The Tragic Story of Prince Khusrau, Jahangir's Eldest Son
Prince Khusrau (1587-1622), is one of the most tragic figures in Mughal history. Born at Lahore in August 1587, he was the eldest son of Emperor Jahangir and Manbhawati Bai. Through his mother, Khusrau belonged to the Kachhwaha family of Amer, one of the most influential Rajput families allied with the Mughal Empire. His grandfathers were Emperor Akbar and Raja Bhagwan Das.
In 1606, shortly after Jahangir's accession to the throne, Khusrau revolted against his father.
While Jahangir was away on a hunting expedition in May 1605, the queen is said to have consumed a large quantity of opium and died shortly thereafter.
Jahangir believed that she had been broken by the behavior of Khusrau and her brother, Madho Singh, toward him. According to Jahangir's account, she despaired of her life in a fit of madness, and ended her life to escape her sorrow and suffering.
During the last year of Akbar's reign, tensions between Salim and Khusrau became even more visible. The first open clash between the two princes during an elephant fight caused great distress to the ailing emperor.
As Akbar lay on his deathbed in October 1605, however, the long-established customs of the Chagatai Turks prevailed, and he confirmed Salim as his successor. On 2 November 1605, Salim ascended the Mughal throne as Emperor Jahangir.
Following Akbar's death, Raja Man Singh planned to escort Khusrau to Bengal. Jahangir quickly sent an officer to assure both Man Singh and Khusrau that the prince would not be harmed if he returned to court.
When Raja Man Singh brought Khusrau back, Jahangir received his eldest son warmly, treating him with kindness and tried to show that no bitterness remained between them.
For a brief moment, it appeared that father and son might live peacefully together. But beneath the surface, distrust remained.
Jahangir explained the rebellion in his Memoirs. "Corrupting notions had crept into Khusrau's head because of his youth and the conceit that afflicts the young, particularly during the days of my exalted father's illness when some short-sighted men, despairing utterly of pardon and forgiveness for the multitude of crimes and shortcomings they had committed, thought they could make Khusrau a puppet and take the reins of government into their own hands."
Jahangir noted that although he had repeatedly shown love and kindness towards Khusrau, he was unable to remove the worries and ambitions from his son's heart.
Khusrau's rebellion was short-lived. He besieged the city of Lahore but failed to take it. The imperial army moved rapidly against the rebels and defeated them without much difficulty. While trying to flee, Khusrau was captured and brought before Jahangir at Lahore in chains.
Determined to take stern measures against the rebels, Jahangir imposed brutal punishments on many of Khusrau's followers, forcing Khusrau to witness their agony. Khusrau pleaded with his father, declaring that he alone should bear the consequences of his rebellion, while his companions had merely followed his orders and should not be punished for obeying him.
Jahangir spared Khusrau's life, but ordered that he be imprisoned with fetters on his legs.
Jahangir also ordered the arrest and execution of Guru Arjan Dev.
Although Khusrau remained a prisoner, Jahangir's paternal affection for his eldest son never completely disappeared.
In 1607, while at Kabul, Jahangir ordered Khusrau's chains to be temporarily removed and allow the prince to walk freely in the beautiful Shahr-ara Garden, built by Babur's aunt, Shahr Bano Begum. Jahangir recorded the moment in his Memoirs: "My fatherly affection would not allow me to keep him from touring the garden."
Reflecting on the incident, Jahangir wrote: "Although improper actions had repeatedly been taken by Khusrau and he deserved a thousand types of chastisement, my paternal affection for him would not allow me to put him to death. Albeit according to the law of rule and the maintenance of empire it is disapproved to do such things, I closed my eyes to his faults and had him kept in the utmost luxury and comfort. However, it became obvious that he was sending messengers to some short-sighted villains and encouraging them to make trouble and assassinate me."
After several years of strict confinement, Khusrau's imprisonment was eased. He was released from his prison but remained under constant supervision, entrusted to the custody of certain grandees of the Mughal court.
One person remained faithfully beside him throughout these difficult years - his wife, the daughter of Khan-i-Azam Mirza Aziz Koka, who chose to share her husband's captivity.
Nur Jahan became one of the most powerful women in Mughal history. Royal firmans carried her signature, coins were struck in her name. Her influence over Jahangir grew stronger with each passing year.
