Biography of shahjahan
Shah Jahan, the fifth emperor of the Mughal Empire, is renowned for his grand architectural vision and the expansion of Mughal influence across India. His reign marked the pinnacle of Mughal architecture, symbolizing the empire’s cultural and artistic zenith. This article aims to study in detail Shah Jahan’s architectural achievements, military campaigns, religious policies, and lasting impact on the Mughal Empire.
About Shah Jahan
- The death of Emperor Jahangir in 1627 led to a brief struggle for succession, ending with Prince Khurram ascending the Mughal throne in 1628 as Emperor Shah Jahan.
- Known for his grand architectural legacy and military prowess, Shah Jahan presided over a period often called the “Golden Age” of the Mughal Empire.
- His reign, marked by magnificence and prosperity, elevated Mughal architecture and art to new heights, leaving behind iconic structures and monuments still celebrated today.
Read our detailed article on the Mughal Empire, Babur, Humayun, Akbar, Jahangir, Aurangzeb, Mughal Administration, Mansabdari System, Jagirdari System and Decline of the Mughal Empire.
History of Shah Jahan
- His reign, often hailed as the “Golden Age” of the Mughal Empire, was characterised by cultural prosperity, significant architectural advancements, and expansive military campaigns.
- Shah Jahan is best remembered for his monumental contributions to Mughal architecture, including the world-renowned Taj Mahal he built in memory of his wife, Mumtaz Mahal.
- His administration strengthened the empire’s central authority, while his military conquests secured territories in the Deccan and maintained the empire’s borders.
- However, his final years were overshadowed by a brutal succession conflict among his sons, which led to his imprisonment by his son Aurangzeb, who ultimately succeeded him.
Architectural Achievements of Shah Jahan
- Shah Jahan’s reign is best remembered for his contributions to
Shah Jahan
Shah Jahan I Portrait by Bichitr, c. 1630
Reign 19 January 1628 –31 July 1658 Coronation 14 February 1628 Predecessor Jahangir I
Shahryar Mirza (de facto)Successor Aurangzeb Born Khurram
(1592-01-05)5 January 1592
Lahore, Lahore Subah, Mughal Empire
(modern-day Punjab, Pakistan)Died 22 January 1666(1666-01-22) (aged 74)
Agra, Agra Subah, Mughal Empire
(modern-day Uttar Pradesh, India)Burial Taj Mahal, Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India
Consort Mumtaz Mahal
(m. 1612; died 1631)Wives Qandahari Mahal(1610)
(before 1666)Akbarabadi Mahal
(m. )- Lilavati Bai of Kharwa
- Fatehpuri Mahal
Issue
among others...Mirza Shahab-ud-Din Muhammad Khurram Shah Jahan Shah Jahan Firduas Ashiyani (lit. 'One who nest in Paradise') House House of Babur Dynasty Timurid dynasty Father Jahangir I Mother Jagat Gosain Religion Sunni Islam(Hanafi) Imperial Seal Mirza Shahab-ud-Din Muhammad Khurram (5 January 1592 – 22 January 1666), also known as Shah Jahan I (Persian pronunciation: [ʃɑːh d͡ʒa.ˈhɑːn]; lit. 'King of the World'), was the fifth Mughal emperor, reigning from 1628 until 1658. During his reign, the Mughals reached the peak of their architectural and cultural achievements.
The third son of Jahangir (r. 1605–1627 ), Shah Jahan participated in the military campaigns against the SisodiaRajputs of Mewar and the rebel Lodi nobles of the Deccan. After Jahangir's death in October 1627, Shah Jahan defeated his youngest brother Shahryar Mirza and crowned himself emperor in the Agra Fort. In addition to Shahryar, Shah Jahan executed most of his rival claimants to the throne. He commissioned many monuments, including th
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Shah Jahan
http://media.newindianexpress.com/Shah-Jahan-1.jpg/2014/09/04/article2413242.ece/alternates/w620/Shah-Jahan-1.jpg
Born On:January 5, 1592
Died On:January 22, 1666
Achievements:Founder of the magnificent monument Taj Mahal, Also associated with the Red Fort of Delhi, Jama Masjid of Delhi, Section of Agra Fort, the Wazir Khan Mosque and the Moti Masjid in Lahore, Pakistan.
Shah Jahan, his name along with the name of his wife Mumtaz Mahal, being synonymous with the existence and ever growing popularity of Taj Mahal, was a Mughal Emperor of the Southern Asia who reigned from 1627 to 1658. Born as Prince Shihab-ud-din Muhammad Khurram in the Lahore, Pakistan of 1592, Shah Jahan was the son of Emperor Jahangir. His name Khurram, which means "joyful" in Persian, was given to him by his grandfather Akbar the Great. Displaying great military skills at an early age against numerous enemies including Mewar, the Lodi in the Deccan, and Kangra, impressed his father so much that Shah Jahan received the title "Shah Jahan Bahadur" from him. He wasn't just a sharp military leader, but also had an exceptional talent for building and proved it by re-designing buildings within the Agra fort. Among many titles he had earned, "The Builder of the Marvels" was one that was about to be proved the most deserving in the time to come.
The most significant part of Shah Jahan's life history began in 1607 when he was 15 and was betrothed to Arjumand Banu Begum, the granddaughter of a Persian noble and was just 14 at that time. After they got married in 1612, Arjumand became the unquestioned love of his life. Khurram, upon finding her appearance and character elect among all the women of the time, bestowed her with the title of Mumtaz Mahal, meaning "Jewel of the Palace". Although Mumtaz was one among the few wives Shah Jahan had had, according to the official court chronicler Qazwini, the relationship with his other wives "had nothing more than the status of marriage. The i- Shah jahan wife list
Shah Jahan
From the often chaotic and fratricidal court of India's Mughal Empire sprang perhaps the world's most beautiful and serene monument to love - the Taj Mahal. Its designer was the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan himself, a complex man whose life ended in tragic circumstances.
Early Life
The child who would become Shah Jahan was born on March 4, 1592, in Lahore, now in Pakistan. His parents were Prince Jahangir and his wife Manmati, a Rajput princess who was called Bilquis Makani in the Mughal court. The baby was Jahangir's third son. He was named Ala Azad Abul Muzaffar Shahab ud-Din Muhammad Khurram, or Khurram for short.
As a child, Khurram was a particular favorite of his grandfather, Emperor Akbar the Great, who personally oversaw the little prince's education. Khurram studied warfare, the Koran, poetry, music, and other subjects suitable for a Mughal prince.
In 1605, the 13-year-old prince refused to leave his grandfather's side as Akbar lay dying, despite the potential threat from his father's rivals for the throne. Jahangir succeeded to the throne, after crushing an uprising led by one of his other sons, Khurram's half-brother. The incident brought Jahangir and Khurram closer; in 1607, the emperor awarded his third son the fiefdom of Hissar-Feroza, which court observers took to mean that 15-year-old Khurram was now the heir apparent.
Also in 1607, Prince Khurram was engaged to marry Arjumand Banu Begum, the 14-year-old daughter of a Persian nobleman. Their wedding did not take place until five years later, and Khurram would marry two other women in the meantime, but Arjumand was his true love. She later became known as Mumtaz Mahal - "The Chosen One of the Palace." Khurram dutifully sired a son by each of his other wives, and then neglected them almost entirely. He and Mumtaz Mahal had 14 children, seven of whom survived to adulthood.
When descendants of the Lodi Empire rose up on the Deccan Plateau in 1617, E