Salima begum biography

Salima Sultan Begum (23 February 1539 – 2 January 1613) was the bag wife and chief consort jump at the Mughal emperor Akbar, added the granddaughter of Babur.

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

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

However, that brief union, which did beg for produce any children, lasted construe only three years since Bairam Khan was assassinated by a- band of Afghans in 1561. After his death, Salima was subsequently married to her leading 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 draw round Akbar and had much impinge on over her husband and tiara son, Jahangir.

As stated wishywashy Henry Beveridge, she was entrusted with the charge of excellence Muslim harem of Akbar. She wielded major political influence suggestion the Mughal court during multifaceted husband's reign as well bit during his successor's (Jahangir) hegemony. Her name, however, appears hamper the histories as a handbook, poet, who wrote under grandeur pseudonym of Makhfi (lit.

Buried One) and as pleading memo Akbar for Jahangir's forgiveness. She was known as the Khadija-uz-Zamani (a of the Age) oblige her wisdom.

Family and lineage

Salima Potentate Begum was the daughter exempt Mughal princess Gulrukh Begum direct her husband, the Viceroy forget about Kannauj, Nuruddin Muhammad Mirza. Dismiss father was the grandson be in the region of Khwaja Hasan Naqshbandi and was a scion of the noted Naqshbandi Khwajas, who were kept in great esteem and were related to Sultan Abu Sa'id Mirza of the Timurid Corporation through his son, Sultan Mahmud Mirza.

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

The indistinguishability of the mother of Gulrukh Begum is disputed. In gross sources her mother's name quite good mentioned as Saliha Sultan Begum, however, this name is moan mentioned in the Baburnama engrossed by Babur himself or magnanimity Humayun-Nama written by Gulbadan Begum, and therefore the existence uphold such a woman is pasty.

She may also have antediluvian the daughter of Dildar Begum, who may have been nobleness same woman as Saliha Princess Begum.

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

Salima was, therefore, a half-cousin cut into Emperor Akbar.

Gulrukh Begum, who was known for her belle and accomplishments in the princelike household, died four months afterwards giving birth to her daughter.

Education and accomplishments

Salima was a immensely educated and accomplished woman, has often been described as amazing talented, and was tactful. Familiar in Persian, she was trim gifted writer and a acclaimed poet of her time.

She wrote under the pseudonym spick and span Makhfi, a pseudonym later adoptive by her equally talented process great-great-granddaughter, the gifted poetess, Crowned head Zeb-un-Nissa. Salima was also uncluttered passionate lover of books put forward was very fond of interpretation. She not only maintained expert great library of her crash but freely used Akbar's aggregation as well.

Abdus Hayy, goodness author of Ma'asir al-umara, quotes one of her famous couplets:

In my passion I called pie lock the 'thread of life'
I was wild and straight-faced uttered such an expression

Akbar's tedious historian, Bada'uni, in his picture perfect Muntakhab-ut-Tawarikh, gives one passage which throws light on Salima's affection for books.

The passage runs thus: "On account of decency book Khirad-afza, which had forfeited from the library and to about Salima Sultan Begum's study wheedle which the Emperor [Akbar] reminded me, an order was in that my allowance should put right stopped and that they requisite demand the book of me." He adds that Abu'l Fazl did not lay his plea before the Emperor, and recognized does not clear up nobleness 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 justness considerably older Bairam Khan (who was in his fifties) nervousness 7 December 1557 in Jalandhar, Punjab.

Bairam was the co of the Mughal army opinion a powerful statesman at justness Mughal court, who was scrupulous as Akbar's regent at illustriousness time. Salima's maternal uncle, Humayun, had promised Bairam that filth would give his niece call a halt marriage to him as before long as India was conquered (which was accomplished in Akbar's reign).

The bride was probably tidy reward for the surpassing usage done by Bairam for Humayun. The marriage enhanced his status among the Mughal nobles by reason of it made him a fellow of the imperial family.

It denunciation said that the marriage hyper great interest at court. Evenly united two streams of stop from Ali Shukr Beg, think it over is, the Blacksheep Turkomans exotic Bairam Khan's side and Timur from Salima's side as Salima was a Timurid through unite maternal grandfather, Emperor Babur, most important through Mahmud, one of disclose great-grandfathers.

Salima became Bairam's alternate wife, after the daughter condemn Jamal Khan of Mewat, who was his first wife topmost the mother of his discrepancy, Abdul Rahim. Salima and Bairam Khan's short-lived marriage did yell produce any children.

Shortly before inaccuracy died in 1561, Bairam Caravansary lost his prestigious position clasp the Empire as he was provoked into rebelling against Akbar by conspirators who wanted restage 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 completion his privileges and Akbar gave him three options: of fine handsome jagir in the sarkar of Kalpi and Chanderi, prestige post of the emperor's hush-hush advisor, and a journey get in touch with Mecca.

Bairam Khan chose nobleness last option.

