Mirza Nur-ud-din Beig Mohammad Khan Salim (Jehangir)

INTRODUCTION

Mirza Nur-ud-din Beig Mohammad Khan Salim, known by his imperial name Jahangir, was the fourth Mughal Emperor who ruled from 1605 until his death in 1627.

 

EARLY CAREER OF JAHANGIR (1605 – 1627): 

(1569–1605):- Salim (Jahangir) was born on August 30, 1569. His mother was the Rajput princess of Amber whom Akbar married in 1562. Akbar who lost all children in his early youth desired a heir who should live to inherit his vast empire.With the blessings of Sheikh Chishti, a son was born to him Who was thus called Muhammed Sultan Salim. The other two sons born Later-Prince Murad and Prince Daniyal died in prime youth owing to excessive drinking. 

Akbar made arrangements for the education of Salim and a series of able tutors were appointed to teach the prince Persian.Turki, Arabic and Hindi. The most notable was Abdur Rahim Khan son of Bairam Khan who influenced the prince the most. 

According to the custom of the dynasty Salim was associated with the work of military administration at an early age. In 1585 he was elevated to the rank of I2000 in the imperial service and in the same year was married to his cousin Man Bai Daughter of Raja Bhagwandas of Amber. In addition to this he had a number of wives.Inspite of all the care which his father took Prince Salim acquired all the evils of his age. He was a man of very loose morals and was too much addicted to wine. 

Salim’s Revolt 1599-1604:- 

Salim was anxious to grasp sovereign power and rose in revolt against his father 1599 when Akbar was away in the Deccan. He made an unsuccessful attempt to seize Agra and set up an independent Government at Allahabad. Akbar was Obliged to conclude the siege of Asirgarh and hasten to the north by the middle of I60I but took a lenient view and offered the rebel prince the Governorship of Bengal and Orissa but failed to win him. Salim further annoyed his father by securing the murder of Adul Fazal a trusted counselor of Akbar. But Akbar still refrained from taking military action against him as he was the only surviving son of Akbar and was entitled to succeed him to the throne. A conspiracy was hatched by Raja Man Singh and others to deprive Salim of his legitimate right of succession by preferring the claim of the latter’s own son prince Khusrav to the throne. For some time even Akbar rallied round this thought but then gave up. The fear of being superceded by his own son brought Salim to his senses. He hastened to Agra and sought forgiveness from his father 

.Meanwhile Akbar’s health began to fail. There were two parties at the court. One supporting Salim and the other his son Khusrav. A few days before Akbar’s death Salim was nominated heir-apparent to the throne. Salim ascended the throne in October 1605 after the Dealth of Akbar and assumed the title of Jahangir. 

Early Measures : - 

Soon after his accession to the throne Jahangir tried to win the hearts of all the people by various measures. He released prisoners and struck coins in his name. He issued I2 ordinances to be uniformly implemented all over his empire :- 

I. Prohibition of cesses. 

II. Regulations about highway robbery and theft 

III. Free inheritance of property of deceased person 

IV. Prohibition of sale of wine and of all kinds of intoxicating liquor 

V. Abolition of inhuman corporal punishments VI. Prohibition of forcible seizure of property 

VII. Building of hospitals and appointment of physicians to attend the sick 

VIII. Prohibition of slaughter of animals on certain days 

IX. Respect pay to Sunday 

X. General confirmation of mansabs and jagirs 

XI. Confirmation of aima lands i.e. lands devoted to the purposes of prayer and praise (of God) 

XII Amnesty to all prisoners in forts and prisons of all kinds. 

