Niẓām al-Dīn Aḥmad ibn Muḥammad Muqīm Haravī, Hwājah d. 1003/1594

Historian

Hwājah Niẓām al-Dīn Aḥmad ibn Muḥammad Muqīm Haravī achieved prominence during the reign of the Mughal Emperor Akbar. In 993/1585 he was appointed baḫšī (paymaster) of Gujarāt and in 1001/1593 he became baḫšī of the entire empire. Niẓām al-Dīn’s fame, however, rests entirely upon his much celebrated history of India, Ṭabaqāt-i Akbarī, sometimes referred to as Ṭabaqāt-i Akbaršāhī or Tārīḫ-i Niẓāmī.

Works

Ṭabaqāt-i Akbarī Generations of Akbar

Completed 1001/1592-3, extends to 1002/1594.

Ṭabaqāt-i Akbarī is a general history of India from the campaigns of Ğaznavid founder Sebaktigīn (366/977 to 387/997) to the 38th year of Akbar’s reign (1002/1592-3). It was the first general history to be devoted solely to India and thus provided guidance and a model for authors who were to undertake similar historical projects later on. Niẓām al-Dīn died in 1003/1594.