What Happened to Shah Begum, Jahangir’s First Wife?
The relationship between the Mughal Empire and the Rajput dynasties was one of the most important political alliances of Akbar's reign.
Unlike previous rulers who regarded Rajput kingdoms merely as conquered kingdoms, Akbar sought to bring Rajput ruling families into the imperial structure. Rajput rulers who accepted Mughal authority could retain their status, titles and prestige while serving the emperor as nobles, governors and military commanders. Matrimonial alliances became an important part of this policy.
In 1562, Raja Bharmal, the Kachwaha ruler of Amer, became the first Rajput to enter Akbar's service. His daughter's marriage to Akbar was celebrated with great pomp. Bharmal's son, Raja Bhagwan Das (also known as Bhagwant Das), and grandson, Raja Man Singh, later rose to prominent positions at the Mughal court.
It was in this atmosphere of political cooperation that another important marriage took place: the marriage of Manbhawati Bai to Prince Salim, the future Emperor Jahangir.
The Akbarnama describes the marriage proposal in formal terms: "At this time, Akbar was informed that Raja Bhagwan Das, a nobleman of distinguished lineage who held high office at the imperial court, had a daughter renowned for her beauty, virtue and graceful character. Her family desired that she should be married to Prince Salim."
Akbar approved the proposal, and the wedding was solemnized at the palace of Raja Bhagwan Das in February 1584. Contemporary Mughal accounts describe the occasion as a grand imperial celebration, with elaborate celebrations, feasts and gifts.
The marriage soon brought children into the imperial family.
The Akbarnama recorded the birth of Jahangir's eldest daughter: In April 1586, the daughter of Raja Bhagwan Das gave birth to a daughter in the house of Prince Salim, and there were various rejoicings." Akbar named her Sultan Khirad. Jahangir later referred to her as Sultan-un-Nissa Begum.
The following year, Manbhawati Bai gave birth to a son.
The Akbarnama also records the birth of Khusrau, Akbar's eldest grandson: "In August 1587, the auspicious pearl displayed itself in the city of Lahore, in the bedchamber of Prince Salim, from the chaste womb of the daughter of Raja Bhagwan Das." Akbar named the child Sultan Khusrau.
After the birth of Khusrau, Jahangir bestowed upon her the title of Shah Begum.
The birth of Khusrau brought great joy to his mother. But years later, that same son would become the source of her greatest sorrow.
In November 1605, when Salim ascended the throne as Emperor Jahangir, he recalled his first marriage in his memoirs. He wrote: "Raja Man Singh, one of my father's trusted and important amirs, had various relationships and kinships to this glorious family. Since he was constantly in my father's house, I myself proposed marriage with his sister, who gave birth to Khusrau and his sister Sultan-un-Nissa Begum, my first child."
While writing about Khusrau's rebellion, Jahangir noted: "During the events that transpired after His Majesty Arsh-Ashyani's (Akbar) death, he (Khusrau) had some notions caused by the corrupting influence of some mischief-makers, and he knew that these things had been reported to me. Therefore, he had no reliance on my love and compassion. Even while I was a prince, his mother swallowed opium and killed herself because of his dreadful ways and because of the conduct of her own brother, Madho Singh."
Jahangir praised her intelligence, loyalty and devotion: "What shall I write of her goodness and excellence? She had a mind to perfection, and she was so loyal to me that she would have sacrificed a thousand sons and brothers for one hair on my head."
Jahangir recorded the circumstances of her death. The Begum repeatedly advised Khusrau to remain loyal and affectionate toward his father. Despite her efforts, the conflict continued to grow. "When she saw that it was of no use and there was no telling where it would end, she decided to take her own life out of the zeal that is an integral part of Rajput nature."
Shah Begum had suffered several episodes of severe mental disturbance, after which she would gradually return to her normal state. This condition was hereditary, since her father and brothers also suffered from similar disturbances.
In May 1605, while Jahangir was away on a hunting trip, Shah Begum suffered another such period of mental distress. In a state of imbalance, she consumed a large quantity of opium and died soon afterwards.
Jahangir noted that she could not bear the actions of Khusrau and her brother, Madho Singh, toward him. Overcome by grief and despair, she lost the will to live and ended her life.
Shah Begum's death deeply affected Jahangir. He wrote that, because he had been very attached to her, he lost all happiness and found no pleasure in life after her death. For four days, he was consumed by grief and neither ate nor drank.
Shah Begum's death occurred just before the Mughal succession passed from Akbar to Salim. Therefore, she could not witness Jahangir's coronation. Perhaps the greatest tragedy was that she never saw what happened to Khusrau.
Only months after Jahangir's accession, Khusrau rebelled against his father. The rebellion failed, and Khusrau was captured and imprisoned.
One cannot know what Shah Begum might have done had she lived.
Perhaps she would have pleaded for her son.
Perhaps she would have tried once again to reconcile father and son.
Years later, in 1622, Khusrau was killed while in the custody of his younger brother, Prince Khurram, the future Emperor Shah Jahan.
Yet, a profound melancholy pervades these monuments. Even in death, Shah Begum and Khusrau could not reunite with Jahangir. Mother and son lie side by side in Allahabad, but remain forever separated from Jahangir - the man Shah Begum loved so deeply and the father with whom Khusrau could never reconcile. Jahangir rests hundreds of miles away in Lahore, now in Pakistan.
Unlike previous rulers who regarded Rajput kingdoms merely as conquered kingdoms, Akbar sought to bring Rajput ruling families into the imperial structure. Rajput rulers who accepted Mughal authority could retain their status, titles and prestige while serving the emperor as nobles, governors and military commanders. Matrimonial alliances became an important part of this policy.
