Shahbaz Khan Kamboh

Shahrullah Kamboh (; 1529 – 11 November 1599), better known as Shahbaz Khan Kamboh , was the Mir Bakhshi and Subahdar of Bengal during the reign of Mughal emperor Akbar.

Shahbaz Khan was known to the people of Lahore as Mang Khan (Punjabi: مَنگ خاں) due to his generosity. The city of Lahore was divided into nine 'guzars' (or zones) by Akbar, which came to encompass the Lahore Fort, Badshahi Mosque, and the surrounding areas between Taxali, Masti and Kashmiri gates of the Walled City, as 'Guzar Shahbaz Khan' after him.

Early life Born as Shahrullah in Lahore in around 1529, he belonged to the Punjabi Kamboh clan and was the sixth-generation descendant of Haji Ismail Kamboh, a disciple of Bahauddin Zakariya.

Career Shahbaz Khan entered Mughal service during the times of Akbar. The emperor soon elevated him to the rank of Mir Tozak (Quarter-Master General) and later to an Amir (Minister).

In 1572, General Lashkar Khan entered the royal court in a drunken state and challenged anybody to come and fight with him; his rowdy behavior led to his arrest, being tied to the tail of a horse and dragged before finally thrown into prison. He was replaced with Shahbaz Khan whom the emperor made his Mir Bakhshi (Paymaster-General). The title of Shahbaz Khan was also conferred on him.

As soon as Shahbaz Khan became Mir Bakshi, he introduced the Dagh-o-Mahali, a new branding system. Under the old system, the country was divided into numerous fiefs which were distributed among the Amirs; unfortunately, a major part of the revenue was misappropriated by the fief-holders for personal use. Shahbaz Khan changed the system to reduce corruption and the needless financial burden on the imperial treasury. However, Dagh-o-Mahali made Shahbaz Khan the enemy of nobles such as Mirza Aziz Koka.

War campaigns He led multiple invasions that resulted in the subjugation of key areas in Mewar, such as Kumbhalgarh, Mandalgarh, Gogunda, and Central Mewar, bringing them permanently under Mughal rule.

In 1581, when Emperor Akbar marched against Mirza Hakim to the Punjab, Shahbaz Khan came to Fatehpur and, for about ten months, he oversaw the state administration in the absence of the Emperor.

On 18 May 1583, Shahbaz Khan was appointed Subahdar of Bengal and took the title Mir Jumla. By that point in time, he commanded 9000 strong cavalry, comprised mostly the Kamboj (Kamboh) horsemen and including both Muslim and Hindu Kamboj soldiers.

General Shahbaz Khan had nearly driven Rana Pratap from the country when he was summoned by the emperor to support the forces in Bengal against Arab Bahadur. When Shahbaz Khan came near to Hajipur where Arab Bahadur had taken refuge with Raja Gajpati, he marched to attack him. For one month he carried operations against him, clearing away the jungle and finally drove off Arab Bahadur and made Raja Gajpati surrender.

In 1584, Shahbaz Khan crossed the Ganges near Khizirpur and seized Sonargaon. His forces ravaged Bakatpur where Isa Khan was trenched. He finally suffered a defeat during the battle of Egarasindur and Bhawal and was forced to retreat to the Mughal capital at Tanda. With reinforcements sent by Akbar, Shahbaz Khan again marched towards Bhati in 1586.

In 1585, Shahbaz Khan subdued Raja of Kukrah or Coira Orissa, a tributary to the Crown. According to Ai’n-i-Akbari, Kukrah or Coira Orissa was a part of Bihar Subah.

Reappointed in Bengal In November 1586, Shahbaz Khan was again appointed Governor of Bengal, which he served for two years before leaving in 1588.

In 1589, General Shabaz Khan led an expedition from Attock against the Yousafzai Afghans and defeated them. Shahbaz Khan also subdued Raja Ram Chander Sain, Rai Surjan Handa and Dauda, Farhat Khan, Raja Gajpati, Raja Sri Ram, Rana Sangram as well as the officers of Surat. He reduced Jagdenpur, Ara, Shergarh, and Rahitas.

Imprisonment and appointment to Ajmer Shahbaz Khan had been kept in confinement for three years before he paid a fine of seven lacs of rupees. He was set free in 1599 and appointed as the deputy to the prince Jahangir in the administration of the province of Ajmer (Malwa). He was the General Administrator of Malwa, which he held office till his death.

Personal life

Shahbaz Khan died of illness on 11 November 1599 at Ajmer at the age of over 70 years. which was seized by Jahangir, son of emperor Akbar after his death.

He was an all-rounder officer, and besides his military duties, he also helped Akbar with civil administration and financial matters. He became a very close confidant, a companion, a Mir Bakhshi (head of the military department, holding the rank of imperial minister) and a Vakil (Chief Administrator or Prime Minister) of Akbar and had acquired and exercised great powers. He was given the name Shahbaz Khan at this point. He participated in some of the most difficult expeditions of Akbar and annexed numerous territories to the empire. The Mughal officials boasted that he conquered countries ten times the size of Deccan. He was too orthodox a Sunni Muslim for Akbar's taste, but not only was he tolerated but also was greatly valued.

Religious views Shabaz Khan belonged the family whose ancestors were all celebrated for piety, asceticism and religiosity. Shahbaz Khan in early part of his life was celebrated for his religiosity till he first became deputy Kotwal of the Chabutara when he displayed his awareness of the (affairs of the) kingdom and judicious disposal of matters. He was a capable officer and brave fighter and had rendered meritorious service to the state in various capacities. A leading courtier of Akbar, he was strict follower of the law of Shari’ah and profusely recited blessings on Muhammad and distributed large sum of money in charities.

Emperor Akbar tried his best to bring General Shahbaz Khan and another General Qutb-ud-din Muhammad Khan Koka into his new faith known as Din-i-Ilahi but the move was strongly criticized by both of them. This, according to Abu al-Fazl had created obstacles in his promotion upwards. On the other hand, many incompetent and junior officers got promoted which they did never deserve.