The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period v4.c15.104

v4.c15.104

The Uzbegs in Akbar’s service formed a family party, the members of which were employed for the most part in the eastern province of the empire. Khān Zamān, their chief, held Jaunpur while his brother, Bahādur Khān, was in the same neighbourhood; Ibrāhīm Khān, their uncle, was at Surhurpur, north of Jaunpur, and Iskandar Khān, entitled Khān ‘Ālam, another member of the family, held Oudh. They were proud of their descent from the royal line of Shaibān and it was to them, after Bairam Khān, that Akbar chiefly owed his throne. They had some reason for considering that their services had been ill rewarded. Their retention in the eastern provinces where what may be called active service conditions continually prevailed, amounted in effect to banishment from court, where they saw Persians and others advanced to the highest posts, and they resented their exclusion from favour. Akbar is said to have been so indiscreet as to attribute all his father’s troubles to the Uzbegs and his promptitude in proceeding against ‘Abdullah Khān in Mālwā, on what appeared to them to be mere suspicion, was regarded as proof positive of his hatred of all the tribe. Their isolation, while it aroused their resentment, was favourable to the growth of a spirit of independence, for the expenses of their military establishment furnished them with a pretext for not contributing to the imperial exchequer. Khān Zamān’s unceremonious reception and dismissal of the imperial envoys had been sufficient to convince Akbar of his disaffection, and Ashraf Khān, who was usually employed on such missions, was sent early in 1565 to Iskandar Khān, who was believed to be more amenable, but the Uzbegs were resolved to stand or fall together and Iskandar would give Ashraf no answer until he had met his relatives at Jaunpur, where in a family conclave they resolved to take up arms and decided on a plan of campaign. Iskandar and Ibrāhīm were to march on Kanauj and raise the country in that direction and Khān Zamān and Bahādur were to attack Mānikpur, held for Akbar by Majnūn Khān Qāqshāl.