The headdress was created by Humayun in 1532 (939 AH), two years after his first accession as Mughal Emperor.[2] The Tāj-i 'Izzat was discontinued early in the reign of his son Akbar I.[3]
In creating the Tāj-i 'Izzat, it is thought that Humayun probably tried to emulate and rival the Persian Taj-i Haydari, created by the Safavids as a symbol of their Sufi organization.[2] The creation of the Tāj-i 'Izzat may have been a reaction to Babur's allegiance to the Safavids, and part of Humayun's attempt to create a spiritual system that could rival that of the Safavids.[2]
Contemporary life-time portrait of Humayun, painted in Kabul, in 1550-55
Humayun attendants, with Tāj-i 'Izzat headdress, Kabul in 1550-55
Contemporary portrait of the young
Akbar, son of Humayun, wearing the
Tāj-i 'Izzat
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