Shah Jahan
On the 5th of January 1592, a boy named Khurram entered the world in Lahore. He was the ninth child and third son of Prince Salim, who would later take the throne as Emperor Jahangir. His mother was Jagat Gosain, his chief consort. The young prince received his name from his grandfather, Emperor Akbar. Akbar held Khurram in high regard and often stated that no other son compared to him. He considered the boy his true son. When Khurram was born, Akbar insisted he be raised within his own household rather than with his father. Ruqaiya Sultan Begum took primary responsibility for raising the child. She loved Khurram more than she ever could have loved her own biological children. This arrangement kept the boy safe during turbulent political times. After Akbar died in 1605, Khurram returned to live with his mother. He remained devoted to her until her death on the 8th of April 1619. He mourned her for twenty-one days without attending public meetings or eating meat.
Prince Khurram faced significant challenges when his stepmother Nur Jahan rose to power after marrying his father in 1611. She wielded immense influence over state decisions while Jahangir became increasingly indulgent in wine and opium. Nur Jahan favored her own son-in-law Shahryar Mirza as heir instead of Khurram. In 1622, Khurram rebelled against his father because he feared Nur Jahan would poison his reputation. He marched an army against Jahangir but suffered defeat at Bilochpur in March 1623. He fled to Udaipur Mewar where Maharana Karan Singh II gave him refuge. Later he found asylum in Bengal Subah after being driven from Agra. During this rebellion, he lost control of Kandahar to Persian forces following a forty-five-day siege. His refusal to obey orders regarding Kandahar led directly to its loss. He eventually submitted unconditionally near Allahabad after being defeated by Mahabat Khan. Although forgiven in 1626, tensions between him and Nur Jahan continued growing beneath the surface until Jahangir died in 1627.
Shah Jahan commissioned many monuments during his reign including the Red Fort and the famous Taj Mahal. The Taj Mahal took twenty years to complete and was constructed from white marble underlaid with brick. Architects from all over the world were called to work on this structure. It stands as the burial place for his favorite consort Mumtaz Mahal who died on the 17th of June 1631. Her death caused Shah Jahan to be paralyzed by grief and weeping fits. She had given birth to Princess Gauhar Ara Begum when she passed away due to postpartum haemorrhage. The body was temporarily buried in Zainabad before being reburied at the Taj Mahal. Other constructions included the Jama Masjid, Wazir Khan Mosque, Moti Masjid, Shalimar Gardens, sections of Lahore Fort, and the Peacock Throne. The Shah Jahan Mosque in Thatta features ninety-three domes and is the largest mosque having such a number of domes globally. A person speaking inside one end can be heard at the other end if their speech exceeds 100 decibels.
In 1632, Shah Jahan captured the fortress at Daulatabad in Maharashtra and imprisoned Husein Shah of the Nizam Shahi Kingdom. Golconda submitted in 1635 while Bijapur fell in 1636. He appointed Aurangzeb as Viceroy of the Deccan consisting of Khandesh, Berar, Telangana, and Daulatabad. During his viceroyalty, Aurangzeb conquered Baglana where he defeated Baharji, the Raja. In 1638, Shah Jahan and his sons captured Kandahar from the Safavids. This prompted retaliation by Persian ruler Abbas II who recaptured it in 1649. Mughal armies failed to retake it despite repeated sieges during the Mughal-Safavid War. Shah Jahan also launched an invasion of Central Asia from 1646 to 1647 against the Khanate of Bukhara. With a total army of seventy-five thousand men, they temporarily occupied Balkh and Badakhshan before retreating. The territories returned to Bukharan control after their departure.
A famine broke out between 1630 and 1632 affecting Deccan, Gujarat, and Khandesh regions due to three main crop failures. Two million people died of starvation during this period. Grocers sold dogs' flesh and mixed powdered bones with flour. Parents ate their own children while streets filled with human corpses. Some villages were completely destroyed. In response to the devastation, Shah Jahan set up langar free kitchens for victims of the famine. Despite these tragedies, economic stability characterized much of his administration. According to economist Angus Maddison, India's share of global gross domestic product grew from 22.7% in 1600 to 24.4% in 1700. This made India the world's largest economy at that time. The empire became a huge military machine under his rule with nobles multiplying almost fourfold. Demands for revenue increased significantly among citizens despite general administrative stability.
When Shah Jahan fell ill in 1658, Dara Shikoh assumed regency which quickly incurred animosity from his brothers. Shuja declared independence as Viceroy of Bengal while Murad Baksh did the same as Viceroy of Gujarat. They marched upon Agra to claim riches. Aurangzeb gathered a well-trained army and defeated Dara near Agra during the Battle of Samugarh. Although Shah Jahan fully recovered from his illness, Aurangzeb declared him incompetent to rule. He placed his father under house arrest inside Agra Fort starting in July 1658. Jahanara Begum voluntarily shared this eight-year confinement and nursed him in his dotage. On the 22nd of January 1666, Shah Jahan died aged seventy-four after becoming progressively weaker while confined to bed. His body was taken to the Taj Mahal where it was interred next to Mumtaz Mahal. Aurangzeb refused to accommodate ostentation at the funeral procession but allowed the burial there.
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Common questions
When was Shah Jahan born and who were his parents?
Shah Jahan was born on the 5th of January 1592 in Lahore as the third son of Prince Salim, later known as Emperor Jahangir. His mother was Jagat Gosain, his chief consort.
Why did Shah Jahan rebel against his father Jahangir in 1623?
Shah Jahan rebelled against his father because he feared Nur Jahan would poison his reputation while she wielded immense influence over state decisions. He marched an army against Jahangir but suffered defeat at Bilochpur in March 1623.
What monument did Shah Jahan build to honor Mumtaz Mahal and when did it take to complete?
The Taj Mahal took twenty years to complete and stands as the burial place for his favorite consort Mumtaz Mahal who died on the 17th of June 1631. It was constructed from white marble underlaid with brick by architects from all over the world.
How many people died during the famine that occurred between 1630 and 1632 under Shah Jahan's rule?
Two million people died of starvation during this period due to three main crop failures affecting Deccan, Gujarat, and Khandesh regions. Grocers sold dogs' flesh and mixed powdered bones with flour while parents ate their own children.
When did Shah Jahan die and where is he buried?
Shah Jahan died on the 22nd of January 1666 aged seventy-four after becoming progressively weaker while confined to bed inside Agra Fort. His body was taken to the Taj Mahal where it was interred next to Mumtaz Mahal.