He also set up a famous chain of justice between the Shah Burj in the fort of Agra and a stone pillar fixed on the banks of Jamuna to enable the people to approach him without any servant Jahangir lost no time in acquiring firm hold over the entire State machinery. He pardoned his political opponents and accorded generous treatment to them. The few changes that Jahangir effected in the office's of the state were intended to secure him a band of supporters. He rewarded Bir Singh Bundela the murderer of Abul Fazal with the dignity of Commander of three thousand horses while Abdur Rahman was assigned the mansab of 2000. Mirza Ghiyas Beg a Persian immigrant father of Noor Jahan received The office of the imperial Dewan with the title of Itimad-Ud-Dula. 

REBEALLION OF PRINCE KHUSRAV (1606): 

The prospects of a reign so well begun were marred by the rebellion of the emperor’s eldest son prince Khusrav. He was a tall. Handsome youth of sharp Intellect, refined tastes and blameless character. He was loved by the courtiers and was popular even with the citizens of the capital. Because of these qualities he had become a serious candidate for sucession to the throne after Akbar and has posed threat to his father Salim now the emperor. He had been kept confined in the Agra fort by Jahangir. He could not tolerate such humiliation he still was lured by prospect of sitting on the throne. In desperation he sught liberation from his father’s confinement and planned to set himself free and make a bid for the throne.He escaped from agra and marched towards Lahore and rose in rebellion. At Taran Taran The prince received the blessing and gift of Rs. 5000/- from Guru Arjundev. After that he marched to Lahore and beseiged the same.Lahore was defended by Dilawar Khan hence could not be taken.Jahangir himself marched to Lahore without delay with a large Army. The prince’s troops were completedy defeated by the imperial forces near Jullander. Khusrav fled towards Kabul but was captured.The prince and his followers were brought before Jahangir. Cruel punishments were inflicted on his followers while Khusrav was blinded and imprisoned. He died in confinement on 1622. Jahangir now turned to Guru Arjandev who had blessed prince Khusrav and had given him monetary help. Jahangir imposed a fine of Rs. 200,000/- which the Guru refused to pay. He was consequanstly put to death and his property was confiscated. The execution of the sikh Guru was an impolitic step on the part of Jahangir as it estranged the Sikhs till then peace loving community and turned them into foes of the empire. 

War and Peace with Mewar : - 

Mewar had always defied the power of the mughals. During Akber’s reign Rana Pratap had carried on a heroic struggle with the empire. With all the efforts Akbar could not conquer the whole of Mewar while Pratap was able to recover a considerable portion of lost territory before his death in 1597.His son Rana Amar Singh continued the policy of resistance to the Mughals aggression. 

Immediately after his accession to the throne Jahangir paid serious attention to the subjugation of Mewar. Its conquest became a matter of prestige with him. He ordered the despatch of a military expendition to Mewar under the command of his son Parvez. Amar Singh bravely defended his territory and fought a tough battle which proved to be indecisive. The Mughals armies were recalled by Jahangir from Mewar on the sudden outbreak of Khusrav’s rebellion. Two years later Jahangir again turned his attention towards Mewar. From 1607 to 1615 he sent as many as four expeditions for its subjugation 1608, 1609, I6II and finally in 1613 Jahangir made up his mind to launch a ceaseless military campaign against Mewar under his personal supervison.Prince Khurrum was given the exclusive command of the army of invasion.He was resisted by some of the ablest military officers towns. He cut off his supplies in order to strave the enemy. In constant struggle both sides suffered heavily but Rajputs suffered greater losses on account of famine and pestilence. The resources of Mewar were ehausted and it was impossible to prolong the struggle. Amer Singh opened negotiations with prince Khurram. A treaty of peace was concluded between the Rana and the emperor in 1615. Rana recognized emperor’s suzerainty and promised to supply a contingent for imperial service. The entire territory seized by the Mughals since the days of Akbar was restored to him but the fort of Chittor was not to be strengthened or repaired. The Rana was not obliged to attend the imperial darbar in person, he would be represented by his son who would become a mansabdar of 5000. The Rana would not be required to enter matrimonial alliance with the mughals.

