Shah Jahan, the Ruler of the World | 1627CE - 1658CE | Al Muqaddimah

Summary

The video script chronicles the reign of Shah Jahan, the most iconic Mughal emperor, who ascended the throne in 1628 after his father Jahangir's death. Known for his architectural prowess, Shah Jahan commissioned the Taj Mahal in memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal, a symbol of eternal love. He also built the city of Shahjahanabad and the extravagant Peacock Throne. His rule, marked by opulence and military success, eventually saw a downfall as his own son Aurangzeb overthrew him, leading to Shah Jahan's imprisonment and a poignant end to his reign.

Takeaways

• 🤴 The Mughal Empire transitioned from Emperor Akbar to his son Jahangir, who was a hands-off ruler, allowing his wife Nur Jahan to govern.
• 👑 Shah Jahan, known as the 'King of the World', is one of the most iconic Mughal Emperors and is remembered for his architectural contributions.
• 🎨 The video is funded by Patreon supporters, emphasizing the importance of community patronage for independent content creation.
• 👶 Prince Shahab ud-Din Muhammad Khurram, later known as Shah Jahan, was born to Prince Salim and grew close to his grandfather Emperor Akbar.
• 🛡️ Shah Jahan's rise to power involved consolidating the empire, installing key figures in positions of power, and managing succession.
• 🏰 Shah Jahan is known for his architectural legacy, including forts, mosques, and the grand Taj Mahal, built in memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal.
• 💔 The Taj Mahal was constructed as a symbol of eternal love and took 11 years to complete, costing almost as much as an entire imperial capital city.
• 🏛️ Shah Jahan also built the city of Shahjahanabad (Old Delhi), connecting his family to the Delhi Sultanate and showcasing his power and wealth.
• 👥 Shah Jahan's reign saw both military and political strategies, including the use of marriage alliances and the appointment of capable commanders regardless of personal animosities.
• 👶🏻 Shah Jahan's love for Mumtaz Mahal was profound, as evidenced by his mourning and the construction of the Taj Mahal after her death.
• 👑 The story of Shah Jahan illustrates the rise and fall of a powerful ruler, who despite his wealth and influence, was eventually deposed by his own son Aurangzeb.

Q & A

Who succeeded Emperor Akbar as the ruler of the Mughal Empire?

Emperor Akbar was succeeded by his son, Jahangir.

What was Jahangir's approach to governing the Mughal Empire?

Jahangir was rather hands-off and left governing in the hands of his beloved wife, Nur Jahan.

Who is considered the most iconic of the Mughal Emperors?

Shah Jahan, also known as Shahanshah Shahab ud-Din Muhammad Shah Jahan, is considered the most iconic of the Mughal Emperors.

What was Shah Jahan's first significant act as emperor?

Shah Jahan installed his father-in-law Asaf Khan as Vizier and made other strategic appointments to consolidate his power.

What notable structure did Shah Jahan commission in memory of his wife?

Shah Jahan commissioned the Taj Mahal in memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal.

How did Shah Jahan's approach to architecture and art compare to his predecessors?

Shah Jahan took architectural and artistic projects to new heights, commissioning grand gardens, forts, mosques, and the Taj Mahal.

What was Shah Jahan's strategy for dealing with rebels and securing the empire?

Shah Jahan used a combination of military force and political maneuvers, such as promoting and then capturing rebels, to secure the empire.

What was Shah Jahan's involvement in the design of the Taj Mahal?

Shah Jahan was personally involved in the design process of the Taj Mahal, reflecting his vision and legacy.

What happened during the civil war after Shah Jahan fell ill in 1657?

Shah Jahan's sons, Dara Shikoh, Aurangzeb, Shah Shuja, and Murad Bakhsh, fought for the throne, with Aurangzeb ultimately emerging victorious.

How did Shah Jahan's life end after his defeat by Aurangzeb?

Shah Jahan was imprisoned by Aurangzeb in the Agra fort, where he lived out his remaining years until his death in 1666.

Outlines

00:00

👑 Ascension and Early Reign of Shah Jahan

The script introduces the transition of power within the Mughal Empire from Emperor Akbar to his son Jahangir, who delegated governance to his wife, Nur Jahan. It then focuses on Shah Jahan, one of the most iconic Mughal emperors, who ascended the throne in 1628. After his coronation, Shah Jahan consolidated power by appointing his father-in-law as Vizier and strategically placing his family and allies in positions of power. He also dealt with early rebellions, demonstrating his ability to manage internal conflicts and maintain the empire's stability.

05:02

🏰 Shah Jahan's Architectural Legacy and Personal Life

This paragraph delves into Shah Jahan's architectural contributions, highlighting his passion for creating a physical legacy for the Mughal Empire. His projects included the construction of gardens, forts, and mosques, culminating in the iconic Taj Mahal, built in memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. The Taj Mahal, completed at a staggering cost, stands as a symbol of eternal love and a testament to the empire's wealth. Shah Jahan's architectural endeavors also extended to the remodeling of existing forts and the planning of an entire city, Shahjahanabad, which further solidified his image as a powerful and extravagant ruler.

10:04

🛡️ Political Maneuvering and the Downfall of Shah Jahan

The final paragraph discusses Shah Jahan's political strategies, such as the use of military garrisons and the appointment of tribal leaders to maintain control over the empire's periphery. It also touches on his personal life, including his love for Mumtaz Mahal and the tragic circumstances surrounding her death. However, the narrative takes a turn as Shah Jahan's ill health leads to a power struggle among his sons, culminating in his own imprisonment by his son Aurangzeb. The paragraph concludes with Shah Jahan's death and burial next to Mumtaz Mahal, reflecting on the human aspects of his life and the irony of his downfall.

Keywords

💡Mughals

The Mughals were a powerful and influential dynasty that ruled over much of the Indian subcontinent from the early 16th to the mid-19th century. They are known for their significant contributions to art, architecture, and administration. In the video, the Mughals are the central theme, with a focus on the reigns of Emperor Akbar, Jahangir, and Shah Jahan, highlighting their rule and impact on the empire.

💡Jahangir

Jahangir, also known as Nur-ud-Din Muhammad Jahangir, was the fourth Mughal Emperor who ruled from 1605 to 1627. He is depicted in the video as a hands-off emperor who delegated governance to his wife, Nur Jahan. His reign is significant as it set the stage for the ascension of his son, Shah Jahan, who would become one of the most iconic Mughal rulers.

💡Shah Jahan

Shah Jahan, full name Shahanshah Shahab ud-Din Muhammad Shah Jahan, was the fifth Mughal Emperor and is renowned for his architectural contributions, particularly the construction of the Taj Mahal. The video discusses his rise to power, his administrative strategies, and his passion for creating a lasting legacy through grand architectural projects.

💡Nur Jahan

Nur Jahan was the twentieth and most influential wife of Emperor Jahangir. As mentioned in the script, she held significant power during Jahangir's reign, effectively governing alongside him. Her story illustrates the complex dynamics of power and influence within the Mughal court.

💡Prince Shahab ud-Din Muhammad Khurram

Prince Shahab ud-Din Muhammad Khurram, who later became Shah Jahan, was the son of Emperor Jahangir. The script describes his early life, his growing popularity, and his eventual rebellion against his father, which foreshadows his rise to power and the challenges he would face from his own sons.

💡Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal is an iconic mausoleum built by Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal. It is considered an architectural masterpiece and a symbol of eternal love. The video emphasizes the Taj Mahal's significance as Shah Jahan's most famous creation and its immense cost relative to the empire's wealth.

💡Mansabdaars

Mansabdaars were officials in the Mughal Empire who held both military and civil responsibilities. The script mentions Shah Jahan's strategy of appointing tribal leaders as Mansabdaars to integrate them into the empire's administration, illustrating the empire's system of governance and the emperor's efforts to consolidate power.

💡Peacock Throne

The Peacock Throne was a symbol of power and wealth in the Mughal Empire, located in the Red Fort of Shahjahanabad (Old Delhi). It was adorned with precious stones and cost twice as much as the Taj Mahal. The video uses the Peacock Throne to illustrate the extravagance and opulence of Shah Jahan's reign.

💡Aurangzeb

Aurangzeb, also known as Alamgir, was the sixth Mughal Emperor and one of Shah Jahan's sons. The script recounts the power struggle that ensued among Shah Jahan's sons, leading to Aurangzeb's victory and his eventual imprisonment of his father, which highlights the recurring theme of succession conflicts within the Mughal dynasty.

💡Shahjahanabad

Shahjahanabad, also referred to as Old Delhi, was the new capital city built by Shah Jahan between 1639 and 1648. It was a strategic move to connect his rule with the Delhi Sultanate and served as a testament to his vision of an ideal capital. The Red Fort and the Peacock Throne were central to this city, symbolizing the emperor's authority.

Highlights

The Mughal Empire transitioned from Emperor Akbar to his son, Jahangir, who was a hands-off ruler, leaving governance to his wife Nur Jahan.

Shah Jahan, known as the most iconic Mughal Emperor, succeeded Jahangir and took active steps to consolidate power.

