Gulbadan's Chronicle

A new edition of the only existing work of prose written by a woman of the magnificent Mughal Empire of India

Ruby Lal’s Vagabond Princess unearths an extraordinary historical treasure—the only surviving history of the magnificent Mughal Empire written by a royal woman. Penned in the late sixteenth century by Princess Gulbadan Begum, this remarkable chronicle reveals a life defined by daring travel and migration, thrilling encounters with foreign cultures, and the exceptional influence she wielded with confidence and grace. Her groundbreaking account—which illuminates the unexpected freedoms enjoyed by both royal and common people—transforms our understanding of her era.

Now, as a companion to Vagabond Princess, Gulbadan’s Chronicle presents Victorian scholar Annette Susannah Beveridge’s masterful English translation of Gulbadan’s history. In a compelling introduction, Lal traces Beveridge’s intellectual journey and her deep connection to Gulbadan’s pivotal work. This edition brings a lost voice back to life, deepening our understanding not only of the Mughal world but of how two brilliant women—centuries apart—joined forces to preserve an irreplaceable piece of history.