[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Dark Ages](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages) › [State papers](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.admin) › [Āʾīn-i Akbarī](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.admin.ain-i-akbari) › [The Ain i Akbari (Blochmann, Jarrett)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.admin.ain-i-akbari~en-blochmann-jarrett) › 256 # The Institutes of Akbar 256: 84. Zain Khán, son of Khwajah Maqçúd of Harát. The Áín i Akbari (Blochmann, Jarrett) 256 - **Language:** English ### 84. Zain Khán, son of Khwajah Maqçúd of Harát. ### [256.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.admin.ain-i-akbari~en-blochmann-jarrett.256.1) His father, Khwájah Maqçúd ’Ali, was a servant of Akbar’s mother. The name of his mother was Píchah Ján Anagah; she was one of Akbar’s nurses. On Humáyún’s flight to Persia, Maqçúd was always near the howdah of Akbar’s mother, and remained attached to her in all her misfortunes. His brother was Khwajah Hasan (Zain Khán’s uncle), whose daughter married Prince Salím. She is the mother of Prince Parwíz. ### [256.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.admin.ain-i-akbari~en-blochmann-jarrett.256.2) In 993, Mírzá Muhammad Hakím, Akbar’s brother, had died, and Akbar crossed the Indus for Zábulistán. Zain Khán was at that time a commander of Two Thousand and Five Hundred, and was sent against the Yúsufzaís. This tribe, says Abulfazl, had formerly been in Qarábágh and Qandahár, and had invaded Kábul, where a great number of them were killed by M. Ulugh Beg. The remainder settled at Lamghánát, and subsequently at Ishtaghar. For the last one hundred years, they had held the territory of Swád, and were notorious robbers. In Swád, there was also a tribe of the name of Sultání, who traced their descent to a daughter of Sultán Sikandar. The Yúsufzaís deprived them treacherously of their district; a few of the Sultánides, however, remained in Swád from attachment to their old country. On a former occasion, when Akbar had moved against M. Muhammad Hakím, the chiefs of the Yúsufzaís submitted, and one of them, Kálú, went with Akbar to Agrah and was hospitably treated. He fled, however, but was caught by Shamsuddín Khafí (No. 159) near Atak, and was sent back; and although Akbar continued to treat him kindly, he fled again and stirred up his countrymen. Zain Khán moved into the District of Swád (north of Pasháwar), and punished the Yúsufzaís. Several chiefs asked for pardon. After this he erected a fort in Jakdarah, in the middle of the country, and defeated the enemies in twenty-three fights. ### [256.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.admin.ain-i-akbari~en-blochmann-jarrett.256.3) He had at last to ask for reinforcements, and Akbar sent to him Rájah Bír Bar and Hakím Abul Fath with some troops. Zain Khán asked them to attack the Afgháns, whilst he would occupy the conquered districts, or he would attack the enemies, and they should hold the district. But Bír Bar and Hakím Abul Fath, who were no friends of Zain Khán, proposed that they should attack the Yúsufzaís together, and then go back. Z. Kh. said, it would not do to return without better results from a country which had cost so many sacrifices; else, the best thing they could do, was to return the same way they had come. But to this they would not listen, and returned by another road (over کراکر). Z. Kh. paid no attention to their insubordination and joined them, chiefly because he was afraid they would denounce him at Court. As soon as the Afgháns saw the Imperialists returning, they attacked them in every narrow valley. On passing the Girewah Balandrí (گریوه بلاندری), Z. Kh. who commanded the rear chundáwal), was so severely attacked, that he had to face them. Arrows and stones were showered from all sides on the Imperialists, the soldiers got bewildered, and the horses ran into the train of elephants. Many lives were lost. Z. Kh., unable to prevent a rout, rushed among the Afghans seeking death, when Janish Bahadur (No. 235) got hold of the reins of his horse, and led him by force out of the mêlée. ### [256.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.admin.ain-i-akbari~en-blochmann-jarrett.256.4) In the greatest disorder the Imperialists reached the next station, when the mere rumour of an approach of the Afgháns dispersed the soldiers. In the darkness of night most of them lost their way, and several detachments entered the valleys occupied by the Afghans. The enemies being engaged in plundering, they were at first safe; but next day they were all cut off. This was the occasion when Bir Bar with 500 officers fell (vide p. 204). In the 31st year (994), Z. Kh. operated successfully against the Mahmands and Ghoris near Pesháwar, who under their chief Jalaluddin Raushání had committed numerous predations. In the next year, Z. Kh. was made governor of Zábulistán vice Mán Singh, and moved, in the 33rd year, against the Yusufzais. After eight months’ fighting, they submitted, but Z. Kh. insisted on occupying their territory. He followed the same policy as before, and erected a large Fort on the banks of the river Bajgorah, where their district commences. During the festival of the "‘Id-i Qurbáni” (Baqr ‘Íd, in Zí Hajjah), he surprised the Afgháns, and took possession of the whole district, erecting a fort wherever he thought necessary, and leaving in each a sufficient number of soldiers. (Vide No. 46.) ### [256.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.admin.ain-i-akbari~en-blochmann-jarrett.256.5) In the 35th year, he was sent to punish several rebellious zamíndárs in the Himalayas. Most of them, as Rajah Budi (Badhí) Chand of Nagarkot (vide p. 330), Rai Pertáb of Mankot, Rajah Parásrám of Mount Jammú, Rajah Bástú of Mau, Rai Balbhadr of Lak’hinpúr, &c., submitted and accompanied Z. Kh. to Court, though they had an army of 10000 horse and a lac of foot soldiers. After having been made, in the 36th year, a Commander of Four Thousand, Z. Kh. was allowed an ’alam and a naqqárah (vide p. 50), and was appointed, in the following year, governor of the districts beyond the Indus up to the Hindukush, when new opportunities offered for punishing the mountaineers. In the 41st year, he was made a Commander of Five Thousand, and governor of Kabul, vice Qulij Khan. In the same year, Prince Salim fell in love with Z. Kh.’s daughter, and married her soon after, though Akbar was displeased (vide p. 277, l. 4, from below). With the death of Jalal Khan Raushani the disturbances in Zábulistán came to an end, and Z. Kh. was ordered to Láhor, from where Akbar, on his return from Burhánpúr, called him to Ágrah. Z. Kh. died in 1010, partly from excessive drinking. He played on several instruments, and composed poems. As Sa‘id Khán (No. 25) for his eunuchs, and Qulij Khan (No. 42) for his horses, so was Z. Kh. famous for his elephants. ### [256.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.admin.ain-i-akbari~en-blochmann-jarrett.256.6) A son of his, Shukrullah (No. 373), vide below, was a Commander of Two Hundred. The Maásir mentions another son, Mughul Khan, who served under Jahángír and Sháhjahán (vide Pádisháhn. II, p. 641), and died 19th Ramazán 1067. He commanded for some time Fort Odgír in the Dak’hin, where the author of the Maásir later found an inscription referring to his appointment. For a second daughter, vide p. 328. For Zain Khán’s brother, vide No. 38. --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.admin.ain-i-akbari~en-blochmann-jarrett.256](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.admin.ain-i-akbari~en-blochmann-jarrett.256) · Pramāṇa