The Institutes of Akbar 273: Note on the meaning of the title of ‘Tarkhan.’

273

Abulfazl, in the Akbarnámah (38th year), has a valuable note regarding the meaning and the history of this ancient title. The title was hereditary, and but rarely given. Chingiz Khan conferred it on Qishliq and Ba’tá for having given him correct information regarding the enemy. The title in this case, as in all others, implied that the holder was excused certain feudal services, chiefly attendance at Court (taklíf i bár). Chingiz Khan, moreover, did not take away from the two nobles the royal share of the plunder. Under Tímúr, a Tarkhán had free access to every place of the palace, and could not be stopped by the macebearers; nor was he or his children liable to be punished for any crime, provided the number of his or their crimes did not exceed the number nine.
Some say, a Tarkhán had seven distinctions and privileges—1. a tabl; 2. a túmántogh; 3. a naqqárah; 4. he can confer on two of his men a qushún togh, or chatr togh; 5. his Qúr (p. 109) was carried (qúr i ú níz bardárand). Among the Mughuls no one but the king was allowed to use a quiver. 6. He could enclose (quruq) a forest as his private hunting ground, and if any one entered the enclosure, he forfeited his personal liberty. 7. He was looked upon as the head of the clan to which he belonged. In the statehall the Amirs sat behind him to his right and left arranged in form of a bow (kamánmadawwár).
When Toghluq Tímúr conferred this title upon an Amír, he put all financial matters (dád o sitad) ‘as far as a Hazárí’ (?) in his charge; nor were his descendants, to the ninth generation, liable to be called to account; but should their crimes exceed the number nine, they were to be called to account. When a Tarkhán had to answer for blood shed by him (pádásh i khún), he was placed on a silver white horse two years old, and a white cloth was put below the feet of the animal. His statement was made by a chief of the Barlás clan (vide p. 341, note), and the sentence was communicated to him by a chief of the Arkiwát (ارکیوات) clan. His neck vein was then opened, the two chiefs remaining at his side, and watching over him till he was dead. The king was then led forth from the palace, and sat down to mourn over him.
Khizr Khwájah in making Mír Khudádád a Tarkhán, added three new privileges. 1. At the time of wedding feasts (túi), when all grandees have to walk on foot, and only the yasáwal (chief mace bearer) of the king is on horseback to keep back the crowds, the Tarkhán also proceeds on horseback. 2. When during the feast the cup is handed to the king from the right side, another cup is at the same time handed to the Tarkhán from the left. 3. The Tarkhán’s seal is put on all orders; but the seal of the king is put to the beginning of the last line and below his.
Abulfazl, in concluding these remarks, says that these distinctions are extraordinary enough; he believes it possible that a king may grant a virtuous man immunity for nine crimes; but he thinks it absurd to extend the immunity to nine generations.