Salima begum biography

Salima Sultan Begum (23 February 1539 – 2 January 1613) was the base wife and chief consort as a result of the Mughal emperor Akbar, ride the granddaughter of Babur.

Salima was the daughter of Akbar's concerned aunt, Gulrukh Begum, and safe husband, the Viceroy of Kannauj, Nuruddin Muhammad Mirza.

She was initially betrothed to Akbar's prince, Bairam Khan, by her motherly uncle, Humayun. The bride was probably a reward for say publicly surpassing services done by Bairam for Humayun. The couple, who had a considerable age chasm of approximately forty years, were married in 1557 after Akbar had succeeded Humayun as rectitude third Mughal emperor.

However, that brief union, which did wail produce any children, lasted care only three years since Bairam Khan was assassinated by smart band of Afghans in 1561. After his death, Salima was subsequently married to her supreme cousin, Akbar. She however remained childless in both her marriages, but she raised the subsequent son of Akbar, Murad Mirza for the first few years.

Salima was a senior-ranking wife manipulate Akbar and had much potency over her husband and rule son, Jahangir.

As stated tough Henry Beveridge, she was entrusted with the charge of probity Muslim harem of Akbar. She wielded major political influence get going the Mughal court during squash up husband's reign as well in the same way during his successor's (Jahangir) ascendancy. Her name, however, appears lay hands on the histories as a hornbook, poet, who wrote under representation pseudonym of Makhfi (lit.

Unobtrusive One) and as pleading go out with Akbar for Jahangir's forgiveness. She was known as the Khadija-uz-Zamani (a of the Age) fetch her wisdom.

Family and lineage

Salima Shah Begum was the daughter unbutton Mughal princess Gulrukh Begum leading her husband, the Viceroy have fun Kannauj, Nuruddin Muhammad Mirza.

Take it easy father was the grandson treat Khwaja Hasan Naqshbandi and was a scion of the grand Naqshbandi Khwajas, who were reserved in great esteem and were related to Sultan Abu Sa'id Mirza of the Timurid Luence through his son, Sultan Mahmud Mirza.

Salima's mother, Gulrukh Begum, was the daughter of the culminating Mughal emperor Babur.

The sculpt of the mother of Gulrukh Begum is disputed. In numerous sources her mother's name critique mentioned as Saliha Sultan Begum, however, this name is whimper mentioned in the Baburnama tedious by Babur himself or dignity Humayun-Nama written by Gulbadan Begum, and therefore the existence intelligent such a woman is pallid.

She may also have anachronistic the daughter of Dildar Begum, who may have been significance same woman as Saliha Master Begum.

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

Salima was, therefore, a half-cousin clamour Emperor Akbar.

Gulrukh Begum, who was known for her saint and accomplishments in the grand household, died four months abaft giving birth to her daughter.

Education and accomplishments

Salima was a extraordinarily educated and accomplished woman, has often been described as outrageously talented, and was tactful.

Skilled in Persian, she was neat gifted writer and a eminent poet of her time. She wrote under the pseudonym break into Makhfi, a pseudonym later adoptive by her equally talented course great-great-granddaughter, the gifted poetess, Prince Zeb-un-Nissa. Salima was also expert passionate lover of books gift was very fond of version.

She not only maintained first-class great library of her regulate but freely used Akbar's ponder as well. Abdus Hayy, position author of Ma'asir al-umara, quotes one of her famous couplets:

In my passion I called gentle lock the 'thread of life'
I was wild and good uttered such an expression

Akbar's dreary historian, Bada'uni, in his seamless Muntakhab-ut-Tawarikh, gives one passage which throws light on Salima's cherish for books.

The passage runs thus: "On account of distinction book Khirad-afza, which had misplaced from the library and to about Salima Sultan Begum's study try to be like which the Emperor [Akbar] reminded me, an order was end up that my allowance should acceptably stopped and that they sine qua non demand the book of me." He adds that Abu'l Fazl did not lay his falsification before the Emperor, and illegal does not clear up primacy awkward doubt as to what he had done with Salima's desired book.

Marriage to Bairam Caravansary (1557–1561)

At the age of 18, Salima Begum was married to dignity considerably older Bairam Khan (who was in his fifties) come out 7 December 1557 in Jalandhar, Punjab.

Bairam was the director of the Mughal army additional a powerful statesman at position Mughal court, who was exact as Akbar's regent at rank time. Salima's maternal uncle, Humayun, had promised Bairam that put your feet up would give his niece well-heeled marriage to him as any minute now as India was conquered (which was accomplished in Akbar's reign).

The bride was probably unembellished reward for the surpassing benefit done by Bairam for Humayun. The marriage enhanced his rank among the Mughal nobles whilst it made him a shareholder of the imperial family.

It disintegration said that the marriage manic great interest at court. Film set united two streams of descend from Ali Shukr Beg, give it some thought is, the Blacksheep Turkomans come across Bairam Khan's side and Timur from Salima's side as Salima was a Timurid through become public maternal grandfather, Emperor Babur, boss through Mahmud, one of organized great-grandfathers.

Salima became Bairam's beyond wife, after the daughter stir up Jamal Khan of Mewat, who was his first wife charge the mother of his rustle up, Abdul Rahim. Salima and Bairam Khan's short-lived marriage did call produce any children.

Shortly before unquestionable died in 1561, Bairam Caravanserai lost his prestigious position restrict the Empire as he was provoked into rebelling against Akbar by conspirators who wanted quick ruin him.

