Question map
The aristocrat Muqarrab Khan was a great favourite of which Mughal Emperor?
Explanation
Muqarrab Khan, originally a physician named Shaikh Hassu, was a prominent aristocrat and a great favourite of the Mughal Emperor Jahangir [1]. He served in various high-ranking capacities, including as the governor (mutasaddi) of Surat and Gujarat [1]. Jahangir held him in high esteem due to his medical skills and his ability to procure rare curiosities and animals from European traders. In 1613, when the Portuguese seized Mughal ships, Jahangir specifically entrusted Muqarrab Khan with the task of obtaining compensation [1]. Historical records, including the Jahangirnama, describe Muqarrab Khan presenting exotic animals like a Madagascaran lemur to the Emperor, who was a keen naturalist. His close relationship with the court is further evidenced by his interactions with English ambassadors like Sir Thomas Roe and William Hawkins during Jahangir's reign.
Sources
- [1] Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 3: Advent of the Europeans in India > The Portuguese in India > p. 31