Vagabond Princess: The Great Adventures of Gulbadan

Situated in the early decades of the powerful Mughal Empire, this first-ever biography of Princess Gulbadan offers an enthralling portrait of a charismatic adventurer and a unique perspective on the multicultural society in which she lived. Following a migratory childhood spanning Kabul, Agra, and Lahore, Gulbadan spent her middle age in the harem of her nephew, Emperor Akbar. Although Akbar believed that maintaining a harem showcased his regal authority, Gulbadan took his permission to leave it for an unprecedented sailing and overland voyage during which she guided harem women on pilgrimages in Arabia. Colliding with propriety, the women's "un-Islamic" behavior in the holy cities forced their return--a journey lengthened by a harrowing shipwreck in the Red Sea.

Gulbadan's memoir chronicling her life's experiences is the only extant work of prose by a woman from the early modern Muslim world. Yet a portion of it is missing, either lost to history or perhaps redacted by officials who did not want the princess to have her say.

Making skillful use of Gulbadan's memoir, this book is a portal to a richly complex imperial world rife with war and political machinations and where women's influence, camaraderie, conviviality, sense of adventure, and generosity shine.

"Finally, a serious consideration of Gulbadan's achievement.'"--Kirkus Reviews

Situated in the early decades of the magnificent Mughal Empire, this first ever biography of Princess Gulbadan offers an enthralling portrait of a charismatic adventurer and unique pictures of the multicultural society in which she lived. Following a migratory childhood that spanned Kabul and north India, Gulbadan spent her middle years in a walled harem established by her nephew Akbar to showcase his authority as the Great Emperor. Gulbadan longed for the exuberant itinerant lifestyle she'd known. With Akbar's blessing, she led an unprecedented sailing and overland voyage and guided harem women on an extended pilgrimage in Arabia. Amid increasing political tensions, the women's "un-Islamic" behavior forced their return, lengthened by a dramatic shipwreck in the Red Sea.

Gulbadan wrote a book upon her return, the only extant work of prose by a woman of the age. A portion of it is missing, either lost to history or redacted by officials who did not want the princess to have her say.

Vagabond Princess contemplates the story of the missing pages and breathes new life into a daring historical figure. It offers a portal to a richly complex world, rife with movement and migration, where women's conviviality, adventure, and autonomies shine through.