Shah Begum (wife of Jahangir): Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|Chief consort of Mughal Emperor Jahangir}} |
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{{Infobox royalty |
{{Infobox royalty |
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|name = |
| name = Man baï |
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|title = |
| title = [[Princess|Rajkumari]] of [[Kingdom of Amber|Amber]] |
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| image |
| image = Shahbegum1.jpg |
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|succession = |
| succession = |
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| predecessor = |
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|predecessor =[[Mariam-uz-Zamani]] |
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|successor = |
| successor = |
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|caption = |
| caption = French Engraving of Shah Begum at [[Victoria Memorial, Kolkata]] |
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| birth_name = Manbhawati Bai |
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|birth_date |
| birth_date = {{circa}} 1570 |
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|birth_place = |
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| birth_place = [[Amer, India|Amber]], [[Amber Kingdom]], [[Mughal Empire]] <br/> (modern-day [[Rajasthan]], [[India]]) |
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|death_date = {{death date and age| |
| death_date = {{death date and age|1605|5|5|1570|df=yes}} |
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|death_place = [[Allahabad]], [[Mughal Empire]] |
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| death_place = Allahabad, [[Awadh Subah]], [[Mughal Empire]] <br/>(modern-day [[Prayagraj]], [[Uttar Pradesh]], India) |
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|consort = yes |
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| |
| consort = yes |
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| spouse = {{marriage|[[Jahangir]]<br/>|13 February 1585}} |
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| issue = {{plainlist| |
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|father = [[Raja Bhagwant Das]] |
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*[[Khusrau Mirza]]}} |
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|mother = |
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| house = [[Kachhwaha]] (by birth)<br />[[Timurid dynasty|Timurid]] (by marriage) |
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⚫ | |||
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| father = [[Raja Bhagwant Das]] |
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| mother = Bhagwati Bai |
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| place of burial = [[Khusro Bagh|Khusrau Bagh]], [[Allahabad]] |
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| religion = [[Hinduism]] |
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}} |
}} |
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'''Shah Begum''' ({{lit|Royal Begum}}; {{circa}} 1570{{Citation needed|date=May 2022}} – 5 May 1605) was the first wife and chief consort of Prince Salim (later Emperor [[Jahangir]]). She was known as Zan-i-Kalan being the first wife of Salim. She was a [[Rajput]] princess by birth and committed suicide shortly before the succession of her husband to the royal throne.<ref>{{Cite web |last=ranasafvi |date=2020-05-14 |title=Shah Begum's Cenotaph in Khusrau Bagh, Allahabad |url=https://ranasafvi.com/shah-begums-cenotaph-in-khusrau-bagh-allahabad/amp/ |access-date=2024-09-20 |website=Rana Safvi |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Sarin |first=Hemant |date=2019-03-19 |title=Shah Begum's Tomb in Allahabad {{!}} #TheseMughalWomen |url=https://www.theheritagelab.in/shah-begum-tomb/ |access-date=2024-09-20 |website=The Heritage Lab |language=en}}</ref> She was the mother of the eldest daughter and son of Prince Salim, [[Sultan-un-Nissa Begum]] and [[Khusrau Mirza]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2013-05-25 |title=An impressive empress |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/magazine/an-impressive-empress/article4746049.ece/amp/ |access-date=2024-09-20 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> |
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'''Shah Begum''' ({{lang-fa|شاہ بیگم}}; {{circa}} 1570 - 16 May 1604) meaning 'The Royal Lady', was the first wife of Prince Salim Mirza future Emperor [[Jahangir]]. |