In 1562, Raja Bharmal, the Kachwaha ruler of Amer, became the first Rajput to enter Akbar's service. His daughter's marriage to Akbar was celebrated with great pomp. Bharmal's son, Raja Bhagwan Das (also known as Bhagwant Das), and grandson, Raja Man Singh, later rose to prominent positions at the Mughal court.
It was in this atmosphere of political cooperation that another important marriage took place: the marriage of Manbhawati Bai to Prince Salim, the future Emperor Jahangir.
Marriage of Manbhawati Bhai and Jahangir
Manbhawati Bai, the daughter of Raja Bhagwan Das, became the first wife of Jahangir, whom he married while he was still very young.The Akbarnama describes the marriage proposal in formal terms: "At this time, Akbar was informed that Raja Bhagwan Das, a nobleman of distinguished lineage who held high office at the imperial court, had a daughter renowned for her beauty, virtue and graceful character. Her family desired that she should be married to Prince Salim."
Akbar approved the proposal, and the wedding was solemnized at the palace of Raja Bhagwan Das in February 1584. Contemporary Mughal accounts describe the occasion as a grand imperial celebration, with elaborate celebrations, feasts and gifts.
The marriage soon brought children into the imperial family.
The Akbarnama recorded the birth of Jahangir's eldest daughter: In April 1586, the daughter of Raja Bhagwan Das gave birth to a daughter in the house of Prince Salim, and there were various rejoicings." Akbar named her Sultan Khirad. Jahangir later referred to her as Sultan-un-Nissa Begum.
The following year, Manbhawati Bai gave birth to a son.
The Akbarnama also records the birth of Khusrau, Akbar's eldest grandson: "In August 1587, the auspicious pearl displayed itself in the city of Lahore, in the bedchamber of Prince Salim, from the chaste womb of the daughter of Raja Bhagwan Das." Akbar named the child Sultan Khusrau.
After the birth of Khusrau, Jahangir bestowed upon her the title of Shah Begum.
The birth of Khusrau brought great joy to his mother. But years later, that same son would become the source of her greatest sorrow.
In November 1605, when Salim ascended the throne as Emperor Jahangir, he recalled his first marriage in his memoirs. He wrote: "Raja Man Singh, one of my father's trusted and important amirs, had various relationships and kinships to this glorious family. Since he was constantly in my father's house, I myself proposed marriage with his sister, who gave birth to Khusrau and his sister Sultan-un-Nissa Begum, my first child."
The Tragedy of Shah Begum
As Khusrau grew older, tensions developed between him and his father. Shah Begum found herself caught in the middle.While writing about Khusrau's rebellion, Jahangir noted: "During the events that transpired after His Majesty Arsh-Ashyani's (Akbar) death, he (Khusrau) had some notions caused by the corrupting influence of some mischief-makers, and he knew that these things had been reported to me. Therefore, he had no reliance on my love and compassion. Even while I was a prince, his mother swallowed opium and killed herself because of his dreadful ways and because of the conduct of her own brother, Madho Singh."
Jahangir praised her intelligence, loyalty and devotion: "What shall I write of her goodness and excellence? She had a mind to perfection, and she was so loyal to me that she would have sacrificed a thousand sons and brothers for one hair on my head."
Jahangir recorded the circumstances of her death. The Begum repeatedly advised Khusrau to remain loyal and affectionate toward his father. Despite her efforts, the conflict continued to grow. "When she saw that it was of no use and there was no telling where it would end, she decided to take her own life out of the zeal that is an integral part of Rajput nature."
Shah Begum had suffered several episodes of severe mental disturbance, after which she would gradually return to her normal state. This condition was hereditary, since her father and brothers also suffered from similar disturbances.
In May 1605, while Jahangir was away on a hunting trip, Shah Begum suffered another such period of mental distress. In a state of imbalance, she consumed a large quantity of opium and died soon afterwards.
Jahangir noted that she could not bear the actions of Khusrau and her brother, Madho Singh, toward him. Overcome by grief and despair, she lost the will to live and ended her life.
Shah Begum's death deeply affected Jahangir. He wrote that, because he had been very attached to her, he lost all happiness and found no pleasure in life after her death. For four days, he was consumed by grief and neither ate nor drank.
Shah Begum's death occurred just before the Mughal succession passed from Akbar to Salim. Therefore, she could not witness Jahangir's coronation. Perhaps the greatest tragedy was that she never saw what happened to Khusrau.
Only months after Jahangir's accession, Khusrau rebelled against his father. The rebellion failed, and Khusrau was captured and imprisoned.
One cannot know what Shah Begum might have done had she lived.
Perhaps she would have pleaded for her son.
Perhaps she would have tried once again to reconcile father and son.
Years later, in 1622, Khusrau was killed while in the custody of his younger brother, Prince Khurram, the future Emperor Shah Jahan.
Together at Khusro Bagh, Forever Apart from Jahangir
Shah Begum rests in a magnificent tomb at Khusro Bagh in Allahabad, beside her son Khusrau, whose name now graces the garden. In the stillness of their graves, the conflicts and sorrows that divided their lives have finally subsided. Mother and son, separated by tragedy in life, have at last found the reunion that life so cruelly denied them.Yet, a profound melancholy pervades these monuments. Even in death, Shah Begum and Khusrau could not reunite with Jahangir. Mother and son lie side by side in Allahabad, but remain forever separated from Jahangir - the man Shah Begum loved so deeply and the father with whom Khusrau could never reconcile. Jahangir rests hundreds of miles away in Lahore, now in Pakistan.
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