AGA KHAN I., HIS HIGHNESS THE (1800-1881), the title
accorded by general consent to HASAN ALI SHAH (born in Persia,
1800), when, in early life, he first settled in Bombay under
the protection of the British government. He was believed to
have descended in direct line from
Ali by his wife Fatima
?, the
daughter of the Prophet
Muhammad. Ali's son, Hosain, having
married a daughter of one of the rulers of
Persia before the
time of Muhammad, the Aga Khan traced his descent from the
royal house of
Persia from the most remote, almost prehistoric,
times. His ancestors had also ruled in
Egypt as caliphs
of the Fatimid
? dynasty for a number of years, at a period
coeval with the
Crusades.
Before the Aga Khan emigrated from
Persia, he was appointed by the emperor Fateh Ali Shah to be
governor-general of the extensive and important province of
Kerman. His rule was noted for firmness, moderation and
high political sagacity, and he succeeded for a long time
in retaining the friendship and confidence of his master the
shah, although his career was beset with political intrigues
and jealousy on the part of rival and court favourites,
and with internal turbulence. At last, however, the fate
usual to statesmen in oriental countries overtook him, and
he incurred the mortal displeasure of Fateh Ali Shah. He
fled from Persia and sought protection in British territory,
preferring to settle down eventually in India, making Bombay his
headquarters. At that period the first Afghan War was at its
height, and in crossing over from Persia through Afghanistan
the Aga Khan found opportunities of rendering valuable services
to the British army, and thus cast in his lot for ever with the
British. A few years later he rendered similar conspicuous
services in the course of the Sind campaign, when his help
was utilized by Napier in the process of subduing the frontier
tribes, a large number of whom acknowledged the Aga's authority
as their spiritual head. Napier held his Muslim ally in great
esteem, and entertained a very high opinion of his political
acumen and chivalry as a leader and soldier. The Aga Khan
reciprocated the British commander's confidence and friendship
by giving repeated proofs of his devotion and attachment to
the British government, and when he finally settled down in
India, his position as the leader of the large Ismaili
section of Muslim British subjects was recognized by the
government, and the title of His Highness was conferred on
him, with a large pension.
From that time until his death
in 1881 the Aga Khan, while leading the life of a peaceful
and peacemaking citizen, under the protection of British
rule, continued to discharge his sacerdotal functions,
not only among his followers in India, but towards the
more numerous communities which acknowledged his religious
sway in distant countries, such as Afghanistan, Khorasan,
Persia, Arabia, Central Asia, and even distant Syria and
Morocco. He remained throughout unflinchingly loyal to the
British Raj, and by his vast and unquestioned influence
among the frontier tribes on the northern borders of India
he exercised a control over their unruly passions in times of
trouble, which proved of invaluable service in the several
expeditions led by British arms on the north-west frontier of
India. He was also the means of checking the fanaticism
of the more turbulent Muslims in British India,
which in times of internal troubles and misunderstandings
finds vent in the shape of religious or political riots.
He was succeeded by his eldest son, AGA KHAN II. This prince
continued the traditions and work of his father in a manner
that won the approbation of the local government, and earned
for him the distinction of a knighthood of the Order of the
Indian Empire and a seat in the legislative council of Bombay.
See Aga Khan III
Initial text from 1911 encyclopedia
see Shiites