Maham Begum

Maham Begum
Empress Consort of the Mughal Empire
Tenure 1506 - 26 December 1530
Consort Babur
Issue Humayun
Mirza Barbul
Mirza Faruq
Mihr Jahan Begum
Aisan Daulat Begum
House House of Timurid (by marriage)
Born 15th century
Khorasan, Afghanistan
Died April 27, 1535
Burial Agra
Religion Shia Islam

Maham Begam (? - 27 April 1535; Persian: ماہم بیگم‎; meaning "My moon") was the Empress consort of the Mughal Empire as the third wife and chief consort of Babur, the founder of the Mughal Empire and the first Mughal emperor. Maham Begum was also known as Hazra Walida after she gave birth to Humayun, Babur's first son and the next Emperor of the Mughal Empire. Maham Begum is rightly counted as one of the initial Persian Queen among the Mughals who could be placed on the pinnacle in view of her substantial role and attractive personality.

Family and lineage

Maham Begum's parentage is not mentioned in any of the contemporary chronicles. She was the sister of Khwaja Muhammad Ali, of Khost from a noble shia family of Khorasan, Afghanistan. She was related to Ulugh Beg Mirza Kabuli and to Sultan Husayn Mirza Bayqara, Padshah of Khorasan. She was a descendant of Sheikh Ahmad, of Jam.

Marriage

Babur married her in 1506 at Herat, when on the death of Sultan Husayn Mirza, he paid a condolence visit to Herat capital of Khosran. She was mentioned as "the one who was to Babur" what Aisha was to Muhammad. She played an active role in the political affairs of Babur as well as in the royal household. She had the qualities of extreme intelligence and good looks. She accompanied her husband to Badakhshan and Transoxiana and stood by him through thick and thin. She was the chief lady of the royal household. Upon the birth of the couple's fist child, Humayun, She was given the name "Hazrat Walida". Another four children were born to her and unfortunately all died in infancy. They were Barbul, Mihr Jahan, Aisan Daulat and Faruq.

She had well defined rights over other inmates of Babur's harem. She herself took her own guardianship of, two Dildar Begum's children, Hindal Mirza and Gulbadan Begum in 1519 and 1525 respectively and Babur's affirmation of it, though she already possessed five children.

As Empress

In 1528, Maham Begum came to Hindustan from Kabul. When she reached Alighar, Babur sent two litters with three horsemen. She went on post haste from Alighar to Agra. Babur had intended to go as far as Alighar to meet her. At evening prayer time someone came and said to Babur that he had just passed Maham Begum on the road, fur miles out. Babur did not waited for a horse to be saddled but sat out on foot. He met her near the house of Maham's advance camp. She wished to alight, but he would not wait, and fell into her train and walked to his own house. Nine troopers with two sets of nine horses and the two extra litters which the Emperor had sent, and one litter which had been brought from Kabul, and about a hundred of Maham Begum's servants mounted on fine horses. After staying three months at Agra, Maham Begum went to Dholpur with Babur. Maham Begum was the chief queen and the only one, privileged to sit by the side of Babur on the throne of Delhi throne. She was powerful, moody and spoil and it seems Babur denied her nothing. It is worth of noticing that “Babur speaks of his favorite wife, Maham Begum’s edict as a farman.”

Once Humayun, became seriously ill. A letter came from Maulana Muhammad Parghali in Delhi. Maham Begum was very much upset on hearing this news, and set out for Delhi. They met in Mathura. To her experienced eye he seemed ten times weaker and more alarmingly ill than she had heard he was. From Mathura the two, mother and son set out for Agra. Upon their arrival to Agra, Babur came and saw how it was, his light revealing countenance at once became sad and pitiful, and he began more and more to show signs of dread. On this Maham said to Babur, "Do not be troubled about my son. You are a king; what griefs have you? You have other sons. I sorrow because I have only this one." Babur rejoined, "Maham! Although I have other sons, I love none as I love your Humayun. I crave that this cherished child may have his heart's desire and live long, and I desire the kingdom for him and not for the others, because he has not his equal in distinction."

During Humayun's illness Babur walked round him and turned his face (in intercession) to his Reverence, Murtaza 'Ali Karimu-l-lah. He kept up that going-round from the Wednesday and made intercession from the Tuesday, in anxiety and deep dejection. Humayun was restored and Babar died, a return from the gate of death and an entry there which might have occurred without Babar's rite, but nonetheless was the self-sacrifice complete because he believed in its efficacy and was willing to die. His health worsened rapidly after this and he made ready to go. During his' illness, he laid a command on Maham Begum, the charge to arrange marriages of Gulrang Begum and Gulchehra Begum.

As Empress dowager

When Babur died in December 1530, Humayun ascended the throne at twenty three-years of age. Maham Begum made an allowance of food twice daily. In the morning an ox and two sheeps and five goats, and at afternoon prayer time five goats. She gave this from her own estate during the two and a half years. Maham Begum received her cleverness of the conspiracy and bade Humayun to return from Badakhshan. She played an important role in promoting successfully the cause of Humayun. She continued to be Padshah Begum and participated in the affairs of the royal household organization of social functions and the maintenance of her husband's tomb, until her death.

After Humayun's return from Chunar, Maham Begam, gave a great feast. They lit up the bazars. Then she gave orders to the better class and to the soldiers also to decorate their places and make their quarters beautiful, and after this illumination became general in India. With all her stores of replenishing, she made an excellent and splendid feast. She gave special robes of honour to 7,000 persons. The festivities lasted several days.

Death

In April Maham Begum was attacked by a disorder of the bowels. On the 16th of the same month she passed away. After the death of Maham, Khanzada Begum, Babar's sister, became the first-lady of the Empire.

It is not known where she was buried and which place was chosen to be her tomb by her son Humayun who was then reigning. She seems to have been buried alongside the grave of Babur. It is certain, however, that her body was never transferred to Kabul.

References

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