Kamran Mirza () (1512 – 5 October 1557) was the second son of
Babur
Babur (; 14 February 148326 December 1530; born Zahīr ud-Dīn Muhammad) was the founder of the Mughal Empire in the Indian subcontinent. He was a descendant of Timur and Genghis Khan through his father and mother respectively. He was also ...
, the founder of the
Mughal Empire
The Mughal Empire was an Early modern period, early modern empire in South Asia. At its peak, the empire stretched from the outer fringes of the Indus River Basin in the west, northern Afghanistan in the northwest, and Kashmir in the north, to ...
and the first
Mughal Emperor
The emperors of the Mughal Empire, who were all members of the Timurid dynasty (House of Babur), ruled the empire from its inception on 21 April 1526 to its dissolution on 21 September 1857. They were supreme monarchs of the Mughal Empire in ...
. Kamran Mirza was born in
Kabul
Kabul is the capital and largest city of Afghanistan. Located in the eastern half of the country, it is also a municipality, forming part of the Kabul Province. The city is divided for administration into #Districts, 22 municipal districts. A ...
to Babur's wife Gulrukh Begum. He was half-brother to Babur's eldest son
Humayun
Nasir al-Din Muhammad (6 March 1508 – 27 January 1556), commonly known by his regnal name Humayun (), was the second Mughal emperor, who ruled over territory in what is now Eastern Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Northern India, and Pakistan from ...
, who would go on and inherit the Mughal throne, but he was full-brother to Babur's third son,
Askari. A
divan
A divan or diwan (, ''dīvān''; from Sumerian ''dub'', clay tablet) was a high government ministry in various Islamic states, or its chief official (see ''dewan'').
Etymology
The word, recorded in English since 1586, meaning "Oriental cou ...
written in
Persian
Persian may refer to:
* People and things from Iran, historically called ''Persia'' in the English language
** Persians, the majority ethnic group in Iran, not to be conflated with the Iranic peoples
** Persian language, an Iranian language of the ...
and
Chagatai is attributed to him.
During the Reign of Babur
While his father,
Babur Mirza, was conquering northern
India
India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...
from 1525 onwards, Kamran remained in
Kandahar
Kandahar is a city in Afghanistan, located in the south of the country on Arghandab River, at an elevation of . It is Afghanistan's second largest city, after Kabul, with a population of about 614,118 in 2015. It is the capital of Kandahar Pro ...
in order to secure his northern flank. He was still in charge of the northern part of the newly formed empire, when his father died in 1530. According to the Mughal historian
Abul Fazl
Abu'l-Fazl ibn Mubarak (14 January 1551 – 22 August 1602), also known as Abul Fazl, Abu'l Fadl and Abu'l-Fadl 'Allami, was an Indian writer, historian, and politician who served as the grand vizier of the Mughal Empire from his appointment ...
, Babur's last words to Humayun were "do nothing against your brothers, even though they may deserve it".
In India
In 1538, Kamran first crossed into India, bringing with him 12,000 soldiers, while Humayun was away fighting in
Bengal
Bengal ( ) is a Historical geography, historical geographical, ethnolinguistic and cultural term referring to a region in the Eastern South Asia, eastern part of the Indian subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal. The region of Benga ...
. He appeared to have come in order to put down the rebellion of his brother
Hindal against Humayun. However, despite Humayun's calls for help, Kamran offered him no aid whatsoever. After Humayun returned from his defeat at the
Battle of Chausa, Kamran refused to place his troops under Humayun's command as he was more interested in taking power for himself. Seeing no chance of furthering his ambition, Kamran withdrew back to
Lahore
Lahore ( ; ; ) is the capital and largest city of the Administrative units of Pakistan, Pakistani province of Punjab, Pakistan, Punjab. It is the List of cities in Pakistan by population, second-largest city in Pakistan, after Karachi, and ...
.
Rivalry with Humayun
Sher Shah defeated Humayun in the
Battle of Kannauj in May 1540 and became the new ruler of northern
India
India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...
. He ordered
Humayun
Nasir al-Din Muhammad (6 March 1508 – 27 January 1556), commonly known by his regnal name Humayun (), was the second Mughal emperor, who ruled over territory in what is now Eastern Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Northern India, and Pakistan from ...
to leave India. Humayun went back to
Kabul
Kabul is the capital and largest city of Afghanistan. Located in the eastern half of the country, it is also a municipality, forming part of the Kabul Province. The city is divided for administration into #Districts, 22 municipal districts. A ...
but Kamran was unwilling to hand the city over to his brother. At this point Kamran went behind
Humayun's back and offered to support Sher Shah, if the latter would give him the
Punjab
Punjab (; ; also romanised as Panjāb or Panj-Āb) is a geopolitical, cultural, and historical region in South Asia. It is located in the northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent, comprising areas of modern-day eastern Pakistan and no ...
in return. His offer was refused. At this point
Humayun
Nasir al-Din Muhammad (6 March 1508 – 27 January 1556), commonly known by his regnal name Humayun (), was the second Mughal emperor, who ruled over territory in what is now Eastern Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Northern India, and Pakistan from ...
was urged by his advisors to put his brother to death, but he refused.
