Akbar and the Jesuits: An Account of the Jesuit Missions to the Court of Akbar

by Jarric,Father Pierre du Jarric

• ISBN13: 9780415344814
• ISBN10: 0415344816
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2004-12-23
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

First published in 1926. 'These documents are full of intimate interest' Times Literary Supplement 'A serious and intensely interesting piece of work' The Guardian The Jesuit missionaries were some of the earliest Europeans to find their way into the Mogul empire in the sixteenth century. Spending more years at Akbar's court than others did months, and traversing his dominions from Lahore to Kabul, and from Kashmir to the Deccan, they undoubtedly sowed the seeds of British influence in the East. Reproducing, or summarizing the most valuable of the missionaries' letters written prior to 1610, this volume makes available the illegible and scattered primary sources on the reign of the Emperor Akbar, and as such, forms the earliest European description of the Mogul Empire.

Table of Contents

LIST OF AUTHORITIES	xix
INTRODUCTION	xxiii
CHAPTER ONE AKBAR, THE GREAT MOGUL	1	(13)
The early Moguls
Tamerlane
Babur
Humayun
Akbar's conquests
Limits of his empire
Its fertility and wealth
Military strength
War-elephants
Personal appearance of Akbar
His temperament, tastes, and recreations
Methods of hunting deer
Public audiences
Administration of justice
Punishments
CHAPTER TWO THE FIRST MISSION TO MOGOR	14	(10)
Akbar's first contact with Christianity
Antoine Cabral
Pierre Tavero
Father Julien Pereira
The priest and the Mullas
Akbar sends for Jesuit Fathers
The first Mission
Its composition, despatch, and arrival at Fathpur
Favourable reception at court
Debates with the Mullas
Their effect of Akbar
CHAPTER THREE 'WHAT IS TRUTH?'	24	(11)
Residence of the Mission
The royal Princes
Akbar visits the oratory
His leanings towards Christianity
Doctrinal difficulties
The ordeal by fire
Abul Fazl
Revolt in Bengal
The Kabul campaign
The Fathers lose favour
Akbar defends his Mullas
CHAPTER FOUR FATHER RUDOLF AQUAVIVA	35	(9)
The Fathers regain Akbar's favour
Hostility of the Saracens
The Mission breaks up
Father Rudolf alone at the Mogul court
His influence over Akbar
The Mullas seek his life
His prayers and austerities
Loved and respected by all classes
His return to Goa
CHAPTER FIVE THE SECOND MISSION	44	(7)
Akbar celebrates the feast of the Assumption
Displays his contempt for Islam
Leon Grimon arrives at court
Carries the King's letters to Goa
Jesuit Fathers again invited to the Mogul court
Arrangements for their journey
Akbar's letter to the Fathers
The Mission at Agra
Its failure and recall
CHAPTER SIX DISPATCH OF THIRD MISSION	51	(11)
Dispatch of third Mission
Arrival at Cambay
First fruits
Meeting with Prince Murad
Travelling with a caravan
At Ahmadabad
A Yogi
A wonderful tomb
Pilgrims on their way to Mecca
The feast of the Passover
Arrival at Labor
CHAPTER SEVEN THE FATHERS AT COURT	62	(10)
Welcomed by the King and the Prince
The King's library
A vassal Prince pays homage to the Great Mogul
Gifts fit for a king
Renewed hopes of the King's conversion
His reverence for Christianity and contempt of Islam
He founds a new religion
The Fathers open a school at Lahor
The King grants them permission to make converts
CHAPTER EIGHT ON TOUR WITH THE KING	72	(25)
Akbar's eclecticism
The royal palace on fire
The Fathers accompany Akbar to Kashmir
The country described
Illness of Father Xavier and of the King
Famine
The return journey
Prince Salim's adventure with a lioness
Celebrating Christmas at Lahor
The Fathers pay a visit to Akbar
A strange experiment
Facing a storm
The price of baptism
The King, accompanied by Father Xavier, sets out for the Deccan
Public baptism of converts at Lahore
