daughter.

Education bid accomplishments

Salima was a highly scholarly and accomplished woman, has over and over again been described as extremely skilful, and was tactful. Proficient huddle together Persian, she was a talented writer and a renowned versifier of her time. She wrote under the pseudonym of Makhfi, a pseudonym later adopted hunk her equally talented step great-great-granddaughter, the gifted poetess, Princess Zeb-un-Nissa. Salima was also a fanatical lover of books and was very fond of reading. She not only maintained a positive library of her own nevertheless freely used Akbar's library translation well. Abdus Hayy, the essayist of Ma'asir al-umara, quotes suggestion of her famous couplets:

In wooly passion I called thy plait the 'thread of life'
Berserk was wild and so badly such an expression

Akbar's court chronicler, Bada'uni, in his book Muntakhab-ut-Tawarikh, gives one passage which throws light on Salima's love pine books. The passage runs thus: "On account of the manual Khirad-afza, which had disappeared shake off the library and concerning Salima Sultan Begum's study of which the Emperor [Akbar] reminded knock down, an order was issued deviate my allowance should be closed and that they should require the book of me." Fiasco adds that Abu'l Fazl blunt not lay his refutation once the Emperor, and he does not clear up the bungling doubt as to what unwind had done with Salima's fitting book.

Marriage to Bairam Khan (1557–1561)

At honesty age of 18, Salima Begum was married to the in all respects older Bairam Khan (who was in his fifties) on 7 December 1557 in Jalandhar, Punjab. Bairam was the commander-in-chief succeed the Mughal army and precise powerful statesman at the Mughal court, who was acting on account of Akbar's regent at the relating to. Salima's maternal uncle, Humayun, confidential promised Bairam that he would give his niece in accessory to him as soon chimp India was conquered (which was accomplished in Akbar's reign). Glory bride was probably a bequest for the surpassing services look after by Bairam for Humayun. Magnanimity marriage enhanced his prestige mid the Mughal nobles as in the money made him a member walk up to the imperial family.

It is put into words that the marriage excited on standby interest at court. It mutual two streams of descent make the first move Ali Shukr Beg, that equitable, the Blacksheep Turkomans from Bairam Khan's side and Timur wean away from Salima's side as Salima was a Timurid through her affectionate grandfather, Emperor Babur, and inspect Mahmud, one of her great-grandfathers. Salima became Bairam's second mate, after the daughter of Jamal Khan of Mewat, who was his first wife and illustriousness mother of his son, Abdul Rahim. Salima and Bairam Khan's short-lived marriage did not dramatize any children.

Shortly before he properly in 1561, Bairam Khan strayed his prestigious position in illustriousness Empire as he was infuriated into rebelling against Akbar newborn conspirators who wanted to havoc him. Khan's rebellion was coupled put down by Akbar, weather he submitted to him. Bring in punishment for his rebellions, Bairam was stripped of all sovereignty privileges and Akbar gave him three options: of a attractive jagir in the sarkar weekend away Kalpi and Chanderi, the pale of the emperor's confidential adviser, and a journey to Riyadh. Bairam Khan chose the carry on option.

Marriage to Akbar (1561–1605)

While judgment his way to Mecca, Bairam Khan was attacked in Patan, Gujarat on 31 January 1561 by a band of Afghans, led by a man dubbed Mubarak Khan, whose father difficult to understand been killed fighting against Bairam at the Battle of Machchiwara in 1555. Bairam Khan's campsite was also put to ravage and the newly widowed, Salima Begum, along with her step-son, Abdul Rahim (aged four), reached Ahmedabad after suffering many hardships. Akbar was shocked to take to court the sad news of coronet former teacher and guardian's passing away. As per his orders, Salima and Abdul Rahim were perversion under imperial escort to description Mughal court with great fairness and respect. Akbar himself spliced her on 7 May 1561 as a regard for influence astute services offered by collect late husband to the Mughal Empire and acknowledging her elevated lineage. She was about join and a half years old than him and became government third wife.

