CULTURAL

ACHIEVEMENT by:
S OF SHAH
Lohit . M
JAHAN'S
REIGNS
Shahab-ud-din Muhammad Khurram 5 January
1592 – 22 January 1666), better known by
his regnal name, Shah Jahan 'King of the World
, was the fifth Mughal emperor, and reigned
from 1628 to 1658.Under his reign, the Mughal
Empire reached the peak of its cultural
glory.Although an able military commander ,
Shah Jahan is best remembered for his
architectural achievements. His reign ushered
in the golden age of Mughal architecture.
Shah Jahan commissioned many
monuments, the best known of which is
the Taj Mahal in Agra, in which is
entombed his favourite wife, Mumtaz
Mahal. His relationship with Mumtaz Mahal
has been heavily adapted into Indian art,
literature and cinema. He owned the royal
treasury and several precious stones
such as the Kohinoor, worth around 23%
of the world GDP during his time, and has
thus often been regarded as the
wealthiest Indian in history
SHAH JAHAN IS CONSIDERED THE MOST COMPETENT OF EMPEROR JAHANGIR'S FOUR
SONS. JAHANGIR'S DEATH IN LATE 1627 SPURRED A WAR OF SUCCESSION, FROM
WHICH SHAH JAHAN EMERGED VICTORIOUS AFTER MUCH INTRIGUE. HE PUT TO
DEATH ALL OF HIS RIVALS FOR THE THRONE AND CROWNED HIMSELF EMPEROR IN
JANUARY 1628 IN AGRA, UNDER THE REGNAL TITLE "SHAH JAHAN" (WHICH WAS
ORIGINALLY GIVEN TO HIM AS A PRINCELY TITLE). HIS RULE SAW MANY GRAND
BUILDING PROJECTS, INCLUDING THE RED FORT AND THE SHAH JHAN MOSQUE.
FOREIGN AFFAIRS SAW WAR WITH THE SAFAVIDS AND CONFLICT WITH
THE PORTUGUESE, AND POSITIVE RELATIONS WITH THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE. DOMESTIC
CONCERNS INCLUDED PUTTING DOWN NUMEROUS REBELLIONS, AND THE
DEVASTATING FAMINE FROM 1630-32.
IN SEPTEMBER 1657, SHAH JAHAN FELL SERIOUSLY ILL. THIS SET
OFF A WAR OF SUCCESSION AMONG HIS FOUR SONS IN WHICH HIS
THIRD SON, AURANGZEB, EMERGED VICTORIOUS AND USURPED
HIS FATHER'S THRONE. SHAH JAHAN RECOVERED FROM HIS
ILLNESS, BUT EMPEROR AURANGZEB PUT HIS FATHER UNDER
HOUSE ARREST IN AGRA FORTFROM JULY 1658 UNTIL HIS DEATH
IN JANUARY 1666. HE WAS LAID TO REST NEXT TO HIS WIFE IN THE
TAJ MAHAL.
 by:
THANK YOU
Lohit . M