Bairam Khan is best known for his loyalty to Humayun during the latter’s exile, and for taking centre stage as Akbar’s Regent. He also married the Princess Salima Sultana Begum. So was Bairam Khan, and how did he rise to power?
Bairam Khan belonged to the Baharlu clan of the Qara Qoyunlu Turkmens. At the zenith of their power in the mid 15th century, they wielded immense influence across modern-day Central Asia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Turkey, Afghanistan and Iran. Bairam Khan was a descendant of Ali Shukur Beg, one of the most important tribal leaders at Mirza Jahan Shah’s Court, making his patriarchal lineage not short of royalty.
When Jahan Shah was overthrown, Ali Beg’s sons were pushed to seek careers at other courts. Ali’s sons were married into Timurid Nobility. His grandson, Yar Ali Beg, served as the Governor of Ghazni for Babur. His great-grandson, Saif Ali Beg also served at Babur’s court. Despite the high esteem they were held in, Imperial Ambitions do not tend to die in four generations. To Saif, being a Lord at the Mughal Court was still a downgrade. After all, he was from the Qara Qoyunlu Dynasty, a monarchy which had lasted just short of a century. It was only a matter of time that Saif reconciled himself with his new stature. He did not raise Bairam in the shadow of former glory but for the present.
Bairam’s Ataliq, Amir Beg, also contributed in Bairam’s education, both literary and martial. At 16, Bairam entered Babur’s Court, where he was attached to Humayun’s retinue. Babur’s aunt, and mother in law, Pasha Begum, was also the sister of Bairam’s great grandfather. In a way, his distinguished ancestry made Court somewhat easy. For the next three decades, history is sprinkled with sporadic mentions of Bairam.
It was not until the Battle of Kannauj, that Bairam Khan is mentioned again, as the Keeper of Humayun’s Seals, and to have led a party to attack the Afghans. After the Mughals were routed at Kannauj, Bairam fled to Sambhal, where he had a friend: Mian Abdul Wahab, one of the most important men in the region. Fearing then-Governor, Nasir Khan, a close friend of Sher Shah, Abdul Wahab sent Bairam to Raja Mittar Sen of the Katharya Rajput Dynasty in Lucknow for refuge. When word got out that the Raja was sheltering a Mughal Lord, Bairam was ultimately handed over to Nasir Khan.
Abdul Wahab then brought Isa Khan into the fold, another friend of Sher Shah. It was Isa, who saved Bairam from execution. Isa’s father, was the Mulk-i-Qattal of Bihar, and as per Afghan custom, anyone who took refuge with the Mulk-i-Qattal or his relatives was to be pardoned. Isa tried to convince Bairam to take a position in Sher Khan’s court, but it was not to be. Bairam escaped Isa Khan after a meeting with Sher Shah in Ujjain during his Malwa Campaign.
From Ujjain, he made his way to Gujarat, where Sheikh Gadai gave Bairam refuge for some eight months. During that time, the Sultan of Gujarat also offered Bairam a place at Court, which Bairam declined. After three years of separation, Bairam Khan joined Humayun, when the katter was in exile in Sindh. It was Bairam Khan who urged Humayun to seek refuge in Persia. When a noble, Jan Bahadur, came to reveal Askari’s plan of kidnapping Humayun, it was Bairam Khan he revealed the intrigue too. In Garmsir, it was Bairam who composed Humayun’s letter to Shah Tahmasp.
Many of Bairam’s clansmen were present at the Safavid Court, so the Shah paid much heed to his words. One incident alone hints at bitterness. When Humayun’s entourage was received at Qazwin, Shah Tahmasp asked Bairam Khan to cut his hair and put on a Persian cap, upon which Bairam said he would first have to ask his master - Humayun. As a result, Tahmasp was enraged, and had some prisoners executed on the spot. However, before Persian Troops led by Bairam Khan and Humayun were sent off, Shah Tahmasp bestowed the Title of Khan upon Bairam.
Bairam was Tahmasp’s way of extending Persian influence into Qandahar. Symbolising Askari’s pardon, Bairam was the one who hung a sword around the prince’s neck. After Qandahar was taken, Bairam Khan was appointed Governor, and he remained in charge of the city for the next ten years.
