Saadullah Khan (Mughal Empire)

Sa'adullah Khan giving audience.

Sa'adullah Khan (died April 1656) was a noble of the Mughal Empire who served as the last grand vizier (or Prime Minister) of Emperor Shah Jahan, in the period 1645-1656.^[1]

Early life[]

Saadullah Khan hailed from Chiniot in the Punjab region, born into an "obscure" family.^[1]

Career[]

Saadullah Khan was initially made Mir-i Saman in the seventh year of Shah Jahan's reign.^[2] He was later recognised as a Mughal noble in 1640-1641, and made a mansabdar. In subsequent years his rank steadily increased, and he received various promotions.^[1]

Prime Minister of the Mughal Empire[]

In the year 1645, the incumbent Prime Minister Islam Khan II was made to vacate his position and take up governorship in the 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.^[3]

A year after his appointment, Saadullah Khan handled administrative issues regarding Shah Jahan's Balkh and Badakhshan campaigns. He later managed logistics of the transition to Mughal control in the conquered Balkh region.^[4]

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.^[5]

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.^[6]

References[]

^ ^a ^b ^c Siddiqui, Shabbir A. (1986). "Relations Between Dara Shukoh and Sa'adullah Khan". Proceedings of the Indian History Congress. 47: 273–276. ISSN 2249-1937. JSTOR 44141552.
^ Tripta Verma (1994). Karkhanas Under the Mughals, from Akbar to Aurangzeb. Pragati Publications.
^ Kinra, Rajeev (2015-10-08). Writing Self, Writing Empire: Chandar Bhan Brahman and the Cultural World of the Indo-Persian State Secretary. University of California Press. p. 78. doi:10.1525/luminos.3. ISBN 978-0-520-28646-7.
^ Kinra, Rajeev (2015-10-08). Writing Self, Writing Empire: Chandar Bhan Brahman and the Cultural World of the Indo-Persian State Secretary. University of California Press. pp. 88–89. doi:10.1525/luminos.3. ISBN 978-0-520-28646-7.
^ Kinra, Rajeev (2015-10-08). Writing Self, Writing Empire: Chandar Bhan Brahman and the Cultural World of the Indo-Persian State Secretary. University of California Press. pp. 91–92. doi:10.1525/luminos.3. ISBN 978-0-520-28646-7.
^ Kinra, Rajeev (2015-10-08). Writing Self, Writing Empire: Chandar Bhan Brahman and the Cultural World of the Indo-Persian State Secretary. University of California Press. p. 80. doi:10.1525/luminos.3. ISBN 978-0-520-28646-7.

[:0-1] Siddiqui, Shabbir A. (1986). "Relations Between Dara Shukoh and Sa'adullah Khan". Proceedings of the Indian History Congress. 47: 273–276. ISSN 2249-1937. JSTOR 44141552.

[2] Tripta Verma (1994). Karkhanas Under the Mughals, from Akbar to Aurangzeb. Pragati Publications.

[3] Kinra, Rajeev (2015-10-08). Writing Self, Writing Empire: Chandar Bhan Brahman and the Cultural World of the Indo-Persian State Secretary. University of California Press. p. 78. doi:10.1525/luminos.3. ISBN 978-0-520-28646-7.

[:1-4] Kinra, Rajeev (2015-10-08). Writing Self, Writing Empire: Chandar Bhan Brahman and the Cultural World of the Indo-Persian State Secretary. University of California Press. pp. 88–89. doi:10.1525/luminos.3. ISBN 978-0-520-28646-7.

[5] Kinra, Rajeev (2015-10-08). Writing Self, Writing Empire: Chandar Bhan Brahman and the Cultural World of the Indo-Persian State Secretary. University of California Press. pp. 91–92. doi:10.1525/luminos.3. ISBN 978-0-520-28646-7.

[6] Kinra, Rajeev (2015-10-08). Writing Self, Writing Empire: Chandar Bhan Brahman and the Cultural World of the Indo-Persian State Secretary. University of California Press. p. 80. doi:10.1525/luminos.3. ISBN 978-0-520-28646-7.

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