The eldest surviving son of Akbar, Prince Salim, on his accession tothe throne in 1605, assumed the title of Nur-ud-din Jahangir (Lightof the Faith, Conqueror of the World).
He was passionate, cruel, and a drunkard, but not without abilityand force of character. As Prince Salim he had instigated theassassination of the Prime Minister, Abul Fazl, and probably hastenedhis own father's death by his violent conduct. There was, however,a reconciliation at the end, and Jahangir endeavoured to atone forhis behaviour by lavish expenditure on Akbar's tomb at Sikandra. Hehas also left many pious tributes to his father's memory in hisautobiography. Jahangir's favourite wife was the celebrated Nur Mahal,who for twenty years was almost the supreme power in the imperialcourt. Her beauty attracted his attention while he was still PrinceSalim, but Akbar, disapproving of her as a daughter-in-law, gave her inmarriage to Sher Afsan, "the lion killer," a nobleman of Burdwan. Afterhis accession, having treacherously procured the death of her husband,Jahangir had Nur Mahal removed to Agra and placed under the care ofhis mother. For many years she repulsed all Jahangir's overtures,but when at last she consented to be his queen she became his mostdevoted wife. She accompanied him on all his travels, and Jahangirconsulted her in all important affairs of state. Sir Thomas Roe, Jamesthe First's ambassador, describes Jahangir at Agra taking his wifefor an evening drive in a bullock cart, "the King himself being hercarter." He affectionately changed her name from Nur Mahal, "Light ofthe Palace," to Nur Jahan, "Light of the World." The imperial coinagebore her name and an inscription, "Gold has acquired a new value sinceit bore the name of Nur Jahan." She even succeeded to some extentin controlling Jahangir's drunken habits. She was a great patronessof the arts, and it is said that the Samman Burj, her apartments inthe Agra palace, was decorated after her own designs. Her charitywas boundless; she was the especial protectress of orphan girls, andprovided marriage portions for no less than 500 from her private purse.
Nur Mahal's father, Itmad-ud-daulah, became Lord High Treasurer,and afterwards Wazir, or Prime Minister. On his death his daughterbuilt for him the magnificent tomb at Agra known by his name.
During Jahangir's reign many Europeans, travellers, adventurers andothers, flocked to the Mogul court. They were allowed free accessto the palace, and Jahangir frequently admitted them to join in hismidnight carouses. He showed great favour to the Jesuit priests,and even allowed two of his nephews to be instructed in the Christianreligion.
The violent temper of Jahangir was inherited by his son, PrinceKhurram, afterwards Shah Jahan, and the peace of his reign wasfrequently disturbed by open rebellion on the part of the Prince. In1623 Shah Jahan actually sacked Agra, and his soldiers committedfearful atrocities on the inhabitants. He failed, however, to capturethe fort, which contained the imperial treasury, and Jahangir,no doubt remembering his own father's leniency towards himself,forgave his unruly son.
Jahangir died in 1627, and was buried at Shahdara, near Lahore,in a magnificent tomb prepared by Nur Mahal. She herself retired toLahore, and, though she lived till 1648, ceased to take any part instate affairs after his death. She was buried by her husband's sideat Shahdara.
Jahangir's connection with Agra:
Jahangir for a great part of his reign held his court at Lahore,or at Kabul. The chief monuments of his reign at, or near, Agraare Akbar's tomb at Sikandra (p. 97), and Itmad-ud-daulah's tomb(p. 85), already mentioned. Part of the Agra Palace, the JahangiriMahal (p. 63), is named after him, though it is most probable thatit was really built in Akbar's reign.
There are a few minor buildings of Jahangir's time in Agra, such asthe baths of Ali Verdi Khan in Chipitollah Street, the mosque ofMotamid Khan in the Kashmiri Bazar, and the tower known after thename of Boland Khan, the chief eunuch of Jahangir's palace. Theseare of purely archaeological interest.
He was passionate, cruel, and a drunkard, but not without abilityand force of character. As Prince Salim he had instigated theassassination of the Prime Minister, Abul Fazl, and probably hastenedhis own father's death by his violent conduct. There was, however,a reconciliation at the end, and Jahangir endeavoured to atone forhis behaviour by lavish expenditure on Akbar's tomb at Sikandra. Hehas also left many pious tributes to his father's memory in hisautobiography. Jahangir's favourite wife was the celebrated Nur Mahal,who for twenty years was almost the supreme power in the imperialcourt. Her beauty attracted his attention while he was still PrinceSalim, but Akbar, disapproving of her as a daughter-in-law, gave her inmarriage to Sher Afsan, "the lion killer," a nobleman of Burdwan. Afterhis accession, having treacherously procured the death of her husband,Jahangir had Nur Mahal removed to Agra and placed under the care ofhis mother. For many years she repulsed all Jahangir's overtures,but when at last she consented to be his queen she became his mostdevoted wife. She accompanied him on all his travels, and Jahangirconsulted her in all important affairs of state. Sir Thomas Roe, Jamesthe First's ambassador, describes Jahangir at Agra taking his wifefor an evening drive in a bullock cart, "the King himself being hercarter." He affectionately changed her name from Nur Mahal, "Light ofthe Palace," to Nur Jahan, "Light of the World." The imperial coinagebore her name and an inscription, "Gold has acquired a new value sinceit bore the name of Nur Jahan." She even succeeded to some extentin controlling Jahangir's drunken habits. She was a great patronessof the arts, and it is said that the Samman Burj, her apartments inthe Agra palace, was decorated after her own designs. Her charitywas boundless; she was the especial protectress of orphan girls, andprovided marriage portions for no less than 500 from her private purse.
Nur Mahal's father, Itmad-ud-daulah, became Lord High Treasurer,and afterwards Wazir, or Prime Minister. On his death his daughterbuilt for him the magnificent tomb at Agra known by his name.
During Jahangir's reign many Europeans, travellers, adventurers andothers, flocked to the Mogul court. They were allowed free accessto the palace, and Jahangir frequently admitted them to join in hismidnight carouses. He showed great favour to the Jesuit priests,and even allowed two of his nephews to be instructed in the Christianreligion.
The violent temper of Jahangir was inherited by his son, PrinceKhurram, afterwards Shah Jahan, and the peace of his reign wasfrequently disturbed by open rebellion on the part of the Prince. In1623 Shah Jahan actually sacked Agra, and his soldiers committedfearful atrocities on the inhabitants. He failed, however, to capturethe fort, which contained the imperial treasury, and Jahangir,no doubt remembering his own father's leniency towards himself,forgave his unruly son.
Jahangir died in 1627, and was buried at Shahdara, near Lahore,in a magnificent tomb prepared by Nur Mahal. She herself retired toLahore, and, though she lived till 1648, ceased to take any part instate affairs after his death. She was buried by her husband's sideat Shahdara.
Jahangir's connection with Agra:
Jahangir for a great part of his reign held his court at Lahore,or at Kabul. The chief monuments of his reign at, or near, Agraare Akbar's tomb at Sikandra (p. 97), and Itmad-ud-daulah's tomb(p. 85), already mentioned. Part of the Agra Palace, the JahangiriMahal (p. 63), is named after him, though it is most probable thatit was really built in Akbar's reign.
There are a few minor buildings of Jahangir's time in Agra, such asthe baths of Ali Verdi Khan in Chipitollah Street, the mosque ofMotamid Khan in the Kashmiri Bazar, and the tower known after thename of Boland Khan, the chief eunuch of Jahangir's palace. Theseare of purely archaeological interest.
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