Nur Jahan's father, Itimad-ud-Daula was Jahangir's wazir, while her brother, Asaf Khan, was one of the most powerful nobles at court. The family's political influence expanded further when Asaf Khan's daughter, Arjumand Banu Begum - the future Mumtaz Mahal - married Prince Khurram, Jahangir's third son, in 1612. This alliance connected Khurram to Nur Jahan's powerful faction.
For Khusrau, the situation became even more difficult. His allies were no longer in positions of power. Although his father-in-law, Mirza Aziz Koka, remained in the imperial service, he had fallen out of favour. Raja Man Singh died in July 1614.
Meanwhile, the 'Nur Jahan junta' continued to gain power.
Notable among these were Sir Thomas Roe, the English ambassador sent by King James, and his chaplain Edward Terry, who lived in the Mughal empire between 1615 and 1619.
According to these accounts, Khusrau was deeply loved by both the Mughal nobility and the common people. Jahangir actually wished Khusrau would eventually inherit the throne. His decision to keep his son imprisoned was driven not by hatred, but by a fear - or perhaps jealousy - of the prince's popularity. Jahangir knew that if Khusrau was granted freedom, he might escape from court, or influential nobles might once again rally around him, potentially sparking another rebellion.
Though a prisoner, Khusrau was still a legitimate heir to the throne who commanded widespread respect. As long as he lived, there existed the possibility that Jahangir might forgive his eldest son and restore him to favour. If that happened, the fortunes of Nur Jahan's faction could collapse overnight. Driven by this fear, they sought control over Khusrau's custody, so that he could later be secretly put to death.
At the time, Khusrau was under the charge of the Rajput noble Anup Rai, whom Jahangir had honoured with the title of Anirai Singh Dalan.
Roe recounts how Nur Jahan tried to persuade Jahangir through tears and emotional pleas, arguing that Khusrau remained a dangerous man whose ambitions had not been quelled. Taking advantage of a moment when Jahangir was drunk, she argued that Khusrau's honour and safety would be better protected under the supervision of his younger brother, Khurram rather than under Anirai's care.
By these means, Nur Jahan's faction would not only have removed a powerful enemy, but also clear the path for Khurram to mount the throne after Jahangir.
Before leaving for his Deccan campaign in 1616, Khurram requested that Khusrau be transferred to the custody of his father-in-law, Asaf Khan. Khurram and his supporters convinced Jahangir that this arrangement would strengthen Khurram's prestige and it would be easy to defeat the Deccan Sultans.
In his Memoirs, Jahangir recorded that Khusrau, who had been entrusted to the care of Anirai, was transferred to Asaf Khan in October 1616.
Asaf Khan treated Khusrau with deliberate contempt and repeatedly tried to provoke him into violence. He hoped that if Khusrau lost his temper, drew his sword, or attacked him, the guards could kill the prince on the spot. If that failed, Asaf Khan could accuse Khusrau of attempting to murder his keeper while trying to escape. Either outcome would have removed Khurram's most formidable rival to the Mughal throne. Khusrau, however, remained calm and patient.
News of Asaf Khan's conduct eventually reached Jahangir. Summoning Asaf Khan to court, Jahangir questioned him directly about his treatment of Khusrau. When Asaf Khan admitted he had shown no respect to the prince, Jahangir became furious. He declared that Khusrau was not merely a prisoner, but his eldest son, and ordered that the prince be treated with the dignity appropriate to his rank.. Jahangir warned that if he ever heard of another act of disrespect, he would order Khusrau to place his feet upon Asaf Khan's neck and trample him. Jahangir added that while he loved Khurram, he had not entrusted Khusrau to their custody so that they could humiliate or destroy him.
In February 1617, Roe and his chaplain Edward Terry met Khusrau. Roe described the prince as a good-natured man with a cheerful countenance. His beard had grown so long that it reached down to his waist.
Edward Terry was equally impressed, describing Khusrau as "a gentleman of a very lovely presence and fine carriage and so exceedingly beloved of the common people."
Khusrau asked Roe several questions concerning his country and business, including, how far England was from the Mughal country, how Jahangir had treated the ambassador and whether his father had presented him with any valuable gifts. Khusrau added sadly that, as a prisoner, he had no power to assist Roe.
Several months later, in August 1617, Roe found Khusrau "came to take air and pleasure at the banqueting house."
Nur Jahan began to fear that if Shah Jahan became emperor her authority would likely disappear.
She approached Khusrau and repeatedly asked him to marry her daughter, Ladli Begum, from her first marriage, promising to set him free if he agreed. Khusrau, however, always refused.
Jahangir summoned Khusrau to court and ordered him to perform the korunush before the throne. He then publicly forgave Khusrau, pardoned his earlier offences, and, in his own words, "wiped away the dust of shame from his brow."
Jahangir's renewed favour toward Khusrau alarmed Shah Jahan, who realized that his elder brother still remained a legitimate rival for the Mughal throne.
When ordered to proceed to the Deccan in 1620, Shah Jahan refused to go unless he could take Khusrau with him. He assured Jahangir that he would keep his brother under close supervision and ensure that he could never again pose a danger. Before agreeing, Jahangir issued a solemn command: Shah Jahan was to treat Khusrau with kindness, keep him in honorable confinement, and under no circumstances cause him any harm.
In February 1622, Jahangir received the sad news from Shah Jahan: Khusrau had died at Burhanpur after a severe attack of colic and had been buried there.
Jahangir was deeply disturbed by the news. He wrote to Shah Jahan, asking him to come to the imperial court and explain the circumstances surrounding Khusrau's death. However, before any investigation could proceed further, another crisis confronted the Mughal Empire.
Taking advantage of Khusrau's death, Shah Abbas of Persia laid siege to Kandahar in March 1622.
On May 9, 1622, Khusrau's corpse was taken out from his grave at Burhanpur and brought to Delhi. In June, 1622, it was reinterred at Allahabad beside the grave of his mother. A splendid mausoleum was later constructed over his grave in the beautiful garden that is now known as Khusru Bagh.
Khusrau had three sons and one daughter: Buland Akhtar (died young), Bulaqi (Later Dawar Bakshsh), Garshap and Hoshang Banu Begum.
Even Shah Jahan's son and successor, Aurangzeb, many years later, referred to Khusrau's death in a letter to his father, hinting at the suspicions surrounding the prince's end.
THE JAHANGIRNAMA Memoirs of Jahangir, Emperor of India - Translated, edited, and annotated by Wheeler M. Thackston
In 1606, shortly after Jahangir's accession to the throne, Khusrau revolted against his father.
Background
Prince Salim, later known as Emperor Jahangir, was the eldest son of Akbar. During a period when Salim's relationship with Akbar was strained due to repeated acts of defiance, Akbar favored Khusrau, granting him advantages in rank and favor over Salim. Contemporary accounts suggest that Akbar even considered Khusrau as his successor instead of Salim. Many influential nobles also believed that Khusrau possessed the qualities of an ideal successor.Death of Khusrau's Mother
Manbhawati Bai, Khusrau's mother and Jahangir's first wife, was deeply loved by the Emperor. She frequently wrote to Khusrau, pleading with him to remain loyal to his father and to treat him with love and respect. Already suffering from severe mental distress and depression, Khusrau's complaints about his father to Emperor Akbar added to her sorrow.While Jahangir was away on a hunting expedition in May 1605, the queen is said to have consumed a large quantity of opium and died shortly thereafter.
Jahangir believed that she had been broken by the behavior of Khusrau and her brother, Madho Singh, toward him. According to Jahangir's account, she despaired of her life in a fit of madness, and ended her life to escape her sorrow and suffering.
Akbar's Death and Jahangir's Accession
As Akbar's health declined in 1605, the struggle over succession became intense. Two powerful factions emerged within the court: one supporting Prince Salim and the other backing Prince Khusrau. Among Khusrau's strongest supporters were his maternal uncle Raja Man Singh and Khan-i-Azam Mirza Aziz Koka, Akbar's foster-brother and Khusrau's father-in-law.During the last year of Akbar's reign, tensions between Salim and Khusrau became even more visible. The first open clash between the two princes during an elephant fight caused great distress to the ailing emperor.
As Akbar lay on his deathbed in October 1605, however, the long-established customs of the Chagatai Turks prevailed, and he confirmed Salim as his successor. On 2 November 1605, Salim ascended the Mughal throne as Emperor Jahangir.
