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Yakut Khan
Yakut Khan
Yakut Khan
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Qasim Yakut Khan also known as Yakut Shaikhji, Yakub Khan and Sidi Yaqub was a naval Admiral and administrator of Janjira Fort who first served under Bijapur Sultanate and later under the Mughal Empire.[1]

Key Information

Family

[edit]

He was born into a Hindu Koli family which was Patil of Guhagar.[2] He was kidnapped at a young age and later grew up in a Siddi Muslim family. There, he was converted to Islam and got his new name as Qasim Khan and after becoming admiral of the Mughal navy, he was titled Yakut Khan by Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb.[3][4]

Biography

[edit]
See also: Siege of Janjira, Shivaji's invasions of Janjira, and Siege of Panhala (1660)

The Bahmani Sultanate ruler appointed Yaqut Khan as Thanedar or admiral of Danda Rajpuri island.[5] For his services, Yaqut Khan has acquired one-third of the revenues from Surat city.[5] Yaqut Khan were recorded possessing numerous slaves and followers, while also playing important part in politics in Surat.[5] After sometimes with his brother, Khariat Khan, Yaqut then capitalized the fall of Bijapur ruler and led the Siddis to assert control of the impregnable Murud-Janjira island fortress.[5]

At some point, Yaqut Khan were appointed as Nawab of Janjira island state.[6]

In 1600, Yaqut Khan were recorded to occupy the Asirgarh Fort from Farooqui dynasty, during the latter's conflict against Mughal empire.[7][8][9] The son of Yaqut Khan, Muqarrab Khan Habshi, who also acted as Mughal commander, accompanying the envoy mission to settle the capitulation of Khandesh region from the Farooqui dynasty.[10]

In October 1672, Khan entered the seven islands of Bombay and attacked the Marathas with whom they were at war. Khan returned the following year, on 10 October 1673, after destroying the towns of Pen and Nagothane.[11] Sidi Yakut, along with Siddi Khariyat Khan, and Siddi Sambal, had earlier saved the Portuguese from the Marathas left by Sambhaji at Chaul. In return, they enjoyed a cordial relationship in the otherwise tense political climate.[11]

In 1689, the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb ordered Khan to attack Bombay for the third time after Indian vessels sailing to Surat were captured in 1686 (Child's War). In April 1689, the strong Mughal fleet from Janjira commanded by the Sidi Yaqub and crewed by Siddi laid siege to the British fortification to the south.[12][13][14] This campaign reached Sewri and Mazagaon with 20,000 soldiers under Sidi Yakut.[15]

After a year of resistance, the English surrendered, and in 1690 the British governor Sir John Child appealed to Aurangzeb. In February 1690, the Mughals agreed to halt the attack in return for 150,000 rupees (over a billion USD at 2008 conversion rates) and Child's dismissal.[16] Child's untimely death in 1690 however, resulted in him escaping the ignominy of being sacked.[17]

Enraged at the agreement, he withdrew his forces on 8 June 1690 after razing the Mazagaon Fort.[16]

Later, the Ganj-i-Sawai and other Mughal vessels, were captured by the pirates Henry Every and Thomas Tew.[18][full citation needed] One of the Maratha forts was captured after he granted amnesty to the garrison. The captured men were killed.[19]

Khan died in 1733.[11]

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Yakut Khan

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Qasim Yakut Khan, also known as Siddi Qasim Khan or Yaqub (died 1733), was a naval admiral of East African descent who administered Janjira Fort and commanded the Mughal fleet during the late . Born into the community in the region, Khan converted to early in life and initially rose through service to the Sultanate before pledging loyalty to Mughal Emperor , who bestowed upon him the title Yakut Khan upon his appointment as admiral. His military career featured decisive victories against Maratha forces and interventions to protect Portuguese interests from coastal raids, establishing Janjira as a formidable stronghold allied with Mughal imperial power. Khan's most prominent achievement came during the Anglo-Mughal War (1686–1690), when he led the Mughal naval blockade and siege of Bombay, compelling the East India Company to capitulate in 1690 after destroying their Mazagaon Fort, extracting a payment of 150,000 rupees in tribute, and prompting the dismissal of Company director Sir Josiah Child. This campaign underscored the Siddi elite's role in Mughal maritime defense and temporarily checked British expansion in western India, though Khan's later years and burial place remain undocumented in available records.

