Ali Mardan Khan | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Safavid Governor ofKandahar | |
| In office 1624–1638 | |
| Preceded by | Ganj Ali Khan |
| Succeeded by | position abolished |
| Mughal Governor ofLahore | |
| In office 1639–1640[1] | |
| Preceded by | Mutamid Khan |
| Succeeded by | Said Khan Bahadur |
| Mughal Governor ofKabul | |
| In office 1641–1650[2] | |
| Preceded by | Said Khan Bahadur |
| Succeeded by | Qulij Khan Turani |
| Mughal Governor ofKashmir | |
| In office 1650–1657[3] | |
| Preceded by | Zafar Khan |
| Succeeded by | Itimad Khan |
| Personal details | |
| Born | |
| Died | (1657-04-02)2 April 1657 |
| Resting place | Tomb of Ali Mardan Khan |
| Children | Ibrahim Khan II |
| Parent |
|
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Safavid Empire (1624–1638) Mughal Empire (1638–1657) |
Ali Mardan Khan (Persian:علی مردان خان; died 2 April 1657)[4] was a 17th-century military leader and administrator, serving under theSafavid kingsShah Abbas I andShah Safi, and later the Mughal rulerShah Jahan. After surrendering the city ofQandahar, part of the easternmost territories of the Safavids to theMughals in 1638, he served with distinction in the Mughal administration, earning the highest honors of the Mughal court.[5]
Ali Mardan Khan was aKurd of the Zig tribe,[6][7] and son of Safavid officialGanj Ali Khan. In 1624, Ali Mardan Khan inherited his father's position when he was appointed governor ofKerman,Sistan, and Qandahar by the Safavid emperor Shah Abbas. Like his father, Ali Mardan Khan governed from the city of Qandahar. In 1625, control of Kerman was handed over toTahmasp Qoli Khan for administrative reasons.[8]
In 1632, Ali Mardan Khan began a series of correspondences with the Mughal court, culminating in the official surrender of his territories (including Qandahar) to the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in March 1638. The likely reason for his actions was fear of assassination by the Safavid ruler Shah Safi, who had already caused the death or disappearance of several prominent individuals in the Safavid government. The handover of Qandahar's fortress was highlighted in Mughal and Safavid chronicles, being applauded and condemned respectively. Ali Mardan Khan's defection was generously rewarded by Shah Jahan, who sent him several gifts.[8]
Ali Mardan Khan experienced a meteoric rise in Mughal government, becoming a member with important responsibilities and a highly favoured noble of Shah Jahan. By the year 1643, he had become the highest ranked in the Mughal nobility by reaching a rank of 7000zat (infantry) and 7000sowar. He was also honoured with the titleAmir al-Umara (lord of the lords). Early in his tenure (1638) he was appointed governor ofKashmir; he was later additionally appointed to thePunjab, and finally was moved to a strategic position as governor of Kabul, which he held until his death.[8]
In 1657, Ali Mardan Khan fell ill and died due to a pandemic in theIndian subcontinent. He was buried in the tomb of his mother, today theTomb of Ali Mardan Khan.[8]
Ali Mardan Khan's sonIbrahim Khan II was married to the daughter of Yahya Khan, the son of Said Khan Bahadur. One of his daughters was married to Faizullah Khan, the son ofZain Khan Koka. Another, Sahibji, was married to Amir Khan Mir Miran, the Subahdar of Kabul, and ran the administration of Kabul effectively when her husband died without selecting successor until new governor was appointed. Ali Mardan Khan's other daughters were also wed into prominent Iranian families.[7]
Ali Mardan Khan was a notable architectural patron. As a Safavid official, he is known to have constructed the cistern of theGanj Ali Khan complex in Kerman, and built multiple gardens in Qandahar.[8][9]
His most notable architectural feat as a Mughal official was the creation of a canal that brought water to the suburbs ofLahore from theRavi River, which was more than 100 miles away. This enabled the creation of Lahore'sShalimar Bagh. Another significant architectural creation was an Iranian-style coveredbazaar inPeshawar, which impressed Shah Jahan and inspiredthe marketplace of his capital city Shahjahanabad. Ali Mardan Khan built theChashme Shahi garden inSrinagar in addition to other gardens at Shahjahanabad and Peshawar. He is also credited with strengthening fortifications at Qandahar and undertaking civic building projects in Kabul.[9] Thetomb of Ali Mardan Khan is probably a commission by him.[8]
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)The four highest ranking nobles in the empire, by comparison, were Ali Mardan Khan, Zafar Jang, Islam Khan, and Sa'adullah Khan who each held 7,000 zat, and 7,000 suwar. All save Sa'adullah Khan held 5,000 two-three horse rank. All were Muslim: two were Iranian in origin, one Turani (of Central Asian descent); and one Indian Muslim.
