Jehángír Emperor, 1605–1627.In a.d. 1605 Núr-ud-dín Muhammad Jehángír ascended the imperial throne. Shortly after his accession the emperor published a decree remitting certain taxes, and also in cases of robbery fixing the responsibility on the landowners of the place where the robbery was committed. The decree also renewed Akbar’s decree forbidding soldiers billetting themselves forcibly in cultivators’ houses. Finally it directed that dispensaries and hospital wards should be opened in all large towns. In the early days of Jehángír’s reign disturbance was caused in the neighbourhood of Áhmedábád by Bahádur a son of Muzaffar Sháh. Jehángír despatched Patrdás Rája Vikramájit as viceroy of Gujarát to put down the rising. The Rája’s arrival at Áhmedábád restored order. Some of the rebel officers submitting were reinstated in their commands: the rest fled to the hills.[18] Kalíj Khán Tenth Viceroy, 1606.On the Rája’s return Jehángír appointed Kalíj Khán to be viceroy of Gujarát; but Kalíj Khán never joined his charge, allowing Mírza Âzíz Kokaltásh to act in his place. In a.d. 1606, on the transfer of Mírza Âzíz to the Láhor viceroyalty, Sayad Murtaza Eleventh Viceroy, 1606–1609.Sayad Murtaza Khán Bukhári, who had recently been ennobled in consequence of crushing the rebellion under Jehángír’s son Khusrao, was entrusted with the charge of Gujarát, Sayad Báyazíd being continued as minister. Sayad Murtaza, who is said to have further ingratiated himself with the emperor by the present of a magnificent ruby, appears to have been more of a scholar than a governor. His only notable acts were the repair of the fort of Kadi[19] and the populating of the Bukhára quarter of Áhmedábád. During his tenure of power disturbances broke out, and Rái Gopináth, son of Rája Todar Mal, with Rája Sursingh of Jodhpur, were sent to Gujarát by way of Málwa Surat and Baroda. They overcame and imprisoned Kalián, chief of Belpár,[20] but were defeated by the Mándwa[21] chieftain, and withdrew to Áhmedábád. Rái Gopináth, obtaining reinforcements, returned to Mándwa and succeeded in capturing the chief. He then marched against the rebellious Kolis of the Kánkrej, and took prisoner their
Chapter III.
Mughal Viceroys.
Jehángir Emperor, 1605–1627.
Mírza Âzíz Kokaltásh Twelfth Viceroy, 1609–1611. leader, whom, on promising not to stir up future rebellions, he afterwards restored to liberty.

The first connection of the English with Gujarát dates from Sayad Murtaza’s viceroyalty. In a.d. 1608 he allowed Captain Hawkins to sell goods in Surat.

Mírza Âzíz Kokaltásh Twelfth Viceroy, 1609–1611.In a.d. 1609 the Khán-i-Ázam Mírza Âzíz Kokaltásh was for the fourth time appointed viceroy of Gujarát. He was allowed to remain at court and send his son Jehángír Kúli Khán as his deputy with Mohandás Diván and Masûd Beg Hamadáni.[22] This was the beginning of government by deputy, a custom which in later times was so injurious to imperial interests.

Sack of Surat by Malik Âmbar, 1609.In 1609 Malik Âmbar, chief minister of Nizám Sháh’s court and governor of Daulatábád, invaded Gujarát at the head of 50,000 horse, and after plundering both the Surat and Baroda districts retired as quickly as he came. To prevent such raids a body of 25,000 men was posted at Rámnagar[23] on the Dakhan frontier, and remained there for four years. The details of the contingents of this force are:

The Viceroy ofÁhmedábád4000 Men.
The Nobles of his Court5000 Men.,,
The Chiefs of Sáler andMulher (Báglán)3000 Men.,,
The Son of the KachhChief2500 Men.,,
The Chief ofNavánagar2500 Men.,,
The Chief of Ídar2000 Men.,,
The Chief of DúngarpúrNow under the Hilly Tracts Agency,Rájputána.2000 Men.,,
The Chief of Bánsváda2000 Men.,,
The Chief of Rámnagar(Dharampur)1000 Men.,,
The Chief ofRájipípla1000 Men.,,
The Chief of Áli(Álirájpur under the Bhopáwar Agency)300 Men.,,
The Chief of Mohan (a formercapital of the state of Chhota Udepur in the Rewa Kántha)350 Men.,,
Total25,650Men.