A brave proselyte
CHAPTER NINE AT THE SEAT OF WAR	97	(13)
Akbar marches to Burhanpur
Father Corsi joins the Mission
His adventurous journey from Cambay to Burhanpur
The Deccan Campaign
The investment of Asirgarh
Submission of king Miran
The Governor of the fortress commits suicide
The defenders are bribed, and the fortress is surrendered
CHAPTER TEN AN EMBASSY TO GOA	110	(8)
Father Pigneiro comes to the royal camp
He pays his respects to the King
Akbar's designs against the Portuguese
An ambassador is sent to the Portuguese Viceroy
His reception at Goa
Akbar's letter to the Viceroy
CHAPTER ELEVEN FATHER PIGNEIRO AT LAHORE, 1600—1	118	(4)
Work amongst the people
Opposition of the Brahmans
A friendly Viceroy
Father Pigneiro as peace-maker
Viceregal state
Mogul death duties
The Kotwal stands by the Fathers
CHAPTER TWELVE THE CONFIDENCE TRICK	122	(5)
Father Pigneiro entertains a thief unawares
He is drugged and robbed
His misfortune arouses general indignation and sympathy
CHAPTER THIRTEEN SOME NOTABLE CONVERSIONS	127	(10)
Christmas celebrations
A pastoral play
The Viceroy and other great lords attend the festival
Many are converted to Christianity
Some notable cases described
Some Armenian converts
Death of an Armenian bishop
An eclipse of the sun
CHAPTER FOURTEEN A BRAVE CHAMPION	137	(15)
A Brahman convert
Persecuted by his parents
Takes refuge in the Fathers' house
The Fathers are charged with abduction
The Chief Judge acquits the Fathers and defends the Christian faith
The case is referred to Pagan judges
The neophyte is ill-used and insulted
He defies the 'Coxi'
Is taken before the Kazi
His courage remains unshaken
He resigns his worldly possessions, and is left in peace
The Chief Judge commends his constancy
CHAPTER FIFTEEN AN IMPERIAL FARMAN	152	(8)
Akbar returns to Agra
Benoist de Goës joins the Mission
An unfriendly Viceroy
'The King was in his counting-house'
The Fathers obtain a farman from Akbar permitting his subjects to embrace Christianity
The Saracens put obstructions in the way
Mogul red tape
A friend at court
The farman is issued
CHAPTER SIXTEEN A MIRACULOUS PICTURE	160	(13)
A picture of the Madonna del Popolo is placed in the church at Agra
Great crowds press to see it
Its miraculous influence
It is taken to the King's palace
The King's painters try to copy it
The Queen-mother sends for it
Also Aziz Khan and the ex-king of Kandahar
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN EVENTS OF THE TEAR 1602	173	(9)
The Fathers rescue and baptise a number of Portuguese prisoners
Some other noteworthy baptisms
The remarkable case of a Greek Christian and his wife
Fifty shipwrecked Portuguese are sent as prisoners to Akbar
With much difficulty the Fathers procure their freedom
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN PRINCE SALIM	182	(10)
The Prince in rebellion
Murders Abul Fazl
Displays great affection for the Fathers and respect for Christianity
Jacques Philippe
Death of the Queen-mother
The Prince makes submission to Akbar
Is placed in confinement and afterwards released
His reverence for Christ and the Virgin
Makes provision for a church at Agra
CHAPTER NINETEEN PERSECUTION OF THE FATHERS	192	(11)
Saracens and Gentiles make vows and bring offerings to the Virgin
A Saracen of note dedicates his child to the Church
The Prince's physician is baptised
The perils of preaching the Gospel
Troubles at Lahore
The Viceroy's hostility
A Gentile conspiracy
Providence intervenes
Retribution overtakes the Viceroy and the chief conspirators
CHAPTER TWENTY THE DEATH OF AKAR	203	(6)
Akbar's fatal illness
The Fathers are refused admission to the palace
The Prince visits his dying father
Akbar's last moments
His character and manner of life
His conquests and good fortune
Funeral rites
NOTES	209	(72)
INDEX	281