Origins and Early Life

Family Background and Birth

Yakut Khan, also known as Sidi Qasim Khan or Sidi Yaqub, was a member of the (Habshi) community, denoting individuals of African descent in . The term "" historically referred to Africans, primarily from East African regions including (modern and ) and Bantu-speaking areas, who arrived in the from the onward via the networks, often as slaves, mercenaries, or traders. Specific details about his , such as parental identities or siblings, are not documented in surviving historical records, reflecting the limited personal biographies available for many figures who rose through rather than hereditary nobility. His birth date and precise place of origin remain unknown, though he was active in military campaigns by the 1670s, suggesting a birth in the early to mid-17th century. Traditions associating him with a non-Siddi Hindu Koli family in appear in some modern accounts but lack corroboration from primary Mughal or contemporary sources and contradict the consistent identification of him as a admiral in archival references. As such, these claims likely stem from later ethnic reinterpretations rather than empirical evidence. Yakut Khan's early identity was shaped by the milieu in the region, where African-descended communities maintained distinct martial roles under and later Mughal authority.

Enslavement and Adoption into Siddi Community

Yakut Khan, originally named Qasim, was born into a Hindu Koli family as the hereditary patil (village headman) of in the region of . Captured and enslaved as a child during conflicts in the late 16th or early , he was integrated into the community—a Muslim group of African descent who served as elite military slaves (Habshis) under . This enslavement severed his ties to his natal family and exposed him to the Siddi social structure, where enslaved individuals often underwent and rigorous martial training. Within the Siddi fold, Yakut was adopted into a Muslim household, adopting Islamic practices and the name Yakut Khan, reflecting his assimilation into the community's ethno-religious identity despite his non-African origins. He received education in and was mentored by Chengiz Khan, a freed slave who held influence in the and facilitated his transport there for further grooming as a retainer. Such adoptions were common in Siddi elite slavery, enabling through loyalty and skill, though systemic biases in historical accounts from Persian chronicles may overemphasize African heritage while understating local Indian integrations like Yakut's. This early phase laid the foundation for his ascent, as the Siddi community's naval expertise and allegiance to Muslim rulers provided Yakut with opportunities unavailable in his Koli background, transforming him from a local captive into a key figure in Deccan maritime forces.

Military Career under Bijapur and Mughals

Service in the Bijapur Sultanate

Yakut Khan commenced his military career in the Sultanate, a Deccan kingdom ruled by the Shia Muslim Adil Shahi dynasty from its capital in present-day . As a young of African ancestry, likely brought to the region through the slave trade networks that supplied Abyssinian warriors to Indian courts, he integrated into the sultanate's forces, which frequently employed such mercenaries for their reputed discipline and . Under sultans like (r. 1656–1672), Yakut Khan advanced through the ranks, capitalizing on the sultanate's need for skilled commanders amid ongoing conflicts with neighboring powers, including the Marathas and . He distinguished himself sufficiently to attain the position of naval commander, overseeing coastal defenses and maritime operations along the region, where the Bijapur navy countered threats to routes and . This role aligned with the broader pattern of officers rising to prominence in Deccan militaries, as seen with figures like Ikhlas Khan, who served as prime minister in during the early . Yakut Khan's tenure in Bijapur service, spanning the mid-17th century until the sultanate's subjugation by Mughal forces in 1686, involved bolstering alliances with states like the principality of Janjira, which provided auxiliary naval support against common foes. His strategic acumen in these capacities laid the groundwork for his subsequent prominence, though specific engagements during this phase remain sparsely documented in surviving chronicles, reflecting the challenges of sourcing Deccan military records amid dynastic upheavals.

Transition to Mughal Allegiance and Rise to Admiralty

Following the decline of Sultanate's regional influence amid mounting pressures from the Marathas and Mughal expansion, Yakut Khan, then known as Qasim Khan, facilitated the transfer of Janjira's naval forces to Mughal service around 1670–1671. This allegiance shift was driven by pragmatic security needs, as the s offered vassalage and their fleet in exchange for Mughal protection and confirmation of territorial holdings, predating the full Mughal annexation of in 1686. Emperor formalized this arrangement in 1671 by confirming control over Janjira and conferring the title Yakut Khan on Qasim, elevating him from wazir to a key naval commander. In his new Mughal role, Yakut Khan rapidly ascended to admiral of the imperial fleet, which relied heavily on the Janjira-based warships for operations in the . rewarded his loyalty with revenues from and imperial mansabs, enabling Yakut to expand naval capabilities through recruitment of African-origin mariners and construction of fortified vessels. By October 1672, as admiral, he demonstrated this authority by leading a Mughal-aligned expedition that landed at Bombay, ravaging coastal areas to assert dominance over Maratha-held territories. This rise solidified the Siddis' position as Mughal proxies in maritime warfare, with Yakut Khan's command integrating Janjira's autonomous naval traditions into broader imperial strategy against Deccan rivals. His admiralty emphasized amphibious tactics and blockade enforcement, compensating for the Mughals' limited indigenous naval infrastructure.

