Jahangir and Shah Jahan

The two Mughal rulers

JAHANGIR

JAHANGIR [August 31, 1569 November 7, 1627]

Mirza Nur-ud-din Beig Mohammad Khan Salim, known by his imperial name Jahangir
(Persian name) which means "conqueror of the world" , was the fourth Mughal Emperor
who ruled from 1605 until his death in 1627.

Jahangir was the eldest surviving son of Mughal Emperor Akbar. Impatient for power, he
revolted in 1599 while Akbar was engaged in the Deccan.

Prince Salim forcefully succeeded to the throne, eight days after his father's death
emerging victorious in the struggle for succession between the five prominent and
legitimate sons. Salim ascended to the throne with the title of Nur-ud-din Muhammad
Jahangir Badshah Ghazi and thus began his 22-year reign at the age of 36.
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JAHANGIR [August 31, 1569 November 7, 1627]

The first year of Jahangir's reign saw a rebellion organised by his eldest son Khusrau. The
rebellion was soon put down; Khusrau was brought before his father in chains. When
Jahangir was informed that the Sikh guru Arjan Dev had aided Khusrau in his rebellion, he
was enraged , and imposed a fine on the guru. Arjan Dev refused to pay the fine. Furious at
the disobedience, Jahangir had Arjan Dev executed. This sparked off a long and bitter
struggle between the Sikhs and Mughals.

FOREIGN INFLUENCES AND

INTERACTIONS

During the reign of Jahangir, a number of Europeans like the Portuguese, the British and
the Dutch had begun to make their presence felt in India. In order to put a check on the
Portuguese, who had started attacking Mughal ships, Jahangir began to support the British

and Dutch.

FOREIGN INFLUENCES AND

INTERACTIONS

In 1608CE, William Hawkins commanded the ship Hector for East India Company and
arrived at Surat loaded with letters & presents from King James 1of England .

Captain Hawkins was received by this new emperor Jahangir with all Indian hospitality and
warmth. His letter was read in the court with the help of a Portuguese Jesuit.

Hawkins was well versed in Turkish and Jahangir and some of his ministers also knew
Turkish, the native tongue of Babur. So the discussions took place in Turkish.

Hawkins was able to acquire a footing in the court of Jahangir and in due course of time he

got so intimacy with the emperor. Jahangir called him English Khan.

He was able to persuade the emperor to grant a commission for an English factory at6 Surat
but under the Pressure of the Portuguese Viceroy, the grant was withdrawn.

FOREIGN INFLUENCES AND

INTERACTIONS

In 1614CE, Sir Thomas Roe was sent by King James 1 to the court of Jahangir. The
objective of Thomas Roe was to finish what was left unfinished by Captain Hawkins.

The English factory at Surat was set on a permanent basis , officially recognized by the
Emperor as well as the Prince-Governor Khurram. Some subordinate factories were
started. This laid the foundation for the British East India Companys trade.

Journal of the mission to the Mughal Empire, written by Sir Thomas Roe is a valuable
contribution to the history of India in the early 17th century.

NUR JAHAN

Mehr-Un-Nisa or Nur Jahan, occupies an important

place in the history of Jahangir. She was the widow of a
rebel officer, Sher Afgan, of Mughals, whose actual
name was Ali Quli Beg Ist'ajlu.

Jahangir married her in 1611 and gave her the title of

Nur Jahan or "Light of the World.

NUR JAHAN

Nur Jahan was the most powerful and influential women at court during a period
when the Mughal Empire was at the peak of its power and glory.

She is considered by historians to have been the real power behind the throne for
more than fifteen years.

Nur Jahan was granted certain honours and privileges which were never enjoyed by
any Mughal Empress before or afterwards in history.

She was the only Mughal Empress to have coinage struck in her name. She was given
charge of his imperial seal. The Emperor sought her views on most matters before
issuing orders.
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ISSUE OF COINS
Jahangir was fond of issuing coins and he designed many himself. Indeed he minted coins

during his rebellion in Allahabad and sent a few samples to his father Akbar too. He was the
first emperor in India who allowed his wife Nur Jahan to have coins in her name.

