Sayyed Mahmud Khan

Mahmud Khan
MujheraSayyid Mahmud Khan Barha or Mahmud khanMilitary general of Akbar'r army, Amiral Kabir Sayyid Mahmud Khan Barha son of Sayyid Mubarak alias Makhan was the first Person of this clan (Saiyids of Barah), who rose to higher dignity of a noble man, through his personal bravery and velour under the Timurid Dynasty. He joined the service of Bairam Khan. In the Ist year of Akbar's reign he was sent with Ali Quli Khan Shaibani to put down Hemu who, after the defeat of Tardi Beg Khan, had out of pride collected a large force and started from Delhi. Sayyid Mahmud was deployed in vanguardagainst Hemu and he fought valiantly and captured artillery of Hemu which he had sent to the battlefield in advance at PanipatAli quli Khan and Sayyed Mahmud Khan won the battle of Panipat before Akbar and Bairam Khan reached the battlefield of Panipat.

In the 2nd regnal year 964 Hijri corresponding to 1557 CE he was appointed to chastise Haji Khan, a slave of Sher Shah Suri, who had taken possession of Ajmer and Nagaur, and was showing signs of rebellion. In the 3rd year he was deputed to capture the fort of Jitaran in Jodhpur, which he conquered from the Rajputs. When Bairam Khan's affairs were upset, he joined the king’s service, and received Pargana of Sarwat ( present day Muzaffarnagar) as fief in Doab of Ganga-Jamuna.

In the seventh year on 16th May 1562 Adham Khan Koka, younger son of Maham Anga, overwhelmed with envy over Shams-ud-Din Ataga Khan obtaining the chief control of affairs, murdered Shams-ud-Din Ataga. Mun'im Khan who had secretly instigated the crime, became panic stricken and attempted to flee to Kabul. Enroute to Kabul, when he was passing through the fief of Sayyid Mahmud Khan Barha, he was captured by his men. Sayyid Mahmud Khan recognized him and took him back to the royal threshold with honour. Emperor Akbar pardoned him at the intercession of Mahmud Khan Barha. In the seventeenth year of Akbar's reign he went to Gujarat in attendence on Khan Kalan. Later, he was sent in pursue of Ibrahim Hussain Mirza.

Afterwards when the emperor turned his persona attention to this affair, and immediately recalled the officers who had been sent, Mahmud Khan swiftly joined the emperor Akbar near Sarnal a town in Gujrat and distinguished himself. When the Mirza was defeated and retreated towards Agra, he with other officers was appointed to pursue him.

In the eighteenth of Akbar's reign he was sent in advance with a number of officers to Gujarat, and when the emperor during his march reached Mirtha near Jodhpur, Rajasthan he joined the royal party. In the battle with Muhammad Hussainhe and a few men formed the reserve, Sayid Mahmud took his place with a number of officers in the centre, and during the conflict advanced courageously beyond the centre, and fought bravely. In the end of the same year he with other Barha Saiyids and Saiyids of Amroha led an expedition against the territory of Madhukar Bundela of Orchha in Bundelkhand and conquered it.

Sayyed Mahmud was a straightforward and outspoken man and it is stated in history books that when Akbar deputed him against Madhukar Bundela and he returned vicorious, after performing outstanding deeds of valour, he reported to thr Emperor that he performed such and such deeds of valour Asaf Khan remarked "Miranji! This victory was due to the Iqbal-e-shah" (glory or good fortune of King), he replied "Why do you tell untruth? Iqbal-e-shah was not there, it was I and my brothers who wielded two-handed swords there". The king smiled and favoured him with the gifts of all kind and he was granted a Standard and Drums, a great honor.

He died on 2nd October 1573 and is buried at his ancestral place Mujhera in Muzaffarnagar district. His rank was four thousand personal (Zat) and two thousand horse (sawar). He had six sons sayyid Hashim, sayyid Qasim, Sayyid Alim, Sayyid Salim, Sayyid Jahangir, and Sayyid Ali Asghar Styled Saif Khan Barha. All of his sons became prominent in Akbar and Jahangir's reign and were Mansabdar.

Akbar Nama- Beveridge's translation Ain-i-Akbari- Jarrett's translation Muntakhabut Tawarikh- Abdul Qadir Badayuni- Love's tramslation Imperial Gazatteer XXII Mathir-ul-Umara - H. Beveridge & Beni Prasad Zakhiratul Khawanin- Shiekh Fareed- Z A Desai's translation