Bhagwant Das

Raja Bhagwant Das ( – 4 December 1589; Bhagavantdās) was the 23rd Kacchwaha ruler of Amber. He served as the Mughal Subahdar of Lahore and, for a brief period in 1586, as the Subahdar of Kabul.

Bhagwant Das belonged to the Kacchwaha dynasty of Amber and was closely connected to the Mughal imperial family through his sister, Mariam-uz-Zamani, the chief consort of Mughal emperor Akbar. His son, Man Singh I, became one of Akbar's Navaratnas and rose to the highest military rank in the imperial service, while his daughter, Man Bai, became the first and chief wife of Prince Salim, the future emperor Jahangir.

Life

Raja Bhagwant Das was the eldest son of Bharmal born in 1527 to his wife Phulvati of Mandore.

At the event of his sister's marriage to Akbar in 1562, he was taken into the royal service by Akbar. He led several military expeditions of the Mughal Empire and was a respected noble in the Mughal court. He was notable for his sincere devotion and loyalty to Akbar having saved his life in the battle of Paronkh taking the bow meant to strike Akbar, on his chest.

Bhagwant Das was one of the generals of Akbar, who awarded him a mansab (rank) of 5000 in 1585. and conferred upon him the title of Amir-ul-Umra . He fought many battles for Akbar, including battles in Punjab, Kashmir, and Afghanistan, and was also the governor of Kabul. Bhagwant Das was soundly defeated by the Kashmiri king, Yousuf Shah Chak.

Bhagwant married his daughter, Man Bai, to Prince Salim, who later assumed the throne as emperor Jahangir. Their child was Jahangir's eldest son, Khusrau Mirza. He was associated with the Sant Mat figure Dadu Dayal.

Death Shortly after attending the cremation of Todar Mal at Lahore, Bhagwant Das, having suffered from a bout of vomiting and strangury, died on 4 December 1589. At the time of his death, Akbar issued a firman of condolence to his eldest son and successor, Man Singh I. The firman contained kind and gracious messages, and Akbar also sent him his own robes of honor and a bodyguard's horse. Additionally, Akbar bestowed upon him the title of Raja in honor of his father's passing. His second son, Madho Singh, became the ruler of Bhangarh.

Issue Raja Bhagwant Das had at least thirteen sons:

Raja Man Singh Man Bai Raja Madho Singh Pratap Singh Kunwar Hardas Singh Kunwar Kanah Kunwar Vanmali Das Kunwar Bhiv Chandarsera Singh Sur Singh

Ancestry