Following Akbar's death, Raja Man Singh planned to escort Khusrau to Bengal. Jahangir quickly sent an officer to assure both Man Singh and Khusrau that the prince would not be harmed if he returned to court.
When Raja Man Singh brought Khusrau back, Jahangir received his eldest son warmly, treating him with kindness and tried to show that no bitterness remained between them.
For a brief moment, it appeared that father and son might live peacefully together. But beneath the surface, distrust remained.
Khusrau's Rebellion
In April 1606, Khusrau left Agra under the pretext of visiting Akbar's tomb at Sikandra. He fled with a few followers towards Punjab, and on the way received blessings of the Sikh Guru Arjan Dev. As Khusrau advanced to Lahore, many supporters joined him. By plundering royal treasuries and distributing the wealth among his followers, he rapidly expanded his army.
Jahangir explained the rebellion in his Memoirs. "Corrupting notions had crept into Khusrau's head because of his youth and the conceit that afflicts the young, particularly during the days of my exalted father's illness when some short-sighted men, despairing utterly of pardon and forgiveness for the multitude of crimes and shortcomings they had committed, thought they could make Khusrau a puppet and take the reins of government into their own hands."
Jahangir noted that although he had repeatedly shown love and kindness towards Khusrau, he was unable to remove the worries and ambitions from his son's heart.
Khusrau's rebellion was short-lived. He besieged the city of Lahore but failed to take it. The imperial army moved rapidly against the rebels and defeated them without much difficulty. While trying to flee, Khusrau was captured and brought before Jahangir at Lahore in chains.
Determined to take stern measures against the rebels, Jahangir imposed brutal punishments on many of Khusrau's followers, forcing Khusrau to witness their agony. Khusrau pleaded with his father, declaring that he alone should bear the consequences of his rebellion, while his companions had merely followed his orders and should not be punished for obeying him.
Jahangir spared Khusrau's life, but ordered that he be imprisoned with fetters on his legs.
Jahangir also ordered the arrest and execution of Guru Arjan Dev.
Although Khusrau remained a prisoner, Jahangir's paternal affection for his eldest son never completely disappeared.
In 1607, while at Kabul, Jahangir ordered Khusrau's chains to be temporarily removed and allow the prince to walk freely in the beautiful Shahr-ara Garden, built by Babur's aunt, Shahr Bano Begum. Jahangir recorded the moment in his Memoirs: "My fatherly affection would not allow me to keep him from touring the garden."
Another Conspiracy
Despite his rebellion, Khusrau had supporters among Jahangir's officers. His supporters secretly plotted to assassinate Jahangir during a hunting expedition near Kabul. However, the conspiracy was discovered. Jahangir ordered the execution of the ringleaders.Reflecting on the incident, Jahangir wrote: "Although improper actions had repeatedly been taken by Khusrau and he deserved a thousand types of chastisement, my paternal affection for him would not allow me to put him to death. Albeit according to the law of rule and the maintenance of empire it is disapproved to do such things, I closed my eyes to his faults and had him kept in the utmost luxury and comfort. However, it became obvious that he was sending messengers to some short-sighted villains and encouraging them to make trouble and assassinate me."
After several years of strict confinement, Khusrau's imprisonment was eased. He was released from his prison but remained under constant supervision, entrusted to the custody of certain grandees of the Mughal court.
One person remained faithfully beside him throughout these difficult years - his wife, the daughter of Khan-i-Azam Mirza Aziz Koka, who chose to share her husband's captivity.
Rise of Nur Jahan's Faction
A turning point in Jahangir's reign came in 1611 when he married Mihr-un-Nissa Khanum, the widow of the Mughal officer Sher Afgan. She soon became Jahangir's favourite wife, and in 1616, she was granted the illustrious title of Nur Jahan.Nur Jahan became one of the most powerful women in Mughal history. Royal firmans carried her signature, coins were struck in her name. Her influence over Jahangir grew stronger with each passing year.
Nur Jahan's father, Itimad-ud-Daula was Jahangir's wazir, while her brother, Asaf Khan, was one of the most powerful nobles at court. The family's political influence expanded further when Asaf Khan's daughter, Arjumand Banu Begum - the future Mumtaz Mahal - married Prince Khurram, Jahangir's third son, in 1612. This alliance connected Khurram to Nur Jahan's powerful faction.
