After only three years of marriage, Bairam Khan died in 1561 as a result of the intrigues against him instigated by Maham Anga, which culminated in his murder. Salima was subsequently married to her first cousin, Akbar, in the same year. She was three years and seven months older than him. Akbar married Salima to protect her and Bairam Khan's son Rahim lives from further political conspiracies. Salima was very talented and Akbar's only other wife apart from Ruqaiya, who was of the most exalted lineage, being a Timurid through her mother's side and thus, a granddaughter of Emperor Babur in the maternal lin