Raja Birbal
Mahesh Das (; 1528 16 February 1586), popularly known by his title Rajah Birbal (), was an Indian minister and commander of the Mughal Empire. He is mostly known in the Indian subcontinent for the folk tales which focus on his wit. He was appointed by Akbar and was one of his most important courtiers, part of a group called the navaratnas (nine jewels). In February 1586, he led an army to crush an unrest in the north-west Indian subcontinent now modern day Swat District Pakistan where he was killed along with many troops in an ambush which turned into a full-scale battle against rebelling Yusu
Key facts
- Royalty.title
- Mantri, Mukhya Mantri, Raja
- Royalty.image
- Birbal.jpg
- Royalty.alt
- Birbal
- Royalty.caption
- Birbal
- Royalty.birth_name
- Mahesh Das
- Royalty.birth_date
- 1528
- Royalty.birth_place
- Kalpi, Mughal Empire
- Royalty.death_date
- 16 February 1586 (aged 58)
- Royalty.death_place
- Malandari Pass, Kabul Subah, Mughal Empire
- Royalty.mother
- Anabha Davito
- Royalty.father
- Ganga Das
- Royalty.religion
- HinduismDin-e-Ilahi
Article
11 sectionsContents
- Early life
- At the imperial court
- Titles and name origin
- Position and association with Akbar
- Death
- Folklore and legacy
- Origins
- Historic role versus folklore
- In popular culture
- References
- Further reading
Mahesh Das (; 1528 16 February 1586), popularly known by his title Rajah Birbal (), was an Indian minister and commander of the Mughal Empire. He is mostly known in the Indian subcontinent for the folk tales which focus on his wit. He was appointed by Akbar and was one of his most important courtiers, part of a group called the navaratnas (nine jewels). In February 1586, he led an army to crush an unrest in the north-west Indian subcontinent now modern day Swat District Pakistan where he was killed along with many troops in an ambush which turned into a full-scale battle against rebelling Yusufzai and adjoining tribes. He was the only Hindu to adopt Din-i Ilahi, the religion founded by Akbar.
Local folk tales emerged primarily in 19th century involving his interactions with Akbar, thus became even more of a semi-fictional legendary figure across the Indian subcontinent. However, these stories have generally been described as fictional by modern historians.