Shah Jahan | Brief Biography
Shah Jahan | Brief Biography
Shahjahan, also known as Shah Jahan, was the fifth Mughal Emperor who ruled from 1628 to 1658. He was born on January 5, 1592, in Lahore, present-day Pakistan, and was the third son of Emperor Jahangir and his wife, Nur Jahan. His birth name was Prince Khurram but he later changed it to Shahjahan after becoming the emperor.
Shahjahan grew up in a royal household and received an excellent education in subjects such as Persian, Arabic, and Mathematics. He also had a keen interest in art, architecture, and poetry. During his father’s reign, he served as the governor of various provinces and gained valuable administrative experience.
In 1612, Shahjahan married Arjumand Banu Begum, who later became famous as Mumtaz Mahal. She was his third wife and the love of his life. They had 14 children together, including Aurangzeb, who would later become the sixth Mughal Emperor.
Shahjahan ascended to the throne in 1628 after a war of succession with his brothers. He was a just and benevolent ruler who was known for his love of art and architecture. He commissioned the construction of many beautiful buildings, including the famous Taj Mahal in Agra, which he built as a mausoleum for his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal.
Shahjahan’s reign was marked by a period of peace and prosperity. He extended the empire’s territory and strengthened its military and administrative systems. He also patronized the arts and literature and was a great supporter of calligraphy, painting, and music.
However, Shahjahan‘s later years were marred by a power struggle between his sons over the succession to the throne. In 1657, his son Aurangzeb staged a coup and imprisoned his father in the Agra Fort. Shahjahan spent the rest of his life in captivity, gazing at the Taj Mahal from his window. He died on January 22, 1666, and was buried next to his wife in the Taj Mahal. 0 0 0.
Sources:
“Shahjahan.” Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., n.d. Web. 14 Feb. 2023.
“Shahjahan.” The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Columbia University Press, 2019. Web. 14 Feb. 2023.
Koch, Ebba. The Complete Taj Mahal: And the Riverfront Gardens of Agra. Thames & Hudson, 2006. ***
N.B. This article originally belongs to the book entitled ‘Brief Biographies of Eminent Generals and Conquerors’ by Menonim Menonimus.
Books of Biography by M. Menonimus:
- The World Writers-Brief Biographies
- Introduction to World Writers
- Introduction to World Personalities
- Love of Reputed Persons
- Brief Biographies of Prominent Bengali Writers
- Brief Biographies of Eminent Monarchs
- Brief Biographies of Ancient Thinkers and Writers
- Brief Biographies of Eminent Generals and Conquerors ..
Books of Literary Criticism by M. Menonimus:
- World Short Story Criticism
- World Poetry Criticism
- World Drama Criticism
- World Novel Criticism
- World Essay Criticism
- Indian English Poetry Criticism
- Indian English Poets and Poetry Chief Features
- Emily Dickinson’s Poetry-A Thematic Study
- Walt Whitman’s Poetry-A Thematic Study
- Critical Essays on English Poetry
- Tawfiq al-Hakim’s Novel: Return of the Spirit-An Analytical Study
- Tawfiq al-Hakim’s Novel: ‘Yawmiyyat Naib Fil Arayaf’-An Analytical Study
- Analytical Studies of Some Arabic Short Stories
- A Brief History of Arabic Literature: Pre-Islamic Period (500 AD-622 AD)
- A Brief History of Arabic Literature: Early Islamic Period (622 AD-661 AD)
- Reviews on William Shakespeare’s Works
- Reviews of Charles Dickens’ Works
- Reviews of John Milton’s Literary Works
- Reviews of Some Iconic Travelogues …
Additional Searches:
