Saadullah Khan (Mughal Empire)

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Sa'adullah Khan Thaheem
Padshah
Shah Jahan
Preceded byWazir Khan
Succeeded byMir Jumla II
Personal details
Bornc. 1591
Mughal–Safavid War (1649–1653)

Sa'adullah Khan, also spelled Sadullah Khan (c. 1591 – April 1656) was a noble of the Mughal Empire who served as the last grand vizier (or Prime Minister) of Emperor Shah Jahan and Vakil-I-Mutlaq in the period 1645–1656.[2][3]

Sa'adullah was considered among the four most powerful nobles of the empire during Shah Jahan's time. He possessed 7,000 Zat and 7,000 sowar under his command, the highest of any non-royal.[4]

Early life

Saadullah Khan was born into an obscure family of

Jat origin from Chiniot in the Punjab region,[2][1] specifically from the Thaheem (Thahim) tribe.[5][6]

Career

Saadullah Khan was presented at the Mughal Court in December 1641 by Sadr Musavi, an allowance was fixed for him and he was given a robe and a horse. Soon he was appointed as the Arz-I-Mukarrar of the Empire and was awarded a rank of 1000 Zat and 200 Sawar, after serving for a short period in this pretigious post he was given the post of darogha-i-daulat khana-i-khas and rewarded with the title of "Khan". In 1643 his rank was increased to 1500 Zat and 300 Sawar on pretext of excellent service, an elephant from the royal stable was given as a gift. In the same year he was made the Mir-i Saman of the Empire, a minister of great importance, second only to the Wazir.[7] In 1645 Allami Sa'adullah was granted the post of Diwan-I-Khalisa, he was also given the charge of drafting royal orders, he worked for 46 days in this position before being appointed as the Grand Vizier of the Empire, with his mansab reaching 5000 Zat and 1500 Sawar. A robe of honor and a jewelled sword was gifted to him by the Emperor. Saadullah Khan would remain the Grand Vizier until his death in 1656.[8][2]

Prime Minister of the Mughal Empire

Miniature painting of Sadullah Khan

In the year 1645, the incumbent Prime Minister

Deccan region by Shah Jahan. By this time, Saadullah Khan had become widely respected for his intelligence and talent, which had enabled his ascent in the Mughal administration despite a lack of political or family connections. He was appointed as the new Prime Minister.[9]

A year after his appointment, Saadullah Khan handled administrative issues regarding Shah Jahan's Balkh and Badakhshan campaigns. Saadullah Khan was sent to Balkh to manage the country and make the revenue settlements. Prince Murad Baksh was relieved of his command while Vizier Saadullah only took 22 days to settle the administrative affairs and returned to Kabul.[10] He was subsequently rewarded with a Khilat and an increase of 1000 in his mansab for managing the situation efficiently and saving the Mughals from a disaster in Balkh region.[11]

In 1654, he was ordered by Shah Jahan to lay siege to the Chittor Fort in Mewar, in response to provocations from Raj Singh I.[12]

Family

Saadullah Khan's eldest son

Muzaffar Jung.[17]

Death

Saadullah Khan served as Prime Minister until his death in April 1656. He was mourned by many in the Mughal court and administration as well as emperor Shah Jahan himself, who issued a public eulogy announcing his demise.[18]

After Hidayatullah Khan Kashmiri's appointment as Wazir in the reign of Bahadur Shah I,[19] he asked for the title of Saadullah Khan which was the title of the most renowned Wazir of Shah Jahan. The Emperor replied, "It is not easy to be a Sadullah Khan, let him be known as Saidullah Khan." Nonetheless, he was popularly known by the name of Saadullah Khan.[20]

Architectural works

The Jama Masjid, Delhi was built under the supervision of Sa'adullah Khan.[21] Saadullah Khan also built the Shahi Masjid in his hometown of Chiniot.[22]

  • Facade of Jama Masjid, Delhi
    Facade of Jama Masjid, Delhi
  • Courtyard of Jama Masjid, Delhi
    Courtyard of Jama Masjid, Delhi
  • Facade of Shahi Masjid, Chiniot
    Facade of Shahi Masjid, Chiniot
  • Interior of Chiniot's Shahi Masjid
    Interior of Chiniot's Shahi Masjid

References

  1. ^
    OCLC 477410900. Sadullah Khan was the son of Amir Bakhsh a cultivator of Chiniot. He belongs[sic
    ] to Jat family. He was born on Thursday, the 10th Safar 1000 A.H./1591 A.C.
  2. ^
    JSTOR 44141552
    .
  3. ^ Hasan, Ibn (1967). The Central Structure of the Mughal Empire and Its Practical Working Up to the Year 1657. Pakistan branch, Oxford University Press. p. 201.
  4. ^ Richards, J.F. (1995). The New Cambridge History of India: The Mughal Empire. University of Cambridge. p. 143,144. Retrieved 4 August 2022. The four highest ranking nobles in the empire, by comparison, were Ali Mardan Khan, Zafar Jang, Islam Khan, and Sa'adullah Khan who each held 7,000 zat, and 7,000 suwar. All save Sa'adullah Khan held 5,000 two-three horse rank. All were Muslim: two were Iranian in origin, one Turani (of Central Asian descent); and one Indian Muslim.
  5. ISBN 978-969-407-130-5
    . Retrieved 29 July 2022.
  6. ^ "Extracts from the District & States Gazetteers of the Punjab, Pakistan". Research Society of Pakistan, University of the Punjab. 2: 29. 1976.
  7. ISBN 9788173070211
    .
  8. ^ Siddiquie, Shabblr Ahmad. "SADULUH KNAN. DIWAN OF SHAH JAHAN." (1988).
  9. ISBN 978-0-520-28646-7
    .
  10. ISBN 978-0-520-28646-7
    .
  11. ISBN 978-81-7391-823-0
    .
  12. ISBN 978-0-520-28646-7
    .
  13. ^ Awrangābādī, Shāhnavāz Khān (1979). The Maāt̲h̲ir-ul-umarā: Being Biographies of the Muḥammadan and Hindu Officers of the Timurid Sovereigns of India from 1500 to about 1780 A.D. Janaki Prakashan.
  14. ISBN 978-93-87587-94-6
    . Hifzullah Khan, son of S'adullah Khan, Subahdar of Thattha and Faujdar of Siwistan
  15. ISBN 978-1-107-03428-0
  16. ISBN 8173918236
    .
  17. ^ Nawwab Samsam Ud Daula Shah Nawaz Khan. The Maathir Ul Umara Vol. Ii Part Ii. p. 647.
  18. ISBN 978-0-520-28646-7
    .
  19. ^ William Irvine (1971). Later Mughal.
  20. ^ William Irvine (1971). Later Mughal.
  21. ISBN 9798128819703
    .
  22. ^ Dr. Mazhar Abbas. "History neglected".
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