History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v3.c37.s9: §9. Lists of high officials.

History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v3.c37.s9

Language: English

v3.c37.s9.t1 Khan-i-samans : — 4 parts
v3.c37.s9.t2 Sadar-us-sadurs : — 3 parts

§9. Lists of high officials.

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The following is a list of the first or Head Bakhshis of Aurangzib's reign.

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Muhammad Amin Khan, Jan. 1659—Dec. 1667. Danishmand Khan, Dec. 1667—July 1670. Lashkar Khan, July 1670—January 1671. Asad Khan, Feb. 1671 ?—Oct. 1676.

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∗ I.O.L. MS. 2678, p. 123 of the copy made for me.

Sarbuland Khan, ? Oct. 1676—Dec. 1679. [Ruhullah Khan I. officiates informally.] Himmat Khan, Oct. 1680—Jan. 1681. Ashraf Khan, Jan. 1681—Sept. 1686. Ruhullah Khan I., Sept. 1686—July 1692. Bahramand Khan, July 1692—Nov. 1702. Nusrat Jang K. B., Nov. 1702—1707 ?

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Almost all of them* were Persians by race, one, Danishmand Khan, being himself a Persian emigrant and several others the sons or grandsons of refugees from that country. The Paymasters enjoyed a very high reputation for ability, polish of manners, and power of office management.

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The KHAN-I-SAMAN, also styled Mir-i-saman, was both Lord High Steward and Lord Chamberlain. "He had charge of the whole expenditure of the royal household in reference to both great and small things," (Storia, ii. 419), and of the various departments of stores and workshops. During marches he used to accompany the Emperor and control all the workmen, servants and stores of the household. The following is a list of Aurangzib's Chamberlains† :—

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∗ Lives in M. U. i. 310 (Asad), 272 (Ashraf), 454 (Bahramand); ii. 93 (Nusrat Jang), 309 (Ruhullah), 477 (Sarbuland), 30 (Danishmand); iii. 168 (Lashkar), 613 (Md. Amin), 946 (Himmat). † Lives in M. U. i. 252 (Iftikhar), iii. 625 (Md. Ali), 34 (Fazil Kh. III.), 159 (Kamgar), ii. 315 (Ruhullah Kh. II.), i. 814 (Khudabanda).

Khan-i-samans :

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Fazil Khan I. Ala-ul-mulk Tuni, Dec. 1662—June 1663. Iftikhar Khan Sultan Husain Yezdi, June 1663—March 1670.

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Ashraf Khan, March 1670—Nov. 1676. Ruhullah Khan I., Nov. 1676—? 1678. Muhammad Ali Khan (s. of Dr. Daud), ? 1678—May 1687.

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Kamgar Khan, 1687—1688. Fazil Khan III., (Itimad Kh.), 1688—1697. Khanahzad Kh. (Ruhullah Khan II.), 1697—May 1704. Khudabanda Khan, May 1704—1707.

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Every province had its Sadar or Judge and Supervisor of endowments to pious men and scholars. Over them all was the SADAR-US-SADUR or Chief Sadar,[*] who was also the medium of the Emperor's acts of charity, especially the distribution of the lakh and a half of Rupees which he gave away every year in the month of Ramzan and other sacred occasions. The Chief Sadars of Aurangzib's reign are mentioned below.

Sadar-us-sadurs :

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Sayyid Hedayatullah Qadiri, June 1658—March 1660. Shaikh Mirak of Herat, March 1660—November 1661. Qalich Khan (Abid Kh.), Nov. 1661—May 1667. Razavi Khan, May 1667—? June 1681.

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[*] Lives in M. U. iii. 120 (Qalich Kh.), ii. 32 (Fazil Kh. II.), iii. 307 (Razavi Kh.), i. 346 (Md. Amin Kh. II.)

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Qalich Khan, June 1681—June 1682. Sharif Khan, June—Oct. 1682. Fazil Khan II. (Shaikh Makhdum), Oct. 1682—Dec. 1688.* ?——?, 1689—1698. Qazi Abdullah, (a few months) 1698, (in addition to Chief Qazi-ship). Md. Amin Khan II. (Chin Bahadur, Itimad-ud-daula), May 1698—1707?