Lot Essay
The seal inscription is in the name of Jahangir Quli Khan and dated AH 1018/1608 AD. It records in two lines of verse that since Shamsi (i.e. Shams al-Din) has advanced so far (afzud) in his affection, Shah Jahangir has granted him the title (farmud) Jahangir Quli Khan.
There were two officers who were granted this title by Jahangir: Lala Beg who died in AH 1018/1608 AD, the year in which the other recipient of the title, Shamsi (i.e. Shams al-Din) is recorded in our seal. Shamsi was a son of Akbar's foster brother 'Aziz Kokah and had already served under Akbar. Jahangir appointed him successively governor of Bengal, Jaunpur and Allahabad, and Shah Jahan appointed him governor of Surat and Junargah. Shamsi died in AH 1041/1631-2 AD (see his biography in The Maasir al-Umara of Nawab Samsam al-Dawla Shah Nawaz Khan, Calcutta, 1888, pp. 524-25).
There were two officers who were granted this title by Jahangir: Lala Beg who died in AH 1018/1608 AD, the year in which the other recipient of the title, Shamsi (i.e. Shams al-Din) is recorded in our seal. Shamsi was a son of Akbar's foster brother 'Aziz Kokah and had already served under Akbar. Jahangir appointed him successively governor of Bengal, Jaunpur and Allahabad, and Shah Jahan appointed him governor of Surat and Junargah. Shamsi died in AH 1041/1631-2 AD (see his biography in The Maasir al-Umara of Nawab Samsam al-Dawla Shah Nawaz Khan, Calcutta, 1888, pp. 524-25).