Abul-Hasan ibn Mirza Ghiyas Beg

Mirza Abul Hasan Urf 'Asaf Khan'

Portrait of Asaf Khan
Issue
Father Mirza Ghias Beg
Died 12 June 1641

Mirza Abul Hasan Jaafar Beg son of Itimaduddaula Mirza Ghiyas Beg, entitled by Emperor Jahangir with the court title of Asaf Khan was the father of Arjumand Banu Begum, also known as Mumtaz Mahal, who was the wife of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, the Emperor of India. Asaf Khan was also the elder brother of empress Nur Jahan, the consort of Shah Jahan's father, Jahangir. He was of Mughal descent.[1] His other daughter Parwar Khanam was married to Mohtashim Khan, the son of Mughal Emperor Jahangir's foster brother Qutubuddin Koka. Her mausoleum is located in Sheikhpur, Budaun.

Governor of Lahore

Asif Khan presents offerings[2]

Mirza Abul Hasan Asaf Khan was appointed Governor of Lahore by Emperor Jahangir in 1625. After the demise of Jahangir in 1627, he was instrumental in securing the accession of his son-in-law Shah Jahan by colluding with Dawar Bakht (Jahangir's other son) and defeating the rival claimant Prince Shahryar (Nur Jahan's son-in-law, married to her daughter by her previous marriage to Sher Afgan) in a battle near Lahore. Asaf Khan enjoyed a position even more elevated than in the preceding reign and retained it until 1632, when he failed in the siege of Bijapur, from which time he seems to have lost favour.

Tomb of Asif Khan

Tomb of Asaf Khan in Lahore

Asaf Khan died on 12 June 1641 while engaged in fighting against the forces of rebel Raja Jagat Singh Pathania. His tomb was built in Shahdara Bagh by Shah Jahan in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Frank W. Thackeray, John E. Findling. Events That Formed the Modern World: From the European Renaissance to the ... Retrieved 2012-09-20.
  2. ↑ unknown (1604). "Asaf khan Presents Offerings. Folio from the Davis Album". 17th Century Mughals & Marathas.

External links

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