Mubariz Khan

Mubāriz Khān (, ) was a Mughal Empire commander during the reign of emperor Jahangir. He took part in many battles against the rebel Baro-Bhuiyans of Bengal. He also served as officer of Fort Jatrapur and later as the Sardar of Sylhet Sarkar.

Background Mubariz was brought up in a Mughal household. His brothers were Shah Baig Khaksar, Buzakhur and Bahadur Baig.

Life Under Islam Khan The depiction of a Khedda taking place in 1808 by the British. This tradition was widely practised in India. At Nazirpur, the soldiers were told to perform a khedda (catch wild elephants). Mubariz, alongside Iftikhar and Satrajit, were able to bring back a few elephants to the Qamargah (ring-hunt). Following Islam Khan's arrival to Nazirpur, the Subahdar commenced the khedda himself and the troops caught 135 elephants in total. Three elephants were given to Mubariz.

Mubariz and his brothers, Buzakhur and Bahadur, were told by the Subahdar of Bengal, Islam Khan I, to accompany the latter's brother, Shaykh Habibullah, in an expedition against Majlis Qutb of Fathabad. They managed to gain control of Fort Matibhanga and reduce large areas of Qutb's domain. The Mughal forces eventually captured Fathabad. Qutb wrote a letter to Musa Khan pleading for help to which Musa deputed an army led by Mirza Mumin ibn Masum Khan equipped with 200 war-boats. A number of battles took place between Mumin and Raja Satrajit, finally leading to Satrajit driving the rebels off.

After Mubariz's return to Jahangirnagar from Fathabad, he was given charge of Fort Jatrapur, which was previously run by the rebel Musa Khan. During Islam Khan's expedition to Kalakopa, Mubariz was posted in the rear alongside Tuqmaq Khan and Mirak Bahadur Jalair with ninety war-boats. Mubariz was rewarded with a shawl for his hard work.

The expedition coincided with the Islamic month of fasting. The Mughals had a tradition in Ramadan to have a banquet in a different person's camp each day. On the last day of Ramadan (30 Ramadan 1020 A.H. or 5 December 1611) the banquet was to happen in Mubariz's camp. A large celebration took place as the officers broke their fast and sighted the moon. Trumpets were blown and cannons fired. The author of the Baharistan-i-Ghaibi, Mirza Nathan, compared the processions to an earthquake.

Following the celebration of Eid al-Fitr, Usman had evacuated his fort in Bokainagar with 250 men, fleeing to Sylhet after he heard that his allies, Dariya Khan Pani and Nasir Khan of Tajpur, had joined the Mughal forces. Anwar, who had previously called for ceasefire, heard of Usman's departure and surrendered to Mubariz and Satrajit with no hope left. Mubariz ordered Anwar to be imprisoned to chains, and Anwar put on the rope of obedience and kissed the feet of the officers.

Mubariz Khan later invaded the Kachari Kingdom as commander of the expedition, managing to defeat the Raja and establishing a fort and thana in Asurainagar. The Raja sent his envoy to Mubariz saying that he will give a tribute of 40 elephants, 100,000 rupees, and rare artefacts to Emperor Jahangir, 5 elephants and 20,000 rupees to Subahdar Qasim as well as 2 elephants and 20,000 rupees for Mubariz and Mirak. Mubariz returned to Sylhet, pleased with the tribute, and informed Qasim of this success. The gifts were sent to Jahangirnagar for Qasim, who then sent it forward to the imperial court of Emperor Jahangir.

Death Mubariz Khan died of natural causes. Qasim Khan Chishti intended to appoint Mirak Bahadur Jalair to govern the Sylhet Sarkar. However, after learning that Mirak had fled from his appointed territory, which had recently been conquered by Mubariz with a lot of difficulty, Qasim was not impressed at what he viewed as "cowardice". Qasim changed his mind and sent his officer, Abdul Nabi, to Yarasindur, where Mukarram Khan was staying with his brothers. Mukarram was brought to Jahangirnagar and Qasim Khan visited him in his own home to give him the honour of having sardarship over the entire Sylhet Sarkar as well as giving Mukarram's brothers lesser roles in Sylhet.