No wonder the treaty of peace with Mewar was a great landmark in the history of the Mughal rule in India. The Rajput policy of Jahangir was crowned with success. Jahangir and prince Khurram deserve the credit for declaring extremely lenient terms to their foes who had faught against them and their ancestores Akbar and Babur for over three quarters of a century. Mewar enjoyed complete autonomy during the reign of Jahangir and Shahjahan and professed loyalty to the Mughal throns till Aurangzeb’s fanaticism and suspicions forced them into open rebellion.

JAHANGIR AND THE DECCAN: 

It will be remembered that Akbar had conquered the whole of Khandesh and a part of Ahmednagar and had hastily concluded his Decan campaign with the siege of Asirgrah in 1601 on account of Salim’s rebellion. It was now Jahangir’s task to attempt the conquest and annexation of rest of Ahmednagar and if possible of the remaining states of Bijapur and Golkunda. 

Ahemdnagar :- 

Akbar had conquered only a part of the Nizamshahi kingdom of Ahmednagar including the capital town while the major portion of the state remained with the Nizamsahi nobles. The main obstacle in the way was Malik Amber the Abyssinian minister and general of the Nizamshahi kingdom. He is one of the greatest statesman that medieval India produced. After the death of Akbar he took up arms  against the Mughals and took away the territories including the historic fort of the Ahmednagar from the Mughals. It was a blow to the Mughal prestige.Malik Amber was not a man of ordinary talents. He had both military and administrative talents. He had remodeled the revenue system of his state on the principles of Raja Todarmal. He was a master of the military tactics of the Marathas and had trained the Marasthas in the Ahmednagar army in guerilla war fare. He developed a system of fighting well suited to the hilly regions of the Maratha country. He also strengthened his position by organizing a anti-mughal coalition with the neighbouring sultanates of Bijapur and Golkunda forces. His tolerance won for him the support of the hindus also to Fight with such a formidable enemy was no easy task. 

Jahangir’s Deccan policy was the continuation of his father’s Policy. From 1608 onwards large mughal armies led successfully by Abdur Rhim Khan –i- Khanna, prince Parvez and Khan Jahan Lodhi failed to produce the desired result. The mughal offensive deshed vainly abainst guerilla tacts of Malik Amber’s maratha troops who avoided pitched battles. The repeated failures of the mughal before Malik Amber affected the mughal prestige. On the advice of Noor Jahan Jahangir decided to place prince Khurrum the incharge of the Deccan.He reached Burhanpur the mughal headquarter in the south in march 1617 and immediately opened negotiation with Malik Amber. Overawed by superior force Malik Amber accepted the terms of treaty with prince Khurrum according to which he ceded Ahmednagar and some other strong holds to the Mughals and the Nizamshashi ruler acknowledged Jahangir as his suzerain. The treaty was hailed at the Mughal court. For this victory Prince Khurrum also honoured by the emperor of with the Title of Shahjahan. But he merely gathered the political fruits of previous campaigns. 

The mughal victory however, was not of permanent nature.With in two years Malik Amber again raised his head. He occupied much of the lost territory and in 1620 laid siege to the fort of Ahmedagar with the assistance of the troops of Bijapur and Golkunda. Shahajahan took the command of the Deccan campaign for the second time. The same results followed. On the arrival of the imperial troops Malik Amber raised the siege of Ahmednagar and concluded peace. Shahajahan was anxious to bring the Deccan campaign to a speedy conculsion. Owing to Noor Jahan’s changed attitude towards him he hurriedly concluded peace with Malik Amber and his allies in 1621. Malik Amber promised to restore the territories occupied by him from the Mughals during the previous two years. Ahmednagar, Bijapur and Golkunda agreed to pay Fifty laks rupees as tribute. 

