Akbar was a great patron of artists and intellectuals. His passion for knowledge attracted many great minds to his court. The best of these courtiers were known as the nine ‘jewels’ of King Akbar or ‘Navratnas’. Abul-Fazel was Akbar’s chief advisor and author of Akbarnama, Faizi was a poet laureate, Miyan Tansen was a legendary musician, Birbal was known for great wit, Raja Todar Mal was Akbar’s finance minister, Raja Man Singh was Akbar’s trusted general and Commander-in-chief, Abdul Rahim Khan-l-Khana was a poet and the son of Akbar’s trusted mentor, Bairam Khan. The mystic Fakir Aziao-Din and Mullah Do Piaza were both advisors to the Emperor.
