|
Muhammad Asaf Khan *Nur Mahall*
Sharif. (_alias_ Mirza (_alias_ *Nurjaahan*),
Abul Hasan). *Empress of Jahangir*
| (and widow of
| Sher Afgan).
|
*Mumtaz-i-Mahall*
(_alias_ Arjumand Banu Begam,
_alias_ Nawab Aliya Begam),
*Empress of Shah Jahan*.

6. Ali Quli Beg, from Persia entered Akbar's service, and in the war
with the Rana of Chitor, served under Prince Salim (Jahangir), who
gave him the title of Sher Afgan, 'tiger-thrower', with reverence to
his deeds of prowess. The spelling _afgan_ is correct. The word is
the radical of the Persian verb _afgandan_, 'to throw down'.

7. In October, 1605.

8. Properly Kutb-ud-din Khan. He was foster-brother of Prince Salim
(Jahangir), and his appointment as viceroy alarmed Sher Afgan, and
caused the latter to throw up his appointment in Bengal. The word
Kutb (Qutb) cannot stand alone as a name. Kutb (Qutb)-ud-din means
'pole-star of religion'.

9. Tandan, or Tanra. Ancient town, now a petty village, in Malda
District, Bengal, the capital of Bengal after the decadence of Gaur.
Its history is obscure, and the very site of the city has not been
accurately determined. It is certain that it was in the immediate
neighbourhood of Gaur, and south-west of that town beyond the
Bhagirathi. Old Tandan has been utterly swept away by the changes in
the course of the Pagla. It was occupied by the Afghan king of Bengal
in A.D. 1564, and is not mentioned after 1660. (_I.G._, 1908.)

10. This narrative, notwithstanding all the minute details with which
it is garnished, cannot be accepted as sober history; and I do not
know from what source the author obtained it. 'This lady, whose
maiden name was Muhr-un-Nisa, or "Seal of Womankind", had attracted
the admiration of Jahangir when he was crown prince, but Akbar
married her to a young Turkoman and settled them in Bengal. After
Jahangir's accession the husband was killed in a quarrel with the
governor of the province, and the wife was placed under the care of
one of Akbar's widows, with whom she remained four years, and then
married Jahangir (1610). There is nothing to justify a suspicion of
the Emperor's connivance in the husband's death; nor do I