Shah Jahan (1627-1658)

  • After Jahangir’s death in 1627, Shah Jahan reached Agra with the support of the nobles and the army and ascended the throne.
  • Shah Jahan launched a prolonged campaign in the northwest frontier to recover Kandahar and other ancestral lands. But was unable to control Kandhar.
  • His Deccan policy was more successful. He defeated the forces of Ahmadnagar and annexed it. Both Bijapur and Golkonda signed a treaty with the emperor.
  • Shah jahan defeated Shivaji’s father shahji Bhonsle.
  • In 1631 Shah Jahan’s wife Mumtaz mahal passed away at Burhanpur. In memory of her Shah jahan started constructing Musoleum at Agra(Taj mahal).
  • He was contemporary to Louis XIV of France.
  • In his reign the famous Peacock Throne was made for the King.
  • Europeans like Bernier (French physician and traveller), Tavernier (French gem
    merchant and traveller), Mandelslo (German adventurer and traveller), Peter Mundy (English Trader) and Manucci (Italian writer and traveller) visited India during the reign of Shah Jahan and left behind detailed accounts of India.
  • During the last days of Shah Jahan, there was a contest for the throne amongst
    his four sons.
  • Dara Shukoh, the eldest, was the favourite of his father.
  • war of succession broke out between the four sons of Shah Jahan in which Aurangzeb emerged victorious.
  • Aurangzeb imprisoned Shah Jahan and crowned himself as the Mughal emperor. Shah Jahan died broken hearted as a royal prisoner in January 1666 and was buried in the Taj Mahal.