5.5 Shah Jahan (1628–1658 CE)

5.5 Shah Jahan (1628–1658 CE)

• Original name: Prince Khurram; ascended after a war of succession following Jahangir's death (had rebelled against his father earlier too).
• Reign considered the golden age of Mughal architecture.

Architecture under Shah Jahan (Very important)

• Taj Mahal, Agra — built (c. 1632–1653 CE) as a mausoleum for his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal (Arjumand Banu Begum), who died in 1631 CE during childbirth; white marble masterpiece; architect traditionally credited as Ustad Ahmad Lahori; a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.
• Red Fort (Lal Qila), Delhi — built as part of his new capital city, Shahjahanabad (present Old Delhi), which he shifted the capital to from Agra.
• Jama Masjid, Delhi — one of the largest mosques in India, built by Shah Jahan.
• Moti Masjid (Pearl Mosque), Agra Fort — built entirely of white marble.
• Peacock Throne (Takht-e-Taus) — a fabulously jewel-encrusted throne, later looted by Nadir Shah of Persia in 1739 CE (along with the famous Kohinoor diamond).
• Patronized Persian and Mughal-Persian synthesis in art and architecture; his reign represents the culmination of Indo-Islamic architectural style.

Other Events

• Loss of Kandahar (strategic fort/city, present Afghanistan) to Safavid Persia (1649 CE) — repeated but unsuccessful Mughal attempts to recover it drained resources.
• His son Dara Shikoh (eldest, favoured heir) was a scholar with syncretic religious views — translated the Upanishads into Persian (titled "Sirr-i-Akbar") and wrote "Majma-ul-Bahrain" ("The Mingling/Confluence of the Two Oceans," comparing Hindu and Islamic mysticism/Sufism).
• War of Succession (1657–1658 CE): Among Shah Jahan's four sons (Dara Shikoh, Shuja, Aurangzeb, Murad), a bitter war broke out after Shah Jahan fell ill in 1657 CE. Aurangzeb emerged victorious — defeated and executed Dara Shikoh (1659 CE), and eliminated his other brothers.
• Shah Jahan was imprisoned by Aurangzeb in the Agra Fort (in the Musamman Burj tower, from where he reportedly could view the Taj Mahal) for the rest of his life; died in 1658... (actually died 1666 CE, after ~8 years of captivity).

Key Facts / Quick Revision Points — Shah Jahan

• Taj Mahal — built for Mumtaz Mahal; architect Ustad Ahmad Lahori.
• Shahjahanabad (Red Fort, Jama Masjid) — new capital, Delhi.
• Peacock Throne — later looted by Nadir Shah (1739).
• Dara Shikoh — translated Upanishads to Persian (Sirr-i-Akbar); wrote Majma-ul-Bahrain.
• War of Succession (1657-58) — Aurangzeb wins, imprisons Shah Jahan at Agra Fort; executes Dara Shikoh (1659).
• Shah Jahan died in captivity, 1666 CE.