A´çaf was the name of the Vazír of Sulaimán (Solomon), who like his master is proverbial in the East for his wisdom. During the reign of Akbar three grandees received this title. Badáoní, to avoid confusion, numbers them A´çaf Khán I., II., and III. They are—
'Abdul Majíd, A´çaf Khán I., d. before 981. (No. 49).
Khwájah Mirzá Ghiásuddín 'Alí, A´çaf Khán II., d. 989. (No. 126).
Mírzá Ja'far Beg, A´çaf Khán III., (No. 98).
The three A´çafs were Díwáns or Mír Bakshís. The third was nephew to the second, as the following tree will shew:
| A´ghá Mullá Dawátdár. | |||
| 1. Ghiásuddín 'Alí, A´çaf Khán II. | 2. Mírzá Badí'uzzamán. | 3. Mírzá Ahmad Beg. | |
| Mírzá Núruddín. | A daughter | Mírzá Ja'far Beg, A´çaf Khán III. | |
| Mumtáz Mahall, (Sháhjahán's wife). | |||
Jahángír conferred the title of ‘A´çaf Khán’ (IV.) on Abul Hasan, elder brother of Núr Jahán, and father of Mumtáz Mahall (or Táj Bíbí, Sháhjahán's wife), whose mother was a daughter of A´çaf Khán II. During the reign of Sháhjahán when titles containing the word Daulah* were revived, A´çaf Khán was changed to A´çafuddaulah, and this title was conferred on A´çafuddaulah Jumlatul Mulk Asadjang (Sháhjahán-Aurangzeb), a relation of A´çaf Khán IV. Under Ahmad Sháh, lastly, we find A´çafuddaulah Amír ul Mamálik, whose name like that of his father, Nizám ul Mulk A´çaf-Jáh, occurs so often in later Indian History.
50. Majnu´n Kha´n i Qa´qsha´l.*
He was a grandee of Humáyún, and held Nárnaul as jágír. When Humáyún fled to Persia, Hájí Khán besieged Nárnaul, but allowed Majnún Khán to march away unmolested, chiefly at the request of Rájah Bihárí Mall, who, at that time, was with Hájí Khán (vide p. 329).
On Akbar's accession, he was made Jágírdár of Mánikpúr, then the east frontier of the Empire. He remained there till after the death of Khán Zamán (No. 13), bravely defending Akbar's cause. In the 14th year, he besieged Kálinjar. This fort was in the hands of Rájah Rám Chand, ruler of Bhat'h, who during the Afghán troubles had bought it, for a heavy sum, from Bijlí Khán, the adopted son of Paháṛ Khán. When, during the siege, the Rájah heard of the fall of Chítor and Rantanbhúr, he surrendered Kálinjar to M. (29th Çafar, 977). Akbar appointed M. Commander of the Fort, in addition to his other duties.
In the 17th year (980), he accompanied Mun'im Khán (No. 11) on his expedition to Gorák'hpúr. At the same time the Gujrátí war had commenced, and as Bábá Khán Qáqshál* had words with Shahbáz Khán, (No. 80), the Mír Tozak, regarding certain arrangements, he was reproved by Akbar. But the rumour spread in Mun'im's army that Bábá Khán, Jabárí (Majnún's son), Mírzá Muhammad, and other Qáqsháls, had killed Shahbáz Khán, and joined the rebellion of the Mírzás in Gujrát; and that Akbar had therefore ordered Mun'im to imprison Majnún. In consequence of these false rumours, M. and others of his clan withdrew from Mun'im, who in vain tried to convince them of the absurdity of the rumours; but when M. soon after heard that Bábá Khán and Jabárí had been rewarded by Akbar for their brave behaviour in the Gujrátí war, he was ashamed of his hastiness, and rejoined Mun'im who, in the meantime, had taken Gorák'hpúr.
M. accompanied Mun'im on his Bengal expedition. When, in 982, Dáúd retired to Oṛísá, and Kálá Paháṛ,* Sulaimán Manklí and Bábú Manklí had gone to G'horág'hát, Mun'im sent M. against them. M. conquered the greater part of Northern Bengal, and carried off immense spoils. On the death of Sulaimán Manklí, the acknowledged ruler of G'horág'hát, a great number of the principal Afghán nobles were caught, and M. with the view of securing peace, married the daughter of Sulaimán Manklí to his son Jabárí. He also parcelled out the whole country among his clan. But Bábú Manklí and Kálá Paháṛ had taken refuge in Kúch Bihár, and when Mun'im was in Kaṭak, they were joined by the sons of Jaláluddín Súr, and fell upon the Qáqsháls. The latter, without fighting, cowardly returned to Ṭánḍah, and waited for Mun'im, who, on his return from Oṛísá, sent them with reinforcements to G'horág'hát. The Qáqsháls re-occupied the district. Majnún died soon after at G'horág'hát.
