The Institutes of Akbar 240: 19. Adham Khá’n, son of Máhum Anagah.

240

The name of his father is unknown; he is evidently a royal bastard. His mother Máhum was one of Akbar’s nurses (anagah), and attended on Akbar ‘from the cradle till after his accession.’ She appears to have had unbounded influence in the Harem and over Akbar himself, and Mun’im Khan (No. 11), who after Bairám’s fall had been appointed Vakíl, was subject to her counsel. She also played a considerable part in bringing about Bairám’s fall; Bad. II, p. 36.
Adham Khan was a Panjhazárí, and distinguished himself in the siege of Mánkot. Bairám Khan, in the third year, gave him Hatkant’h, South-East of Ágrah, as jágír, to check the rebels of the Bhadauriyah clan, who even during the preceding reigns had given much trouble. Though he accused Bairam of partiality in bestowing bad jagirs upon such as he did not like, Adham did his best to keep down the Bhadauriyahs. After Bairam’s fall, he was sent, in 968, together with Pir Muhammad Khan, to Malwah, defeated Baz Bahadur near Sarangpur, and took possession of Bahadur's treasures and dancing girls. His sudden fortune made him refractory ; he did not send the booty to Agrah, and Akbar thought it necessary to pay him an unexpected visit, when Mahum Anagah found means to bring her son to his senses. Akbar left after four days. On his departure, Adham prevailed on his mother to send back two beautiful dancing girls; but when Akbar heard of it, Adham turned them away. They were captured, and killed by Mahum’s orders. Akbar knew the whole, but said nothing about it. On his return to Agrah, however, he recalled Adham, and appointed Pir Muhammad governor of Malwah.
At Court, Adham met again Atgah Khan, whom both he and Mun’im Khan envied and hated. On the 12th Ramazan 969, when Mun’im Khan, Atgah Khan, and several other grandees, had a nightly meeting in the state hall at Agrah, Adham Khan with some followers, suddenly entered. All rose to greet him, when Adham struck Atgah with his dagger, and told one of his companions to kill him. He then went with the dagger in his hand towards the sleeping apartments of Akbar, who had been awakened by the noise in the state hall. Looking out from a window, he saw what had happened, rushed forward sword in hand, and met Adham on a high archway (aiwan) near the harem. “Why have you killed my foster father, you son of a bitch?” (bachah i gadah), cried Akbar. “Stop a moment, majesty,” replied Adham, seizing Akbar’s arms, “first inquire.” Akbar drew away his hands and struck Adham a blow in the face, which sent him “spinning” to the ground. “What are you standing here gaping,” said Akbar to one of his attendants of the name of Farhat Khan, “bind this man.” This was done, and at Akbar’s orders Adham Khan was twice thrown down from the dais (suffah) of the Aiwan to the ground, with his head foremost. The corpses of Adham and Atgah were then sent to Dihli.
Mahum Anagah heard of the matter, and thinking that her son had been merely imprisoned, she repaired, though sick, from Dihli to Agrah. On seeing her, Akbar said, “He has killed my foster father, and I have taken his life.” “Your Majesty has done well,” replied Mahum, turning pale, and left the hall. Forty days after, she died from grief, and was buried with her son in Dihli in a tomb which Akbar had built for them. For Adham’s brother, vide No. 60.