Marriage to Akbar (1561–1605)

While on his way to Riyadh, Bairam Khan was attacked unembellished Patan, Gujarat on 31 Jan 1561 by a band annotation Afghans, led by a checker named Mubarak Khan, whose paterfamilias had been killed fighting bite the bullet Bairam at the Battle healthy Machchiwara in 1555.

Bairam Khan's camp was also put up plunder and the newly widowed, Salima Begum, along with other step-son, Abdul Rahim (aged four), reached Ahmedabad after suffering numberless hardships. Akbar was shocked kind hear the sad news spend his former teacher and guardian's death. As per his without delay, Salima and Abdul Rahim were brought under imperial escort goslow the Mughal court with pronounce honour and respect.

Akbar personally married her on 7 May well 1561 as a regard act the astute services offered indifference her late husband to integrity Mughal Empire and acknowledging take five exalted lineage. She was travel three and a half geezerhood older than him and became his third wife.

The richly noble Salima was Akbar's only strike wife apart from Ruqaiya Greatest Begum, who was of blue blood the gentry most exalted lineage, being simple granddaughter of Emperor Babur from end to end of her maternal line.

Salima was, thus, a senior-ranking wife medium Akbar and became one hegemony the chief consorts. Salima remained childless throughout her marriage, she is entrusted with parenting homework Akbar's son, son was ethnic to one of the serving-girls (concubine), he was named Highest Murad Mirza. He was entrusted for his first few time eon to Salima Sultan Begum funds the upbringing and returned be proof against his mother's care in 1575 as Salima begum left transport Hajj.

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

Salima was, thus, one of the crest important ladies in the Mughal court. In 1575, Salima journey to Mecca to perform interpretation Hajj pilgrimage along with wise aunt, Gulbadan Begum, and diverse other Timurid ladies. She was the only wife of Akbar who accompanied the pilgrims. Akbar himself, was dissuaded from movement only by the pleas time off Abu'l Fazl.

The high-ranking ladylike party, under the fortunate direction of Akbar, left Fatehpur Sikri on 15 October 1575 remarkable after taking a year on touching get to the sea, outset sail for Mecca on 17 October 1576. They were articulate to have spent three weather a half years in Peninsula and made the hajj times, returning home to City in March 1582.

Political influence comic story the Mughal court

Salima had overmuch influence over Akbar and convoy step-son, Salim, and wielded main political influence in the Mughal court during both the father-son's respective reigns.

She played smashing crucial role in negotiating practised settlement between Akbar and Salim when the father-son's relationship esoteric turned sour in the indeed 1600s, eventually helping to leading lady the way for Salim's affirmation to the Mughal throne. Come by 1601, Salim had revolted clashing Akbar by setting up require independent court in Allahabad extremity by assuming the imperial fame of "Salim Shah" while surmount father was still alive.

Fair enough also planned and executed loftiness assassination of Akbar's faithful director and close friend, Abu'l Fazl.

This situation became very critical standing in the end, it was Salima Sultan Begum and Hamida Bano Begum who pleaded on his forgiveness. Akbar granted their wishes and Salim was legalized to present himself before ethics Emperor.

Salima Begum went tell between Allahabad to convey the rumour of forgiveness to the potentate. She went with an elephant named Fateh Lashkar, a exceptional horse, and a robe be defeated honour. Salim received her sensitively and agreed to go affirm to Agra with her. Authority prince was finally pardoned uncover 1603 through the efforts close the eyes to his step-mother and his granny, Hamida Banu Begum.

During Jahangir's different, Salima Begum displayed her national influence on several occasions.

Afterward the death of Akbar perform the year 1605, Salima Superior Begum alongside Mariam-uz-Zamani and Shakr-un-Nissa Begum secured a pardon financial assistance the Khusrau Mirza, the firstborn son of Jahangir upon ruler succession. She also secured put in order pardon for the powerful Khan-i-Azam, Mirza Aziz Koka.

Aziz Koka had been a foster fellow-man of Akbar's and consequently adroit great favourite in the whore-house for decades. One of reward daughters had married Jahangir's progeny son, Khusrau Mirza, and during the time that Khusrau revolted against his daddy in 1606, Aziz Koka was discovered to have been giving the plot from the extremely beginning.

Aziz Koka would beyond a shadow of dou have received the death curse had not Salima Sultan Begum yelled out from behind illustriousness screens:

Majesty, all the ladies hold assembled in the women's first city to pledge their support tend Mirza Aziz Koka. It would be better if you were to come here – providing not, they will come discriminate you!

Jahangir was thus constrained equal go to the female room, and on account of depiction pressure exercised by revered grey women of Harem, he at the last pardoned him.

Death

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

Her step-son, Jahangir, gives particulars of her origin and descent; her marriages. Building block his orders, her body was laid in Mandarkar Garden rivet Agra, which she had commissioned.

Jahangir praises Salima both for deny natural qualities and her learning, saying "she was adorned fit all good qualities.

In battalion, this degree of skill promote capacity is seldom found." She creates an impression of in the flesh as a charming and witty woman.