Bairam Khan

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Bairam Khan bigraphy, stories - Leaders

Bairam Khan : biography

– 31 January 1561

Bairam Khan also Bayram Khan () (died 1561) was an important military commander, general of the Mughal army, a powerful statesman and regent at the court of the Mughal emperors Humayun and Akbar.Thackston, Wheeler M. (2002) The Baburnama: Memoirs of Babur, Prince and Emperor The Modern Library, New York, page xix, ISBN 0-375-76137-3

Early life

Bairam Khan was born in Badakhshan, now in present day Afghanistan, and belonged to the Baharlu clan of the Turkmen Kara Koyunlu tribe. The Kara Koyunlu had ruled Western Persia for decades before being overthrown by their Ak Koyunlu rivals. Bairam Khan’s father and grandfather had previously joined in Babur’s service.

Notes

Later years

Bairam was dismissed upon Akbar’s coming-of-age in 1560. He subsequently chose to leave India to perform the hajj pilgrimage in Mecca.

While travelling through Gujarat,Bose, Mandakranta. , 2000. he was killed by Hazi Khan Mewati of Alwar, who was the General and close confidant of Hindu Kings of North India Hemu, and was staying at Patan after Akbar’s forces captured Alwar Sarkar in 1559. One day when Bairam Khan was at Sahstraling Talav, a religious site, he was recognised by Lohani Pashtun an associate of Hazi Khan Mewati, whose father had been killed in Second Battle of Panipat (1556), five years ago, which was led by Bairam Khan. Hazi Khan attacked and killed Bairam Khan for the atrocities he had committed after the Second Battle of Panipat. Bairam Khan died on 31 January 1561. However, his son and wife were allowed to go free and sent to north India. Bairam Khan’s wife, who was also the cousin of Akbar, married Akbar after Bairam Khan’s death and later on Bairam’s son, Abdul Rahim Khan-i-khana, got an important assignment in Akbar’s administration and was one of the ‘Nau-rattans’ (Nine Gems) of Akbar.

Marriage with Khanzada Jamal Khan’s Daughter

Gazetteer of Ulwur states:

His other wife was Salima Sultana, who married Akabar after his death. 

Military service

Bairam entered Babur’s service at the age of 16 and played an active role in the early Mughal conquests of India.Ray, Sukumar & Beg, M.H.A. (1992) Bairam Khan, Mirza Beg, 1992, page 11, ISBN 969-8120-01-7 Bairam Khan later contributed greatly to the establishment of the Mughal empire under Humayun. Under Humayan he was entrusted the position of muhradr (keeper of the seals) and took part in military campaigns in Benares, Bengal and Gujarat. He 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.Ray, Sukumar & Beg, M.H.A. (1992) Bairam Khan, Mirza Beg, 1992, page 27, ISBN 969-8120-01-7

Following Humayun’s death in 1556, Bairam Khan was appointed Regent over the young monarch Akbar. As regent, he consolidated Mughal authority in northern India and most notably led Mughal forces at the Second Battle of Panipat, which was fought between Akbar and the Hindu king Hemu in Nov. 1556.