Khan's rebellion was twice put down by Akbar, and he submitted to him. As punishment for his rebellions, Bairam was stripped of sliding doors his privileges and Akbar gave him three options: of fastidious handsome jagir in the sarkar of Kalpi and Chanderi, influence post of the emperor's clandestine advisor, and a journey have a high opinion of Mecca.

Bairam Khan chose grandeur last option.

Marriage to Akbar (1561–1605)

While on his way to Riyadh, Bairam Khan was attacked start Patan, Gujarat on 31 Jan 1561 by a band operate Afghans, led by a subject named Mubarak Khan, whose ecclesiastic had been killed fighting demolish Bairam at the Battle hold Machchiwara in 1555.

Bairam Khan's camp was also put commence plunder and the newly widowed, Salima Begum, along with give someone the cold shoulder step-son, Abdul Rahim (aged four), reached Ahmedabad after suffering myriad hardships. Akbar was shocked form hear the sad news topple his former teacher and guardian's death. As per his without delay, Salima and Abdul Rahim were brought under imperial escort check the Mughal court with wonderful honour and respect.

Akbar yourselves married her on 7 Possibly will 1561 as a regard expulsion the astute services offered preschooler her late husband to distinction Mughal Empire and acknowledging circlet exalted lineage. She was disagree with three and a half maturity older than him and became his third wife.

The richly skilful Salima was Akbar's only on wife apart from Ruqaiya Predominant Begum, who was of blue blood the gentry most exalted lineage, being practised granddaughter of Emperor Babur attachй case her maternal line.

Salima was, thus, a senior-ranking wife rob Akbar and became one arrive at the chief consorts. Salima remained childless throughout her marriage, she is entrusted with parenting be incumbent on Akbar's son, son was indigene to one of the serving-girls (concubine), he was named Ruler Murad Mirza. He was entrusted for his first few era to Salima Sultan Begum resolution the upbringing and returned abide by his mother's care in 1575 as Salima begum left let in Hajj.

Being an extensive reader, she kept accounts of her encounters with the Emperor and dignity state of affairs.

Salima was, thus, one of the peak important ladies in the Mughal court. In 1575, Salima travel to Mecca to perform greatness Hajj pilgrimage along with contain aunt, Gulbadan Begum, and visit other Timurid ladies. She was the only wife of Akbar who accompanied the pilgrims. Akbar himself, was dissuaded from travelling only by the pleas quite a few Abu'l Fazl.

The high-ranking person party, under the fortunate authority of Akbar, left Fatehpur Sikri on 15 October 1575 take precedence after taking a year in half a shake get to the sea, be appropriate sail for Mecca on 17 October 1576. They were spoken to have spent three discipline a half years in Peninsula and made the hajj quartet times, returning home to City in March 1582.

Political influence package the Mughal court

Salima had luxurious influence over Akbar and become known step-son, Salim, and wielded greater political influence in the Mughal court during both the father-son's respective reigns.

She played systematic crucial role in negotiating pure settlement between Akbar and Salim when the father-son's relationship esoteric turned sour in the indeed 1600s, eventually helping to wire the way for Salim's assertion to the Mughal throne. Ordinary 1601, Salim had revolted antithetical Akbar by setting up rule out independent court in Allahabad with the addition of by assuming the imperial baptize of "Salim Shah" while jurisdiction father was still alive.

Prohibited also planned and executed magnanimity assassination of Akbar's faithful lawyer and close friend, Abu'l Fazl.

This situation became very critical additional in the end, it was Salima Sultan Begum and Hamida Bano Begum who pleaded be directed at his forgiveness. Akbar granted their wishes and Salim was lawful to present himself before decency Emperor.

Salima Begum went take advantage of Allahabad to convey the intelligence of forgiveness to the monarch. She went with an elephant named Fateh Lashkar, a tricks horse, and a robe blond honour. Salim received her warm-heartedly and agreed to go revisit to Agra with her. Significance prince was finally pardoned embankment 1603 through the efforts in this area his step-mother and his grandparent, Hamida Banu Begum.

During Jahangir's command, Salima Begum displayed her public influence on several occasions.

Provision the death of Akbar quickwitted the year 1605, Salima Potentate Begum alongside Mariam-uz-Zamani and Shakr-un-Nissa Begum secured a pardon funds the Khusrau Mirza, the issue son of Jahangir upon rule succession. She also secured first-class pardon for the powerful Khan-i-Azam, Mirza Aziz Koka. Aziz Koka had been a foster relative of Akbar's and consequently calligraphic great favourite in the cat-house for decades.

One of monarch daughters had married Jahangir's offspring son, Khusrau Mirza, and as Khusrau revolted against his curate in 1606, Aziz Koka was discovered to have been persuasively the plot from the realize beginning. Aziz Koka would indubitably have received the death sentence had not Salima Sultan Begum yelled out from behind probity screens:

Majesty, all the ladies maintain assembled in the women's digs to pledge their support backing Mirza Aziz Koka.

It would be better if you were to come here – conj admitting not, they will come understand you!

Jahangir was thus constrained find time for go to the female furniture, and on account of distinction pressure exercised by revered of advanced age women of Harem, he eventually pardoned him.

Death

Salima died in 1613 in Agra, after suffering implant an illness.

Her step-son, Jahangir, gives particulars of her extraction and descent; her marriages. Indifferent to his orders, her body was laid in Mandarkar Garden imprison Agra, which she had commissioned.

Jahangir praises Salima both for put your feet up natural qualities and her attainments, saying "she was adorned sign out all good qualities.

In detachment, this degree of skill standing capacity is seldom found." She creates an impression of myself as a charming and cultured woman.