Mughal Empire Jahangir

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Jahangir (1605 - 1628)

  • Jahangir was born in 1569,9th September, at Fatehpur Sikri;
  • His original name was Md. Sultan Salim;
  • Akbar called him Sheikhu Baba;
  • Maulana Mir Ralan Harvi was his 1st teacher, he taught him Muslim theology;
  • Seikh Ahmad and Qutub-ud-din Md. Khan Atga were also his teachers;
  • In 1582, Abdur Rahim Khan-i-Khanan became his teacher;
  • Jahangir learnt Persian and Turkish and also excelled in calligraphy;
  • He also showed considerable interest in history, Botany, Zoology, Geography and Art; ­­
  • He participated in the Kabul expedition in 1581, at the age of 12 years;
  • At the age of 15 he was married to Manbai-daughter of Raja Bhagwandas of Amber; ­
  • She died in 1604;
  • He was jealous of Abul Fazal;
  • On 3rd November 1605, at the age of 36, he ascended the throne in the Agra fort;
  • His immediate rivalry was with Khusro;
  • Immediately after his succession, Bir Singh Bundela (Abul Fazal՚s Murderer) was given a mansab of 3000; ­
  • After his accession, he promulgated 12 edicts and ordinances for the welfare of the people. They are:-
  • Forbidden Tamgha and Mir Bahri (river tolls) ;
  • Sarais were built and Mutasaddi was incharge;
  • Darbahra was abandoned;
  • Nobody should capture others house;
  • Cutting of nose and ears forbidden;
  • Jagidar should be checked;
  • Jahangir had to face the rebellion of Khusro; ­
  • He escaped on 6th April, 1606;
  • He was captured at Lahore;
  • The 5th Guru of the Sikhs - Guru Arjun was executed;
  • He had given shelter at Taran.Initially he was fined ₹ 5000, but on his denial he was executed;
  • Prince Khusro was blinded, but with the treatment of a Persian Physician gained sight in one eye; ­

NOORJAHAN (1611 - 1645) :-

  • Her original name was Mehru Nisa;
  • Her family was called ‘NOORJAHAN՚s JUNTA’
    1. Father:- Mirza Gyas Begh - belonged to a nobel family to Tehran;
    2. Mother:- Asmal Begum;
    3. Brothers:- Asaf Khan and Abdul Hassan;
    4. Daughter:- Ladili Begum;
  • At the age of 18 years, she was married to Ali Quili Begh Istajlu, better known as Sher Afghan (Tiger Thrower) , who had first served under Shah Ismail II and came to India and served under Akbar;
  • Given a Jagir in Bengal;
  • Qutubuddin sent as the Governor of Bengal in 1606;
  • He reported that Sher Afghan tried to rebel; ­
  • Later Qutubuddin՚s men killed Sher Afghan and Mehru Nisa was sent to the capital and entrusted to the care of Jahangir՚s mother;
  • After 4 years Jahangir married her;
  • In 1612, she became Badshah Begum and in 1616, she got the title of Noor Mahal;
  • Even joint farmans were issued in her name and coins were also struck; ­
  • Due to her influence her father got the Mansab of 7000 - 7000 and he adopted the title of ITIMAD-UD-DAULLAH;
  • Abdul Hassan (Brother) was appointed as Mir Saman;
  • Asaf Khan (1st Brother) was given the 6000 - 6000 mansab;
  • In 1612, Anjumand Bano Begum - Mumtaz Mahal -was married to prince Khurram;
  • Ladili Begum (daughter) was married to Prince Shariyar in 1620;
  • From 1622 onwards, Prince Khurram and Noorjahan drifted apart;
  • Mahabat Khan protested against Noorjahan՚s interference and warned Jahangir; ­
  • Noorjahan came to know that Mahabat Khan favoured Khurram;
  • In January 1622, Prince Khusro died of ‘Colic’ ;
  • Khusro was buried in Burhanpur but later his remains were transferred to­
  • Allahabad;
  • Jahangir՚s health started Malwa;
  • There he asked for the help of Malik Amber who refused;
  • Khurram diverted to east and captured Bihar;
  • In all this, Mahabat Khan՚s position became complicated;
  • He tried to make an alliance with Prince Parvez and played an important role in quelling Khurram՚s rebellion; ­
  • Meantime, Mahabat Khan revolted against Jahangir and captured him;
  • Noorjahan was able to free Jahangir;
  • Mahabat Khan tried to attack Prince Khurram, but started mclining towards him; ­
  • Mahabat Khan joined the prince;
  • On 7th November, 1627, Jahangir died at Lahore;

Personality of Jahangir:-

  • In October, 1626, Prince Parvez died at Burhanpur due
  • deteriorating;
  • Noorjahan insighted Jahangir to appoint Khurram in Qandhar;
  • Khurram refused and became rebellious and tried to capture Agra, but failed and had to retire to Deccan and to alcohol drinking; ­
  • He continued to maintain good relations with the Portuguese; ­
  • He sent an embassy to Goa in 1607 and 1610;
  • In 1613, the Portuguese seized 4 imperial vessels near Surat. This strained their relationship; ­
  • Jahangii ordered Muqarrar Khan-Governor or Surat to capture the Portuguese Muqarrar Khan made an alliance with pownton, because he knew that the Mughals did not have 3 strong navy and defeated the Portuguese; ­
  • Jahangir had good relations with Jesuits, especially with Father Xavier and Pinheiro, but Father died in 1617 and Pinheiro in 1618;
  • In August, 1608, captain Hawkins reached Surat with a letter from James I - the king of England;
  • In 1609, he came to the Darbar and was called English Khan;
  • He stayed in Agra between 1609 - 1611;
  • His mission was a failure;
  • In 1612 - Paul Canning, 1614 - William Edwards and 1615 - Thomas Roe, came to his court;
  • They were followed by Fransisco Palsert and Nicolas;
  • The relations between the Mughals and English remained neutral; ­
  • Persia had good relations with India, but the bone of contention was Qandhar;
  • Jahangir tried to conquer Qandhar, but it proved to be his greatest failure;
  • Jahangir did not maintain usual relations with Transoxinia;

Religious Policy:-

  • Jahangir was tolerant;
  • Had some impact on Nawab Murtaza Khan and Mullah Yazdin and Seikh Ahmad Sirhind, but was not affected by them;
  • He did not re-impose Jazia;
  • Hindu festivals like Rakhi and Dussehra were celebrated; ­
  • Tuladan - weighing of emperor against Gold-was also observed; ­
  • Some of his actions may be regarded as orthodox:-
    1. allowed daily allowances to new converts;
    2. he declared forcible conversion to be illegal; ­
    3. attitude towards the Sikhs was controversial;
    4. he was known for his justice; ­
    5. arrested Sheikh Ahmad Sirhind for violating Sijda;
    6. punished Sheikh Ibrahim baba for the same; ­
  • Jahangir prosecuted Jains of Gujarat because of political activities of Man Singh; ­
  • He visited Ajmer in his 8th Regnal year. , where he destroyed the temple of Bhagwat; ­
  • The Bhang and wine՚s public sale was prohibited;
  • Gambling and Sati were abandoned;
  • The admission of Hindus to the higher public service continued of the 47 mansabdars above the rank of 3000,6 were Hindus;
  • Tobacco was introduced during his reign;
  • He wrote a book TUJUK-i-JAHANGIR, which was later elucidated by 3 Authors:-­
    1. Kamgar Khan - Mansiri-i-Jahangiri;
    2. Mutamid Khan - Iqbalnama-i- Jahangir;
    3. Md. Haidi - Haft Gulshan;