For Khusrau, the situation became even more difficult. His allies were no longer in positions of power. Although his father-in-law, Mirza Aziz Koka, remained in the imperial service, he had fallen out of favour. Raja Man Singh died in July 1614.
Meanwhile, the 'Nur Jahan junta' continued to gain power.
European Visitors at the Mughal Court
Some of the most interesting accounts of Khusrau come from European travellers who visited the Mughal court. Their writings combine firsthand observations with court rumours and hearsay.Notable among these were Sir Thomas Roe, the English ambassador sent by King James, and his chaplain Edward Terry, who lived in the Mughal empire between 1615 and 1619.
According to these accounts, Khusrau was deeply loved by both the Mughal nobility and the common people. Jahangir actually wished Khusrau would eventually inherit the throne. His decision to keep his son imprisoned was driven not by hatred, but by a fear - or perhaps jealousy - of the prince's popularity. Jahangir knew that if Khusrau was granted freedom, he might escape from court, or influential nobles might once again rally around him, potentially sparking another rebellion.
Transfer of Khusrau to Asaf Khan
Sir Thomas Roe noted the remarkable influence exercised by Nur Jahan's faction. Together with her father, Itimad-ud-Daula, her brother, Asaf Khan, and Prince Khurram, she formed the most powerful bloc at court. To them, Khusrau was the primary obstacle to their absolute control.Though a prisoner, Khusrau was still a legitimate heir to the throne who commanded widespread respect. As long as he lived, there existed the possibility that Jahangir might forgive his eldest son and restore him to favour. If that happened, the fortunes of Nur Jahan's faction could collapse overnight. Driven by this fear, they sought control over Khusrau's custody, so that he could later be secretly put to death.
At the time, Khusrau was under the charge of the Rajput noble Anup Rai, whom Jahangir had honoured with the title of Anirai Singh Dalan.
Roe recounts how Nur Jahan tried to persuade Jahangir through tears and emotional pleas, arguing that Khusrau remained a dangerous man whose ambitions had not been quelled. Taking advantage of a moment when Jahangir was drunk, she argued that Khusrau's honour and safety would be better protected under the supervision of his younger brother, Khurram rather than under Anirai's care.
By these means, Nur Jahan's faction would not only have removed a powerful enemy, but also clear the path for Khurram to mount the throne after Jahangir.
Before leaving for his Deccan campaign in 1616, Khurram requested that Khusrau be transferred to the custody of his father-in-law, Asaf Khan. Khurram and his supporters convinced Jahangir that this arrangement would strengthen Khurram's prestige and it would be easy to defeat the Deccan Sultans.
In his Memoirs, Jahangir recorded that Khusrau, who had been entrusted to the care of Anirai, was transferred to Asaf Khan in October 1616.
Asaf Khan treated Khusrau with deliberate contempt and repeatedly tried to provoke him into violence. He hoped that if Khusrau lost his temper, drew his sword, or attacked him, the guards could kill the prince on the spot. If that failed, Asaf Khan could accuse Khusrau of attempting to murder his keeper while trying to escape. Either outcome would have removed Khurram's most formidable rival to the Mughal throne. Khusrau, however, remained calm and patient.
News of Asaf Khan's conduct eventually reached Jahangir. Summoning Asaf Khan to court, Jahangir questioned him directly about his treatment of Khusrau. When Asaf Khan admitted he had shown no respect to the prince, Jahangir became furious. He declared that Khusrau was not merely a prisoner, but his eldest son, and ordered that the prince be treated with the dignity appropriate to his rank.. Jahangir warned that if he ever heard of another act of disrespect, he would order Khusrau to place his feet upon Asaf Khan's neck and trample him. Jahangir added that while he loved Khurram, he had not entrusted Khusrau to their custody so that they could humiliate or destroy him.
In February 1617, Roe and his chaplain Edward Terry met Khusrau. Roe described the prince as a good-natured man with a cheerful countenance. His beard had grown so long that it reached down to his waist.
Edward Terry was equally impressed, describing Khusrau as "a gentleman of a very lovely presence and fine carriage and so exceedingly beloved of the common people."