Thereafter Malik Amber took advantage of the revolt of Shah Jahan (1623) to consolidate his position. He did not allow respite to the Mughal armies in occupation of the territories of Ahmednagar till his death in 1626. The Deccan problem remained as unsolved as ever. The victory of the Mughal over Ahmednagar was more apparent than real.It has been justly remarked by Dr.Beni Prasad “Nothing could conceal the stern reality that the expenditures of millions of rupees and thousands of lives had not advanced the Mughal frontiers a single line beyond the limits of 1605.” 

Loss of Kandhar :-

On account of its situations and importance both commercial and strategic was Kandhar was a constant source of friction between the Mughals and the Persians. It has been noted elsewhere that it was acquired by Akbar in 1595 and it remained a part of the mughal empire until the death of Akbar. The Persians never forgot the loss of Khandhar. Jahangir’s contemporary on the throne of Persia was Shah Abbas. The revolt of prince Khusrav at the beginning of the Jahangir’s reign gave the Persians an opportunity to attack Kandhar but it was gallantly repelled by Shahbeg Khan. 

Shah Abbas who was a skilled diplomat expressed his disapproval of the conduct of his subjects and informed Jahangir that he had a knowledge of the affair, Jahangir accepted his explanation.The Persians, however did not give up all hopes of regaining Kandhar.Shah Abbas having failed to win the place by open war employed diplomacy to further his end. He sent four diplomatic missions to the Mughal court In 1611, 1615, 1616 and 1620 with rich presents to please the Mughal Monarch and thereby putting him of his guard. Taking advantage of the internal disorder in the empire in 1621 owing to the political estrangement between Noor Jahan and Shah Jahan the Persians besieged Kandhar in 1621 and finally took it in 1622. Jahangir thought of elaborate preparations of war which he hoped to carry right to the Persian capital but his plans were frustrated by Shah Jahan who refused to lead the expendition as he knew that during his absence from the capital Nur Jahan would do her best to ensure his exclusion from the throne and push the claims of Shahryar her soninlaw. Thus Kandhar was lost to the Mugals. Shah Abbas sent ambassador doz to Jahangir saying that the Persian king had a rightful claim to Khandar but expressed the hope that the two empire would remain friendly. Jahangir accused the Shah of treachery. He ordered prince Parvez to recover the fortress But this could not be done owing to Shah Jahan’s rebellions. 

Nur-Jahan :- 

Now we come to the most interesting part of Jahangir’s story. All the remaining events as well as some of those already narrated are to be connected with the advent of Nur Jahan Jahangir’s marriage with Nur Jahan is one of the most important events in history of world. For full I5 years she stood forth as the most striking and most powerful personality in the Mughal empire. She exercised tremendous influence on personal life of Jahangir and also played significant role in shaping the events of his regin. 

Nur Jahan’s original name was Mehr-Un-Nisa. She was the daughter of a Persian noble Mirza Ghiyas Beg who with his family.Migrated to India during the reign of Akbar. She was born on the way to India at Kandhar Mirza Ghiyas Beg was introduced to Akbar by a Merchant and Akbar immediately admitted him into imperial service.He steadily rose in rank and influence by virtue of his character and Scholarship. 

Mehr-us-nisa grew up to be a charming girl and at the age of 17 was married to Ali Quli Istajlu, a Persian adventurer better known as Sher Afghan. After his marriage he was taken into imperial service and was on the personal staff of prince Salim, On his accession to the throne Jahangir appointed Sher Afghar faujdar of Bardwan (Bengal) and granted him a Jagir there. Susoected of treasonable designs he was summoned by the Governor of Bengal. At an interview there was scuffle and both were killed in 1607. Mehr-un-Nisa the widow of Sher Afghan alongwith her young daughter Ladli Begum was brought to the capital, Akber’s Widow. In march 1611 that is four years after the death of her husband Jahangir saw Mehr-ua-Nisa at the Navroz Festival was charmed by her Beautiful appearance. He married her in May 1611 and made her his chief queen giving her the little of Nur Jahan (light of the world). 

