Asad Khan (Mughal Noble)

Asad Khan (1626/1631 – 15 June 1716), born Mohammad Ibrahim, was a high-ranking noble of the Mughal Empire during the reigns of Aurangzeb and Bahadur Shah. He is known for his tenure as the '' wazir'' (prime minister) of emperor Aurangzeb in the period 1676–1707, and was an important player in Mughal court politics.

Early life

Asad Khan was born around 1626 or 1631 as Mohammad Ibrahim. His father was Zulfiqar Khan Qaramanlu, member of a prestigious family of Iran who had fled to India for fear of Iran's king.

Career

Asad Khan entered Mughal imperial service in 1654, during the 27th year of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan's reign. Under Shah Jahan's successor Aurangzeb, Asad Khan occupied the post of second ''bakhshi'' (paymaster) until 1670, when he was made deputy to the ''wazir''. He held this position until 1676, when he became ''wazir'' himself.

From the 1680s onwards, nobles of Aurangzeb split into two main factions; Asad Khan and his influential son Zulfiqar Khan emerged as the leaders of one side, while Ghaziuddin Khan and Chin Qilich Khan headed the other. These factions determined noble politics towards the end of Aurangzeb's reign.

From 1684, Asad Khan served in the Deccan. On one occasion him and Zulfiqar Khan accompanied a military expedition to capture Jinji headed by prince Kam Bakhsh, a son of Aurangzeb. Upon difficulties securing the fort, Kam Bakhsh discreetly opened negotiations with the enemy against Aurangzeb's direct orders. Asad Khan and his son learned of this and readily arrested him; he was then mistreated, and Asad Khan is known to have abused Kam Bakhsh directly. Aurangzeb thereupon threatened to relieve Asad Khan of the ''wazir'' position, but never acted on this. Munis Faruqui underlines this event as illustrative of how Aurangzeb protected his nobles, sometimes at the expense of the royal princes.

Aurangzeb in his last will is thought to have appointed Asad Khan as ''wazir'' indefinitely after his demise. In the succession struggle following Aurangzeb's death, Asad Khan and his son allied with prince Azam Shah. However, prince Muhammad Muazzam defeated him in the Battle of Jajau and ascended the throne as Bahadur Shah. As emperor, Bahadur Shah sought to weaken the influence of Asad Khan and Zulfiqar Khan by giving the position of ''wazir'' to Munim Khan, ending Asad Khan's tenure as ''wazir'' in 1707. Asad Khan was instead given the high position of '' Vakil-i-Mutlaq''. This was to the discontent of Asad Khan, and he was still able to negotiate partial control over the post of ''wazir.'' Asad Khan's rank was also increased to 8000 horses.

in 1712, Bahadur Shah was succeeded by his son Jahandar Shah, under whom Asad Khan remained ''wakil-i-mutlaq''. However, the following year Jahandar Shah was defeated in battle by Farrukhsiyar, and sought refuge at Asad Khan's household. Asad Khan and his son Zulfiqar Khan, despite having supported Jahandar Shah uptil then, decided to turn over Jahandar Shah to the new emperor. However, Farrukhsiyar was mistrustful of Asad Khan and had his son killed. Asad Khan then spent the rest of his life in obscurity, and died on 15 June 1716.{{Cite book , last=Irvine , first=William , url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/_/ak5oFjTys8MC?hl=en&gbpv=1 , title=Later Mughals , publisher=Atlantic Publishers & Distributors , year=1971 , pages=250-253, 256-257

Family

Asad Khan was married to Mehrunissa, daughter of Asaf Khan. Zulfiqar Khan was born to them in the year 1657. Asad Khan also had a daughter who was married to Khuda Bandah Khan, son of noble Shaista Khan.

References

Grand viziers of the Mughal Empire
1716 deaths