Tardi Beg: The Indispensable Opportunist
Lad Malika, The Key To Chunar
Story TIme Thread! Most stories about historical figures are… complicated. Tardi Beg, a general who served both Humayun and Akbar, may be extra complicated. Buckle in for this strange tale of a Mughal General famed for both bravery and selfishness.
His first mention in the Humayunama is as an officer accompanying Askari Mirza to Gujarat to counter the efforts of Sultan Bahadur, but it was to no avail, as bigger problems were brewing to the east. Mughal forces were pulled out of Gujarat and diverted to deal with Sher Khan.
The battle of Chausa was ill fated, Humayun was tricked by Sher Khan, his forces charging as the monsoon rolled in. Charged with protecting Bega Begum, the Queen Consort, Tardi Beg fought bravely to protect and retrieve her.
The other 3 officers charged with protecting Bega all died during the defense, Tardi was the only one to make it out of the exchange alive, as the Mughal armies scrambled to escape across the Ganges River. This is also the last time we saw anyone pay Tardi a compliment.
During the exile and retreat through the deserts, Gulbadan records a number of incidents of Tardi being a difficult companion. When Akbar’s mother was with child her horse died, and Tardi refused to give up his own, instead insisting someone else give up their camel.
When the empire’s treasury was depleted he loaned a sum to Humayun at a steep 20% interest. HIs constant bickering caused the future Vakil of the empire Munim Khan to quit the party, presumably joining another empire or a brother of Humayun.
During Akbar’s reign with Bairam Khan as the vakil, Tardi Beg was executed for treason. Whether there was any actual treason is up for debate, as Bairam himself had rebelled shortly after. Perhaps this was an easy decision given they were both present during the exile period.
There are other instances of combative behavior too throughout the Humayunama. His conflict with Bairam may have been related to his allegiance with Maham Agha. Political court alliances are frequent in every court in every age (even today). Tardi just picked the wrong side.
I try to end these stories with some positive message of unity. There really isn't anything there for Tardi Beg. He was an opportunist who played the wrong cards in politics, there were better men and women tactically and morally we should all look up to. Don’t be like Tardi.
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