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Cavalry in the Durbar Procession of Mughal Emperor Akbar II
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Mughals were living in precarious times. Boundaries were volatile and loyalties
shifted in a blink of an eye. Apart from that there was a plethora of
administrative issues. Mughal intervention in subcontinent started with Babur.
Weary and disheartened of defeats in homeland. Babur set his eyes upon Kabul
and ultimately planned his campaigns to India. India with abundance of
resources had much to offer to the weary king. India had been a perfect
playground for plunder, loot, accession, glory and legacy for invaders.
Accession and defense were not
possible without strong military. That is why states with strong enough armies
were able to survive on the pages of history. Heirs of nobility were trained in
war affairs from early age apart from other necessary skills for state
management. A ruler however had to be master of all, military was a part of
skill set for running a state.
We find many references of
generals that accompanied the rulers. Trained and battle hardened. These were
the men, monarchs had to rely on. Generals kept sovereignty intact and enjoyed
control of lucrative domains in return.
As reliance grew so does the influence on state. Hence, it was a matter
of time when a general become ambitious enough to challenge authority of his
master. We see this pattern repeat several times in history.
The reign of Mughals is so
eventful that it makes as good as a movie plot. Reason for such a dramatic
period has to do with how the power was concentrated. A strange thing about
power is that it never remains static. If one is not to act he is acted upon.
The Mughal nobility draw the source of power from their inherit right. Mughals
prided themselves on their glorious ancestry as a direct descendant of
Tamerlane. Generals drew their source of power from personal loyalty of
soldiers.
During the times Humayun was
bullied out of India by Sher Shah Suri, he was invited by Raja Maladeo Rathore
of Marwar. On his arrival after a sweltering journey through desert, he came to
know that raja has changed his mind and was planning to hand him over to his
enemy. Humayun had to retrace his steps.
On this shameful retreat a particularly embarrassing incident happened, when
two senior generals, Munim Khan and Tardi Beg, mounted their horses to leave,
and Humayun ran after them and only with great difficulty managed to persuade
them to stay. This incident indicates the reliance of Humayun on his generals.
Obviously, these generals were relying on support of their soldiers. Once a
general was gone so were his soldiers and Humayun would have been exposed to
threats from all sides.
On one occasion Tardi Beg flatly
refuse to lend one of his horses to the eight months pregnant Hamida Bano
Begum. Humayun then had to give her his own steed and suffer the affront of
having to ride on the back of a camel – considered a vulgar pack animal, never
a mount for a nobleman, let alone a king – for about half an hour before one of
his man finally offered him his own mount.
Another General in the service of
Mughal empire was Bairam Khan. He was a Shia Turkoman. His father and
grandfather had always been loyal servants of Babur. It is said that Mughal
Empire has much to thank to this brave and capable general for its
survival. Under wise advice of Bairam
Khan Humayun retreated to safety of Qandahar and avoid direct conflict with
Sher Shah Suri. Complying with age old maxim of Sun Tzu of avoiding enemy when
its strong.
When the conditions were
favorable, and army was strong enough he was the general who accompanied
Humayun on his campaign back to India.
When Humayun died on the stairs
of his library in Purana Qila, Delhi. Bairam Khan was accompanying his young song
Akbar as his Guardian and Commander-in-Chief. Akbar was appointed as governor
of Punjab and under Bairam Khan guidance leading the operation against Sikandar
Suri.
Akbar and Bairam Khan received
the news of emperor’s demise while there were enjoying the view of Ravi near
Kalanaur (northern Punjab India). Bairam Khan proved himself as loyal as he was
to his father. He kept Emperor’s death a secret. A look alike of Humayun was
appointed to make appearances in imperial robe from the balcony of fort. He
secured loyalties of potential rivals and neutralized all the threats. Due to
his efforts Akbar was enthroned on February 1556.
This loyalty did not get
unrewarded. He was appointed as his prime minister and Commander in Chief of
the Army. This should be considered as epoch of his career. Through this master
stroke he was able to held his grip on the empire. In the years that followed
he was helping young Akbar establish his rule but also enjoying the perks of a
sovereign man.
But that is where he became
overconfident and started testing the limits of power.
Bairam Khan devoid young Akbar of
his private expenses and his household were poorly paid while Bairam Khan’s
servant grew rich. Bairam Khan grew suspicious of Akbar’s true intention as he
tried to wiggle his way out of Bairam Khan clutches.
Bairam Khan was running the state
in a dictatorial style. His administering was effective but full of nepotism
and high handedness. Akbar found himself sidelined in many important state
decisions. For example, Bairam Khan appointed a fellow Shia as Sadr-i-Sudur
(legal officer) without the consultation of Akbar. Akbar chose to remain silent
despite a hue and cry from Sunni courtiers. Bairam Khan also dismissed of
important personnel without emperor’s prior approval.
Akbar’s two favorite mahouts who
were low caste Hindus were executed on Bairam Khans direct order because one of
them was not able to restrain an imperial elephant who happened to kill one of
Bairam Khan’s animal.
Akbar had plenty of advisers who
alarmed him of growing influence of Bairam Khan in state and administration
affairs. Akbar also had enough of acting as puppet of Bairam Khan. Finally,
with the help of Bairam khan’s enemies and support from courtiers he was able
to tighten his grip on Bairam Khan. Consensus was to execute him but Akbar
selected a less violent option and relieved him of his duties.
Bairam Khan refused to believe
the news and requested a private audience with emperor. Akbar in return refused
and sent a firman to turn his
attention to pilgrimage. Things got heated when Pir Muhammad Khan was sent to
tail him and pack him to his journey.
Bairam khan waged a battle and
with his small army turned north. Started his march toward Delhi and attacked
imperial army. However, he lost the battle ultimately and withdrawn to a strong
hold in Talwara. That’s where he finally gave him up. Akbar allowed him to go
on the pilgrimage to mecca.
In later years we also come
across many small incidents of generals challenging Akbar authority. For
example, on one of his campaign to Surat, Akbar was surrounding a fort. Upon
conquering he spared the life of many except the garrison commander, a former
military officer in Humayun’s Army, who had his tongue cut off.
Sher Shah Suri however was well
aware of the threats of concentration of power in few hands. He was also aware
of the ambitious generals overthrowing their own kings (he himself was a good
example in fact). Problem to this solution lay in judicious administrative
reforms. Provincial Governors were devoid of any military power. Moreover, to
prevent the development of any vested interest, provincial officers were given
new assignment every two years. Sher Shah instinctively understood that
separation of power was the best guarantee against abuse.
Fast forward to today when
militaries are now well structured. Power is distributed evenly among various
quarters. Armies are made subservient to constitution rather than
personalities. Armies have grown so indifferent that sometimes change of
Governments does not affect them. It makes one wonder if this abuse of power is
still prevalent in any form? Are the legacies of Munim Khan, Tardi Beg or Bairam
Khan still alive anywhere?