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CONTRIBUTIONS

Jahangir was fascinated with art, science and architecture.

The art of Mughal painting reached great heights under Jahangir's reign. He constructed
a mausoleum for Akbar.

Jahangir maintained a huge aviary and a large zoo, kept a record of every specimen
and organised experiments.

He promoted Persian culture throughout his empire.

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LAST DAYS OF JAHANGIR

He wrote his autobiography called Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri.

Jahangir died on the way back from Kashmir near Sarai Saadabad in 1627.

He was succeeded by his third son, Prince Khurram who took the title of Shah Jahan.

Jahangir's elegant mausoleum is located in the Shahdara locale of Lahore and is a

popular tourist attraction in Lahore.

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Shah Jahan

SHAH JAHAN

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SHAH JAHAN

[January 5,1592-January22,1666]

Mirza Shahabuddin Baig Muhammad Khan Shah Jahan was the fifth Mughal Emperor of
India from 1628 to 1658.

Born Prince Khurram, he was the son of Emperor Jahangir and his Hindu Rajput wife,
Taj Bibi Bilqis Makani [Manwati of Marwar].

In 1612CE, married Nur Jahans niece Mumtaz Mahal

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CAMPAIGNS

Shah Jahans reign has been called the Golden Age of Mughals. Like Akbar, he eagerly
expanded his empire.

He led successful military campaigns against Mewar, Kangra and the Deccan kingdoms.

Shah Jahan then went to Bengal to put down the growing power of the Portuguese. The
Portuguese were carrying out illegal trading activities and were forcibly converting
people to Christianity. More than 10,000 Portuguese were killed and many were
imprisoned.

Shah Jahans attempts to capture Kandahar and Balkh in central Asia was not
successful.

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CAMPAIGNS
Famine of 1630

A famine broke out in 163032 in Deccan, Gujarat and Khandesh as a result of three
main crop failures.Two million died of starvation,villages were completely destroyed,
their streets filled with human corpses.Shah Jahan made arrangements to help reduce
the sufferings of the people.

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ARCHITECTURE
Shah Jahan was one of the greatest patrons of Mughal architecture.His most famous
building was the Taj Mahal, which he built out of love for his wife, the empress
Mumtaz Mahal.
Among his other constructions are the Red Fort also called the Delhi Fort or Lal Qila
in Urdu, large sections of Agra Fort, the Jama Masjid, the Wazir Khan Mosque, the
Moti Masjid, the Shalimar Gardens, sections of the Lahore Fort, the Mahabat Khan
Mosque in Peshawar, the Jahangir mausoleumhis father's tomb

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ARCHITECTURE

Taj Mahal

Red Fort, Delhi

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Juma Masjid, Delhi

Jahangir Mausoleum, Lahore

ADMINISTRATION

Shah Jahan restored the mansabdari system started by Akbar, which had fallen into disuse in
Jahangirs time. He managed to cut the rates of pay of the mansabdars and insisted on a
definite number of troops from them.

Due to his measures in the financial and commercial fields, it was a period of general
stabilitythe administration was centralised and court affairs systematised.

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EUROPEAN VISITORS

French travellers Barnier and Travernier, Italian traveller Nicolas Menucci and English
visitors visited the court of Shah Jahan,and have left vivid descriptions about his rule.

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END OF SHAH JAHANS RULE

His son Aurangzeb led a rebellion when Shah Jahan became ill in 1657 C.E. and publicly

executed his brother Dara Shikoh. Although Shah Jahan fully recovered from his illness,
Aurangzeb declared him incompetent to rule and put him under house arrest in Agra
Fort.

In January of 1666 C.E. (1076 AH), Shah Jahan fell seriously ill. Confined to bed, he
became progressively weaker and died at the age of 74.

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