Will Pratap kill Bairam Khan?

Bairam Khan also Bayram Khan (Persian: ) (died 1561) was an important military commander, among top generals, later commander in chief of the Mughal army, a powerful statesman and regent at the court of the Mughal emperors Humayun and Akbar, also guardian, chief mentor, advisor, teacher and most trusted person of Humayun.Humayun honored him as Khan Khanan,means king of kings.Bairam actually was not "Khan",his real name was Bairam "Beg".Shah of Iran,Tamasp,honored him as 'Kha' or Khan. ^[1][2]

Early life[edit]

Bairam Khan was born in Badakhshan, now in present day Afghanistan, and belonged to the Baharlu clan of the Turkmen Kara Koyunlu tribe. The Kara Koyunlu had ruled Western Persia for decades before being overthrown by their Ak Koyunlu rivals. Bairam Khan's father and grandfather had previously joined in Babur's service.^[1]

Military service[edit]

Bairam entered Babur's service at the age of 16 and played an active role in the early Mughal conquests of India.^[3] Bairam Khan later contributed greatly to the establishment of the Mughal empire under Humayun. Under Humayan he was entrusted the position of muhradr (keeper of the seals) and took part in military campaigns in Benares, Bengal and Gujarat.^[3] He accompanied Humayun during his exile in Persia and helped conquerKandahar before serving as its governor for nine years. In 1556, he played a leading role as a commander in Humayun's reconquest of Hindustan.^[4]

Following Humayun's death in 1556, Bairam Khan was appointed Regent over the young monarch Akbar. As regent, he consolidated Mughal authority in northern India and most notably led Mughal forces at the Second Battle of Panipat, which was fought between Akbar and the Hindu king Hemu in Nov. 1556.

Later years[edit]

Bairam Khan was a Shia muslim and was disliked by the Sunni Turkic nobles.^[5] Bairam was dismissed from Akbar's service in 1560. He subsequently chose to leave India to perform the hajj pilgrimage inMecca.^[6]

While travelling through Gujarat,^[7] he was assassinated by Hazi Khan Mewati of Alwar, who was the General and close confidant of Hindu Kings of North India Hemu, and was staying at Patan after Akbar's forces captured Alwar Sarkar in 1559. One day when Bairam Khan was at Sahstraling Talav, a religious site, he was recognised by Lohani Pashtun an associate of Hazi Khan Mewati, whose father had been killed in Second Battle of Panipat (1556), five years ago, which was led by Bairam Khan. Hazi Khan attacked and killed Bairam Khan, to take the revenge of his father's death and due to jealousy towards him, being a Shia muslim. Bairam Khan died on 31 January 1561. However, his son and wife were allowed to go free and sent to north India. Bairam Khan's wife, who was also the cousin of Akbar, married Akbar after Bairam Khan's death and later on Bairam's son, Abdul Rahim Khan-i-khana, got an important assignment in Akbar's administration and was one of the 'Nau-rattans' (Nine Gems) of Akbar.

Expansion into Central India

By 1559, the Mughals had launched a drive to the south into Rajputana and Malwa.^[28] However, Akbar's disputes with his regent, Bairam Khan, temporarily put an end to the expansion.^[28] The young emperor, at the age of eighteen, wanted to take a more active part in managing affairs. Urged on by his foster mother, Maham Anaga, and his relatives, Akbar decided to dispense with the services of Bairam Khan. After yet another dispute at court, Akbar finally dismissed Bairam Khan in the spring of 1560 and ordered him to leave on Hajj to Mecca.^[29] Bairam Khan left for Mecca, but on his way was goaded by his opponents to rebel.^[26] He was defeated by the Mughal army in the Punjab and forced to submit. Akbar, however forgave him and gave him the option of either continuing in his court or resuming his pilgrimage, of which Bairam chose the latter.^[30] Bairam Khan was later assassinated on his way to Mecca, allegedly by an Afghan with a personal vendetta.^[28] In 1560, Akbar resumed military operations.^[28]