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==Family== |
==Family== |
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'''Manbhawati Bai''',<ref>{{Cite book |last=Others |first=Muzaffar H. Syed & |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=US5gEAAAQBAJ&dq=Manbhawati+Bai&pg=PA138 |title=History of Indian Nation : Medieval India |date=2022-02-20 |publisher=K. K. Publications |pages=138 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Shams |first=Iftekhar Ahmed |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=poGsEAAAQBAJ&dq=Manbhawati+Bai&pg=PA66 |title=The Kingdom of the Moghuls: the rulers, who created history |date=2023-02-07 |publisher=Dr. Iftekhar Ahmed Shams |isbn=979-8-4494-7693-7 |pages=66, 133–134 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Fisher |first=Michael |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bhKMDwAAQBAJ&dq=Manbhawati+Bai&pg=PA87 |title=A Short History of the Mughal Empire |date=2015-10-01 |publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing |isbn=978-0-85772-777-0 |pages=87, 145–147 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Dhir |first=Krishna S. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jVx6EAAAQBAJ&dq=Manbhawati+Bai&pg=PA90 |title=The Wonder That Is Urdu |date=2022-01-01 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |isbn=978-81-208-4301-1 |language=en |trans-title=87, 90, 93}}</ref> known popularly as '''Man Bai''',<ref>{{cite book|first=Ishwari|last=Prasad|title=The Mughal Empire|publisher=Chugh Publications|year=1974|pages=294}}</ref> was a Rajput princess, the daughter of [[Raja Bhagwant Das]], the ruler of [[Amer, India|Amer]].<ref>{{cite book|title=The Proceedings of the Indian History Congress - Volume 64|publisher=Indian History Congress|year=2004|pages=598}}</ref> She was the granddaughter of [[Bharmal|Raja Bharmal]] and sister of [[Man Singh I|Raja Man Singh]] and Raja Madho Singh. Furthermore, she was also a niece of [[Mariam-uz-Zamani]] who eventually became her mother-in-law as well.<ref>{{cite book|first=Jorge|last=Flores|title=The Mughal Padshah: A Jesuit Treatise on Emperor Jahangir's Court and Household |publisher=BRILL|date=20 November 2015|pages=91 n. 23|isbn=978-9-004-30753-7}}</ref> This would make her a maternal cousin of her husband, Prince [[Jahangir|Salim]]. Her marriage to Prince Salim was arranged by her aunt and mother-in-law, Mariam-uz-Zamani.{{Cn|date=January 2025}} |
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==Marriage== |
==Marriage== |
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At age fifteen, Salim was betrothed to his cousin, Rajkumari Man Bai. This marriage was fixed by the mother of Prince Salim, [[Mariam-uz-Zamani]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Mehta |first1=Jaswant Lal |title=Advance Study in the history of Medieval India:Mughal Empire |publisher=Sterling Publisher Private Limited |year=1984 |isbn=978-81-207-1015-3|volume=II|page=411}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|first=Muni|last=Lal| title=Mughal Glory|publisher=Konark Publishers, Delhi|year=1988|isbn=8122000762| page=87}}</ref> Akbarnaama quotes, "[[Bhagwant Das|Rajah Bhagwan Das Kacchwaha]], who held high office and who had lofty lineage and abilities, had a daughter whose purity adorned her high extraction and who was endowed with beauty and graces, and that it was the wish of her family that she should be united to the prince."<ref>{{Cite book |last=Beveridge |first=H. |url=http://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.55650 |title=The Akbarnama Of Abul Fazl Vol. 3 |date=1907 |pages=678 |quote=At this time it was represented to H.M. that Rajah Bhagwan Das Kacwaha, who held high office, and who had lofty lineage and abilities, had a daughter whose purity adorned her high extraction, and was endowed with beauty and graces ; and that it was the wish of her family that she should be united to the prince.}}</ref> Akbar readily agreed to this match expressing that the bride belonged to the family having a "fine genetic pool". She was widely known for her beauty, high ideals, and principles. |
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At the age of fifteen, Salim was betrothed to his cousin, Man Bai. The marriage settlement was fixed at two crores of tankas. [[Akbar]] himself, accompanied by all his nobles, went to the Raja's mansion and on 13 February 1585, celebrated the wedding in the presence of Muslim qazis, but with certain characteristic Hindu ceremonies.{{sfn|Prasad|1930|p=29}} |
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The |