The Ṭabaqát says that he was a Commander of Five Thousand and had a contingent of 5,000 troopers.
His son Jabárí* distinguished himself by his zeal and devotion. The enforcing of the Dágh law led him and his clan into rebellion. Jabárí then assumed the title of Khán Jahán. When the Qáqsháls left Ma'çúm (p. 326), Jabárí went to Court. Akbar imprisoned him, but pardoned him in the 39th year.
51. Shuja´'at Kha´n, Muqi´m i 'Arab.
He is the son of Tardí Beg's sister (No. 12). Humáyún made Muqím a Khán. On the emperor's flight to Persia, he joined Mírzá 'Askarí. When Humáyún took Qandahár on his return, Muqím, like most old nobles, presented himself before the emperor with a sword hanging from his neck, and was for a short time confined. After his release, he remained with Mun'im Khán (No. 11) in Kábul, and followed him to India, when Akbar called Mun'im to take Bairám's place.
In the 9th year, Muqím distinguished himself in the pursuit of 'Abdullah Khán Uzbak (No. 14), ‘the king of Mandú’, and received the title of Shujá'at Khán, which Akbar had taken away from the rebellious 'Abdullah.
In the beginning of the 15th year, Akbar honored him by being his guest for a day.
In the 18th year, he accompanied the Emperor on his forced march to Ahmadábád (p. 325). Once he slandered Mun'im, and Akbar sent him to the Khán Khánán to do with him what he liked; but Mun'im generously forgave him, and had him restored.
In the 22nd year, he was made a Commander of Three Thousand, and Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Málwah.
In 988, when troubles in Bihár and Bengal had broken out, Shujá'at Khán, at Akbar's order, left Sárangpúr for Fathpúr (Badáoní II, 284). At the first stage, 'Iwaz Beg Barlás who complained of arrears of pay and harsh treatment of the men, created a tumult, made a man of the name Hájí Shiháb Khán leader, fell upon Shujá'at's tent, and killed his son Qawím Khán.* Shujá'at himself was mortally wounded. Some of his adherents, at last, managed to put the dying Sh. on an elephant, and led him off to Sárangpúr. Though Sh. had expired before they reached the town, they did not spread the news of his death, and thus kept the greater part of the soldiers together, and joined Akbar in Sárangpúr.
Akbar punished the rebels severely. According to p. 284, Akbar once saved Shujá'at's life in the jungles.
From Badáoní (II, 284), we learn that Qawím Khán was a young man, renowned for his musical talents.
Muqím Khán (No. 386) is Shujá'at Khán's second son. He was promoted under Akbar to a Commandership of seven hundred.
Qáim Khán was the son of Muqím Khán. Qáim's son, 'Abdurrahím, was under Jahángír a Commander of seven hundred and 400 horse, got the title of Tarbiyat Khán, and was made, in the 5th year, Faujdár of Alwar. Qáim's daughter, Çálihah Bánú, was received (3rd year) by Jahángír in his harem, and went by the title of Pádisháh Mahall. She adopted Miyán Joh, son of the above 'Abdurrahím. Miyán Joh was killed by Mahábat Khán, when near the Bahat (Jhelam) he had taken possession of Jahángír's person.
No. 52. Sha´h Buda´gh Kha´n, a descendant of U´ymáqs* of Miyánkál of Samarqand.
The Turkish Budágh means ‘a branch of a tree.’ He distinguished himself under Humáyún, and was made by Akbar a Commander of Three Thousand.
In the 10th year, he accompanied Mír Mu'izzul Mulk (No. 61) against Bahádur No. 22). Though the imperialists were defeated, B. Kh. fought bravely, and was captured. His son, 'Abdul Maṭlab (No. 83), ran away. In the 12th year, B. Kh. went with Shibábuddín Ahmad (No. 26) against the Mírzás in Málwah, received Sárangpúr as tuyúl, fought under 'Azíz Kokah (No. 21) in the battle at Patan (18th Ramazán 980), and was for a long time Governor of Mandú, where he died. The Ṭabaqát says, he had the title of Amírul Umará. He was alive in 984, when he met Akbar at Mohiní.
Inside Fort Mandú, to the south, close to the walls, he had erected a building, to which he gave the name of Nílkánt'h, regarding the inscriptions on which the Maásir gives a few interesting particulars.
No. 53. Husain Kha´n (Tukriyah), sister's son of Mahdí Qásim Khán (No. 36).