Adham Khan (1531-16 May 1562) was a general of the Mughal Empire and the foster brother of Emperor Akbar.
Biography[]
Adham Khan was born in Kabul, Afghanistan in 1531, the son of Maham Anga. His mother served as the future Mughal emperor Akbar's wet nurse, and Adham was raised as Akbar's foster brother. He rose to be a general of the Mughal Empire under Akbar, and he was sent to invade Malwa in 1561. He defeated the Sultan of Malwa at Sarangpur on 29 March 1561 and kept all of the treasures, elephants (save fo ra few, gifted to Akbar), and harem women seized in battle for himself, infuriating Akbar. Akbar traveled to Sarangpur himself and confiscated Adham's spoils, and Adham was replaced by Pir Muhammad Khan. In November 1561, Akbar appointed Ataga Khan the new prime minister, angering the jealous Maham Anga. On 16 May 1562, Adham and a few armed followers ambushed and killed Adham Khan in the hall of audience, and, when Adham went to Akbar's inner apartment to explain his crime, Adham struck him down with a heavy blow of his fist. Akbar proceeded to have Adham thrown down twice from the roof of a 10-foot ledge until he died, and his mother died of depression forty days later.
Gallery[]