At the time of her marriage with Jahangir Nur Jahan was in her 35th year but she still possessed the beauty of her early youth. She proved to be an intellectual with a political bent of mind. She took her keen interest in the formulation of state policy.She could understand the intricate problem of the state politics in an instant. Jahangir was so much impressed by her that he made her a partner in the administrative of the state. He granted Nur Jahan rights of soverignity and government. Coins were struck in her name. On all the farmans also the name of Nur Jahan was jointly attached along with the imperial signature. At last her authority reached such a pass that the king was only in name. 

Jahangir’s period of rule from I6II to his death in 1627 was marked by the ascendancy of Nur Jahan in state affairs. This period of Nur Jahan’s ascendancy can be divided into two parts.During the first part i.e. from 1611 to 1622 when Jahangir was at the helm of affairs, although he was guided and influenced by Nur Jahan and her party called Nurjahan Junta. While during the second part from I622 to I627 Nur Jahan was completely dominating the imperial court. 

During the first phase of her influence from 1611 to 1622 she secured high positions for her father who got the title of Itimad-ud-Dula and was given the mansab of 7000. Her brother As a Khan was promoted to the rank of prime minister of the empire. In 1612 Asif Khan’s daughter Arjuman Banu Begum better know as Mumtaz Mahal was married to prince Khurrum, the third son of Jahangir and since then the prince became a favourite of Nurjahan and rapidly rose into prominence at the court as the prospective successor of Jahangir . For ten years this clique of four supremely capable persons. (the queen, her father, brother and prince Khurrum), practically ruled the empire and constituted the Nur Jahan Junta. It was due to her influence that prince Khurrum was appointed to command the Mewar and Deccan campaigns and was given the title Shah Jahan. Gradually the influence of Nur Jahan over Jahangir increased so much that he leaned more and more to ease and left adminstration exclusiverly in her hands. To the good fortune of the people Nur Jahan governed the country successfully with the able Assistance of the Nur Jahan Junta. 

The second phase of Nur Jahan’s ascendancy is from 1622 to 1627 which is marked by complete authority in her hands. Jahangir’s health had begun to fail. Unfortunately Nur Jahan’s mother Asmat begum who acted as her counselor died in I62I and her husband Itimad-ud-Daula who was the strongest pillar of the Nur Jahan Junta followed her in I622. Both these deaths led to the breakup of the Nur Jahan Junta. Nur Jahan’s relations with her brother Asaf Khan and his Son-in-law Shah Jahan were also strained because in I62I she gave her daughter Ladli Begum (By Sher Afghan) in marriage to prince Shahryar the youngest son of Jahangir and now she began to beck up her son-in-law for succession to the throne. The queen and the prime minister did not see eye to eye with each other, however, for the time being she was in a advantageous position because the emperor fell virtually under her exclusive influence. 

Nur Jahan’s excessive interference in the state affairs did have some bad effects during this period. It will be remembered that the Persians captured Khandar in 1622 and Jahangir had ordered Shah Jahan to lead the expedition for its recovery but Shah Jahan refused to move as he doubted that his absence from the capital might be utilized by Nur Jahan who prejudiced his claims to the throne and to strengthen those of her son-in-law Shahryar. To a great extent Nur Jahan was responsible for the lose of Kandhar in 1622. She was also responsible for two more rebellions during this period. The first is Shah Jahan’s rebellion (1623-1625) and the second is Mahabat Khan’s rebellions in 1626.

SHAH JAHAN’S REBELLIONS (1623-1625):
The estrangement between Nur Jahan and Shah Jahan had been growing from 1620 onwards. Nur Jahan wanted to retains her political ascendancy after Jahangir’s death through the installation of prince Shahryar as emperor. At the same time Shah Jahan was ambitions to succeed his father. Nur Jahan knew that Shah Jahan was a man of strong personality and was not likely to share power with Nur Jahan if he succeeded in securing the throne. Thus the issue of succession made them direct opponents. Also Nur Jahan was liberal shia and tolerant towards other faiths.

