A Turkic clan in Mughal India: The Qaqshals in Akbar’s service
A Turkic clan in Mughal India: The Qaqshals in Akbar’s service

Summary/Abstract: After the establishment of the Mughal Empire, in Hindustan “guest workers” of Turkic origin started to move to India. They came from various places and represented all walks of life: Uzbegs from Transoxania, Afshars, Baharlus, Bayats from Iran, people from the various Turkic tribes of Khurasan. The Qaqshals, members of a clan of Turkic (Turkmen) origin who played an important role in early Mughal conquests came somewhere from the central parts of modern Afghanistan. They joined the retinue of Humâyûn and Bayrâm Khan in Kabul when the emperor set off to reconquest his realm and fought in almost all important campaigns of Akbar. Though they rebelled in the 1580s those members who repented were eventually pardoned. The present article tries to explore the origins and ethnic background of the Qaqshal clan and trace down the career of the clan’s most illustrious members in contemporary sources.

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