The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period v4.c15.69

v4.c15.69

A tragedy now enabled him to free himself for ever of the baleful influence of Māham Anaga and her ruffianly son. The discontent caused by the appointment of Atga Khān as minister has already been described. It was shared by Shihāb-ud-dīn Ahmad Khān as well as by those mentioned before, and the malcontents instigated the unscrupulous Adham Khān to remove the obstacle from their path. Authorities differ as to the details of the murder, but on 16 May, 1562, Adham Khān, attended by his followers, swaggered into the hall where Atga Khān was engaged either in public business or in reading the Korān and advanced towards him in a threatening manner, with his hand on his dagger. Whether he stabbed him himself is not certain, but two of his followers, at a signal from him, cut the minister down and he staggered out and fell dead in the courtyard. Adham Khān then attempted to force his way into the inner apartments where Akbar, who had been sleeping, was awakened by the tumult. His object does not appear to have been, as Dr Vincent Smith believed, “the last extremity of treason”,¹ but to make his peace. The eunuch on duty, however, barred his way, and Akbar, armed with his sword, came out by another door. As his glance fell on the dead body of Atga Khān he cried to Adham Khān, “You son of a ——,² why have you killed my foster-father?” Adham Khān seized his hands and begged him to hear him, but Akbar, maddened by the restraint, wrenched himself free and felled him with a blow of his fist. He then ordered his attendants to throw him down from the terrace, and the order was obeyed, but as Adham Khān was seen to be breathing he was taken up and thrown down a second time, so that his neck was broken and his brains spattered the pavement. Akbar then returned to the inner apartments and broke the news, as quietly as he could, to the murderer’s mother, who was ill. The sick woman said simply, “Your Majesty did well”, and forty days later died of grief for her worthless son.