After a series of disastrous attempts to retake his throne,
Humayun
Nasir al-Din Muhammad (6 March 1508 – 27 January 1556), commonly known by his regnal name Humayun (), was the second Mughal emperor, who ruled over territory in what is now Eastern Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Northern India, and Pakistan from ...
crossed the
Indus
The Indus ( ) is a transboundary river of Asia and a trans- Himalayan river of South and Central Asia. The river rises in mountain springs northeast of Mount Kailash in the Western Tibet region of China, flows northwest through the dis ...
in 1543. Rather than welcoming him, Kamran sent his younger brother
Askari out to catch him and bring him to
Kabul
Kabul is the capital and largest city of Afghanistan. Located in the eastern half of the country, it is also a municipality, forming part of the Kabul Province. The city is divided for administration into #Districts, 22 municipal districts. A ...
.
Humayun
Nasir al-Din Muhammad (6 March 1508 – 27 January 1556), commonly known by his regnal name Humayun (), was the second Mughal emperor, who ruled over territory in what is now Eastern Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Northern India, and Pakistan from ...
managed to escape his brother's clutches though and sought refuge in the court of the ruler of
Persia
Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) and also known as Persia, is a country in West Asia. It borders Iraq to the west, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Armenia to the northwest, the Caspian Sea to the north, Turkmenistan to the nort ...
, Shah
Tahmasp I
Tahmasp I ( or ; 22 February 1514 – 14 May 1576) was the second shah of Safavid Iran from 1524 until his death in 1576. He was the eldest son of Shah Ismail I and his principal consort, Tajlu Khanum.
Tahmasp ascended the throne after the ...
.
When
Humayun
Nasir al-Din Muhammad (6 March 1508 – 27 January 1556), commonly known by his regnal name Humayun (), was the second Mughal emperor, who ruled over territory in what is now Eastern Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Northern India, and Pakistan from ...
was in
Persia
Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) and also known as Persia, is a country in West Asia. It borders Iraq to the west, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Armenia to the northwest, the Caspian Sea to the north, Turkmenistan to the nort ...
, Kamran offered the Shah the city of Kandahar if he would hand his brother over to him.
Shah Tahmasp
Tahmasp I ( or ; 22 February 1514 – 14 May 1576) was the second shah of Safavid Iran from 1524 until his death in 1576. He was the eldest son of Shah Ismail I and his principal consort, Tajlu Khanum.
Tahmasp ascended the throne after the d ...
favoured Humayun in this fraternal squabble however, and provided him with troops with which he defeated Kamran.
Conflict over Kabul
Humayun was able to enter Kabul in November 1545 in a bloodless takeover, as Kamran's rule had been oppressive, and the population of the city was keen to be rid of him.
After his ignominious flight, Kamran managed to retake Kabul twice, but he remained a hated figure to the residents of the city, as his periods of rule involved atrocities against large numbers of them.
Following his third and final ejection from Kabul, Kamran went to the court of Humayun's enemy, the
Sur king
Islam Shah in
Delhi
Delhi, officially the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi, is a city and a union territory of India containing New Delhi, the capital of India. Straddling the Yamuna river, but spread chiefly to the west, or beyond its Bank (geography ...
in 1552, where he was effectively rebuffed in his hopes for an alliance against his brother. Islam Shah arrested him and deputed his trusted adviser
Hemu
Hemu (; 1501 – 5 November 1556), also known as Hemu Vikramaditya and Hemchandra Vikramaditya, was an Indian king (maharaja) who previously served as a general and Vizier, Wazir of Muhammad Adil Shah (died 1557), Adil Shah Suri of the Sur Emp ...
to hand over Kamran to Humayun at
Kabul
Kabul is the capital and largest city of Afghanistan. Located in the eastern half of the country, it is also a municipality, forming part of the Kabul Province. The city is divided for administration into #Districts, 22 municipal districts. A ...
.
Architecture

A significant architectural structure built for Kamran exists today in Lahore. It is called
Kamran ki Baradari. ''Bara'' means twelve and ''dar'' means doors. Kamran ki baradari was a twelve-door building on the bank of River Ravi. The river changed its course over time, with the result that the Baradari stands not on the bank but in the waters as an island while the gardens have deteriorated.
Exile and death
Although Humayun resisted the pressure to put his rebellious brother to death, he was persuaded that something needed to be done about him so he reluctantly had him blinded. Humayun then sent him off to perform the
Hajj
Hajj (; ; also spelled Hadj, Haj or Haji) is an annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, the holiest city for Muslims. Hajj is a mandatory religious duty for capable Muslims that must be carried out at least once in their lifetim ...
to
Mecca
Mecca, officially Makkah al-Mukarramah, is the capital of Mecca Province in the Hejaz region of western Saudi Arabia; it is the Holiest sites in Islam, holiest city in Islam. It is inland from Jeddah on the Red Sea, in a narrow valley above ...
