Sher Afghan Quli Khan

Who was Sher Afghan Quli Khan?

Ali Quli Istajlu, 'Sher Afgan Khan', also mentioned as Ali Quli Khan Istaju 'Sher Afgan Khan' was a Mughal courtier, earlier serving in Persia, who became the jagirdar of Burdwan in West Bengal. He was also the first husband of Nur Jahan, who later married Jahangir after Quli Khan's death and became Empress of India.

He was given the title Sher Afgan Khan, by Prince Salim, Jahangir, after his meritorious actions, during a war with the Rana of Mewar. Ali Kuli Istaju, was educated under the instructions of Shah Ismail II of Safavid dynasty in Iran. Like his wife, Sher Afgan was also an immigrant from Persia, who fled from Iran, to Kandahar, then in India.

He was the father of Mehrunissa's only child, a daughter, also called Mehurinissa, like her mother, though later called Ladli Begum, after she married Prince Shahryar, the fifth and youngest son of Jahangir and rival to Shah Jahan.