Mughal Empress: Hamida Banu Begum, the wife of 2nd Mughal Emperor Humayun dies

 

Death of Hamida Banu Begum

On this day, August 29, 1604, Hamida Banu Begum, also known as Maryam Makani, the wife of the second Mughal emperor Humayun, died at Shahriyar, Agra, barely a year before her son Akbar. Hamida Banu Begum commissioned Humayun's tomb by Persian and Hindustani workers, where she was entombed following her death.

Hamida Banu Begum (or Mariam Makani) was the most beloved wife of Humayun, the second Mughal emperor. She was also the mother of the third Mughal emperor Akbar. Hamida Banu Begum is known by the nickname Mariam Makani, which means 'epitome of innocence' and was given to her by her son Akbar.

Hamida's first meeting with Humayun happened when she was 14 years old. When she received a marriage proposal from Humayun, she at first refused, but later agreed. Humayun was already married to Bega Begum and adopted Hamida Banu Begum as his second wife.

She gave birth to the future Emperor Akbar on October 15, 1542. Hamida went through many difficult moments with her husband when Sher Shah Suri invaded Delhi and Humayun was forced to leave India. Initially, she traveled for 10 to 12 days in June with her infant and husband. She succeeded in crossing the desert from Sindh to Kandahar in 1543 and reached there.

Hamida Banu's son Akbar respected her a lot throughout his life. In one incident, during his journey from Lahore to Agra, Akbar himself carried his mother's palanquin across the river. In another incident, Akbar shaved his head only twice: once when his mother, Hamida Banu Begum, died, and once when his foster mother, Jiji Anga, died.

How Humayun and Hamida Banu Begum meet?

Both Hamida and Hindal Mirza were strongly opposed to Humayun's marriage proposal. It is believed that Hindal and Hamida declined the marriage proposal because they were in love with each other. According to the book Humayun-Nama, Hindal's sister Gulbadan Begum reported that Hamida was often seen at Hindal's palace as well as at the palace of their mother, Dildar Begum. Initially Hamida refused to meet Humayun. Dildar Begum persuades him to meet her after forty days and he also agrees to marry her.

Marriage

In September 1541, Hamida married Humayun at Pat in Sindh on a day determined by an astrologer. After Humayun's first wife and chief consort Bega Begum, she became his younger consort. Humayun benefited politically from this marriage as hostile Shia factions helped him during his expulsion.

Two years after the wedding, Humayun and Hamida reached Umarkot, a small desert village under the control of Rana Prasad (a Hindu Sodha Rajput), and were given shelter. Two months later, on 15 October 1542, she gave birth to the future Emperor Akbar.

Later in her life, she and her husband Humayun undertook many difficult adventures. The first incident occurred in early December, when she and her infant had gone on a camping trip for twelve days. The second incident dates back to 1543, when she was on an important journey from Sindh to Kandahar and Humayun had to abandon her and her little son.

Death and Legacy

Hamida Banu Begum died on 29 August 1604 at Shahryar, Agra, and was buried in Humayun's Tomb. Her husband Humayun died a century before her and her son Akbar died a year after her death. According to the English traveler, Thomas Coryat, Hamida was held in high regard by her son Akbar throughout his life.

It is said that Akbar carried his mother's palanquin over the river during his journey from Lahore to Agra. Hamida was instrumental in reuniting her grandson Prince Salim and his son Akbar when Prince Salim rebelled against his father Akbar. Despite this, Salim did not agree and he killed Akbar's favorite minister Abul-Fazl.

After her death, her son and emperor Akbar gave her the title Mariam Makani, which means "abiding with Mary." The complete life story of Humayun Nama was written by Humayun's sister Gulbadan Begum. The life of Hamida Banu Begum is also mentioned in the Akbarnama and Ain-i-Akbari, both of which were published during the reign of her son Akbar.

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