Mughals and Military

 

 

Cavalry in the Durbar Procession of Mughal Emperor Akbar II

 

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?