Who was Shah Jahan II and when did he become emperor?
Shah Jahan II was the twelfth Mughal emperor who received his crown on the 6th of June 1719. He was chosen by the Sayyid brothers from a pool of royal candidates to rule for three months.
Questions about Shah Jahan II
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Where was Shah Jahan II born and what is his birth date?
Shah Jahan II was born in June 1696 but his exact birth date remains unknown to historians today. He was eighteen months older than his brother Rafi ud-Darajat.
When did Shah Jahan II die and where was he buried?
Shah Jahan II died at Bidyapur on the 17th of September 1719 after suffering from tuberculosis. He was buried beside his brother at the dargah of Qutbuddin Bakhtiar Kaki within Mehrauli in Delhi.
Why did the Sayyid brothers control Shah Jahan II's reign?
The Sayyid brothers controlled every decision made within the palace walls because they held real power while Shah Jahan II sat as a silent observer. No decree passed without their approval and they dictated policy and managed the treasury at their discretion.
Did the Sayyid brothers poison Shah Jahan II or did he die naturally?
Muhammad Hadi Kamwar Khan claimed that Shah Jahan II was poisoned by the Sayyid brothers but William Irvine disputed this claim with detailed analysis. Medical evidence pointed toward natural causes such as opium withdrawal rather than foul play.