Key Military Engagements

Campaigns against the Marathas (1670s)

In the early 1670s, Yakut Khan, as the Siddi admiral commanding the fleet of Janjira under Mughal imperial directives, initiated naval campaigns aimed at curtailing Maratha incursions along the coast. These operations were prompted by Shivaji's expanding influence and raids on coastal territories allied with the Mughals and Sultanate, including disruptions to trade and fortifications near Bombay. had elevated Yakut Khan's status, granting him the title and assigning revenues from to bolster naval efforts against Shivaji's forces. A pivotal expedition occurred in October 1672, when Yakut Khan led his fleet into the seven islands of Bombay, targeting Maratha positions and sympathizers in the region. The raid devastated local settlements, compelling even neutral parties like the British East India Company to negotiate amid the chaos, though the primary objective was to dismantle Maratha operational bases. This incursion highlighted naval superiority, with Yakut's forces exploiting the mobility of their ships to strike vulnerable coastal points beyond Maratha land defenses. The following year, on October 10, 1673, Yakut Khan mounted a return assault, destroying the Maratha-aligned towns of and , which served as logistical hubs for Shivaji's campaigns. These targeted demolitions disrupted supply lines and fortifications, inflicting economic damage estimated through the loss of infrastructure and agricultural resources in the area. While the raids achieved tactical successes in weakening immediate Maratha coastal footholds, they did not halt Shivaji's broader momentum, as Maratha forces adapted by fortifying inland positions and escalating land-based counter-raids on Janjira territories. The campaigns underscored the Siddis' role as a Mughal naval bulwark, leveraging African-descended martial traditions and galley-based tactics to contest Maratha dominance in the approaches.

Siege of Bombay and Conflict with the East India Company (1689–1690)

In early 1689, the 's seizure of a Mughal grain convoy en route to support campaigns against the Marathas in the Deccan escalated the ongoing Anglo-Mughal War, prompting Emperor to order punitive action against British holdings. Sidi Yakut Khan, as naval commander of the Siddi state at Janjira and a Mughal-aligned admiral, was tasked with leading the assault on Bombay, the Company's primary western Indian base, to enforce imperial demands for submission and reparations. Yakut Khan's forces, numbering between 14,000 and 20,000 troops supported by a fleet from Janjira and extensive , landed on the near on 15 February 1689. The defenders, under Governor John Vaux, comprised approximately 2,000 Maratha mercenaries, 150 auxiliaries, 150 British infantry, and 100–200 cannons, with a civilian population of around 1,000. Yakut Khan established a fortified camp on Dongri Hill, employing trench networks and positions to bombard the island systematically while blockading the harbor to prevent resupply or escape. The unfolded over 15 months as a protracted artillery exchange, with Mughal guns silencing most British batteries by March 1689 and reducing much of the city to rubble without committing to a direct infantry assault on the central fort. , desertions among troops, and supply shortages ravaged the , resulting in near-total military losses and the deaths of about 940 civilians. Yakut Khan's emphasized attrition and naval , capturing outlying areas like Mazagaon and while maintaining pressure on the harbor. By mid-1690, Bombay's defenses neared collapse, compelling the Company to negotiate surrender terms in May. accepted concessions including a payment of 150,000 rupees, the dismissal of aggressive director from influence, and recognition of Mughal sovereignty over trade privileges, allowing the British to retain the fort and island but shifting their focus eastward to Calcutta. The blockade's lifting marked the war's conclusion, exposing the Company's overextension and reinforcing Mughal naval dominance in the under command.