The marriage settlement was fixed at two crore tankas. [[Akbar]] himself, accompanied by all his nobles numerous and diverse golden vessels set with precious stones, utensils of gold and silver, and all sorts of riches, the quantity of which is beyond all computation. The imperial nobles were presented with Persian, Turkish, and Arabian horses, with golden saddles. Along with the bride, they were given several male and female slaves, of Indian, Abyssinian, and Circassian origin.<ref>{{cite book|first=P. N|last=Ojha|title=North Indian social life during Mughal period|publisher=Oriental Publishers & Distributors|year=1975|pages=131}}</ref> As the Imperial procession returned along highways covered with rare and choice cloth, the Emperor scattered over the bridal litter, gold, and jewels in careless profusion. To honour her household which was the abode of the highest-ranking nobles of the Mughal court and was the native household of the chief consort of Akbar and mother of Prince Salim, Mariam-uz-Zamani, Akbar and Salim themselves carried the palanquin of the bride on their shoulders for some distance.{{sfn|Prasad|1930|p=29-30}} The gifts given by Mariam Zamani to the bride and bride-groom were valued at twelve lakh rupees.<ref>{{cite book|last=Lal|first=Muni|title=Mughal Glory|publisher=Konark Publishers Pvt Ltd|date=1988|page=87}}</ref> |
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Nizamuddin remarks that she was considered to be the best and most suitable princess as the first wife of Prince Salim.<ref>{{cite book|first=Nizamuddin|last=Ahmad|title=Tabaqat-i-Akbari|page=599|volume=2}}</ref> Abul Fazl in Akbarnama illustrates her as a ''jewel of chastity'' and describes her as an extremely beautiful woman whose purity adorned her high extraction and was endowed with remarkable beauty and graces.<ref>{{cite book|last=Fazl|first=Abul|title=Ain-I-Akbari|year=1590|volume=3|page=677-678}}</ref> |
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⚫ | The couple's first child was a daughter named Sultan-un-Nissa Begum, who was born on |
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⚫ | The couple's first child was a daughter named Sultan-un-Nissa Begum, who was born on 25 April 1586 and died on 5 September 1646.<ref>{{cite book|first1=Emperor |last1=Jahangir|first2=Wheeler McIntosh|last2=Thackston|title=The Jahangirnama: memoirs of Jahangir, Emperor of India|url=https://archive.org/details/jahangirnamamemo00jaha |publisher=Freer Gallery of Art and the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; New York: Oxford University Press|year=1999|pages=[https://archive.org/details/jahangirnamamemo00jaha/page/7 7] n. 20, 29 n. 36|isbn=978-0-19-512718-8 }}</ref> She lived for sixty years. The couple's second child was a son named [[Khusrau Mirza]], who was born on 16 August 1587. At his birth, Man Bai was bestowed the prestigious title of "Shah Begum" meaning "The royal lady".<ref>{{cite book|first=S. R.|last=Sharma|title=Mughal Empire In India: A Systematic Study Including Source Material, Volume 2|publisher=Atlantic Publishers & Dist|year=1999|pages=310|isbn=978-8-171-56818-5}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=Nicoll, Fergus|author-link=Fergus Nicoll|title=Shah Jahan: The Rise and Fall of the Mughal Emperor|publisher=Penguin Books India|year=2009|pages=26|isbn=978-0-670-08303-9}}</ref> |
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She was described to be a very beautiful woman. With her fidelity and sincere devotion to Jahangir, she won for a special place in his heart.<ref>{{cite book|author=Soma Mukherjee|title=Royal Mughal Ladies and Their Contributions|publisher=Gyan Books|year=2001|pages=128|isbn=978-8-121-20760-7}}</ref> She was a neurotic woman, quick to take offence over imagined insults, for which there was plenty of scope for the Rajput princess in Jahangir's polygamous and predominantly Muslim household. "The lady [Shah Begum] was ever ambitious of an ascendancy over the other inmates of the harem, and grew violent at the slightest opposition of her will" said Inayatullah. "From time to time her mind wandered, and her father and brothers all agreed in telling me she was insane," writes Jahangir.<ref>{{cite book|last=Eraly|first=Abraham|title=Emperors of the Peacock Throne : the saga of the great Mughals|year=2000|publisher=Penguin books|isbn=9780141001432|pages=273}}</ref> |
