Bairam Khan

Bairam Khan (Persian محمد بیرام خان / Muhammad Bayram Han, † January 31, 1561 ) was an important military leader and politician in the Mughal Empire.

Bairam Khan came from the Turkmen Qara Qoyunlu clan and initially served as a soldier in the army of Babur. His son Humayun lost the power of Sher Shah in 1540 and went into exile. Bairam Khan joined him after his return from Persia, and was instrumental in the recovery of his kingdom. As Humayun's son Akbar in 1556 the Mughal emperor was after the fatal accident of his father, Bairam Khan was de facto ruler. In 1556, he defeated Hemu Vikramajit in the Second Battle of Panipat. Due to its great influence he came into competition with the son of Akbar's wet nurse, Adham Khan. He was relieved of his duties and had to make a pilgrimage to Mecca, where he was assassinated on January 31, 1561.

Bairam Khan was married to the daughter of a Mewati prince whose son Abdul Rahim Khan -e- Khana was a well-known poet laureate. His second wife was Salima half sister Humayun, Akbar married her after Bairam Khan's death.