Kamran Mirza (Mughal)

Kamran Mirza (born 1509; died October 5 or 6, 1557) was a half-brother and temporary opponent of the Great Mogul Humayun .

biography

Kamran Mirza was the second eldest son of Babur (r. 1526–1530), who overthrew the Sultanate of Delhi last led by Ibrahim Lodi (r. 1517–1526) in April 1526 in the First Battle of Panipat and established the new dynasty of the Mughals . During his father's forays from Kabul to northern India , which began in 1525 , Kamran stayed in Kandahar , keeping Babur's back free. In 1528 Kamran advanced with a large army into northern India, while Humayun fought with an army in Bengal . Humayun asked his brother for help against his opponent Sher Khan Suri , but the latter refused and instead withdrew to Lahore . Humayun lost two battles against Sher Khan Suri, whereupon the latter asked him to leave India. He withdrew to Kabul, which was still under the control of Kamran Mirza, who was now trying to reach a special agreement with Sher Shah. Humayun's advisors asked him to kill Kamran - a request that he rejected on the basis of an alleged promise on his father's deathbed. The former mogul fled to Persia at the court of Tahmasp I , who even put an army at his disposal, at the head of which he was able to defeat his half-brother. In 1545 he took Kabul without a fight, as the city's population opposed Kamran, who was perceived as despotic and cruel. In 1552 Kamran approached the 2nd  Surid ruler Islam Shah Suri with the proposal of an alliance against his brother. However, he was arrested and taken to Kabul, where Humayun had him blinded ; five years later (1557) Kamran died on a pilgrimage to Mecca .

Lahore - Kamran Ki Baradari

family

Kamran had six children from seven women. None of his descendants later played any role at the Mughal court.

buildings

The only building that can be linked to Kamra Mirza and that bears his name is the Kamran Ki Baradari in Lahore. It is unclear whether he was actually the client.

literature

• Bamber Gascoigne: The Mughals - Splendor and greatness of Muslim princes in India. Prism 1987, ISBN 978-3570099308 .
• Abraham Eraly: The Mughal Throne: The Saga of India's Great Emperors. Phoenix 2004, ISBN 978-0753817582 .