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With her fidelity and sincere devotion to Jahangir, she won a special place in his heart. Jahangir was extremely fond of her and had her designated as his chief consort in his princely days. Jahangir while referring to her death in his biography records his attachment and affection for her.<ref name=Beveridge1909>{{cite book|title = The Tūzuk-i-Jahāngīrī or Memoirs of Jahāngīr, Volume 2|year=1909|publisher=Royal Asiatic Society, London|editor-first=Alexander|editor-last=Rogers|editor-first2= Henry|editor-last2=Beveridge|page=13}}</ref> |
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⚫ | Shah Begum constantly |
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⚫ | Shah Begum constantly advised Khusrau to be loyal to his father. When she saw that it was of no use, she decided to take her own life finding no way to reconcile father and son which was the token of her fidelity towards her husband, Salim.<ref>{{cite book|first1=Emperor |last1=Jahangir|first2=Wheeler McIntosh|last2=Thackston|title=The Jahangirnama: memoirs of Jahangir, Emperor of India|url=https://archive.org/details/jahangirnamamemo00jaha |publisher=Freer Gallery of Art and the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; New York: Oxford University Press|year=1999|pages=[https://archive.org/details/jahangirnamamemo00jaha/page/51 51]|isbn=978-0-19-512718-8 }}</ref> |
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==Death== |
==Death== |
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[[File:Allahabad, Khusru bagh, Shah Begum tomb 2015-11-12.jpg|thumb|[[Khusro Bagh|Khusru bagh]], Shah Begum tomb, in [[Prayagraj]].]] |
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Shah Begum died on 16 May 1604.<ref>{{cite book|first=|last=|title=Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of the Great Britain and Ireland|publisher=Cambridge University Press for the Royal Asiatic Society|year=1907|pages=604|isbn=}}</ref> With her mind of in a state of imbalance she ate a lot of opium and died thereafter. She was incapable of tolerating the misconduct of her son and brother toward Jahangir, and despaired her life in a circumstantial trauma.<ref>{{cite book|first=Emperor|last=Jahangir|first2=Alexander|last2=Rogers|first3=Henry|last3=Beveridge|title=The Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri; or, Memoirs of Jahangir. Translated by Alexander Rogers. Edited by Henry Beveridge|publisher=London Royal Asiatic Society|year=1909|pages=56|isbn=}}</ref> |
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Shah Begum died on 5 May 1605.<ref>{{cite book|title=Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland|publisher=Cambridge University Press for the Royal Asiatic Society|year=1907|pages=604}}</ref> She was incapable of tolerating the misconduct of her son, and brother, Madho Singh towards Jahangir, which despaired her life in a circumstantial trauma.<ref>{{cite book|first1=Emperor|last1=Jahangir|first2=Alexander|last2=Rogers|first3=Henry|last3=Beveridge|title=The Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri; or, Memoirs of Jahangir. Translated by Alexander Rogers. Edited by Henry Beveridge|url=https://archive.org/details/b29352423_0001|publisher=London Royal Asiatic Society|year=1909|pages=[https://archive.org/details/b29352423_0001/page/56 56]}}</ref> The constant complaints of Salim to Akbar about Khusrau had put her mind at the stage of confusion and filled her heart with melancholy. Further, gaining no success in pursuing Khusrao to be loving and loyal toward his father, she became overwhelmed with grief and this failure added to her woes. One day when Salim had gone on hunting, she stole away from her maids, consumed excess opium, and committed suicide.<ref name=Beveridge1909/> [[Jahangir]] was devastated over the news of her death and much to his grief did not consume meals for four days. He was eventually pacified by his mother, [[Mariam-uz-Zamani]].<ref>{{cite book|first=Guru|last=Dutt|title=Ganga ki Dhara|isbn=9386336065|page=79}}</ref> |
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Jahangir in his biography says, |
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{{Quote|text=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. She constantly wrote advice to Khusrau and tried to reason with him to be loving and loyal to me. When she saw it was of no use and there was no telling where it would end, she decided to take her own life out of zeal which is an integral part of the Rajput culture. While I was away on a hunt, on the twenty-sixth of Dhu'l-Hijja 1013 (May 5, 1605), with her mind in a state of imbalance she ate a lot of opium and died soon thereafter. Since she was incapable of tolerating the misconduct of her son and brother towards me, she despaired of her life in a fit of madness and delivered herself of all this pain and grief. With her death, given the attachment I had to her, I passed my days without deriving pleasure in any way from life or living. For four nights and days, I was so upset that I took no food or drink.|author=Jahangir, Emperor of India|title=Tūzuk-i-Jahangīrī|source=Volume I p. 51}} |
