Salima Sultan Begum
After only three years of marriage, Bairam Khan died in 1561 as a result of the intrigues against him instigated by Maham Anga, which culminated in his murder. Salima was subsequently married by her first cousin, Akbar, in the same year. She was three years and seven months older than him. Akbar had been greatly impressed by his talented cousin which was the main reasons for him marrying her aside from the fact that Salima was his only other wife apart from Ruqaiya, who was of the most exalted lineage, being a Timurid through her mother's side and thus, a granddaughter of Emperor Babur in the maternal line.[8]
Salima was Akbar's favourite wife apart from his first wife and chief consort, Ruqaiya Sultan Begum, and had a major say in the affairs of the state. Being an extensive reader, she kept accounts of her encounters with the Emperor and the state of affairs. Salima was thus, the most senior figure in the imperial harem after Ruqaiya and was second in status, power, and authority only to her. As a result, she wielded significant great influence in the imperial harem along with Ruqaiya. Both Salima and Ruqaiya's influence in the harem was unmatched by any of Akbar's other wives.[5]
After nine years of marriage with Akbar, Salima gave birth to a son, Prince Murad in 1570.[9] She still did not try to claim her son's position as Akbar's successor as she dearly loved Salim (the future Emperor Jahangir) and greatly supported him as her husband's successor along with Ruqaiya Begum; despite the fact that Salim had not proven to be a worthy future emperor. Another fact being that her son, Prince Murad, died before both Salima and Akbar in 1599.
The extent of Salima and Ruqaiya's influence in the Empire and over Akbar, came to the fore in the early 1600s, when both the women played a crucial role in negotiating a settlement between Akbar and Jahangir when the father-son's relationship turned sour, eventually helping to pave the way for Jahangir's accession to the throne.[10]
In 1575, Salima went for the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca along with her aunt Princess Gulbadan Begum and many other royal ladies.[11] Salima was an accomplished poetess and collected a library, to which apparently copy of all books had to be contributed, which had any currency in court circles.[12][13]
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