Khusrau asked Roe several questions concerning his country and business, including, how far England was from the Mughal country, how Jahangir had treated the ambassador and whether his father had presented him with any valuable gifts. Khusrau added sadly that, as a prisoner, he had no power to assist Roe.
Several months later, in August 1617, Roe found Khusrau "came to take air and pleasure at the banqueting house."
The Changing Politics of Jahangir's Court
Meanwhile, Nur Jahan's Alliance with Khurram began to weaken due to his increasing power. Following Khurram's successful Deccan campaign, his prestige rose dramatically. In October 1617, Jahangir rewarded him with the title Shah Jahan and granted him many honors, including a seat near the imperial throne.Nur Jahan began to fear that if Shah Jahan became emperor her authority would likely disappear.
Nur Jahan's Proposal to Marry Her Daughter to Khusrau
To preserve her political power and influence at the Mughal court even after the eventual death of her husband, Jahangir, Nur Jahan appears to have reconsidered her political strategy.She approached Khusrau and repeatedly asked him to marry her daughter, Ladli Begum, from her first marriage, promising to set him free if he agreed. Khusrau, however, always refused.
Shah Jahan Takes Charge of Khusrau
In October 1619, Jahangir recorded in his Memoirs: "Since Khusrau had been held in detention for a long time, it occurred to me that it was unfeeling to keep him in prison more than this and to deprive him of the felicity of serving me."Jahangir summoned Khusrau to court and ordered him to perform the korunush before the throne. He then publicly forgave Khusrau, pardoned his earlier offences, and, in his own words, "wiped away the dust of shame from his brow."
Jahangir's renewed favour toward Khusrau alarmed Shah Jahan, who realized that his elder brother still remained a legitimate rival for the Mughal throne.
When ordered to proceed to the Deccan in 1620, Shah Jahan refused to go unless he could take Khusrau with him. He assured Jahangir that he would keep his brother under close supervision and ensure that he could never again pose a danger. Before agreeing, Jahangir issued a solemn command: Shah Jahan was to treat Khusrau with kindness, keep him in honorable confinement, and under no circumstances cause him any harm.
Death of Khusrau
"Around this time a report was received from Khurram containing the news that Khusrau had died after an attack of colic pain."In February 1622, Jahangir received the sad news from Shah Jahan: Khusrau had died at Burhanpur after a severe attack of colic and had been buried there.
Jahangir was deeply disturbed by the news. He wrote to Shah Jahan, asking him to come to the imperial court and explain the circumstances surrounding Khusrau's death. However, before any investigation could proceed further, another crisis confronted the Mughal Empire.
Taking advantage of Khusrau's death, Shah Abbas of Persia laid siege to Kandahar in March 1622.
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| Tomb of Prince Khusrau, near Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh. Coloured aquatint by Thomas Daniell, 1796. |
On May 9, 1622, Khusrau's corpse was taken out from his grave at Burhanpur and brought to Delhi. In June, 1622, it was reinterred at Allahabad beside the grave of his mother. A splendid mausoleum was later constructed over his grave in the beautiful garden that is now known as Khusru Bagh.
Khusrau's Family
Khusrau's wives were daughter of Mirza Aziz Koka and daughter of Muqim.Khusrau had three sons and one daughter: Buland Akhtar (died young), Bulaqi (Later Dawar Bakshsh), Garshap and Hoshang Banu Begum.
Did Shah Jahan Murder Khusrau?
Several European visitors recorded that Khusrau had actually been murdered on Shah Jahan's orders. According to these reports, one of Shah Jahan's slaves entered Khusrau's chamber during the night and strangled him with a cloth, so as to raise the less suspicion of violence, and suggest a natural death.Even Shah Jahan's son and successor, Aurangzeb, many years later, referred to Khusrau's death in a letter to his father, hinting at the suspicions surrounding the prince's end.
Reference
Accounts of Sir Thomas Roe (1615-19), Edward Terry (1616-19), Pietro Della Valle, Peter Mundy, Francisco Pelsaert, De Laet, Thomas CoryatTHE JAHANGIRNAMA Memoirs of Jahangir, Emperor of India - Translated, edited, and annotated by Wheeler M. Thackston
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