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’
- Father:- Mirza Gyas Begh - belonged to a nobel family to Tehran;
- Mother:- Asmal Begum;
- Brothers:- Asaf Khan and Abdul Hassan;
- 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:-
- allowed daily allowances to new converts;
- he declared forcible conversion to be illegal;
- attitude towards the Sikhs was controversial;
- he was known for his justice;
- arrested Sheikh Ahmad Sirhind for violating Sijda;
- 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:-
- Kamgar Khan - Mansiri-i-Jahangiri;
- Mutamid Khan - Iqbalnama-i- Jahangir;
- Md. Haidi - Haft Gulshan;