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When Akbar was informed of Salim's state, he wrote him a letter of condolence so loving and compassionately and sent him a robe of honor and his turban that he at that moment was wearing to pacify his son. Akbar grieved the death of his daughter-in-law as he was very fond of her son, [[Khusrau Mirza]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Fazl|first=Abul |title=The Akbarnama |year=1907 |publisher=ASIATIC SOCIETY OF BENGAL |translator-last=Beveridge |translator-first=Henry|volume=III|page=1239|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.55650/page/n1277/mode/2up}}</ref> |
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Jahangir in her honor ordered the construction of her tomb and entrusted it to Aqa Reza, the principal artist at Allahabad court. Shah Begum's tomb is located in [[Khusro Bagh|Khusrau Bagh]], Allahabad. It was completed in 1606-07.<ref>{{cite book|first=Catherine B.|last=Asher|title=Architecture of Mughal India, Part 1, Volume 4|publisher=Cambridge University Press|date=24 September 1992|pages=104|isbn=978-0-521-26728-1}}</ref> |
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== Issue == |
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With Jahangir, Shah Begum had at least two children: |
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*[[Sultan-un-Nissa Begum|Sultan-un-Nissa]] (25 April 1586, Mughal Empire – 5 September 1646, Mughal Empire, buried in Tomb of Akbar, Sikandar, Agra) |
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*[[Khusrau Mirza]] (16 August 1587, Lahore, Mughal Empire – 26 January 1622, Deccan, Mughal Empire, buried in Mausoleum of Khusrau Mirza, Khusro Bagh, Allahabad) |
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==In popular culture== |
==In popular culture== |
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*[[Krutika Desai Khan]] essayed her role in the Indian television series [[Noorjahan (TV series)|''Noorjahan'']], on [[Doordarshan]]. |
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[[Neetha Shetty]] portrayed Shah Begum in [[EPIC (TV channel)|EPIC]] channel |
*[[Neetha Shetty]] portrayed Shah Begum in [[EPIC (TV channel)|EPIC]] channel ''[[Siyaasat]]'' (based on the ''Twentieth Wife''). |
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*Heli Daruwala portrayed her role in [[Colors TV|Colors]] Channel's [[Dastaan-E-Mohabbat Salim Anarkali]] |
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*[[Jyotsna Chandola]] portrayed her role in [[Jodha Akbar]] on [[Zee TV]]. |
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*Anushka Luhar portrayed Man Bai in [[ZEE5|ZEE5's]] web series [[Taj: Divided by Blood]]. |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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*[[ |
*[[Kingdom of Amber]] |
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*[[ |
*[[Khusro Bagh]] |
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*[[Amber]] |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{Reflist |
{{Reflist}} |
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== |
==Bibliography== |
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*{{cite book|first=Beni|last=Prasad|title=History of Jahangir|publisher=The Indian Press, LTD, |
*{{cite book|first=Beni|last=Prasad|title=History of Jahangir|publisher=The Indian Press, LTD, Allahabad|year=1930}} |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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*{{cite web|url=http://www.boloji.com/history/012.htm |title=History of Islam in India The World Conqueror: Jahangir (1569-1627) by Dr. Neria H. Hebbar |website=Boloji.com |date=2002-06-12 | |
*{{cite web |url=http://www.boloji.com/history/012.htm |title=History of Islam in India The World Conqueror: Jahangir (1569-1627) by Dr. Neria H. Hebbar |website=Boloji.com |date=2002-06-12 |access-date=2017-05-18 |archive-date=28 May 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100528145829/http://www.boloji.com/history/012.htm |url-status=dead }} |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Begum, Shah}} |
{{DEFAULTSORT:Begum, Shah}} |
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[[Category:1570s births]] |