Shah Jahan's reign saw the patronage of art and architecture, elevating the cultural legacy of the Mughal Empire.

Prince Shahab ud-Din Muhammad Khurram, later known as Shah Jahan, was prepared by his grandfather Akbar for rulership amidst family rebellions.

Shah Jahan's rise to power involved the strategic appointment of key figures, including his father-in-law Asaf Khan as Vizier.

Nur Jahan, once a powerful empress, was sidelined by Shah Jahan and given a comfortable life in Lahore.

Shah Jahan's governance included the distribution of wealth among his supporters and family, including a significant amount to his daughter Jahanara.

Despite personal conflicts, Shah Jahan recognized and utilized the talents of Mahabat Khan, showing his value for capable commanders.

The Mughal tradition of princes gaining land and military command prepared them for rulership and ensured strong leadership succession.

Shah Jahan quelled rebellions, including that of Khan Jahan Lodi, through strategic planning and military action.

Raja Jhujhar Singh's rebellion was met with severe consequences, including the destruction of a temple built by his father for political legitimacy.

Shah Jahan's restructuring of the empire included policies for Bengal and the establishment of military garrisons to control renegade tribes.

The Taj Mahal, a symbol of eternal love, was commissioned by Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal.

The construction of the Taj Mahal was an extravagant display of wealth, costing nearly as much as an entire imperial capital city.

Shah Jahan's self-perception as a special and powerful ruler is reflected in the grandeur of the Taj Mahal and his other architectural projects.

Shah Jahan's ambition extended to Central Asia, where he sent an invasion force to confront the Uzbeks and reclaim his ancestor Timur's lands.

The city of Shahjahanabad, or Old Delhi, was built by Shah Jahan to connect his family to the Delhi Sultanate and showcase his power.

The Peacock Throne, a symbol of Shah Jahan's extravagant wealth, cost twice as much as the Taj Mahal.

Shah Jahan's eventual downfall came at the hands of his own son Aurangzeb, who imprisoned him after a civil war for the throne.

Shah Jahan's legacy is a poignant reminder of the human aspects of power, love, and the inevitable challenges of succession.

Transcripts

The Empire of the Mughals had passed from the great Emperor Akbar to his son, Jahangir.

Jahangir was a rather hands-off emperor and left governing in the hands of his beloved

wife, Nur Jahan.

However, he was followed by the emperor who is, probably, the most iconic of the Mughal

Emperors.

Shahanshah Shahab ud-Din Muhammad Shah Jahan, the King of the World.

This video is brought to you by, well, you guys.

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There’s some cool stuff that comes with it.

Back to the video.

Prince Shahab ud-Din Muhammad Khurram was born in early 1592 to the heir apparent Prince

Salim, during the reign of his grandfather, Emperor Akbar.

As a prince, he grew quite close with his grandfather, who was preparing his grandsons

against his rebellious sons.

However, the old emperor died in 1605 and Khurram’s father became emperor with the

title of Jahangir.

During his reign, Khurram was made governor of different regions and he led the army on

multiple occasions.

He became popular enough to be considered for succession.

This popularity got to his head which soured his relations with his father so, he rebelled

but was defeated.

In any case, Jahangir died in late 1627 and Shah Jahan ascended to the throne on February

4th, 1628.

With Shah Jahan finally crowned, he began taking over the empire’s establishment.

He installed his father-in-law Asaf Khan as Vizier.

He put his step-mother and Asaf Khan’s sister, the formerly powerful empress of the Mughal

Empire, Nur Jahan in a comfortable palace in Lahore where she lived for the remaining

eighteen years of her life.

He distributed gold among his supporters and his children including 600,000 Rupees to his

beloved daughter, Jahanara.

He also installed Mahabat Khan as the governor of Ajmer.

Mahabat Khan was a brilliant commander but he was also the man that had defeated Shah

Jahan during his rebellion.

This shows that despite personal animosity, Shah Jahan valued talent.

This was actually something that, in my opinion, made the Mughal Empire as powerful as it was.

Young princes were given land and military command which they used to build up their

own supporters and learn how to rule.

Then, since all princes, in the classic Turko-Mongol tradition, had equal claim to the throne,

usually, there was a contest between the princes which the strongest one was likely to win

and become Emperor.

This ensured that a good capable ruler would succeed and bring his own talent into the

court.

Immediately after Shah Jahan’s coronation, there were rebellions.

An Afghan nobleman named Khan Jahan Lodi had been the governor of Gujarat and some strips

of land in Northern Deccan.

He had sold this land to the rulers of Ahmadnagar in return for money.

This was treason.