Abdulláh Khán Fírúz Jang Thirteenth Viceroy, 1611–1616.In a.d. 1611 Abdulláh Khán Bahádur Fírúz Jang was appointed thirteenth viceroy of Gujarát, with Ghiás-ud-dín as his minister, under orders to proceed to the Dakhan to avenge the recent inroad.[24] The viceroy marched to the Dakhan but returned without effecting anything. In a.d. 1616, he was again, in company with prince Sháh
Chapter III.
Mughal Viceroys.
Jehángir Emperor, 1605–1627.
Abdulláh Khán Fírúz Jang Thirteenth Viceroy, 1611–1616. Jehán, directed to move against Ahmednagar. This second expedition was successful. The country was humbled, and, except Malik Ambar, most of the nobles submitted to the emperor. During this viceroy’s term of office an imperial decree was issued forbidding nobles on the frontiers and in distant provinces to affix their seals to any communications addressed to imperial servants.

Mukarrab Khán Fourteenth Viceroy, 1616.In a.d. 1616 on their return to Dehli, Mukarrab Khán, a surgeon who had risen to notice by curing the emperor Akbar and was ennobled by Jehángír, and who, since a.d. 1608, had been in charge of Surat or of Cambay, was appointed fourteenth viceroy of Gujarát, with Muhammad Safi as his minister. Elephant-hunting in the Panch Maháls, 1616.In the following year (a.d. 1617) the emperor Jehángír came to Gujarát to hunt wild elephants in the Dohad forests. But owing to the density of the forest only twelve were captured. Early in a.d. 1618 he visited Cambay which he notes only vessels of small draught could reach and where he ordered a gold and silver tanka twenty times heavier than the gold mohar to be minted. From Cambay after a stay of ten days he went to Áhmedábád and received the Rája of Ídar. As the climate of Áhmedábád disagreed with him, Jehángír retired to the banks of the Mahi.[25] Here the Jám of Navánagar came to pay homage, and presented fifty Kachh horses, a hundred gold mohars, and a hundred rupees, and received a dress of honour. The emperor now returned to Áhmedábád, where he was visited by Rái Bhára of Kachh, who presented 100 Kachh horses, 100 ashrafis[26] and 2000 rupees. The Rái, who was ninety years of age,
Chapter III.
Mughal Viceroys.
Jehángir Emperor, 1605–1627.
Mukarrab Khán Fourteenth Viceroy, 1616. had never paid his respects to any emperor. Jehángír, much pleased with the greatest of Gujarát Zamíndárs, who, in spite of his ninety years was hale and in full possession of all his senses, gave him his own horse, a male and female elephant, a dagger, a sword with diamond-mounted hilt, and four rings of different coloured precious stones. As he still suffered from the climate, the emperor set out to return to Ágra, and just at that time (a.d. 1618–19) he heard of the birth of a grandson, afterwards the famous Abúl Muzaffar Muhiyy-ud-dín Muhammad Aurangzíb who was born at Dohad in Gujarát.[27] In honour of this event Sháh Jehán held a great festival at Ujjain.

Prince Sháh Jehán Fifteenth Viceroy, 1618–1622.Before the emperor started for Ágra, he appointed prince Sháh Jehán fifteenth viceroy of Gujarát in the place of Mukarrab Khán whose general inefficiency and churlish treatment of the European traders he did not approve. Muhammad Safi was continued as minister. As Sháh Jehán preferred remaining at Ujjain he chose Rustam Khán as his deputy; but the emperor, disapproving of this choice, selected Rája Vikramájit in Rustam Khán’s stead. Shortly after, Sháh Jehán Rebels, 1622–1623.in a.d. 1622–23, Sháh Jehán rebelled, and in one of the battles which took place Rája Vikramájit was killed. Sháh Jehán, during his viceroyalty, Builds the Sháhi Bágh at Áhmedábád.built the Sháhi Bágh and the royal baths in the Bhadar at Áhmedábád. After the death of Vikramájit, his brother succeeded as deputy viceroy. While Sháh Jehán was still in rebellion, the emperor Sultán Dáwar Baksh Sixteenth Viceroy, 1622–1624.appointed Sultán Dáwar Baksh the son of prince Khusrao, sixteenth viceroy of Gujarát, Muhammad Safi being retained in his post of minister. Sháh Jehán, who was then at Mándu in Málwa, appointed on his part Abdulláh Khán Bahádur Fírúz Jang viceroy and a khájahsara or eunuch of Abdulláh Khán his minister. Sultán Dáwar Baksh, the emperor’s nominee, was accompanied by Khán-i-Ázam Mírza Âzíz Kokaltásh to instruct him in the management of affairs. Prince Sháh Jehán had directed his minister to carry away all the treasure; but Muhammad Safi, who appears to have been a man of great ability, at once imprisoned the prince’s partisans in Áhmedábád, and, among others, captured the eunuch of Abdulláh Khán. When this news reached the prince at Mándu, he sent Abdulláh Khán Bahádur with an army to Gujarát by way of Baroda. Muhammad Safi Khán met and defeated him, and forced him to fly and rejoin the prince at Mándu. For his gallant conduct Muhammad Safi received the title of Saif Khán, with an increase in his monthly pay from £70 to £300 (Rs. 700–3000) and the command of 3000 horse. Meanwhile Sultán Dáwar Baksh, with the Khán-i-Ázam, arrived and assumed the charge of the government, but the Khán-i-Ázam died soon after in a.d. 1624, and was buried at Sarkhej. Sultán Dáwar Baksh was
Chapter III.
Mughal Viceroys.
Jehángir Emperor, 1605–1627.
Saif Khán Seventeenth Viceroy, 1624–1627. re-called, and Khán Jehán was appointed deputy viceroy with Yúsuf Khán as his minister. On his arrival at Áhmedábád, prince Sháh Jehán employed Khán Jehán in his own service, and sent him as his ambassador to the emperor. Saif Khán, who acted for him, may be called the seventeenth viceroy, as indeed he had been the governing spirit for the last eight or ten years. He held the post of viceroy of Gujarát until the death of the emperor in a.d. 1627.