Shah Jahan was a staunch sunni. Increasing Persian supremacy at the court was not liked by him. Nur Jahan tried to disgraceShah Jahan in the eyes of Jahangir which compelled him to revolt against his father in 1623. At first he intended to march to Agra but an imperial army under the command of Mahabat Khan completely defeated him. He first proceeded to the Deccan and was then driver to Bengal but unable to maintain his control he returned to Deccan and for a few years wandered about seeking the alliance of Malik Amber and others but finding that with his exhausted resources Further resistance was not possible. He made submission to the emperor in 1625. Shah jahan’s rebellion which lasted for three years convulsed empire with a civil war causing tremendous loss to the royal treasury and creating serious law and order problems for the government. This happened primarily because of Nur Jahan’s excessive indulgence in power politics.


MAHABAT KHAN’S REBELLIONS (1626):
Mahabat Khan had been responsible for many imperial victories. During Shah Jahan’s rebellions his prestige had increased considerably. His growing fame and power was not liked by Nur Jahan. She could not tolerate the existence of an indomitable personality like Mahabat Khan. On the other hand Mahabat Khan was equally ambitious and did not like to take orders from any one except his real sovereign Jahangir. Moreover Mahabat Khan supported the claim of prince Parvez the eldest son of Jahangir to the throne. Nur Jahan began to hatch a plot to bring about the fall of Mahabat Khan. She framed charge of disloyalty against him Which forced Mahabat Khan to rebel. By a bold coup he made jahangir a prisoner on the bank of river Jhelum while the emperor was on his way to Kabul. Nur Jahan manged to escape but all her attempts to rescue her husband by force having failed. She joined him in confinement.She and her husband were finally able to effect their escape to Rohtas. Mahabat Khan was forgiven by the emperor and was ordered to proceed to Thatta where Shah Jahan was again on war path. He obeyed the order but instead of fighting made peace with Shah Jahan.

By this time Jahangir’s health was completely shattered. He went to Kashmir in March 1627 but even Kashmir failed to help the restoration of health so he returned to Lahore. While he was the way, he was taken ill and he died on 28 October, 1627. He was buried in a beautiful garden at Shahdara near Lahore.

Jahangir is one of the most interesting figures in Mughal History.All accounts agree that he was intelligent, shrewed and capable of under Standing the most complex problems of the state without any difficulty he was a capable general who could plan and lead military campaign. He was stern in adminstrang justice. Law and order were not neglected and he proved to be a fairly successful ruler and procure the murder of Abul Fazal and also pity the royal elephant because they shivered in winter then they sprinkled themselves with cold water.

Jahangir was highly educated and cultured prince. He had mastered persian and Turki language. His memoirs entitled Tuzk-i-Janangiri is an excellent example of his literary attainment. He was fond of beauties of nature. His intimate khowledge of the flora and fauna of Kashmir and other parts of Hindustan will cause surprise to a naturalist in these days. Mughal painting and music reached high standard under his patronage. He took delight in laying out fine gardens. Some of the gardens in Kashmir and Lahore were laid out at his orders. He fully encouraged the growth of Persian literature.

These noble qualities of Jahangir were to some extent neutratiseed by his habit of drinking. As he advanced in years his appitite for liquor grew. He frankly relates in his memories that he took twenty cups of liquor every day. Such an addiction completely undermined his death.

Another weakness of his character was his willingness to allow himself to be controlled by others. At first he was controlled by the Nur Janta and subsequently by the ambitious queen which marred his honest efforts to maintain the principles and dominoes of his great father, The declines of physical and mental vigour was the chief cause of the two formidable rebellions of his reign.

In conclusion it may be said that like most rulers Jahangir had his virtues and faults. To quote Dr. Ishwari Prasad, “No doubt there is much in his character that deserves to be condemned but there is a great deal that entitles him to be placed among the most fascinating personalities of Indian history”.