Mughal emperors awarded titles to nobles according to their performance in war and administration. At the time of his coronation, a new emperor bestowed titles on the nobles of his court, especially those who had supported his succession to the throne. Other occasions on which titles were usually awarded were the festival of Nauruz, the emperor’s birthday celebration, Eid and other festivals.

Occasionally titles were given on the spot for some feat of bravery and loyalty. For instance, Anup Rai, who fought a tiger and saved the life of the emperor, was given the title of Singh-Dalan (crusher of the lion). When Ali Quli Istajlu, in the service of Prince Salim, attacked a lion and killed it with his sword; he was awarded the title of Sher-Afgan (tiger-thrower) on the spot. Alamgir awarded the title of Fathnuma (usher of victory) to Mir Taqi for fighting bravely against Dara Shikoh at Ajmer.

Titles were awarded according to the status of the man and the merits of his achievements. Khan was often part of a title; it was also added to the personal name as a title. The highest titles which were conferred on nobles were Khankhanan (lord of lords), Khan Azam (great lord), Khan Jahan (lord of the world), Khanzaman (great lord), Amir al-Umara (noble of nobles), and Rai Rayan (the great of greats).

The nobles in the Mughal court were primarily warriors and military commanders. They earned their honours on battlefields. Their titles, therefore, referred to their courage and prowess in war, like the titles of Shahbaz Khan (brave), Mahabat Khan (inspiring), Tahawwur Khan (relentless), Dilawar Khan (brave), Lashkar Khan (army leader), Himmat Khan (courageous), Saif Khan (sword master), Bahadur Khan (bold), Shuja’at Khan (brave) and Ghazi Khan (warrior of the faith). The titles awarded to some of the nobles and mansabdars referred to some particular aspects of their personality, i.e. Mukhlis Khan and Ikhlas Khan (sincere), I’timad Khan (trusted), and Dindar Khan (religious).

Every government official at the Mughal court was called mansabdar. Only when his rank reached higher than Panjsadi (rank of the commander of 5,000 cavalry) did he enter the nobility. All mansabdars at the Mughal court were awarded honours for their achievements in their particular fields. Their titles therefore, referred to their proficiency in their professional works, for instance physicians were often titled Masiha (reliever). Sometimes the titles awarded referred to the functionary job of a mansabdar, like the titles Naqib Khan (usher), and Naubat Khan (chief of Naubat Khana), etc.

Some other titles of the Mughal court were I’timad-al-Daula (trust of the state) and Asaf al-Daula, Jumlat-al-Mulk (totality of the state) and Firuzjang (victorious in battle). The first was given by Jahangir to his father-in-law, Ghiyas Beg, who served him as a vazir (Diwan) and the second was awarded by Shahjahan to his father-in-law, Abu-l-Hasan, who already had the title Asaf Khan. Alamgir’s vazir, As’ad Allah Khan, was entitled Jumlat al-Mulk, and his great military commander was entitled Firuzjang.

Some of the Mughal vazirs were given the title Asaf Khan. Asaf was the traditional name of the vazir of King Solomon in the Old Testament. This high title was, therefore, given to the chief vazir who was also the finance minister. Akbar bestowed this title on three of his vazirs: Abd al-Majid, Khwaja Mirza Ghiyas al-Din Ali and Mirza Ja’far Beg. Jahangir awarded this title to his vazir, Abu-l-Hasan, brother of Nurjahan.

The title of Sahib-i-saif wa-qalam (capital of the sword and pen) was awarded to a person equally distinguished in war and administration. Jahangir gave this title to Shaikh Farid. Similarly, the great calligraphers of the Mughal court were given titles referring to the beauty of their hand, like Shirin (sweet) Qalam, i.e., one whose writing  is sweet to observe, Ambarin Qalam, i.e., one whose writing is as fragrant as Amber (ambergris is of a black colour like the shining black ink which the Mughal calligraphers used), Zarrin Qalam, i.e., one whose writing shines like gold (zarrin means gold).

Musicians from Central Asia, Iran, and India all gathered together at the Mughal court where the music of these countries mingled. The prominent musicians of the court were, however, Indian musicians, both Hindus and Muslims, who carried on the tradition of the Indian ragas and used Indian instruments. The titles awarded to musicians referred to their proficiency in music and to their expertise with some particular instrument such as Surgian Khan (expert of music), Sarud Khan (a kind of sitar), Tantraq Khan (musician), Sur Mandal Khan (halo of music), and Pur Bin Khan (flute).

The great painters and engineers of the Mughal court also enjoyed the emperor’s favour and were rewarded with rich gifts, robes of honour and titles. Jahangir awarded the title Nadir-al-Zaman (unique of the time), to the chief painter of his court. Shahjahan awarded the title Nadir al-Asr (unique of the age) to Ustad Ahmed of Lahore, the builder of the Taj and the Red Fort of Shahjahanabad. The poet laureate of the Mughal court was entitled Malik al-Shuara.