Dawar Bakhsh

Dawar Baksh

Dawar or Dawar Bakhsh, which means "God Given" was the ruler of the Moghul Empire for a short time between 1627-1628, immediately after the death of his grandfather Jahangir (r. 1605-1627). It was the title given to 'Bulaki' on his accession to the Moghul throne. He was the grandson of Jahangir, the son of Prince Khusuru, who was killed in 1622, at the behest of Prince Khurram (Shah Jahan), for rebelling against his father Jahangir. Earlier he was made the Diwan of the Dakhin, and later Governor of Gujarat, by his grandfather, Jahangir. Upon the death of the latter, he became a pawn in the political game to seize the Moghul throne. He was declared the Moghul Emperor by Asaf Khan as a stopgap arrangement to counter the claims of the queen Nur Jahan, who wanted Shahryar as the king.

Dawar Baksh’s daughter, Hoshmand Banu Begum, was married to Hoshang, son of Prince Daniyal, the last son of Akbar. Upon the death of Jahangir, in order to secure the accession of Shah Jahan, Asaf Khan brought Dawar Baksh out of confinement, declared him king and set off to Lahore, where the king lay dead. However, Nur Jahan favored Jahangir’s youngest son, Shahryar, to ascend, and since he was in Lahore at the time, he ascended to the throne, captured state treasury and, in an attempt to secure his throne, distributed over 70 lakh rupees amongst old and new noblemen. Meanwhile, Mirza Baisinghar, son of the late Prince Daniyal, on the death of the Emperor, fled to Lahore, and joined Shahryar.

The two forces met near Lahore. Shahryar lost the battle and fled into the fort, where the next morning he was presented in front of Dawar Baksh, who placed him in confinement and two or three days later he was blinded. On Jumada-l awwal 2, 1037 AH (December 30, 1627) Shah Jahan was proclaimed Emperor at Lahore, and on Jumada-l awwal 26, 1037 AH (January 23, 1628) on his orders, Dawar, his brother Garshasp, Shahryar, and Tahmuras and Hoshang, sons of the deceased Prince Daniyal, were all put to death by Asaf Khan.