page_title: Gujarat under Shah Jahan
section_title: Ázam Khán, Twenty-third Viceroy, 1635–1642
hierarchical_section_title: Gujarat under Shah Jahan / Viceroys under Shah Jahan (1627–1658) / Ázam Khán, Twenty-third Viceroy, 1635–1642
caption_attribution_description: Image taken from: Title: "Architecture at Ahmedabad, the Capital of Goozerat, photographed by Colonel Biggs, ... With an historical and descriptive sketch, by T. C. H., ... and architectural notes by J. Fergusson, etc" Author: HOPE, Theodore Cracraft - Sir, K.C.S.I Contributor: BIGGS, Thomas. Contributor: FERGUSSON, James - Architect Shelfmark: "British Library HMNTS 10057.f.17.", "British Library OC V 6665" Page: 353 Place of Publishing: London Date of Publishing: 1866 Issuance: monographic Identifier: 001730119 Note: The colours, contrast and appearance of these illustrations are unlikely to be true to life. They are derived from scanned images that have been enhanced for machine interpretation and have been altered from their originals. If you wish to purchase a high quality copy of the page that this image is drawn from, please order it here. Please note that you will need to enter details from the above list - such as the shelfmark, the page, the book's volume and so on - when filling out your order. Following this or the link above will take you to the British Library's integrated catalogue. You will be able to download a PDF of the book this image is taken from, as well as view the pages up close with the 'itemViewer'. Click on the 'related items' to search for the electronic version of this work. Click here to see all the illustrations in this book and click here to browse other illustrations published in books in the same year. Please click on the tags shown on the right-hand side for other ways to browse the illustrations.
context_page_description: The Mughal Empire's province Gujarat was managed by the Viceroys appointed by the emperors. On the death of the emperor Jehangir, his son Shah Jahan ascended to the throne in 1627. His Gujarat viceroy Sher Khán Túar worked for relief in 1631-31 femine in the province. Shah Jahan sent his men to expand its territories further south. Between 1632 and 1635, four viceroys were appointed due to their precious gift to the emperor and they could not manage the province well. Kolis of Kankrej in north Gujarat committed excesses and the Jam of Nawanagar did not paid the tribute. Soon Azam Khan was appointed who put the province in order by subdueing Kolis in north and Kathis in Kathiawad. He also made the Jam of Nawanagar surrender. The next viceroy Ísa Tarkhán carried out financial reforms. In 1644, the Mughal prince Aurangzeb was appointed as the viceroy who was engaged in relious disputes for destroying a Jain temple in Ahmedabad. Due to his disputes, he was replaced by Sháistah Khán who failed to subdue Kolis. So the prince Murad Bakhsh was appointed as the viceroy in 1654. He restored the disorder soon.
context_section_description: At the end of 1635, Ázam Khán was appointed twenty-third viceroy, with Riáyat Khán in the first instance, and afterwards with Mír Muhammad Sábir, as minister. The men who had recently been allowed to act as viceroys had shown themselves unfit to keep in order the rebellious chiefs and tribes of Gujarát. For this reason the emperor's choice fell upon Ázam Khán, a man of ability, who perceived the danger of the existing state of affairs, and saw that to restore the province to order, firm, even severe, measures were required.
  Engaged with the Kolis and Kathis
  When Ázam Khán reached Sidhpur, the merchants complained bitterly of the outrages of one Kánji,a Chunvalia Koli, who had been especially daring in plundering merchandise and committing highway robberies. Ázam Khán, anxious to start with a show of vigour, before proceeding to Áhmedábád, marched against Kánji, who fled to the village of Bhádar near Kheralu, sixty miles north-east of Áhmedábád. Ázam Khán pursued him so hotly that Kánji surrendered, handed over his plunder, and gave security not only that he would not again commit robberies, but that he would pay an annual tribute of Rupees 10,000. Ázam Khán then built two fortified posts in the Koli country, naming one Ázamábád after himself, and the other Khalílábád after his son. He next marched to Kathiawad and subdued the Kathis, who were continually ravaging the country near Dhandhuka, and to check them erected a fortified post called Sháhpúr, on the opposite side of the river to Chuda-Ránpur. Ágha Fázil known as Fázil Khán, who had at one time held the post of minister, and had, in 1636, been appointed governor of Baroda, was now selected to command the special cavalry composing the bodyguard of prince Muhammad Aurangzeb. At the same time, Sayad Ilahdád was appointed governor of Surat fort, Ísa Tarkhán remaining at Junagadh. In 1637, Mír Muhammad Sábir was chosen minister in place of Riáyat Khán, and in 1638 Muîz-zul-Mulk was re-appointed to the command of Surat fort. Shortly after Ázam Khán's daughter was sent to Delhi, and espoused to the emperor's son Muhammad Shujá Bahádur. In 1639, Ázam Khán, who for his love of building was known as Udhai or the White Ant, devoted his attention to establishing fortified posts to check rebellion and robbery in the country of the Kolis and the Káthis. So complete were his arrangements that people could travel safely all over Jhalawad, Kathiawad, Nawanagar, and Kutch.
  Revolt of the Jám of Nawanagar, 1640.
  In 1640, The Jám of Nawanagar withheld his tribute, and set up a mint to coin koris. When Ázam Khán heard of this, he marched with an army against Nawánagar, and, on arriving about three miles from the city, he sent the Jám a peremptory order to pay the arrears of tribute and to close his mint, ordering him, if any disturbance occurred in that part of the country, at once to send his son to the viceroy to learn his will. He further ordered the Jám to dismiss to their own countries all refugees from other parts of Gujarát. The Jám being unable to cope with Ázam Khán, acceded to these terms; and Ázam Khán, receiving the arrears of tribute, returned to Áhmedábád. As Ázam Khán's stern and somewhat rough rule made him unpopular, Sayad Jálál Bukhári whose estates were being deserted from fear of him brought the matter to the emperor's notice.
caption: Sarai (resthouse) built by Azam Khan in 1866, Bhadra Fort, Ahmedabad
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