Administration and Governance

Role as Administrator of Janjira Fort

Yakut Khan, formally Sidi Kasim Yakut Khan II, assumed the role of Wazir and of in 1676, governing from the Janjira Fort, an impregnable island stronghold off the coast that functioned as the administrative, military, and symbolic center of power. As administrator, he directed the state's semi-autonomous operations within the Mughal framework, overseeing revenue extraction from coastal territories, fort fortifications, and the maintenance of a -dominated garrison comprising Abyssinian recruits and local auxiliaries. His tenure emphasized fiscal obligations to the Mughals, including tribute payments and troop levies, while preserving the principality's internal aristocratic council of nobles that advised on governance matters. In 1670, prior to his formal ascension, Emperor granted him a mansab rank of 300 zat (personal troops) and 100 (), formalizing Janjira's integration into the imperial administrative and underscoring Yakut Khan's responsibility for regional stability and naval readiness. This arrangement enabled him to administer justice, regulate trade along the routes, and coordinate defenses against incursions, ensuring the fort's 22-hectare complex—with its mosques, palaces, and water reservoirs—remained operational as the nerve center for state affairs. Yakut Khan's title of Yakut Khan, bestowed by (Alamgir), reflected his elevated status and loyalty, which he upheld through consistent imperial service until his death in 1703. Yakut Khan assumed command of the Janjira fleet following his transition to Mughal service, where Emperor elevated him to the role of admiral, leveraging the navy's expertise to project Mughal power along the western Indian coast. This fleet, based at the impregnable Janjira Fort, comprised swift galleys and armed vessels capable of dominating coastal waters, enabling effective blockades and rapid strikes against adversaries. Under Yakut Khan's leadership, the navy safeguarded key trade routes in the , collecting levies from merchants and pilgrims while countering threats from Maratha raiders and European interlopers. His operations extended Mughal influence across the region, from to Bombay, by enforcing naval supremacy that deterred incursions and secured alliances with imperial forces on land. In the 1690s, this command facilitated expeditions that checked Maratha naval ambitions under figures like , preserving a precarious balance amid Deccan conflicts. A pivotal demonstration of his regional clout occurred during the 1689–1690 Anglo-Mughal War, when Yakut Khan, at Aurangzeb's directive, mobilized the fleet to besiege Bombay. His forces blockaded the harbor, isolated holdings, and compelled a British surrender after prolonged resistance, culminating in the destruction of Fort Mazagaon and temporary Mughal oversight of the seven islands. This victory underscored the navy's role in limiting European footholds, though it relied on Mughal backing rather than independent expansion, highlighting the interdependent nature of their influence.

Death, Succession, and Later Assessments

Final Years and Demise

Yakut Khan spent his final years as the principal administrator of Janjira Fort, focusing on governance and fortification enhancements amid ongoing regional tensions with Maratha forces. He directed the completion of major expansions to the fort's structures around , bolstering its defensive capabilities. Yakut Khan died in early 1733 at the Nawab Mahal within Janjira Fort, likely of natural causes, after over four decades of service in naval and administrative roles. His death triggered a succession dispute among his sons, exacerbating internal divisions within the Siddi leadership and inviting external interventions from neighboring powers.

Historical Legacy and Evaluations

Yakut Khan's historical legacy centers on his role as a pivotal naval commander who bolstered Mughal maritime power along the Konkan coast during the late 17th century. As administrator of Janjira Fort, he repelled repeated assaults from Maratha forces in the 1670s and orchestrated the 1689–1690 siege of Bombay, culminating in the surrender of the English East India Company (EIC) after a prolonged blockade. This victory compelled the EIC to pay an indemnity of 150,000 rupees—equivalent to over $1 billion in contemporary terms—and led to the dismissal of its aggressive governor, Sir John Child, effectively concluding the First Anglo-Mughal War on terms favorable to the Mughals. His command demonstrated the effectiveness of Siddi-led naval forces in countering European encroachments, preserving Janjira's autonomy and Mughal influence over key trade routes until his death in 1703. Evaluations of Yakut Khan emphasize his acumen and loyalty to Mughal authority, particularly under Emperor , who elevated him from Bijapur service to imperial admiralcy. Contemporary accounts and later analyses highlight how his forces exploited EIC vulnerabilities, including supply shortages and internal dissent, with numerous soldiers deserting to join his ranks during the Bombay , underscoring the fragility of early British settlements in . This episode is assessed as a temporary but decisive check on EIC ambitions, forcing a reevaluation of their aggressive expansionist policies and affirming the resilience of indigenous naval capabilities against European interlopers. In broader historiography, Yakut Khan exemplifies the ascent of African-descended elites in Indian structures, contributing to the prolonged of amid regional turmoil. However, assessments also note the event's marginalization in colonial-era narratives, where EIC minimized the defeat to obscure administrative and shortcomings, framing it as an aberration rather than a structural reversal. Post-independence Indian scholarship views his campaigns as emblematic of pre-colonial resistance, though critiques point to the ephemeral nature of these successes, as Mughal naval dominance waned after Aurangzeb's death in 1707, allowing European powers to regain footing. Yakut Khan's legacy thus endures as a testament to tactical prowess in , yet tempered by the inexorable shift toward European hegemony in the by the early .

References

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  3. https://www.mughallibrary.com/images-1/nawab-sidi-surur-yakut-khan
  4. https://military-history.fandom.com/wiki/Yakut_Khan
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  21. https://digitalcommons.murraystate.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1017&context=etd
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  23. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/320435356_The_1689_Mughal_Siege_of_East_India_Company_Bombay_Crisis_and_Historical_Erasure
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