Which Englishmen was honoured by Jahangir with the title of ‘Khan’?
William Hawkins was well versed in Turkish. Jahangir and some of his ministers also knew Turkish, the native tongue of Babur. He was able to acquire a footing in the court of emperor Jahangir and in due course of time he got so intimacy with the 'talented drunkard' emperor that no Europeans had ever afterward. Emperor Jahangir called him “English Khan". Hawkins was able to persuade the emperor to grant a commission for an English factory at Surat but under the Pressure of the Portuguese Viceroy, the grant was withdrawn. He (Hawkins) lived in the court of the Mughal emperor till 1611. Hawkins tried to reverse the orders, but the Portuguese influence over the King was impregnable. On 2 November 1611, He returned in disgust.
