0Jahangir ( 1605-27)
Introduction:
Jahangir (1605–1627 CE), originally named Nur-ud-din Muhammad Salim, was the fourth Mughal emperor, succeeding his father, Akbar the Great. His reign is considered a period of consolidation, peace, and artistic refinement in Mughal India. Jahangir maintained Akbar’s empire and system while emphasizing justice, art, and diplomacy.
1. Early Life and Accession
- Jahangir was born in 1569 to Akbar and Mariam-uz-Zamani (Hira Kunwari).
- He revolted against his father towards the end of Akbar’s reign but was later forgiven.
- After Akbar’s death in 1605, Salim ascended the throne with the title Nur-ud-din Jahangir Badshah Ghazi.
- His succession was challenged by his son Khusrav, whose rebellion was suppressed, and Khusrav was later blinded.
2. Administrative Policies
- Jahangir continued Akbar’s administrative framework and largely depended on capable ministers like Itimad-ud-Daula and Asaf Khan.
- He was renowned for his sense of justice. The famous “Chain of Justice (Zanjir-i-Adl)” was installed outside his palace so that anyone seeking justice could appeal directly to him.
- Jahangir showed tolerance towards all religions and maintained cordial relations with Hindu nobles.
3. Relations with Nobility and Family
- His court was dominated by influential figures such as Nur Jahan, his queen, who became the most powerful woman in the Mughal court.
- Nur Jahan formed a “Nur Jahan Junta” consisting of herself, her father Itimad-ud-Daula, and her brother Asaf Khan.
- This led to tensions with Jahangir’s son Prince Khurram (later Shah Jahan), who eventually rebelled.
- Jahangir’s declining health in later years allowed Nur Jahan to handle major state affairs.
4. Religious Policy
- Jahangir maintained Akbar’s policy of religious tolerance but was personally more orthodox.
- He discouraged the excessive influence of Jesuit missionaries and banned the construction of new churches.
- However, he was deeply interested in Sufism and supported saints and mystics.
5. Art, Culture, and Architecture
- Jahangir’s reign marked the golden age of Mughal painting.
- His keen eye for realism, nature, and portraiture shaped the “Jahangir School” of painting.
- Famous painters like Abul Hasan and Ustad Mansur flourished during his reign.
- Architecture also saw development:
- Itimad-ud-Daula’s Tomb in Agra, built by Nur Jahan, is considered a precursor to the Taj Mahal.
- Jahangir also built gardens like the Shalimar Bagh in Kashmir.
- Jahangir himself was a naturalist and maintained detailed memoirs (Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri), describing flora, fauna, and administrative affairs.
6. Foreign Relations
- Relations with England: Jahangir welcomed English traders.
- In 1608, Captain William Hawkins arrived at his court, and in 1615, Sir Thomas Roe came as ambassador of King James I.
- Roe secured trading rights for the English East India Company, paving the way for future British influence.
- Relations with Persia and Central Asia: He maintained friendly ties with Persia initially but later faced conflicts over Qandahar, which was lost to the Safavids in 1622.
7. Military Campaigns
- Jahangir inherited a vast empire and focused on maintaining internal stability.
- Major campaigns included:
- Mewar: Peace with Rana Amar Singh in 1615, restoring friendly relations.
- Kangra and Kishtwar: Brought under Mughal control.
- Deccan: Dealt with rising power of the Ahmadnagar Sultanate; Prince Khurram played a major role before rebelling.
- Overall, Jahangir’s military achievements were modest compared to Akbar or Aurangzeb.
8. Decline and Death
- In his later years, Jahangir suffered from ill health and opium addiction.
- Political instability grew due to rivalry between Shah Jahan and Nur Jahan’s faction.
- Jahangir died in 1627 near Lahore, where his tomb still stands at Shahdara Bagh.
9. Legacy
- Jahangir’s reign is remembered for its stability, artistic refinement, and justice.
- His wife, Nur Jahan, left a lasting influence on Mughal politics and culture.
- Though not a great conqueror, Jahangir was a keen observer, patron of art, and lover of nature, whose era marked the cultural maturity of the Mughal Empire.
Conclusion:
Jahangir’s rule was a bridge between Akbar’s expansion and Shah Jahan’s grandeur. His reign represents the Mughal Empire’s cultural zenith, characterized by peace, prosperity, and the flourishing of Indo-Persian art and aesthetics.