He had also supported Shah Jahan’s brother Shahryar against him so, obviously, he had

to go.

Shah Jahan actually made up a great plan to arrest him.

Shah Jahan promoted him and the Mughal protocol dictated that he now had to appear before

the emperor.

He understood what Shah Jahan was up to and fled with his family to Ahmadnagar.

With the support of the Sultan there, he invaded Mughal territory.

Shah Jahan left the capital to face him.

The Sultan of Ahmadnagar became worried that Shah Jahan might attack him to punish him

for supporting the rebels, so he withdrew his support.

Khan Jahan Lodi was captured and executed by Shah Jahan.

Another rebellion came from the Bundela Rajputs of Orchha.

The Raja there, Raja Jhujhar Singh, had made some… unexplained gains during Jahangir’s

time and Shah Jahan wanted answers for that.

The Raja escaped and asked Shah Jahan for forgiveness which he granted.

However, the Raja overstepped again when he laid siege to the fort Chauragarh which belonged

to a vassal of the Mughals.

The siege went so brutally that the Hindu Raja of the fort had his women commit Jauhar

before he made a last stand and fought to the death.

Shah Jahan was livid.

Shah Jahan sent an army to bring Jhujhar Singh to justice.

Now, here another theme in Indian Muslim history repeats.

Jhujhar Singh had inherited his title after his father had died.

His father, Raja Bir Singh, had a bit of a shaky claim to his title; he had gained it

after assassinating Akbar’s close friend Abu’l Fazl on the orders of Jahangir.

Jahangir gave him that title when he became emperor.

So, to legitimize himself, he had built a grand temple.

Shah Jahan ordered the destruction of this temple.

Now, keep in mind that both the construction and destruction of this temple were done as

political moves, not for religious reasons.

This happened all over Indian History.

Even when Hindu kings attacked each other, often temples were destroyed to de-legitimize

the other one’s claim.

Shah Jahan captured Raja Jhujhar Singh’s two sons and forcibly converted them to Islam,

this was once again a political move.

None of what Shah Jahan did here was an attack on Hinduism, it was all political.

Since they weren’t Hindus any more, they were somewhat outcasts from their Rajput tribe

and couldn’t claim their father’s titles any more.

Jhujhar Singh himself was captured and killed by the tribe of the Raja whom he had besieged

previously.

With these rebels taken care of, Shah Jahan moved to restructure the empire.

In 1632, he issued policies to fix up Bengal which had, so far, been a mating ground of

piracy and slavery conducted by everyone including the Portuguese.

He also wanted to bring renegade tribes into Mughal fold.

For this purpose, he established military garrisons all over the empire as the metaphorical

stick while installing tribal leaders as Mansabdaars was the metaphorical carrot.

With these acts, Shah Jahan solidified the periphery of the empire and brought it under

his control.

Truly, the Mughal Empire was hitting its peak.

Shah Jahan is often imagined as the most…

Mughal of the Mughal Emperors.

What I mean by that is that all the things that we imagine when we hear the term Mughal

are usually associated with him.

He was rich beyond anyone’s wildest imaginations, his empire was safe and prosperous so, he

did what everyone in his position usually does, he started creating the physical legacy

of the empire.

His father, Jahangir, had commissioned art and architectural projects but Shah Jahan

took it to a new height.

Even before he became emperor, he had commissioned gardens, forts and mosques everywhere; now,

he was building them up in the grandest ways he could imagine.

An event in June 1631 led to his most popular creation.

His beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal died giving birth to the couple’s fourteenth child in

the nineteenth year of their marriage.

There’s a popular joke that Shah Jahan loved his wife so much, he never let her go on with

an empty belly for long.

He did love her very much.

According to primary sources, the emperor isolated himself in a room for over a week

and wept so much that he had to wear glasses.

Another source says that a third of his beard and mustache became gray almost overnight

with sorrow.

Her body was taken to Agra where she was buried and on top of her grave, Shah Jahan commissioned

and built a monument that is today considered an everlasting symbol of eternal love, the

Taj Mahal.

Shah Jahan wanted to replicate Mumtaz Mahal’s palace in the heavens.

It was completed in eleven years at the cost of five million rupees.

To get an idea of how much that was, the entire city of Old Delhi or Shahjahanabad which was

also built by Shah Jahan cost only six million rupees.

So, the Taj Mahal cost almost as much as an entire imperial capital city.

Also, in 1646, the empire’s yearly expenditure was roughly 225 million rupees.

You can get an idea of how crazy rich this empire was.

Shah Jahan himself was involved in the design process.

The Taj Mahal itself shows Shah Jahan and what he thought about himself.

