Story of Unfortunate Prince Khusrao

Khusrau Mirza (1587 – 1622) or Prince Khusrau was the eldest son of the Mughal emperor Jahangir. His mother, Manbhawati Bai  was the daughter of Rajput Raja Bhagwant Das of Amber (Jaipur), head of the Kushwaha clan of Rajputs.

Emperor Akbar was disappointed with his only son Prince Salim who was addicted to opium and wine. Salim (who later became the Emperor Jahangir) regularly disobeyed royal orders and became infamous for murdering Akbar's grand vizier Abul Fazal. After Akbar's death, the Mughal court was divided in two camps - Raja Man Singh of Amber and moderate Muslim courtiers preferred Prince Khusrao who was popular with the public because of his moderate Sufi beliefs. The powerful Persian nobles and Muslim clergy preferred Jahangir as Emperor of India.

Mughal Family Feud

Moderate vs. Clergy

Emperor Akbar had brought his grandson Khusrao up in the liberal tradition he had fostered. He had the support of his mother Manbhawati and Raja Man Singh of Amber. The influence of Rajputs made the Persian nobles and Mullahs fear that Persian and Ulema’s influence would reduce in court if Khusrao were to become emperor. They extended support to Jahangir on the promise that he will follow Sharia - the orthodox Islamic way of court.

Liberal court of Emperor Akbar

When Jahangir was crowned emperor after Akbar’s death in 1605, he placed  Khusaru Mirza and his wife under house arrest in Agra fort. Khusrau escaped Agra with 350 horsemen on the pretext of visiting the tomb of Akbar at nearby Sikandria. In Mathura, he was joined by Hussain Beg with about 3000 horsemen. In Panipat, he was joined by Abdur Rahim, the provincial Dewan (administrator) of Lahore. The news of Khusrau's flight sped through the country like wildfire. Dissatisfied Chugtai, Rajput clans and several frontier tribes — flocked to his banner as did some senior Akbar loyalists.

Khusrao meets Guru Arjan Dev

The fugitive prince during his flight from Agra to Lahore, in April 1606 met the fifth Guru of Sikhs,  Guru Arjan Dev at Tarn Taran to seek his blessing.  He seems to have already been acquainted with the Sikh Guru through his grandfather Akbar. There is every probability that the prince, in his early boyhood, might have even visited the abode of the gurus in the company of Akbar. That is why he sought the blessings of the Guru in his hour of struggle. It is said that Guru Arjan Dev received the prince in the midst of the Sikh congregation. Sikh followers of the Guru gave a sum of five thousand rupees to the prince by way of help.

End of Rebellion

Prince Khusrau laid siege of Lahore but he underestimated the swiftness of his father's response. Dilawar Khan, the governor of Lahore strengthened and sealed the defenses before Khusrau's army could reach the city. Simultaneously, a punitive force of over 50,000 was assembled at Agra and launched towards the enemy. Unable to break Lahore's defenses, Khusrau had no option but to turn and flee towards Kabul but they were surrounded by Jahangir's army while crossing the Chenab. Khusrau captured and brought before his father in chains.

Captured Khusrao with Jahangir

Grisly Punishment

Prince Khusrau was first brought to Delhi, where a grisly punishment was meted out to his supporters. He was seated in grand style on an elephant and paraded down Chandni Chowk, while on both sides of the narrow street, the noblemen and barons who had supported him were held at knife-point on raised platforms. As the elephant approached each such platform, the luckless supporter was impaled on a stake (through his bowels), while Khusrau was compelled to watch the grisly sight and listen to the screams and pleas of those who had supported him. This was repeated numerous times through the entire length of Chandni Chowk.

Execution of Khusrao Supporters at Chandni Chowk, Delhi

Khusrau's life was spared, but he was condemned to a fate almost as terrible. He was blinded and then thrown into a dungeon.

Execution of Guru Arjan Dev

Guru Arjan Dev was arrested on order of Jahangir and imprisoned in the house of Chandu Shah, the Dewan of Lahore where he was tortured and executed.

Execution of Guru Arjan Dev

The result was a scarring of the Sikh psyche that would reverberate for centuries and ultimately destroy the Mughal empire forever.

Brotherly Love

Soon after the blinding of Khusrau, Jahangir, possibly in a fit of remorse, ordered his physicians to  restore his son's vision. With their efforts, Khusrau was spared the horror of total blindness and he was even allowed to come for court proceedings. Khusrau’s popularity and his return to court alarmed his step-brother Prince Khurram (Shah Jahan).

Jahangir invites Khusrao to Mughal Court

When Jahangir ordered Khurram to handle the rebellion in South, he put in a condition to hand Khusrau in his custody.  Jahangir refused initially but gave in in insistance by his wife Noor Jahan.  Khusrau was now a man on borrowed time. The end came in January 1622 when under Shah Jahan’s order, Raza Bahadur entered his chambers in the middle of the night. Khusrau was strangled and then re-arranged on his bed to make it appear as if his death was natural.

Prince Khurram as Emperor Shahjahan

After the death of Jahangir in 1627, Prince Khurram was proclaimed as Shah Jahan, the emperor of India. Khusao's sons, other step-brothers of Shah Jahan, and their remaining male off-springs were all put to death by Asif Khan (Brother of Noor Jahan) on order from Shah Jahan.

Tomb of Khusrao Mirza - Allahabad