The Serpent's Path: Unpacking the Treachery of Yadgar Nasir Mirza in the Akbarnama
Published on 4/17/2025
The Akbarnama, Abu'l Fazl's monumental history of Emperor Akbar's reign, is not just a record of battles and administration; it's a narrative steeped in the moral and political complexities of the Mughal court. Among the recurring figures whose story serves as a cautionary tale is Yadgar Nasir Mirza, a cousin of Emperor Humayun. His journey, as depicted in this chronicle, is a stark illustration of the volatile nature of loyalty among royal relatives and the heavy price of repeated betrayal.
A Troubled Beginning: Early Opposition and a Chance for Redemption
Yadgar Nasir Mirza, son of Babur's younger brother Nasir Mirza, held a position of kinship and trust with Humayun. Yet, from early on, the Akbarnama paints him as someone "always secretly in opposition." This undercurrent of disaffection surfaced during Humayun's difficult retreat from India. Instigated by Yadgar Nasir Mirza, Humayun's half-brother Hindal Mirza departed for Qandahar. In turn, Yadgar Nasir Mirza himself was stirred up by Qaraca Khan, highlighting a web of intrigue among the Mirzas (princes or royal relatives).
Despite this initial move towards rebellion, Humayun, ever the forgiving figure in this account, sought reconciliation. He dispatched Mir Abü'l-baqa, a trusted envoy, to bring Yadgar Nasir Mirza back to the "straight path of rectitude." The mission was successful; terms were agreed upon, including a share of future conquests and territories like Ghazni. Yadgar Nasir Mirza crossed the river, acknowledged service, and was even granted the territory of Bhakkar. Tragically, Mir Abü'l-baqa was killed by the local garrison shortly after, a grim backdrop to this fragile peace.
The Lure of Deceit: Treachery in Sind
Granted Bhakkar, Yadgar Nasir Mirza settled in Lohri. While he showed courage in skirmishes against the local fort garrison, his underlying disloyalty was soon rekindled. Mirza Shah Husain, the ruler of Tatta, a crafty figure himself, saw an opportunity. He plied Yadgar Nasir Mirza with "lying promises"—marriage to his daughter, shared treasures, joint conquest of Gujarat. The Akbarnama describes Yadgar Nasir Mirza as "void of understanding and crooked in thought," easily swayed by these offers, staining his reputation with disloyalty.
Humayun, facing hardship during the siege of Sehwan, desperately needed his cousin's help to clear supply routes blocked by the ruler of Tatta. He sent Shaikh 'Abdu-l-ghafur to urge Yadgar Nasir Mirza to action. Despite initially making a show of compliance by sending an advance camp, Yadgar Nasir Mirza's resolve faltered. Influenced by the Shaikh's perhaps awkward, or as the text suggests, "improper language," and his own wavering commitment, he recalled his troops. Worse still, at the instigation of the ruler of Tatta, he seized and handed over loyal local zamindars, Gandam and Hala, who were then executed for aiding Humayun. Humayun, remarkably, overlooked this atrocity, still hoping for his cousin's amendment.
The depth of Yadgar Nasir Mirza's betrayal reached a low point when, as Humayun's army approached Lohri, he actually came out with men intending to attack the Emperor's camp. Only the intervention and sharp rebuke of his own confidant, Hashim Beg, who questioned his honor and sense, turned him back.
A Cycle of Forgiveness and Renewed Opposition
Even after these blatant acts, Humayun continued to offer chances. When deciding to march towards Maldeo, he sent a message to Yadgar Nasir Mirza, hoping he would finally repent. But the text notes his "slumbrous-witted" nature, lacking an "awakening spirit," led him to stay behind in Lohri, choosing the "road of disloyalty."
His path continued to be one of shifting allegiances. After Kamran Mirza seized Kabul, Yadgar Nasir Mirza fled towards Badakhshan. He later appeared at Qandahar, doing homage to Bairam Khan, who held the fort for Humayun. He eventually rejoined Humayun in Kabul, arriving with the royal harem and participating in the festivities, even wrestling with Humayun himself. He was once again granted fiefs, receiving Zamīn Dāwar and Tīrī.
The Final Act: Plotting and the Bowstring
Despite receiving favors and territory, the Akbarnama states that Yadgar Nasir Mirza, from "ill-fatedness and inward wickedness," disregarded all past and subsequent kindnesses. He fell back into harboring evil thoughts, influenced by figures like Muzaffar Koka. When his plotting was confirmed, Muzaffar Koka was executed.
Humayun, still attempting to salvage the relationship, had Yadgar Nasir Mirza reproached by Qaraca Khan. But the Mirza "cast aside shame," denying or feigning ignorance. This final act of defiance and continued threat to stability led Humayun to order his confinement in the Kabul citadel.
The chronicle records Humayun's ultimate, difficult decision to end Yadgar Nasir Mirza's life for the "peace and security to the State." Muhammad 'Ali Taghai, initially tasked with the deed, refused, stating he had never killed even a sparrow. The grim duty fell to Muhammad Qasim Mauji, who, according to the text, "sped the arrow of death by a bowstring" at night. Yadgar Nasir Mirza's body was initially buried near the citadel but later moved to his father's tomb in Ghaznin.
A Lesson in Loyalty
The story of Yadgar Nasir Mirza, as told in the Akbarnama, is a poignant subplot within the larger narrative of Humayun's struggles. It highlights the immense challenges of maintaining unity among ambitious royal relatives during times of upheaval. Humayun's repeated attempts at forgiveness and reconciliation stand in contrast to his cousin's persistent, almost inherent, disloyalty. The chronicle presents Yadgar Nasir Mirza's fate not just as a consequence of political maneuvering, but as the inevitable outcome of a character fundamentally incapable of loyalty, a stark warning etched into the pages of history about the corrosive nature of betrayal within the bonds of kinship and trust.