The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period v4.c15.153

v4.c15.153

“The foster-father cohort” had hitherto all held assignments in the Punjab under their chief, Khān Kalān, who was governor of the province. Akbar now decided to transfer them to other places, far removed from one another. They had bitterly resented the murder of Atga Khān and had been baulked of their vengeance by Akbar’s decision to proceed against none but the actual murderer, but their loyalty was above suspicion and there seems to have been no reason for the measure beyond the observance of the general principles, sound in such an empire as that of the Mughuls, that nobles who were nearly related should be distributed in different provinces and that no great noble should be allowed to retain indefinitely the government of one particular province. It was the failure to observe these principles that eventually led to the dismemberment of the empire.