Khan was also involved in a series of diplomatic moves in Kabul, during the Siege of Qandahar. It was noted that when Humayun sent a letter to Kamran, Bairam, concerned that it may not be received with due respect, announced that he would gift Kamran a copy of the Holy Quran. When Kamran stood up to receive it, Bairam first handed him Humayun’s letter.
Bairam was also ruthless to opposition. First, in 1551, when Haji Muhammad Khan, a close confidant of Humayun, deserted the Emperor, Bairam insisted on his execution. Later, at Akbar’s court, Bairam had Sheikh Abdul Maali arrested, on grounds of his disrespect to the King. Akbar was thirteen at the time, and had just ascended the throne. Intrigue followed Bairam Khan in Qandahar. Having seen Humayun at his weakest, their relationship was strained.
Moreover, Munim Khan, a noble who had deserted Humayun in Sindh, had regained his goodwill with Humayun in Kabul. It is plausible that Munim was involved in Humayun’s suspicions of Bairam inciting rebellion. Although Humayun did pay a not-so-friendly surprise visit, Bairam’s reception was above and beyond what Humayun would have expected. Whilst the Emperor did not take action then, he did not trust Bairam enough to leave him in Qandahar either, so Bairam accompanied Humayun into Punjab.
After securing a victory at Machiwara, Humayun awarded Bairam Khan with plenty of Titles: Khan-i-Khanan being one of them. After the Battle of Sirhind, Humayun betrothed his niece, Salima Sultana Begum to Bairam - and announced that the marriage would take place when the conquest of al-Hind had been completed. Bairam Khan was first given charge of Sirhind, in addition to Qandahar, and later, that of Punjab. He was also appointed as the Ataliq to Prince Akbar.
After Humayun’s death, Bairam Khan kept the news secret until Akbar had been crowned. After that, Bairam was appointed the Vazir-i-Saltanat, and the regent to Akbar. The relationship between Akbar and Bairam Khan was strained. As Akbar grew older, he grew less tolerant of an extremely powerful regent. Bairam began to fear for his life. Although the two slayed Hemu in battle together, a string of incidents involving Akbar’s beloved elephants pushed Bairam to leave Agra in 1560.
Court intrigue followed, with Munim Khan presumably involved once again, as his granddaughter was now a part of the Harem. Envoys coming to Delhi to meet Bairam were stopped by Akbar. His departure was framed as a rebellion. Bairam repeatedly pleaded for forgiveness, for naught. Atka Khan, another old enemy of Bairam’s routed Khan’s small party, after which Bairam took shelter with Raja Ganesh of Talawar. Bairam Khan is noted to have written to Akbar, that if it is blood the King requires, he may have a bucketful. Bairam also mentioned that he did not seek refuge with infidels by choice - he had been forced.
It is likely that Bairam’s intolerance for Hindus was also a pain-point between him and Akbar. Bairam is noted to have written a couplet on Muslim men taking Hindu wives - which Akbar encouraged - to be impermissible. Akbar then bestowed the title of Khan-i-Khanan on Munim Khan instead, and Munim was asked to present Bairam Khan at Court. Bairam, fearful of what may ensue, asked Munim to accompany him to Agra personally. When presented to Akbar, Bairam pleaded forgiveness.
Eventually, he was pardoned, and allowed permission to go for Hajj, which he had mentioned to Akbar in several of his letters, and also as the reason for his departure from Agra in the first place. When Bairam set off, and reached Pattan, boating across Sahasralinga Talav, a group of Afghan men came to pay their respects as Khan dismounted from the boat. As soon as Bairam Khan began to speak to them, he found a sword in his back, and another one in his stomach. And there, in January 1561, Bairam Khan’s story came to an end. Historians suggest that it was a man whose father Bairam killed at Machiwarra. We also know that no evidence which points to Akbar, or connects him to these men was found. As for the question of who truly murdered him - we do not know - Wallahu’alam.
References: Attendant Lords, T.C.A. Raghavan.
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