Vagabond Princess

A captivating biography of one of the world’s greatest adventurers, the itinerant Mughal Princess Gulbadan, based on her long-forgotten memoir

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” behaviour 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 skilful use of Gulbadan’s memoir, Vagabond Princess 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.