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[[Category:1605 deaths]] |
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[[Category:People from Agra]] |
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[[Category:Women of the Mughal Empire]] |
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[[Category:Indian Hindus]] |
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[[Category:People from Jaipur]] |
[[Category:People from Jaipur]] |
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[[Category:16th-century Mughal Empire people]] |
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[[Category:16th-century Indian women]] |
[[Category:16th-century Indian women]] |
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[[Category:Royalty who died by suicide]] |
Latest revision as of 22:15, 1 January 2025
Man baï | |
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Rajkumari of Amber | |
Born | Manbhawati Bai c. 1570 Amber, Amber Kingdom, Mughal Empire (modern-day Rajasthan, India) |
Died | 5 May 1605 Allahabad, Awadh Subah, Mughal Empire (modern-day Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India) | (aged 34–35)
Burial | |
Spouse | |
Issue | |
House | Kachhwaha (by birth) Timurid (by marriage) |
Father | Raja Bhagwant Das |
Mother | Bhagwati Bai |
Religion | Hinduism |
Shah Begum (lit. 'Royal Begum'; c. 1570[citation needed] – 5 May 1605) was the first wife and chief consort of Prince Salim (later Emperor Jahangir). She was known as Zan-i-Kalan being the first wife of Salim. She was a Rajput princess by birth and committed suicide shortly before the succession of her husband to the royal throne.[1][2] She was the mother of the eldest daughter and son of Prince Salim, Sultan-un-Nissa Begum and Khusrau Mirza.[3]
Family
[edit]Manbhawati Bai,[4][5][6][7] known popularly as Man Bai,[8] was a Rajput princess, the daughter of Raja Bhagwant Das, the ruler of Amer.[9] She was the granddaughter of Raja Bharmal and sister of Raja Man Singh and Raja Madho Singh. Furthermore, she was also a niece of Mariam-uz-Zamani who eventually became her mother-in-law as well.[10] This would make her a maternal cousin of her husband, Prince Salim. Her marriage to Prince Salim was arranged by her aunt and mother-in-law, Mariam-uz-Zamani.[citation needed]
Marriage
[edit]At age fifteen, Salim was betrothed to his cousin, Rajkumari Man Bai. This marriage was fixed by the mother of Prince Salim, Mariam-uz-Zamani.[11][12] Akbarnaama quotes, "Rajah Bhagwan Das Kacchwaha, who held high office and who had lofty lineage and abilities, had a daughter whose purity adorned her high extraction and who was endowed with beauty and graces, and that it was the wish of her family that she should be united to the prince."[13] Akbar readily agreed to this match expressing that the bride belonged to the family having a "fine genetic pool". She was widely known for her beauty, high ideals, and principles.
The marriage settlement was fixed at two crore tankas. Akbar himself, accompanied by all his nobles numerous and diverse golden vessels set with precious stones, utensils of gold and silver, and all sorts of riches, the quantity of which is beyond all computation. The imperial nobles were presented with Persian, Turkish, and Arabian horses, with golden saddles. Along with the bride, they were given several male and female slaves, of Indian, Abyssinian, and Circassian origin.[14] As the Imperial procession returned along highways covered with rare and choice cloth, the Emperor scattered over the bridal litter, gold, and jewels in careless profusion. To honour her household which was the abode of the highest-ranking nobles of the Mughal court and was the native household of the chief consort of Akbar and mother of Prince Salim, Mariam-uz-Zamani, Akbar and Salim themselves carried the palanquin of the bride on their shoulders for some distance.[15] The gifts given by Mariam Zamani to the bride and bride-groom were valued at twelve lakh rupees.[16]
Nizamuddin remarks that she was considered to be the best and most suitable princess as the first wife of Prince Salim.[17] Abul Fazl in Akbarnama illustrates her as a jewel of chastity and describes her as an extremely beautiful woman whose purity adorned her high extraction and was endowed with remarkable beauty and graces.[18]
The couple's first child was a daughter named Sultan-un-Nissa Begum, who was born on 25 April 1586 and died on 5 September 1646.[19] She lived for sixty years. The couple's second child was a son named Khusrau Mirza, who was born on 16 August 1587. At his birth, Man Bai was bestowed the prestigious title of "Shah Begum" meaning "The royal lady".[20][21]
