How did Noorjahan free Jahangir from the captivity of Mahabat Khan by becoming a prisoner?

Noorjahan’s first attempt to free the king from Mahabat’s control was through military attack.

Emperor Jahangir, while moving from Lahore towards Kabul, was kidnapped and taken prisoner by one of his generals, Mahabat Khan. This kidnapping was so dramatic that the captive emperor’s convoy riding on elephants was moving as if they were going on a hunt. But Mahabat had made a big mistake that in the meantime Malika Noorjahan had safely reached the other bank of Jhelum. For the next seven months, Jahangir’s status was that of a puppet king. On the other hand, Noor Jahan made the first attempt to free the king from the grip of Mahabat through military attack.

Took a pause after failure. Then after becoming a captive, she reached the Mughal emperor and continued following Mahabat’s instructions. Now both the king and the queen were in the grip of Mahabat, but even in captivity, the clever queen was busy in making a strategy to defeat the enemy. She was also successful in her plan. Read the interesting story of Jahangir being held captive and then his release with the skill of Noorjahan…

Why did Mahabat Khan rebel?

The royal contingent of Emperor Jahangir was on the way from Lahore to Kabul. They were camped in luxurious tents on one bank of the Jhelum. In the calm morning of 16 March 1626, the Emperor had no idea that within a few moments some chieftain might rebel and take him captive. But Mahabat, insulted by the order to arrest his son-in-law and present his daughter in the court, was very angry. The king had objection to the marriage of Mahabat’s daughter without his permission. In preparation for revenge, Mahabat had gathered eight thousand loyal soldiers, of which six thousand were Rajputs, who considered Mahabat’s daughter as their own and promised to support them till the last drop of blood.

The one who served jam to the prisoner remained with the king.

When Mahabat entered the royal pavilion of Jahangir with his soldiers, the king was shocked by his audacity and immediately reached for his sword. But a courtier standing nearby advised him that this was not the right time. Mahabat saluted the king and said that it is time for horse riding. You sit on my horse. This servant of yours will remain behind. Jahangir refused and asked to bring his royal horse.

When he reached some distance, an elephant was ready to take him forward. Along with the king, his physician Mukarab Khan also rode on this elephant. Khidmatparast Khan, who presented glasses of liquor to Jahangir, was not ready to leave the emperor. Mahabat’s soldiers kept shaking him but he remained hanging on the pot on which the king was sitting.

Then Noor took the lead

Mahabat made arrangements to burn the wide wooden bridge over the Jhelum so that the king could not get military help from the other bank. The main royal army was camping on the same bank. Another narrow bridge was guarded by his soldiers, but Noorjahan, hidden in a mask, and her special eunuch Jawahar Khan managed to deceive them and reach the other side. Just two days after the kidnapping of the emperor, Noor Jahan took over the leadership of the Mughal army.

Noor was riding on an elephant with a gun in her hand. The army had to cross a fast flowing river. The main bridge was burnt. The army had to cross the strong current of the river and take on Mahabat’s soldiers on the other bank. The Mughal army got scattered while trying to cross the river by boats. Still, Noor’s nephew was successful in reaching the other shore. He killed Mahabat’s brother. Now the Mughal army became worried that Mahabat, enraged by the murder of his brother, might kill Emperor Jahangir.

The question of prisoner Jahangir’s life is bigger than victory in the war.

Noor still reached the other shore. As soon as they saw Malika riding on the elephant, Mahabat’s soldiers moved towards her. His elephant’s trunk and back were hit by swords and spears. Noor was surrounded and his elephant was injured. Peelwan saved Noor by lowering the injured elephant into deep water. Mahabat’s soldiers who were chasing him were forced to retreat by firing bullets from the Mughal soldiers present on the other side. Mahabat’s army also suffered losses in this battle. An arrow from the Mughal army also injured one of the emperor’s confidants present in the camp where Jahangir was kept. The king was in the grip of Mahabat. Noor was faced not only with the challenge of conquering Mahabat but also with the challenge of protecting the king.

After the failure of this mission, Noor realized that if she wanted to bring the king back safely, she would have to reach out to Mahabat. For this you will have to put your life in danger. The conditions of Mahabat will also have to be accepted immediately.

Noor’s next move

To save the king, Noor showed courage to reach Mahabat’s camp. Now both Jahangir and Noor were prisoners of Mahabat. The cunning Mahabat had apparently left no stone unturned in respecting the king. But he himself was taking decisions in the name of the puppet king. In April 1626, people standing on the roadside were showering flowers on the convoy of Jahangir and Nur Jahan in Kabul, 400 miles away from the kidnapping site.

They did not realize that Badshah and Noor were prisoners. In reality he was not held at gunpoint. He was allowed to do normal activities. Court traditions were also being followed. But the power of governance was snatched from his hands. But Noorjahan did not remain silent even in adverse circumstances. Despite all the leeway she had, she was assuring her old comrades of taking revenge on time. Was preparing new companions.

According to Ruby Lal’s book “Malika-e-Hind”, despite being in captivity and living far away, Noor spent three lakhs worth of gold coins and prepared an army of two thousand horsemen and five thousand foot soldiers under the leadership of eunuch Hoshiar Khan in Lahore.

Horse hay took nine hundred lives

The real strength of Mahabat was its Rajput soldiers. These soldiers took their horses to graze in a place which was reserved for royal hunting. Ahadis were deployed here for security. When they stopped, the dispute escalated and the soldiers killed one of the Ahadis. Noor instigated the Ahadis to take revenge. Next morning a large group of Ahadis attacked the Rajput camp in a narrow valley and killed nine hundred Rajput soldiers. Some of them were dearer to Mahabat than even his own children.

He left for war. Then he got into a dilemma on the question of taking a stand from the local people. He went to Jahangir, whom he had kept captive, for advice. Here Noor taught Jahangir that he should behave in front of Mahabat as if he has forgotten the previous incidents. Mahabat’s trust in the king increased and with this the restrictions imposed on him decreased.

this is how the tables turned

The return of the royal party from Kabul to Lahore began in August 1626. Jahangir advised Mahabat to first move towards Jhelum for him. Mahabat agreed. But as a guarantee of security, he talked about keeping Noor’s brother Asaf in his custody. On the other hand, the king and Noor went separately with their royal entourage. They did not stop even at night. They covered the distance of two days in one day by walking continuously and crossed the river in boats before reaching Mahabat. Here the army prepared by Noor was standing ready to support him. By the time Mahabat reached there, the situation had turned. Mahabat did not have the strength to compete with this great military force.

mention of light everywhere

Jahangir was now free from imprisonment. Noor’s strength had returned. Jahangir’s order reached Mahabat to return Asaf immediately. Mahabat brought back a nephew of Noor. Said that since he was in danger from Noor, he would free Asaf after moving beyond Lahore. This answer angered Noor. Hadi wrote that Noor warned Mahabat to hand over Asaf Khan immediately otherwise be prepared for the consequences. Mahabat was no longer in a position to confront Noor. Immediately he released Noor’s brother Asaf.

The very next day his other nephew was also handed over. On Noor’s advice, instead of killing Mahabat or putting him in jail, the king sentenced him to go out of the country. Jahangir and Noor Jahan returned to Lahore on 18 October 1626. He took over the governance again. Noorjahan was discussed everywhere. After losing in the battle, he risked his life and accepted Mahabat’s imprisonment and conditions. Then such a net was woven that on the next occasion Mahabat surrendered without fighting.

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