Khusrau Mirza

Khusrau Mirza (August 16, 1587 - January 26, 1622) was the eldest son of the Mughal emperor Jahangir. [ [http://persian.packhum.org/persian/main?url=pf%3Ffile%3D00702051%26ct%3D224 The Grandees of the Empire] Ain-i-Akbari, by Abul Fazl, Volume I, Chpt. 30.] His mother Manbai or Shah Begam was a Kachhwaha princess and the daughter of Raja Bhagwant Das. Prince Khusrau was born in Lahore on August 16, 1587. [Beveridge, H. (tr.) (1939, reprint 2000) "The Akbar Nama of Abu'l-Fazl", Vol.III, Calcutta: The Asiatic Society, ISBN 81 7236 094 0, p.799] His mother committed suicide on May 16, 1604 by consuming poison. [Beveridge, H. (tr.) (1939, reprint 2000) "The Akbar Nama of Abu'l-Fazl", Vol.III, Calcutta: The Asiatic Society, ISBN 81 7236 094 0, p.1239]

Khusrau married the daughter of Azam Khan Koka. He had three sons, Buland Akhtar (who died at an early age), Dawar Bakhsh and Gurshasp. [Blochmann, H. (tr.) (1927, reprint 1993). "The Ain-I Akbari by Abu'l-Fazl Allami", Vol.I, Calcutta: The Asiatic Society, pp.323-4]

Khusrau also a son by the daughter of Muqim, son of Mihtar Fazil Rikab-dar. [ [http://persian.packhum.org/persian/main?url=pf%3Ffile%3D11001081%26ct%3D68 The Eleventh New Year's Feast after the Auspicious Accession] Tuzk-e-Jahangiri, Alexander Rogers and Henry Beveridge. Royal Asiatic Society, 1909–1914, p. 153/321.]

The rebellion and its aftermath

Khusrau rebelled against his father in 1606 to see, who would succeed the emperor Akbar. He left Agra on April 6, 1606 [Majumdar, R.C. (ed.)(2007). "The Mughul Empire", Mumbai: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, p.179] with 350 horsemen on the pretext of visiting the tomb of Akbar. In Mathura, he was joined by Hussain Beg with about 3000 horsemen. In Panipat, he was joined by Abdur Rahim, the provincial "dewan" of Lahore. When Khusrau reached Taran Taran, he received the blessings of Guru Arjan Dev.

He laid the siege of Lahore, but Lahore was defended by Dilawar Khan. Soon, Jahangir reached Lahore with a big army and Khusrau was defeated in the battle of Bhairowal. Khusrau and his followers tried to flee towards Kabul but they were captured by Jahangir's army while crossing the Chenab [ [http://persian.packhum.org/persian/main?url=pf%3Ffile%3D11001081%26ct%3D14 The Flight of Khusrau] The Tuzk-e-Jahangiri Or Memoirs Of Jahangir, Alexander Rogers and Henry Beveridge. Royal Asiatic Society, 1909–1914. Vol. I, Chapter 3. p 51, 62-72., Volume 1, chpt. 20] , and later he was imprisoned in Agra.

In 1607, Khusrau was ordered to be blinded as a punishment though his eyesight was never completely lost. In 1616, he was handed over to Asaf Khan. In 1620, he was handed over to Prince Khurram, who was later known as emperor Shah Jahan. In 1622, he was killed on the orders of Prince Khurram. [Mahajan V.D. (1991, reprint 2007) "History of Medieval India", Part II, New Delhi: S. Chand, ISBN 81-219-0364-5, pp.126-7]

After the death of Jahangir in 1627, Khusrau's son, Prince Dawar briefly became ruler of the Mughal Empire, though it was only done as a political manoeuvre by Asaf Khan, to secure the Mughal throne for Shah Jahan.

On Jumada-l awwal 2, 1037 AH (December 30, 1627Taylor, G.P. (1907). "Some Dates Relating to the Mughal Emperors of India" in "Journal and Proceedings of the Asiatic Society of Bengal", New Series, Vol.3, Calcutta: The Asiatic Society of Bengal, p.59] ), Shah Jahan was proclaimed as the emperor at Lahore, and on Jumada-l awwal 26, 1037 AH (January 23, 1628Taylor, G.P. (1907). "Some Dates Relating to the Mughal Emperors of India" in "Journal and Proceedings of the Asiatic Society of Bengal", New Series, Vol.3, Calcutta: The Asiatic Society of Bengal, p.59] ) upon his orders, Dawar Bakhsh, his brother Garshasp, Shahryar, and Tahmuras and Hoshang, sons of the deceased Prince Daniyal, were all put to death by Asaf Khan [ [http://persian.packhum.org/persian/main?url=pf%3Ffile%3D80201016%26ct%3D165%26rqs%3D115%26rqs%3D116%26rqs%3D225%26rqs%3D226%26rqs%3D232%26rqs%3D249%26rqs%3D250%26rqs%3D351%26rqs%3D352%26rqs%3D456%26rqs%3D457%26rqs%3D640%26rqs%3D641%26rqs%3D681%26rqs%3D682 Death of the Emperor (Jahangir)] The History of India, as Told by Its Own Historians. The Muhammadan Period, Sir H. M. Elliot, London, 1867–1877, vol 6.] , who was ordered by Shah Jahan to send them "out of the world", which he faithfully carried out. [Majumdar, R.C. (ed.)(2007). "The Mughul Empire", Mumbai: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, pp.197-8]

Notes

External links

* [http://www.boloji.com/history/013.htm History of India - Shah Jahan]
* [http://www.sscnet.ucla.edu/southasia/History/Mughals/Jehang.html Jahangir]