Mirza Badi-uz-Zaman Safavi

Shah Nawaz Khan
Shahzada of the Safavid Empire
Died (1659-03-14)14 March 1659
Ajmer, Rajasthan, India
Burial Ajmer Sharif, Ajmer
Spouse Nauras Banu Begum
Issue Dilras Banu Begum
Sakina Banu Begum
Mirza Muhammad Ahsan Safavi
Mirza Mu‘azzam Safavi
3 other daughters
Full name
Badi-uz-Zaman Safavi
House Safavid
Father Mirza Rustam Safavi
Religion Shia Islam

Badi-uz-Zaman Safavi (died 1659) better known by the title, Shahnawaz Khan, and popularly known as Mirza Deccan; was a prince of the Safavid dynasty of Iran (Persia) and a powerful amir at the Mughal court during Emperor Shah Jahan's reign. He was also the father-in-law of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb and his younger brother, Prince Murad Baksh.

Family and lineage

Shahnawaz Khan was the son of Mirza Rustam Safavi,[1] who rose to eminence during Emperor Jahangir's reign. Khan belonged to the lineage of the old Mashad princes of Iran - his great-grandfather was the son of Shah Ismail I Safavi of the Safavid Empire.[2]

He was married to Nauras Banu Begum,[3] the daughter of Mirza Muhammad Sharif. The couple were the parents of two sons and five daughters, including Dilras Banu Begum, who married Prince Muhi-ud-din (later known as Aurangzeb upon his accession), the third son of Emperor Shah Jahan in 1637. Another daughter of his married Aurangzeb's youngest brother, Prince Murad Baksh in 1638.[4]

At the Mughal court

Shahnawaz Khan was the Viceroy of Gujarat and was made ataliq to Shah Jahan's son, Prince Murad Baksh, at the time of his assignment to the Deccan.[5]

Shah Nawaz Khan was imprisoned by his son-in-law, Aurangzeb, in the Burhanpur fort in 1658 for not supporting him in the war of succession. Khan, instead of supporting his son-in-law, chose to support Aurangzeb's oldest brother, Crown Prince Dara Shikoh, the heir-apparent chosen by Emperor Shah Jahan. This resulted in a conflict of interests between Aurangzeb and him. Aurangzeb released him seven months later, upon the intercession of his eldest daughter Princess Zeb-un-Nisa and appointed him the viceroy of Gujarat.[6]

Death

Shahnawaz Khan died during the battle of Ajmer on 14 March 1659,[6] and was buried in Ajmer Sharif, Rajasthan by the orders of Aurangzeb.

References

  1. ↑ Koch, Ebba (1997). King of the world: the Padshahnama. Azimuth Ed. p. 104.
  2. ↑ Annie Krieger-Krynicki (2005). Captive princess: Zebunissa, daughter of Emperor Aurangzeb. Oxford University Press. pp. 1, 84, 92.
  3. ↑ Indian Historical Records Commission (1921). Proceedings of the ... Session, Volume 3. The Commission. p. 18.
  4. ↑ Waldemar, Hansen (1986). The Peacock Throne: The Drama of Mogul India. Motilal Banarsidass. p. 124.
  5. ↑ Balabanlilar, Lisa (2015). Imperial Identity in the Mughal Empire: Memory and Dynastic Politics in Early Modern South and Central Asia. I.B.Tauris. p. 186. ISBN 0857732463.
  6. 1 2 Sir Jadunath Sarkar (1925). Anecdotes of Aurangzib. M.C. Sarkar & Sons. p. 35.


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