Jahangir was the fourth Mughal emperor and is regarded as one of India’s finest emperors. He ruled India for 22 years, from 1605 to 1627, and was well-known for his appreciation of the great arts. As the Mughal Emperor Akbar the Great’s eldest surviving son, he was groomed for succession from an early age. He received tutoring from the best teachers his father could locate and specialized instruction in civil and military administration. He grew anxious for succession and attempted but failed to revolt against his father in 1599. As a result of this mutiny, relations between Akbar and Jahangir deteriorated, and some historians speculate that Jahangir eventually poisoned his father to death. He quickly ascended to the throne. As emperor, he had exceptional administrative abilities, and his reign was characterized by political stability and economic progress. He was a great patron of the fine arts, patronizing European and Persian artists and playing a significant role in the development of Mughal arts. Having inherited a substantial inheritance from his father, he continued many of Akbar’s policies. Jahangir’s vices were likewise well-known. He was an alcoholic, an opium addict, and a womanizer, and was infamous for the atrocities he committed against the Sikhs.
Adolescence & Childhood
On 31 August 1569 in Fatehpur Sikri, he was born Nur-ud-din Mohammad Salim to Mughal Emperor Akbar and his Rajput bride Mariam-uz-Zamani Begum as Nur-ud-din Mohammad Salim (also known as Jodha Bai). He was the imperial emperor’s long-awaited son. As Akbar’s eldest surviving son, he was quickly anointed successor. The emperor made certain that the prince was educated by the best instructors imaginable. Salim studied a variety of topics, including Persian, Turki, Arabic, Hindi, arithmetic, history, and geography. Additionally, he developed a passion for verse composition.
Additionally, the prince received instruction in civil and military administration and was assigned command of a regiment of troops during the 1581 Kabul campaign. By 1585, he had been promoted to an army officer. Salim became frustrated with time and in 1599 rose up against Akbar. His attempt was unsuccessful, and the incident strained the father-son relationship.
Accession to the Throne and the Establishment of the Reign
Akbar died on 27 October 1605, according to some, as a result of Salim’s poisoning. Salim succeeded to the throne as Nur-ud-din Muhammad Jahangir Badshah Ghazi a few days after his father’s death on 3 November 1605.He ascended the throne at a period of political anarchy. There were several more aspirants to the throne, and Jahangir’s son, Prince Khusrau Mirza, was one of them. In 1606 Jahangir defeated and imprisoned the prince in the Agra fort. Khusrau Mirza received blindness as a punishment.
Jahangir carried on his father’s policies in various areas. He, like Akbar, launched a series of military wars aimed at enlarging the Mughal empire’s territory. In 1614, he defeated the Rajput principality of Mewar, bringing an end to an extended war.In 1622, he dispatched his son Prince Khurram (later Shah Jahan) to battle the combined troops of Ahmednagar, Bijapur, and Golconda. Following the wars, Khurram emerged triumphant, and he quickly challenged his father for the throne. Jahangir was able to subjugate and hold control over his rebellious son.
Jahangir was an avid supporter of the arts and culture. He fostered artists and painters during his reign and is acknowledged as being instrumental in the development of Mughal arts and culture. He also supported the arts in Europe and Persia. The emperor was also well-known for his architectural accomplishments, the most notable of which was the magnificent Shalimar Gardens in Kashmir, which he completed during his reign.
While Jahangir was infamous for the atrocities he committed against his own family, he was also noted for his sense of fairness and justice, as well as his efforts to improve administrative efficiency. He promulgated various liberal laws demonstrating his zeal for his inhabitants’ welfare and established the fabled golden “chain of justice.”Jahangir’s reign, like that of Akbar, was marked by religious toleration. The Mughals, on the other hand, fostered hostility toward the growing Sikh clan led by Arjan Dev, the fifth Sikh guru.
The guru had aided and abetted Jahangir’s rebellious son Khusrau Mirza, prompting Jahangir to order Arjan Dev’s execution. The guru was tortured to death in the most heinous manner imaginable. Mughal emperors were complex individuals. Despite his success as a king, he earned a reputation for his harshness. He was also an alcoholic and an opium addict, as well as a womanizer. He has been chastised for wielding an excessive amount of authority over his wife Nur Jahan at the imperial court.
Works of Significant Value
Jahangir is well remembered for erecting the golden “chain of justice” in front of Agra’s citadel. When the chain was pulled, it rang some bells, summoning the emperor. It was intended to serve as a conduit between citizens and the emperor, and it was declared that anyone who rang the bells in protest would be granted an audience with the emperor.
Personal History and Endowment
Jahangir had a number of marriages. Saliha Banu Begum, Khas Mahal Begum, Jagat Gosain Begum, Malika Shikar Begum, Sahib Jamal Begum, Malika Jahan Begum, Nur-un-Nissa Begum, Koka Kumari Begum, and Kanwal Rani Begum were several of his wives.Mehr-Un-Nisa or Nur Jahan, the wife of a Mughal rebel general named Sher Afgan, was his most prominent and influential wife. He married her in 1611, and she had a tremendous deal of influence over the emperor throughout his later years.
On 7 November 1627, Jahangir succumbed to sickness. He was in transit from Kashmir to Lahore at the time of his death. Jahangir was replaced as Shah Jahan by his third son, Prince Khurram. Jahangir has been shown in numerous Indian films and television serials, including the 1939 film ‘Pukar,’ the 1953 film ‘Anarkali,’ and the 1960 film ‘Mughal-e-Azam.’
Estimated Net Worth
Jahangir net worth or net income is predicted to be between $1 Million – $5 Million USD. He has made such amount of fortune from his principal career as Emperor.