, where he died near in 1557 and took throne of Kabul from sons of Kamran Mirza and sent them to
Attock Fort
Attock Fort (Urdu, ) is a 16th century fortress in Punjab, Pakistan. It was built at Attock Khurd during the reign of Akbar from 1581 to 1583 under the supervision of Khawaja Shamsuddin to protect the passage of the River Indus.
Location
It ...
as
Sardar
Sardar, also spelled as Sardaar (, , 'commander', literally 'headmaster'), is a title of royal family, royalty and nobility that was originally used to denote princes, noblemen, chiefs, kings and other Aristocracy (class), aristocrats. It ha ...
s.
Family
;Consorts
Kamran had eight consorts:
*Gulrukh Begum ( 1528), daughter of his maternal uncle, Amir Sultan Ali Mirza Taghai Begchik;
*Muhtarima Khanum, daughter of Shah Muhammad Sultan Jagatai, Sultan of Kashghar, by his wife, Khadija Sultan Khanum, fourth daughter of
Sultan Ahmad Khan Jagatai;
*Hazara Begum, niece of the Hazara chief, Khizr Khan;
*Mah Begum, daughter of Sultan Uwais Qibchaq, of Kulab, sometime Governor of Badakshan;
*Mihr Afroz Bega, mother of Hajji Begum;
*Daulat Bakht Aghacha, mother of Aisha Sultan Begum;
*Mah Chuchak Begum ( 1546; 1558), daughter of Mir Shah Husain Arghun, Lord of Sind, Kandahar and Kabul, by his wife, Mah Chuchak Begum, daughter of Mirza Muhammad Muqim Beg Aghun;
*A sister of Abdullah Khan Mughal;
;Sons
Kamran had two sons:
*Ibrahim Sultan Mirza;
*Abu'l-Qasim Mirza;
;Daughters
Kamran had five daughters:
*Habiba Begum, married in 1545 Yasin ud-Daula Aq Sultan, son of
Aiman Khwajah Sultan, son of
Ahmad Alaq
Sultan Ahmad Khan ( Chagatai and Persian: سلطان احمد خان; b. 1465 – 1504), better known as Ahmad Alaq was the Khan of Eastern Moghulistan ( Turpan Khanate) from 1487 to 1504. He was the second son of Yunus Khan. His mother was S ...
, the Khan of
Moghulistan
Moghulistan, also called the Moghul Khanate or the Eastern Chagatai Khanate, was a Muslims, Muslim, Mongol, and later Turkic peoples, Turkic breakaway khanate of the Chagatai Khanate and a historical geographic area north of the Tian Shan, Teng ...
, divorced in 1551
*Gulrukh Begum, married Ibrahim Husain Mirza, third son of Sultan Muhammad Mirza, of Azampur, sometime Governor of Sambhal. They had a son, Muzaffar Husain Mirza, who married
Shahzadi Khanum, daughter of emperor
Akbar
Akbar (Jalal-ud-din Muhammad Akbar, – ), popularly known as Akbar the Great, was the third Mughal emperor, who reigned from 1556 to 1605. Akbar succeeded his father, Humayun, under a regent, Bairam Khan, who helped the young emperor expa ...
; and a daughter,
Nur-un-Nissa Begum, who married the emperor
Jahangir
Nur-ud-din Muhammad Salim (31 August 1569 – 28 October 1627), known by his imperial name Jahangir (; ), was List of emperors of the Mughal Empire, Emperor of Hindustan from 1605 until his death in 1627, and the fourth Mughal emperors, Mughal ...
;
*Hajji Begum - with Mihr Afroz Bega, went on the pilgrimage to Mecca in October 1575;
*Gulizar Begum, went on the pilgrimage to Mecca in October 1575;
*Aisha Sultan Begum - with Daulat Bakht Aghcha; went to
Taloqan
Taloqan (, also transcribed Taleqan or Taluqan) is the capital of Takhar Province, in northeastern Afghanistan. It is located in the Taluqan District. The population was estimated as 196,400 in 2006.
In 2021, the Taliban gained control of ...
with her father in 1550. In 1551, she and her mother were in flight for
Kandahar
Kandahar is a city in Afghanistan, located in the south of the country on Arghandab River, at an elevation of . It is Afghanistan's second largest city, after Kabul, with a population of about 614,118 in 2015. It is the capital of Kandahar Pro ...
, but were captured at the Khimar Pass, and brought in by Humayun's people;
References
Sources
* ''The Great Moghuls'' by
Bamber Gascoigne
Arthur Bamber Gascoigne (, 24 January 1935 – 8 February 2022) was an English television presenter and author. He was the original quizmaster of '' University Challenge'', which initially ran from 1962 to 1987.
Early life and education
Gasc ...
*
External links
''Divan'' manuscript(www.fihrist.org.uk)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mirza, Kamran
Mughal princes
1512 births
1557 deaths
People from Kabul
16th-century Mughal Empire people
Rebel princes