With her fidelity and sincere devotion to Jahangir, she won a special place in his heart. Jahangir was extremely fond of her and had her designated as his chief consort in his princely days. Jahangir while referring to her death in his biography records his attachment and affection for her.[22]
Shah Begum constantly advised Khusrau to be loyal to his father. When she saw that it was of no use, she decided to take her own life finding no way to reconcile father and son which was the token of her fidelity towards her husband, Salim.[23]
Death
[edit]Shah Begum died on 5 May 1605.[24] She was incapable of tolerating the misconduct of her son, and brother, Madho Singh towards Jahangir, which despaired her life in a circumstantial trauma.[25] The constant complaints of Salim to Akbar about Khusrau had put her mind at the stage of confusion and filled her heart with melancholy. Further, gaining no success in pursuing Khusrao to be loving and loyal toward his father, she became overwhelmed with grief and this failure added to her woes. One day when Salim had gone on hunting, she stole away from her maids, consumed excess opium, and committed suicide.[22] Jahangir was devastated over the news of her death and much to his grief did not consume meals for four days. He was eventually pacified by his mother, Mariam-uz-Zamani.[26]
Jahangir in his biography says,
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. She constantly wrote advice to Khusrau and tried to reason with him to be loving and loyal to me. When she saw it was of no use and there was no telling where it would end, she decided to take her own life out of zeal which is an integral part of the Rajput culture. While I was away on a hunt, on the twenty-sixth of Dhu'l-Hijja 1013 (May 5, 1605), with her mind in a state of imbalance she ate a lot of opium and died soon thereafter. Since she was incapable of tolerating the misconduct of her son and brother towards me, she despaired of her life in a fit of madness and delivered herself of all this pain and grief. With her death, given the attachment I had to her, I passed my days without deriving pleasure in any way from life or living. For four nights and days, I was so upset that I took no food or drink.
— Jahangir, Emperor of India, Tūzuk-i-Jahangīrī, Volume I p. 51
When Akbar was informed of Salim's state, he wrote him a letter of condolence so loving and compassionately and sent him a robe of honor and his turban that he at that moment was wearing to pacify his son. Akbar grieved the death of his daughter-in-law as he was very fond of her son, Khusrau Mirza.[27]
Jahangir in her honor ordered the construction of her tomb and entrusted it to Aqa Reza, the principal artist at Allahabad court. Shah Begum's tomb is located in Khusrau Bagh, Allahabad. It was completed in 1606-07.[28]
Issue
[edit]With Jahangir, Shah Begum had at least two children:
- Sultan-un-Nissa (25 April 1586, Mughal Empire – 5 September 1646, Mughal Empire, buried in Tomb of Akbar, Sikandar, Agra)
- Khusrau Mirza (16 August 1587, Lahore, Mughal Empire – 26 January 1622, Deccan, Mughal Empire, buried in Mausoleum of Khusrau Mirza, Khusro Bagh, Allahabad)
In popular culture
[edit]- Krutika Desai Khan essayed her role in the Indian television series Noorjahan, on Doordarshan.
- Neetha Shetty portrayed Shah Begum in EPIC channel Siyaasat (based on the Twentieth Wife).
- Heli Daruwala portrayed her role in Colors Channel's Dastaan-E-Mohabbat Salim Anarkali
- Jyotsna Chandola portrayed her role in Jodha Akbar on Zee TV.
- Anushka Luhar portrayed Man Bai in ZEE5's web series Taj: Divided by Blood.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ ranasafvi (14 May 2020). "Shah Begum's Cenotaph in Khusrau Bagh, Allahabad". Rana Safvi. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
- ^ Sarin, Hemant (19 March 2019). "Shah Begum's Tomb in Allahabad | #TheseMughalWomen". The Heritage Lab. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
- ^ "An impressive empress". The Hindu. 25 May 2013. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
- ^ Others, Muzaffar H. Syed & (20 February 2022). History of Indian Nation : Medieval India. K. K. Publications. p. 138.
- ^ Shams, Iftekhar Ahmed (7 February 2023). The Kingdom of the Moghuls: the rulers, who created history. Dr. Iftekhar Ahmed Shams. pp. 66, 133–134. ISBN 979-8-4494-7693-7.
- ^ Fisher, Michael (1 October 2015). A Short History of the Mughal Empire. Bloomsbury Publishing. pp. 87, 145–147. ISBN 978-0-85772-777-0.