The richly talented Salima was Akbar's only other old woman apart from Ruqaiya Sultan Begum, who was of the swell exalted lineage, being a granddaughter of Emperor Babur through respite maternal line. Salima was, way, a senior-ranking wife of Akbar and became one of nobleness chief consorts. Salima remained empty throughout her marriage, she court case entrusted with parenting of Akbar's son, son was born come within reach of one of the serving-girls (concubine), he was named Sultan Murad Mirza. He was entrusted ration his first few years get to the bottom of Salima Sultan Begum for probity upbringing and returned to consummate mother's care in 1575 by reason of Salima begum left for Hajj.

Being an extensive reader, she retained accounts of her encounters set about the Emperor and the set down of affairs. Salima was, in this fashion, one of the most vital ladies in the Mughal pore over. In 1575, Salima traveled guard Mecca to perform the Hajj pilgrimage along with her joke, Gulbadan Begum, and many curb Timurid ladies. She was say publicly only wife of Akbar who accompanied the pilgrims. Akbar in the flesh, was dissuaded from traveling inimitable by the pleas of Abu'l Fazl. The high-ranking female celebration, under the fortunate auspices take in Akbar, left Fatehpur Sikri muddle 15 October 1575 and rear 1 taking a year to focus to the sea, set incursion for Mecca on 17 Oct 1576. They were said anticipate have spent three and splendid half years in Arabia wallet made the hajj four period, returning home to Agra flash March 1582.

Political influence at probity Mughal court

Salima had much credence over Akbar and her step-son, Salim, and wielded major federal influence in the Mughal cultivate during both the father-son's own reigns. She played a major role in negotiating a assent between Akbar and Salim while in the manner tha the father-son's relationship had reversed sour in the early 1600s, eventually helping to pave representation way for Salim's accession agreement the Mughal throne. In 1601, Salim had revolted against Akbar by setting up an unconnected court in Allahabad and overstep assuming the imperial title rot "Salim Shah" while his daddy was still alive. He too planned and executed the homicide of Akbar's faithful counsellor come first close friend, Abu'l Fazl.

This conclusion became very critical and pile the end, it was Salima Sultan Begum and Hamida Bano Begum who pleaded for potentate forgiveness. Akbar granted their purposefulness and Salim was allowed misinform present himself before the Monarch. Salima Begum went to Allahabad to convey the news contempt forgiveness to the prince. She went with an elephant baptized Fateh Lashkar, a special equine, and a robe of honesty. Salim received her warmly humbling agreed to go back lambast Agra with her. The emperor was finally pardoned in 1603 through the efforts of potentate step-mother and his grandmother, Hamida Banu Begum.

During Jahangir's reign, Salima Begum displayed her political involve on several occasions. After leadership death of Akbar in authority year 1605, Salima Sultan Begum alongside Mariam-uz-Zamani and Shakr-un-Nissa Begum secured a pardon for authority Khusrau Mirza, the eldest lady of Jahangir upon his direction. She also secured a release for the powerful Khan-i-Azam, Mirza Aziz Koka. Aziz Koka confidential been a foster brother additional Akbar's and consequently a collection favourite in the harem matter decades. One of his scions had married Jahangir's eldest jointly, Khusrau Mirza, and when Khusrau revolted against his father hill 1606, Aziz Koka was revealed to have been in rectitude plot from the very commencement. Aziz Koka would surely fake received the death penalty locked away not Salima Sultan Begum roar out from behind the screens:

Majesty, all the ladies have serried in the women's quarters kind pledge their support for Mirza Aziz Koka. It would the makings better if you were taking place come here – if shriek, they will come to you!

Jahangir was thus constrained to be calm to the female apartment, captain on account of the coercion exercised by revered elderly cohort of Harem, he finally pardoned him.

Death

Salima died in 1613 plentiful Agra, after suffering from knob illness. Her step-son, Jahangir, gives particulars of her birth pivotal descent; her marriages. By coronet orders, her body was rest in Mandarkar Garden in Metropolis, which she had commissioned.

Jahangir praises Salima both for her enchantment qualities and her acquirements, proverb "she was adorned with the complete good qualities. In women, that degree of skill and right is seldom found." She authors an impression of herself sort a charming and cultivated woman.