Akbar married Amer maid, not princess, claims Rajasthan governor

Udaipur: Rajasthan governor Haribhau Bagde ignited controversy by claiming Mughal emperor Akbar married a palace maid from Amer, not a princess, challenging centuries of historical consensus and accusing British historians of distorting India's past.

Speaking on eve of Maharana Pratap's birth anniversary Wednesday, Bagde said: "It is said Jodha and Akbar got married and a film was made on the story. History books say the same thing but it is a lie."

Bagde said Akbar's wife was not a royal but the daughter of a maid, and while king Bharmal of Amer arranged the marriage, it did not involve a princess. He cited the absence of any reference to Jodha Bai in Akbarnama, the official record of Akbar's reign, to support his claim.

Akbar is historically believed to have married Bharmal's daughter in 1569 as part of a strategic alliance. Historians refer to her as Harka Bai or Mariam-uz-Zamani.