Asad Khan

Asad Khan ( 1626/1631 – 15 June 1716), born Muhammad Ibrahim, was a high-ranking noble of the Mughal Empire during the reigns of Aurangzeb and Bahadur Shah. He is known for his tenure as the wazir (prime minister) of emperor Aurangzeb in the period 1676–1707, and was an important player in Mughal court politics.

Early life Asad Khan was born around 1626 or 1631 as Muhammad Ibrahim, into a prestigious family of Safavid Iran. His grandfather, named Zulfiqar Khan, was beglar begi of Shirvan during the reign of the Safavid king Shah Abbas I. However, he was executed around 1600 by Shah Abbas, and the family fell out of favor. Painting of Mughal nobles Asad Khan and son Zu'l Faqar Khan, in debate on what to do with captive emperor Jahandar Shah. From 1684, Asad Khan served in the Deccan. Upon difficulties securing the fort, Kam Bakhsh discreetly opened negotiations with the enemy against Aurangzeb's direct orders. Asad Khan and his son learned of this and readily arrested him; he was then mistreated, and Asad Khan is known to have abused Kam Bakhsh directly. Aurangzeb thereupon threatened to relieve Asad Khan of the wazir position, but never acted on this. Munis Faruqui underlines this event as illustrative of how Aurangzeb protected his nobles, sometimes at the expense of the royal princes. In the succession struggle following Aurangzeb's death, Asad Khan and his son allied with prince Azam Shah.

in 1712, Bahadur Shah was succeeded by his son Jahandar Shah, under whom Asad Khan remained wakil-i-mutlaq. He was also made governor of Gujarat, although he held this position in absentee. The following year, Jahandar Shah was defeated in battle by Farrukhsiyar, and sought refuge at Asad Khan's household. Asad Khan and his son Zulfiqar Khan, despite having supported Jahandar Shah uptil then, decided to turn over Jahandar Shah to the new emperor. However, Farrukhsiyar was mistrustful of Asad Khan and had his son killed. Asad Khan then spent the rest of his life in obscurity, and died on 15 June 1716.

Family Asad Khan was married to Mehrunissa, daughter of Asaf Khan. Zulfiqar Khan was born to them in the year 1657; he was married to a daughter of noble Shaista Khan in 1677. who was married to the youngest daughter of Abul Hasan Qutb Shah, the last ruler of the Golconda Sultanate. Asad Khan also had a daughter who was married to Khuda Bandah Khan, son of noble Shaista Khan. Of his sons, Zulfiqar Khan had no children. Inayat Khan went insane in his last days, and died in Delhi living two sons: Salih Khan and Mirza Kazim. Salih Khan attained high rank in the reign of Jahandar Shah and was entitled Itiqad Khan, while Mirza Kazim ruined his reputation and career by his "association with dancers".