| Adam Khan آدم خان | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sultan | |||||
 Depiction of Sultan Adam Khan in Akbarnama | |||||
| 3rd Gakhar Sultan | |||||
| Reign | 1546 – 1563 | ||||
| Coronation | 1546 | ||||
| Predecessor | Sarang Khan | ||||
| Successor | Kamal Khan | ||||
| Born | Pharwala Fort | ||||
| Died | Pharwala Fort | ||||
| Issue | Lashkar Khan Chahita Khan Hawshiyar Beg Muhammad Khan Lakhan Khan Salim Khan Jabayr Khan Badal Khan Kehan Raj | ||||
| |||||
| Dynasty | Gakhar | ||||
| Father | Tatar Khan | ||||
| Religion | Islam | ||||
Adam Khan (Persian: آدم خان, romanized: Ādam Khān) was the third Chief of the Gakhar tribe to hold the title Sultan, he ruled over the Pothohar region in northern Punjab, in modern-day Pakistan from 1546, after the death of his brother Sarang Khan, until his defeat by his nephew Kamal Khan in 1563.
Early years
editAdam Khan was born at Pharwala Fort, Pothohar, North Punjab to Tatar Khan. During his childhood, aged 9, he was taken along with his brother, Sarang Khan, by their father Tatar Khan to meet the Mughal Emperor Babur and his son, Prince Humayun. In this meeting Babur gifted a fur coat, to the young Sarang and Humayun gifted his sword to Adam Khan. At this meeting their father, Tatar Khan, was also present, as he had been advised by Daulat Khan Lodi to meet with Babur in order to incite him to invade India. This meeting took place next to the Indus River, in Attock.
On receiving his gift from Babur, the young Sarang exclaimed, “O King! If, in exchange for this fur coat, I have to give my life for you or your family then I will not hesitate in doing so.” The young Adam said to Humayun upon being gifted his sword, ”O Prince! If I have to destroy the forts of your enemies with this sword then I will not hesitate in doing so.”[1]
Father's assassination
editIn 1519 Tatar Khan was assassinated by his nephew Hathi Khan, due to envy and hatred, in a late night raid on Pharwala Fort in which he also plundered the city, by doing so he was able to take control. When Babur was made aware of this incident he marched from Khushab and attacked Pharwala.[2]
This incident is recorded in Baburnama by Babur as such:[3]
At the very time when we were in Bahrah, Hati had advanced upon Tatar by a stratagem, had surprised and slain him, and taken his country, his women, and all his property.
War with Hathi Khan
editSarang Khan and Adam Khan, both being young, escaped to Dangali. They then desired their share of the land and thus anarchy and disorder took rise. The hate, enmity, anarchy and discord coming from both sides increased to such an extent that war between Hathi Khan and the two brothers became inevitable and so they began to attack each other.[4]
It is famously known that the vanguards in the army of Hathi Khan declared that they would not strike any with the spear besides Sarang Khan. One of them, named Murad Khan, struck the head and face of Sarang Khan with a spear.[5]
Reign
editAfter the death of his brother Sarang Khan, Adam Khan descended from Balakot and was coronated. He held power and warred against the Afghans. He established Pharwala Fort as his capital, which was the capital of his father. He made the district of Dangali habitable once again, after it had been ruined by the attacks of Islam Shah Suri. He buried the body of his elder brother Sarang Khan, the bodies of his nephews and other relatives who fell in battle against the Afghans at the extremity of Pharwala, at Rawat Fort.
He constructed graveyard in the adjoining fort along with a Mosque and an inn for travellers. He buried them there and built tombs of marble over them. Some say that Sultan Sarang had 22 sons whilst some say 18, however 16 were killed in the battle. Kamal Khan was imprisoned by the Afghans. Alawal Khan, who was a disciple of Shah Monga, bade this world farewell and adopted the clothes of dervishes. Sayyid Khan, who was the youngest of them, remained busy in battles and fights against the Afghans along with Adam Khan.
Many times Islam Shah set the royal army on the Gakhars however Adam Khan continued fighting with the royal army and kept his sultanate firm with bravery and strength. He had his name minted on the coins and declared in the Friday Sermon throughout the Pothohar region.
In this time Islam Shah fought using guns and rifles against Sayyid Khan, Shahbaz Khan and Humayun Azam from the Niyazi tribe in order to subdue them after they had become rebellious towards him. These 3, becoming sick of continuous fighting and suffering defeat at the hands of Islam Shah, reached Pharwala to seek refuge with Sultan Adam.
These were those 3 chiefs to whom Sher Shah Suri gave ten thousand horsemen, a countless army and sent them in order to fight against Sultan Sarang Khan. Despite knowing this Adam Khan gave them refuge and left no stone unturned in hospitality. Islam Shah, nevertheless, said to hand these 3 over to the royal army but he was unsuccessful.
Battle with Mamara Khan Ghori
editIslam Shah sent his brother in law, Mamara Khan Gori in order to destroy and ruin the Sultanate of the Gakhars, he gave him one hundred thousand horsemen, footmen and other provisions for war and elephants, and then sent him off to attack the Gakhars. He arrived at Rawat and camped there. Marmara Khan split his army into two groups; one group he became the commander of himself and the other he appointed his nephew and proceeded forward and reached Dudhar, near Rawat.
Adam Khan also divided his army into two groups; one group he placed the Sarangals in charge of: Sayyid Khan and Malhawar Khan sons of Ghazi Khan, Mubarak Khan, Nazar Khan, Fatah Khan and the other he appointed his own sons Diwan Lashkar Khan Malak, Muhammad Khan, Diwan Kehan Raj and Jabbair Khan. On one side the Kahirwals such as Rai Baysu Khan and Mulla Khan and their assembly were appointed and Adam Khan himself came to the battlefield with the Badhals, Pakharwals, Fayrawzwals and all the assembly of Gakhars.
Regarding this battle, Kaygawharnamah records:[6]
Battle between Islam Shah and the Gakhars took place at Dudhar. The young warriors, by becoming intoxicated in the intoxicant of bravery in this battle, gave evidence to their valour and masculinity.
Ancestry
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References
edit- ^ Akhtar, Col. Zahoor. Kai Gohar Nama. p. 74.
- ^ Akhtar, Col. Zahoor. Kai Gohar Nama. p. 75.
- ^ The History of India, as Told by Its Own Historians: The Muhammadan Period by Henry Miers Elliot, John Dowson, Volume IV, p. 235
- ^ Akhtar, Col. Zahoor. Kai Gohar Nama. p. 86.
- ^ Akhtar, Col. Zahoor. Kai Gohar Nama. p. 86.
- ^ Akhtar, Col. Zahoor. Kai Gohar Nama. p. 95.