Previous Year Question
Mughal Emperor Jahangir gave the title ‘English-Khan’ to:
Albuquerque
Fransisco Almida
William Hawkins
Henry the Navigator
Correct Answer: C
Detailed Solution
Captain William Hawkins was one of the early representatives of the English East India Company. He reached Surat in 1608 CE aboard the ship ‘Hector’ and proceeded to the Mughal court carrying a letter from King James I of England to Emperor Jahangir.
Hawkins knew Turkish and was therefore able to communicate directly with Jahangir. He remained at the Mughal court for some time and developed relatively close contact with the emperor.
Jahangir accorded Hawkins considerable honour and addressed him as ‘English-Khan’ or ‘Inglis Khan’. He was also offered a mansab of about 400 horse.
Hawkins's principal objective was to obtain permanent commercial privileges and permission for an English factory at Surat for the East India Company. He initially received support from Jahangir, but Portuguese influence prevented the permission from remaining secure.
It is useful to distinguish the other options. Francisco de Almeida and Afonso de Albuquerque were Portuguese officials associated with the early expansion of Portuguese power in India. Henry the Navigator was a 15th-century Portuguese prince and was not even a contemporary of Jahangir.
Therefore, the English representative whom Jahangir addressed as ‘English-Khan’ was William Hawkins.