Bairam Khan
The region of Badakhshan in Central Asia produced Muhammad Bairam Khan on the 18th of January 1501. He belonged to the Baharlu Turkoman clan within the Kara Koyunlu confederation that had ruled Western Persia for decades before being overthrown by their Ak Koyunlu rivals. His father Seyfali Beg Baharlu and grandfather Janali Beg Baharlu served Babur directly. Bairam entered Babur's service at the age of sixteen when he was still a young man. This early entry into imperial service set the stage for his future military career. The family connections ran deep with great-grandparents Pirali Beg Baharlu and his wife who was a daughter of Qara Iskander. Piroli's niece through his sister Pasha Begum became one of Babur's wives. These ties ensured Bairam's place within the highest circles of Mughal power from childhood.
Bairam Khan contributed greatly to the establishment of the Mughal Empire under Humayun when entrusted with the position of muhardar keeper of the seals. He took part in military campaigns across Benares Bengal and Gujarat during these formative years. In 1540 during the Battle of Kannauj he was captured by Sher Shah Suri's men but later managed an adventurous escape. He rejoined Humayun at Sindh in July 1543 after his daring return. Bairam accompanied Humayun during his exile in Persia and helped conquer Kandahar before serving as its governor for nine years. In 1556 he played a leading role as a commander in Humayun's reconquest of Hindustan. His military experience spanned decades of constant warfare and political maneuvering throughout northern India.
At the time of Humayun's death on the 27th of January 1556 Bairam Khan led a campaign against Sikandar Shah Suri in Punjab. As Prince Akbar's ataliq guardian and sipahsalaar commander-in-chief of the Mughal army he kept Humayun's death secret from the public. He sent reassuring messages about the emperor's recovery while having Mullah Bekasi dressed up in imperial robes to appear daily before people. On the 14th of February 1556 Akbar was crowned as the new Mughal Emperor and appointed Bairam Khan as Vakil Prime Minister with titles including Khan-i-Khanan. The Mughal army moved to Jalandhar where they encamped for five months driving Sikandar Suri deeper into the Siwalik hills. Hemu Vakil of Adil Shah Suri took advantage of the instability by swiftly capturing Gwalior Delhi and Agra. On the 5th of November 1556 the Mughals clashed with Hemu's army at the Second Battle of Panipat after a fiercely contested battle. Hemu was captured and decapitated either by Bairam Khan or Akbar allowing Delhi and Agra to be reconquered.
Towards his last years relations between Bairam Khan and Akbar grew sour due to unilateral decision-making. Bairam began taking several decisions without consulting the Emperor first such as when he unilaterally dismissed his former favorite Pir Muhammad Khan who was a senior Mughal official. Akbar felt jealous that a leash was kept on his private expenses while Bairam Khan's servants grew rich. He had also become increasingly irritable executing two of Akbar's favorite personal mahouts. One elephant had not been able to restrain an imperial elephant which killed one of Bairam Khan's animals. Another had not been able to restrain his elephant which nearly overturned a small boat on which Bairam Khan was resting. In March or April 1560 Akbar told him that he could either retire and stay in the palace or go on the hajj pilgrimage to Mecca. He could take whatever land he wished so that his servants could send remittances of the harvest annually.
Political opponents Maham Anga and her son Adham Khan sent Pir Muhammad to trail Bairam and pack him off to Mecca. This insult goaded Bairam Khan to rebel and he turned back despite advice from close friends. Pir Muhammad retreated at the sight of Bairam Khan's deadly Turkoman horse archers. Bairam left his family in the fortress of Tabar-e-Hind in present-day Bathinda and headed towards Jalandhar intent on taking Lahore. Akbar sent his foster father Shams-ud-din with a strong vanguard to halt Bairam's force while following with the main army. Near the village Gunecur near Jalandhar Shams-ud-Din stopped Bairam Khan's force after trying to negotiate. Despite having a much smaller army Bairam gave a tough fight to his adversary but was eventually defeated. He managed to retreat with the majority of his force to Talwara-Hazipur adjoining Rey Shikargah Mughal imperial hunting grounds where he surrendered. Akbar treated him with immense respect offering options including staying as personal adviser or continuing his pilgrimage which Bairam chose.
While traveling through Gujarat Bairam was assassinated on the 31st of January 1561 at Sahasralinga Tank a religious site near Anhilwad Patan. A group of Afghans led by Mubarak Khan Lohani whose father had been killed fighting with the Mughals at the Battle of Machhiwara in 1555 approached him. According to the Akbarnama the group came to pay their respects so he allowed them closer. Mubarak stabbed him with a dagger in the back with such force that the point came out of his chest. Another Afghan struck him on the head fatally wounding him. Bairam died saying the takbir before his corpse was found by locals who buried him at the tomb of a nearby Sufi saint. His son Abdul Rahim Khan-i-Khanan became an important part of Akbar's administration and one of the nav-ratans nine gems of Akbar's court. Bairam's wife Salima Sultan Begum married Akbar after his death ensuring her family's continued prominence within the empire.
Continue Browsing
Common questions
When and where was Bairam Khan born?
Muhammad Bairam Khan was born on the 18th of January 1501 in the region of Badakhshan in Central Asia. He belonged to the Baharlu Turkoman clan within the Kara Koyunlu confederation that had ruled Western Persia for decades before being overthrown by their Ak Koyunlu rivals.
What role did Bairam Khan play during Humayun's reign and exile?
Bairam Khan served as muhardar keeper of the seals and contributed greatly to the establishment of the Mughal Empire under Humayun. He accompanied Humayun during his exile in Persia and helped conquer Kandahar before serving as its governor for nine years.
How did Bairam Khan secure the throne for Akbar after Humayun died?
At the time of Humayun's death on the 27th of January 1556 Bairam Khan led a campaign against Sikandar Shah Suri in Punjab while keeping the emperor's death secret from the public. He sent reassuring messages about the emperor's recovery while having Mullah Bekasi dressed up in imperial robes to appear daily before people until Akbar was crowned on the 14th of February 1556.
Why did Bairam Khan rebel against Emperor Akbar in 1560?
Relations between Bairam Khan and Akbar grew sour due to unilateral decision-making and jealousy regarding private expenses and servants growing rich. Akbar became increasingly irritable when Bairam executed two of his favorite personal mahouts which resulted in conflict over elephant handling incidents.
Where and how was Bairam Khan assassinated in 1561?
Bairam was assassinated on the 31st of January 1561 at Sahasralinga Tank a religious site near Anhilwad Patan in Gujarat. A group of Afghans led by Mubarak Khan Lohani stabbed him with a dagger in the back and struck him on the head fatally wounding him before he died saying the takbir.