- ^ Dhir, Krishna S. (1 January 2022). The Wonder That Is Urdu [87, 90, 93]. Motilal Banarsidass. ISBN 978-81-208-4301-1.
- ^ Prasad, Ishwari (1974). The Mughal Empire. Chugh Publications. p. 294.
- ^ The Proceedings of the Indian History Congress - Volume 64. Indian History Congress. 2004. p. 598.
- ^ Flores, Jorge (20 November 2015). The Mughal Padshah: A Jesuit Treatise on Emperor Jahangir's Court and Household. BRILL. pp. 91 n. 23. ISBN 978-9-004-30753-7.
- ^ Mehta, Jaswant Lal (1984). Advance Study in the history of Medieval India:Mughal Empire. Vol. II. Sterling Publisher Private Limited. p. 411. ISBN 978-81-207-1015-3.
- ^ Lal, Muni (1988). Mughal Glory. Konark Publishers, Delhi. p. 87. ISBN 8122000762.
- ^ Beveridge, H. (1907). The Akbarnama Of Abul Fazl Vol. 3. p. 678.
At this time it was represented to H.M. that Rajah Bhagwan Das Kacwaha, who held high office, and who had lofty lineage and abilities, had a daughter whose purity adorned her high extraction, and was endowed with beauty and graces ; and that it was the wish of her family that she should be united to the prince.
- ^ Ojha, P. N (1975). North Indian social life during Mughal period. Oriental Publishers & Distributors. p. 131.
- ^ Prasad 1930, p. 29-30.
- ^ Lal, Muni (1988). Mughal Glory. Konark Publishers Pvt Ltd. p. 87.
- ^ Ahmad, Nizamuddin. Tabaqat-i-Akbari. Vol. 2. p. 599.
- ^ Fazl, Abul (1590). Ain-I-Akbari. Vol. 3. p. 677-678.
- ^ Jahangir, Emperor; Thackston, Wheeler McIntosh (1999). The Jahangirnama: memoirs of Jahangir, Emperor of India. Freer Gallery of Art and the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; New York: Oxford University Press. pp. 7 n. 20, 29 n. 36. ISBN 978-0-19-512718-8.
- ^ Sharma, S. R. (1999). Mughal Empire In India: A Systematic Study Including Source Material, Volume 2. Atlantic Publishers & Dist. p. 310. ISBN 978-8-171-56818-5.
- ^ Nicoll, Fergus (2009). Shah Jahan: The Rise and Fall of the Mughal Emperor. Penguin Books India. p. 26. ISBN 978-0-670-08303-9.
- ^ a b Rogers, Alexander; Beveridge, Henry, eds. (1909). The Tūzuk-i-Jahāngīrī or Memoirs of Jahāngīr, Volume 2. Royal Asiatic Society, London. p. 13.
- ^ Jahangir, Emperor; Thackston, Wheeler McIntosh (1999). The Jahangirnama: memoirs of Jahangir, Emperor of India. Freer Gallery of Art and the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; New York: Oxford University Press. pp. 51. ISBN 978-0-19-512718-8.
- ^ Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Cambridge University Press for the Royal Asiatic Society. 1907. p. 604.
- ^ Jahangir, Emperor; Rogers, Alexander; Beveridge, Henry (1909). The Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri; or, Memoirs of Jahangir. Translated by Alexander Rogers. Edited by Henry Beveridge. London Royal Asiatic Society. pp. 56.
- ^ Dutt, Guru. Ganga ki Dhara. p. 79. ISBN 9386336065.
- ^ Fazl, Abul (1907). The Akbarnama. Vol. III. Translated by Beveridge, Henry. ASIATIC SOCIETY OF BENGAL. p. 1239.
- ^ Asher, Catherine B. (24 September 1992). Architecture of Mughal India, Part 1, Volume 4. Cambridge University Press. p. 104. ISBN 978-0-521-26728-1.
Bibliography
[edit]- Prasad, Beni (1930). History of Jahangir. The Indian Press, LTD, Allahabad.
External links
[edit]- "History of Islam in India The World Conqueror: Jahangir (1569-1627) by Dr. Neria H. Hebbar". Boloji.com. 12 June 2002. Archived from the original on 28 May 2010. Retrieved 18 May 2017.