Babur, the empire’s founder and Shah Jahan’s great-great grandfather was buried under the

open sky in Kabul.

Humayun, his successor was also buried in a simple fashion but later Akbar and one of

his step-mothers built a huge mausoleum over his grave.

This was done to show that the empire was still prosperous even though Akbar was a minor

and rebellions were everywhere.

In simple words, it was a piece of political propaganda.

Akbar and Jahangir were both buried in simple graves with small tombs later constructed

over them.

The Taj Mahal was a return to the style of Humayun’s tomb but much grander.

Shah Jahan considered himself special.

The initial military victories he had seen had made him unbelievably arrogant, ever for

a Mughal Emperor.

I mean, look at this portrait.

Angels are literally bringing him a crown and jewels and stuff.

He called himself Sahib-i Qiran-i Thani, meaning the Second Lord of the Conjunction which is

the coolest imperial title ever.

The Conjunction refers to the period conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter which is an event considered

very blessed in Persian Astrology.

People born at this time exhibit extraordinary abilities.

The First Lord of the Conjunction, if you’re wondering, was Shah Jahan’s ancestor Timur

the Lame himself although Timur never called himself that.

This wasn’t the only way Shah Jahan wanted to relate to Timur.

He also sent an invasion force into Central Asian in 1646 to confront the Mughals’ oldest

rivals, the Uzbeks, and to conquer the lands once ruled by his ancestor, Timur.

Shah Jahan remodeled the forts at Agra and Lahore which had been built by Akbar.

He made them to fit his idea of the monarch.

For instance, since Akbar, the emperors had held audiences while being seated at an elevated

balcony of sorts called Jharoka, literally being above their court ministers and vassals.

Shah Jahan increased the height of the Jharoka and built columns in the court to distinguish

the various ranks of the vassals.

In Agra, he went so far as to literally orient the Jharoka according to the mosque at the

court, so his Jharoka actually stood between the praying area and the Kaaba at Mecca which

Muslims are supposed to face while praying.

Multiple contemporary sources call him the Qibla of his subjects.

Qibla is where you face while praying.

Although he wasn’t satisfied with just forts and tombs, Shah Jahan planned and built an

entire city to his desire.

The city of Shahjahanabad or Old Delhi was built between 1639 & 1648.

By building this city in Delhi, Shah Jahan was connecting his family to the Delhi Sultanate.

At the center of the new city was the Red Fort and at the heart of the Red Fort was

the Peacock Throne.

This throne was so wonderful in display of luxury and laden with jewels and precious

stones that it cost 10 million Rupees.

Twice what the Taj Mahal cost.

This image of extravagant displays of wealth and absolute power is what Europeans visitors

brought back from India resulting in the coinage of the term “mogul” from Mughal.

All of this was built on stability and prosperity which went back to Shah Jahan executing his

brothers, nephews and cousins when he became emperor to avoid future civil wars.

But as luck would have it, what goes around comes.

After all, Shah Jahan himself had tried to overthrow his father.

In 1657, Shah Jahan fell ill and it seemed like he would die.

His favorite to succeed was his eldest Dara Shikoh but his other three sons, all of who

were governors of prominent regions, picked up the sword for their claim to the Peacock

Throne.

Prince Aurangzeb who governed the Deccan region of South India, Prince Shah Shuja who governed

Bengal in the east and Prince Murad Bakhsh who governed Gujarat in the south.

All of them were raising armies to attack the capital which Dara Shikoh controlled in

his sick father’s name.

After a civil war of around a year, Aurangzeb came out on top despite Shah Jahan supporting

Dara Shikoh who was much less diplomatic and capable than Aurangzeb.

Shah Jahan and his beloved daughter Jahanara tried to negotiate with Aurangzeb but due

to his support of Dara Shikoh, Aurangzeb was not willing to listen.

Due to his victory over the imperial army, Aurangzeb held all the cards.

He imprisoned the old emperor in the Agra fort where he lived for the next eight years

of his life, being able to see but never visit the Taj Mahal.

He was served very loyally by his beloved daughter, Jahanara until he died in 1666.

Shah Jahan was buried next to his wife, Mumtaz Mahal in the Taj Mahal.

Despite being the story of one of India’s most powerful and rich rulers, the story of

Shah Jahan is very human in many ways.

His love and devotion for his wife is a relatable aspect of his life, so is, in many ways, his

arrogance and self-aggrandization.

It’s teaching that such a powerful king who considered himself so special and above

everyone else was so humbled by his own son and turned into, first, an emperor without

an empire and then a mere prisoner.

See you next time.

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