Shah Jahan – Mughal Emperor – GK+Notes

Shahjahan’s real name was Mirza Shahab-ud-Din Muhammad Khurram. His father was King Jahangir. His mother was Princess Jagat Gosaini. He was born on 5 January 1592 in Lahore. Shah Jahan’s reign lasted from 1628 to 1658.

• The first succession disputes started during the reign of Shah Jahan.
• 1625-1627: Nur Jahan (20th wife of Jahangir) seized major power from Jahangir (during the last year of Jahangir’s life).
• 1627: Nur Jahan proclaimed his son-in-law Shahriar as king just after the death of Jahangir.
• Shah Jahan was in the Deccan at the time. He wanted to take all the power in his hand. And the conflict of succession started.
• Shah Jahan’s father-in-law Asaf Khan helped him to defeat Shahriar.
• 1627: Shah Jahan defeated Shahriar and ascended the throne of Mughal Empire.

Extra Info/Note:
> Shah Jahan was crowned in Agra in 1628 AD.
> On the day of his coronation he conferred the title of Chief Queen Malika Uz-Zamani on his wife Arjuman Banu Begum (Mumtaz).
> Mumtaz died in 1631 AD.

Suppression of Mutiny and Conquest of Kingdom:

1. 1628-1631: He suppressed the revolt of Khan Jahan Lodi (Pir Khan) in the Deccan.
2. 1629: He suppressed the rebellion of Jhujhar Singh of Bundelkhand.
3. 1631: Shah Jahan started military campaigns against the Deccan Sultanates (Ahmednagar and Bijapur).
4. 1632: Captured the fortress of Daulatabad. Defeated Bijapur and Golconda and included large parts of Ahmednagar.
5. 1633-1636: The Mughal army conquered Ahmadnagar and in 1636 the kingdom came under complete control.
6. 1635: Golconda submitted to the Mughal.
7. 1636: A treaty between the Mughal and the Deccan Sultanates (Ahmednagar Bijapur and Golconda) was signed where Ahmednagar Bijapur and Golconda remained under the control of Mughal.
8. 1637: On the king’s orders, Kashem Ali attacked the Portuguese base at Hooghly and defeated them.

Central Asia and Northwest Frontier Policy:

1. 1637-1641: Shah Jahan started multiple campaigns to capture Kandahar from the Safavid Empire of Persia.
2. 1641: Shah Jahan struggled to control Kandahar and finally lost in 1641.
3. 1646: Shahzada Murad (Shah Jahan’s son) captured Balkh and Badakhshan but ultimately the Mughal forces failed.
4. 1649: Abbas II of Persia recaptured Kandahar.
5. 1649-1652: Attempted to capture Kandahar under Aurangzeb in 1649, and 1652 but failed.
6. 1653: Attempted to capture Kandahar under Dara Shikoh in 1653 also failed.

Extra Info: In 1655 Shah Jahan sent an embassy to the Safavid court in Persia to improve relations between the two empires.

War with the Portuguese

1. 1631: Shah Jahan led Qasim Khan to capture the trading post at Port Hoogly in 1631 from the Portuguese.
2. 1632: Shah Jahan took control of the Bandel region.
3. The port of Saptagram captured faced commercial competition from the Portuguese.

Last Life of Shah Jahan:

When Shah Jahan fell ill in 1657, a conflict for the throne began between his four sons – Dara Shikoh, Shah Shuja, Aurangzeb, and Murad Baksh.

1. 1658: Battle of Bahadurgarh: The battle of Bahadurgarh was fought between Dara Shikoh and Shah Shuja. Shuja was defeated in this battle.
2. 1658: Battle of Dharmat: Battle of Dara (combined with Maharaja Jaswant Singh) against the combined forces of Aurangzeb and Murad. Dara was defeated in this battle.
3. 1658: Battle of Samugarh: Ailing Shah Jahan, Dara Shikoh went to war against Aurangzeb. Dara led this force, but Aurangzeb won the battle.
4. 1658: On 5 June Aurangzeb entered Agra Fort and Shah Jahan was imprisoned.
5. 1659: Battle of Khajwa: Aurangzeb defeated Shuja at the Battle of Khajwa in January.
6. 1659: Battle of Deorai: In April, Aurangzeb defeated Dara in this battle and brutally killed him.
7. 1666: Shah Jahan died in captivity.

Religious Policies:

• Shah Jahan was a follower of Orthodox Sunni Islam.
• He donated to Ulemas and Sufi saints.
• Shah Jahan stopped the practice of ‘Sijda’ in court and introduced first ‘zaminbas’ and later ‘Char Taslim’.
• He reintroduced the ‘Tirthakara’ pilgrimage tax on the Hindus.
• Shah Jahan ordered to ban on the renovation of all existing temples in Benares and destroyed 76 temples in 1633.

Foreign tourists and councilors during Shah Jahan’s reign:

1. 1630-1633: Peter Mundy was an English traveler and merchant who visited India during Shah Jahan’s reign.
2. 1635: French physician and traveler François Bernier arrived in India.
3. 1636: Gabriel Boughton, an English surgeon came to India. He gave service to Shah Jahan.
4. 1640-1647: Jean-Baptiste Tavernier, a French gem merchant came to India for diamond business.
5. 1643: Adam Olearius, a German scholar.
6. 1644-1645: Dutch East India Company visited Shah Jahan’s court.
7. Bernier from France and Manucci from Italy came to his court.

Architecture and sculpture:

1. 1628-1631: Shah Jahan started Modifications and Additions to Agra Fort.
2. 1631-1653: Taj Mahal: Shah Jahan constructed a mausoleum for his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal. This is a symbol of love.
3. 1638-1648: Red Fort, Delhi (Lal Qila).
4. 1639-1648: Jama Masjid, Delhi.
5. 1639-1640: Shalimar Bagh, Lahore
6. 1644-1647: Musamman Burj (Octagonal Tower) in Agra Fort.
7. 1648-1654: Wazir Khan Mosque, Lahore.
8. 1647: The Shah Jahan Mosque was built in Thatta.

Shah Jahan is known as ‘Prince of Builders’.

Notes/Info: Taj Mahal (Agra), Moti Masjid (Agra Fort), New City at Shahjahanabad, Jama Masjid (Delhi), Jahangir’s Mausoleum (Shahdara, Lahore), Peacock Throne, Gardens at Lahore and Srinagar, Red Fort (Delhi) etc. were notable architectural achievements built during his period. He was an outstanding patron of architecture, hence his period is called the ‘Golden Age of Mughal rule‘.

His companion poet was Jagannath Pandit, Abu Talib Karim.
Apart from this, other members of the assembly included Abdul Hamid Lahore (historian), Amin Kazwan (historian) and others.

Famous painters of his time were Mir Hasan, Anup, Chitra, Chitramani, Hasim, Faqibullah etc.