Qasim Yakut Khan also known as Yakut Shaikhji, Yakub Khan and Sidi Yaqub was a naval Admiral and administrator of Janjira Fort who first served under Bijapur Sultanate and later under the Mughal Empire. He was born into a Koli family which was Patil of Guhagar. He was jailed at a young age and later grew up in a Siddi Muslim family. There, he got his new name as Qasim Khan and after becoming admiral of the Mughal navy, he was titled Yakut Khan by Emperor Alamgir. October 1672, Khan entered the seven islands of Bombay and attacked the Marathas with whom they were at war. Khan returned the following year, on 10 October 1673, after destroying the towns of Pen and Nagothane. Yakut Khan, along with Khariyat Khan, had earlier saved the Portuguese from the Marathas left by Sambhaji at Chaul. In return, they enjoyed a cordial relationship in the otherwise tense political climate. In 1689, the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb ordered Khan to attack Bombay for the third time after Indian vessels sailing to Surat were captured in 1686 (Child's War). In April 1689, the strong Mughal fleet from Janjira commanded by the Sidi Yaqub and manned by Mappila and Abyssinians laid siege to the British fortification to the south. After a year of resistance, the English surrendered, and in 1690 the British governor Sir John Child appealed to Aurangzeb. In February 1690, the Mughals agreed to halt the attack in return for 150,000 rupees (over a billion USD at 2008 conversion rates) and Child's dismissal. Child's untimely death in 1690 however, resulted in him escaping the ignominy of being sacked. Enraged at the agreement, he withdrew his forces on 8 June 1690 after razing the Mazagaon Fort. Later, the Ganj-i-Sawai and other Mughal vessels, were captured by the pirates Henry Every and Thomas Tew full citation needed] One of the Maratha forts was captured after he granted amnesty to the garrison. The captured men were killed. 1677 - 1695 Khan-i-Alishah Nawab Sidi Khairayat Khan, Wazir of Dandarajpuri, educ. privately. Appointed to an Imperial mansab of 200 zat and 100 sowar 1670. Captured Dandarajpuri together with his brother Sidi Yakut by scaling the walls of the fort on the seaward side, while the Maratha troops were celebrating Holi within, 1677. Granted the personal titles of Khairayat Khan and Nawab in reward for his services to Emperor Aurangzeb. He d. at Dandarajpuri, before 11th August 1695 (bur. Khokri, near Dandarajpuri). Nawab Sidi Surur Yakut Khan II Bahadur, Wazir of Janjira, privately. Killedar of Kasa Qila on the island of Padamdurg before his assumption of the governorship. Elected and installed with the title of Yakut Khan II, 1707. Granted the personal titles of Nawab and Bahadur by the Emperor of Hindustan Shah Alam Bahadur Shah 1. Fought a long campaign to defend his territories against the Marathas, who laid siege but never managed to take Janjira. Entered into treaty relations with Peshwa Balaji Vishwanath in 1714, by which he ceded eleven forts and their surrounding districts. He completed the building of Janjira Fort in 1728. He d. at the Nawab Mahal, Janjira Fort, 1732 Having had issue, nine sons and three daughters: 1) Sidi ‘Abdu’llah Khan Sidi Surur Khan. Murdered by his younger brother, Sidi Hassan, 1732. 2) Sidi ‘Abdu’l Rahman Khan Sidi Surur Khan, Wazir of Janjira - see below. 3) Sidi Ibrahim Khan I Sidi Surur Khan, Wazir of Janjira and Thanadar of Jafarabad - see below. 4) Sidi Misri Khan Sidi Surur Khan. 5) Sidi Muhammad Khan I Sidi Surur Khan, Wazir of Janjira - see below. 6) Sidi Hassan Khan Sidi Surur Khan, Wazir of Janjira - see below. 7) Sidi ‘Abdu’l Rahim Khan Sidi Surur Khan, Wazir of Janjira - see below. 8) Sidi Ishaq Khan Sidi Surur Khan. He d. at Janjira, 23rd December 1708. 9) Sidi ‘Abdu’l Ghafur Khan Sidi Surur Khan. He d. at Janjira, 2nd June 1715. 1) Siti Halima. She d. at Janjira, 29th August 1708. 2) Siti Zainab. She d. at Janjira, 31st December 1708. 3) Siti Kultham. She d. at Janjira, 16th May 1714.

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