Sháh Jehán Emperor, 1627–1658.On the death of the emperor Jehángir, his son Abul Muzaffar Shaháb-ud-dín Sháh Jehán ascended the throne. Remembering Saif Khán’s hostility he at once caused him to be imprisoned, and Sher Khán Túar Eighteenth Viceroy, 1627–1632.appointed Sher Khán Túar eighteenth viceroy with Khwájah Hayát as his minister. When the emperor was near Surat, he appointed Mír Shams-ud-dín to be governor of Surat castle. In a.d. 1627, Sháh Jehán on his way to Dehli visited Áhmedábád and encamped outside of the city near the Kánkariya lake. Sher Khán was advanced to the command of 5000 men, and received an increase of salary and other gifts. At the same time Khán Jehán was appointed his minister, and Mîrza Ísa Tarkhán was made viceroy of Thatta in Sindh. In a.d. 1628 Khwájah Abúl Hasan was sent to conquer the country of Násik and Sangamner which he ravaged, and returned after taking the fort of Chándoḍ and levying tribute from the chief of Báglán. In a.d. 1630, Jamál Khán Karáwal came to the Gujarát-Khándesh frontier and captured 130 elephants in the Sultánpur forests, seventy of which valued at a lákh of rupees were sent to Dehli. Famine, 1631–32.In a.d. 1631–32 Gujarát was wasted by the famine known as the Satiásio Kál or ’87 famine. So severe was the scarcity that according to the Bádsháh Náma, rank sold for a cake, life was offered for a loaf, the flesh of a son was preferred to his love. The emperor opened soup kitchens and alms-houses at Surat and Áhmedábád and ordered Rs. 5000 to be distributed.[28]

Islám Khán Nineteenth Viceroy, 1632.Sher Khán was re-called in a.d. 1632, but died ere he could be relieved by Islám Khán, the nineteenth viceroy of Gujarát, along with whom Khwájah Jehán was chosen minister. Islám Khán’s monthly salary was £400 (Rs. 4000), and his command was raised from 5000 to 6000. In a.d. 1632, Khwájah Jehán went on pilgrimage to Makkah, and was succeeded as minister by Ágha Afzal with the title of Afzal Khán. Afzal Khán was soon appointed commander of Baroda, and Riáyat Khán succeeded him as minister. The post of viceroy of Gujarát appears to have been granted to whichever of the nobles of the court was in a position to make the most valuable presents to the emperor. Disorder, 1632.Government became lax, the Kolis of the Kánkrej committed excesses, and the Jám of Navánagar withheld his tribute. Bákar Khán Twentieth Viceroy, 1632.At this time Bákar Khán presented the emperor with golden and jewelled ornaments to the value of Rs. 2,00,000 and was appointed viceroy, Riáyat Khán being continued as minister. In a.d. 1633 Sipáhdár Khán Twenty-first Viceroy, 1633.Sipáhdár Khán was appointed viceroy, and presented the emperor with costly embroidered velvet tents with golden posts worthy to hold the famous Takhti-Táús or Peacock Throne which was just completed at a cost of one kror of rupees. Riáyat Khán was continued as minister.
Chapter III.
Mughal Viceroys.
Sháh Jehán Emperor, 1627–1658.
Saif Khán Twenty-second Viceroy, 1633–1635. Saif Khán Twenty-second Viceroy, 1633–1635.In a.d. 1635 Saif Khán was appointed twenty-second viceroy, with Riáyat Khán as minister. During Saif Khán’s tenure of power Mírza Ísa Tarkhán received a grant[29] of the province of Sorath, which had fallen waste through the laxity of its governors. Before he had been in power for more than a year Saif Khán was recalled. As he was preparing to start, he died at Áhmedábád and was buried in Sháhi Álam’s shrine to which he had added the dome over the tomb and the mosque to the north of the enclosure.