Jahangir

Jahangir I
Padishah
Al-Sultan al-Azam
Portrait by Abu al-Hasan, c. 1617
4th Mughal Emperor
Reign3 November 1605 – 28 October 1627
Coronation24 November 1605
PredecessorAkbar I
SuccessorShah Jahan
Shahryar Mirza (de facto)
Dawar Bakhsh (titular)
BornNur-ud-din Muhammad Salim
(1569-08-31)31 August 1569
Fatehpur Sikri, Mughal Empire[1]
Died28 October 1627(1627-10-28) (aged 58)
Bhimber, Kashmir Subah, Mughal Empire
Burial
Consort
  • (m. 1585; d. 1604)
    [2]
  • (m. 1586; d. 1619)
    [3][4]
  • (m. 1596)
    [5]
  • (m. 1608; d. 1620)
    [5]
  • (m. 1611)
    [5]
Wives
more...
Issue
more...
Names
Mirza Nur-ud-din Baig Muhammad Khan Salim
Era dates
16th and 17th centuries
Regnal name
Al-Sultan al-‘Azam wal Khaqan al-Mukarram, Khushru-i-Giti Panah Abu’l-Fath Nur ud-din Muhammad Jahangir Padshah
Posthumous name
Jannat Makani (lit.'Dwelling in Heaven')
HouseHouse of Babur
DynastyMughal dynasty
FatherAkbar
MotherMariam-uz-Zamani
ReligionSunni Islam[6][7] (Hanafi)
Imperial SealJahangir I's signature

Nur-ud-Din Muhammad Salim[8] (31 August 1569 – 28 October 1627),[9] known by his imperial name Jahangir (Persian pronunciation: [d͡ʒa.hɑːn.ˈɡiːɾ]; lit.'Conqueror of the World'),[10] was the fourth Mughal Emperor, who ruled from 1605 till his death in 1627.

Born Prince Salim, he was the third and only surviving son of Emperor Akbar and his chief empress, Mariam-uz-Zamani. Akbar's quest for a successor took him to visit Sufi saint Salim Chishti, a spiritual leader who prophesied the birth of three sons. Jahangir's birth in Fatehpur Sikri was seen as a fulfillment of Chishti's blessings, and he was named after him. His early life was marked by personal tragedy, including the death of his twin brothers in infancy, which led to a sense of grief in his family. His early education was comprehensive, covering various subjects including Persian, premodern Urdu, and military tactics. Jahangir's upbringing was heavily influenced by the cultural and spiritual heritage of his family, setting the stage for his later rule as emperor.

His reign was marked by a combination of artistic achievement and political intrigue, set against the backdrop of the Mughal Empire's considerable expansion and consolidation. Jahangir's rule is distinguished by his commitment to justice and his interest in the arts, particularly painting and architecture, which flourished during his reign. Jahangir's reign was characterized by a complex relationship with his nobility and family, notably reflected in his marriage to Mehr-un-Nissa (later known as Empress Nur Jahan), who wielded significant political influence behind the throne. This period saw the empire's further entrenchment into the Indian subcontinent, including efforts to subdue the Rajput kingdoms and extend Mughal authority into the Deccan. Jahangir's foreign policy included interactions with the Safavids of Persia and the Ottoman Empire, as well as with the English East India Company, marking the beginning of European influence in Indian politics and commerce.

Despite his achievements, Jahangir's reign had challenges, including revolts led by his sons, which threatened the stability of his rule. His health, deteriorated by a lifetime of opium and alcohol use, led to his death in 1627, precipitating a brief succession crisis before the throne passed to his son, Shah Jahan. Jahangir's legacy, lives on through his contributions to Mughal art and architecture, his memoirs, and the policies he implemented, which continued to influence the empire after his demise.

  1. ^ Henry Beveridge, Akbarnama of Abu'l Fazl Volume II (1907), p. 503
  2. ^ Emperor of India, Jahangir (1999). The Jahangirnama: memoirs of Jahangir, Emperor of India. Translated by Thackston, W. M. Washington, D. C.: Freer Gallery of Art, Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; New York: Oxford University Press. p. 12. ISBN 9780195127188.
  3. ^ Trimizi, S. A. I. (1989). Mughal Documents. Manohar. p. 31.
  4. ^ Sarkar, Jadunath (1952). Mughal Administration. M. C. Sarkar. pp. 156–57.
  5. ^ a b c Foster, Sir William (1975). Early travels in India, 1583-1619. AMS Press. pp. 100–101. ISBN 978-0-404-54825-4.
  6. ^ Andrew J. Newman, Twelver Shiism: Unity and Diversity in the Life of Islam 632 to 1722 (Edinburgh University Press, 2013), online version: p. 48: "Jahangir [was] ... a Sunni."
  7. ^ John F. Richards, The Mughal Empire (Cambridge University Press, 1995), p. 103
  8. ^ Singh, Pashaura; Fenech, Louis E., eds. (2014). The Oxford handbook of Sikh studies. Oxford University Press. p. 647. ISBN 978-0-19-969930-8.
  9. ^ "Jahangir | Ruler, Biography, Administration, & Achievements". www.britannica.com. 19 June 2023. Archived from the original on 24 July 2018. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
  10. ^ "Jahāngīr". Encyclopædia Britannica. Archived from the original on 24 July 2018. Retrieved 2 June 2018.