Who was Shah Jahan? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Indian Celebrities Born In January

Also Known As: Shah Jehan, Shahjehan, Shihab-ud-din Muhammad Khurram

Died At Age: 74

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Akbarabadi Mahal, Kandahari Begum, Mumtaz Mahal

father: Jahangir

mother: Taj Bibi Bilqis Makani

siblings: Khusrau Mirza

children: Aurangzeb, Dara Shikoh, Husnara Begum, Jahanara Begum, Murad Bakhsh, Roshanara Begum, Shah Shuja, Sultan Daulat Afza, Sultan Luftallah, Sultan Ummid Baksh

Emperors & Kings Indian Men

Died on: February 1, 1666

place of death: Agra

City: Lahore, Pakistan

Recommended For You

1

What is Shah Jahan famous for?

Shah Jahan is famous for being the Mughal emperor who commissioned the construction of the Taj Mahal in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal.
2

How long did Shah Jahan rule?

Shah Jahan ruled the Mughal Empire for approximately 30 years, from 1628 to 1658.
3

What is the significance of Shah Jahan's reign?

Shah Jahan's reign is considered a period of great cultural and architectural achievements, with the construction of iconic structures like the Taj Mahal and the Red Fort in Delhi.
4

Where is Shah Jahan buried?

Shah Jahan is buried alongside his wife Mumtaz Mahal in the Taj Mahal complex in Agra, India.
5

What led to Shah Jahan's house arrest?

Shah Jahan was placed under house arrest by his son Aurangzeb, following a succession war for the throne of the Mughal Empire.

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Childhood & Early Life

Shah Jahan was born as Shah ab-ud-din Muhammad Khurram to Emperor Jahangir and his wife, the Rajput princess Bilquis Makani (Princess Manmati) on 5 January 1592, in Lahore, Punjab (now in Pakistan). He was Jahangir’s third son.

As a young child, he was primarily raised by Akbar’s first wife, the childless Empress Ruqaiya Sultan Begum, and was returned to his biological mother only when he was 13 years old.

He received an upbringing typical for a Mughal prince, and was given excellent martial training and was exposed to a wide variety of cultural arts, such as poetry and music.

Emperor Akbar died in 1605 and Jahangir succeeded to the throne. Khurram’s elder brother revolted against their father but was defeated. Khurram did not take interest in the political conflicts between his father and brother, focusing instead on his education and training.

Eventually he became closer to his father and Jahangir granted him the jagir of Hissar-Feroza, which had traditionally been the fief of the heir apparent, in 1607.

He got the first opportunity to display his military prowess during the Mughal campaign against the Rajput state of Mewar, in 1614. The young prince commanded an army numbering around 200,000 and led the attack, eventually forcing the rival king Maharana Amar Singh II to surrender to the Mughals.

His father sent him to the Deccan with the aim of extending the Mughal Empire and Khurram was victorious in his attempts. This delighted Jahangir who granted him the title of Shah Jahan and allowed him a special throne in his Durbar.

Shah Jahan became impatient for the crown and rebelled against his father with the support of Mahabat Khan in 1622. The rebellion, however, was quelled by Jahangir’s forces.

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Accession & Reign

Jahangir died in late 1627 and Shah Jahan ascended to the throne in early 1628. Upon claiming the throne he set about eliminating his chief rivals and imprisoned his step-mother Nur Jahan who was a powerful political influence in the Mughal court. He had his own brothers and nephews executed so that he could rule without having to face any competition.

During his reign he was able to expand the empire considerably. He sent his sons with large armies to conquer territories on different fronts. He annexed the Rajput confederates of Baglana, Mewar and Bundelkhand, and went on to conquer the fortress at Daulatabad, Maharashtra. His son Aurangzeb also added several territories to the Mughal Empire.

Shah Jahan and his sons successfully continued their military campaigns and captured the city of Kandahar in 1638 from the Safavids. This led to retaliation of the Persians, led by Abbas II of Persia who reclaimed the territory after a few years. Even though Shah Jahan was unable to recapture it from the Persians, he was able to expand the Mughal Empire to the west beyond the Khyber Pass to Ghazna and Kandahar.

Famed for aesthetics, Shah Jahan was a patron of arts. During his reign the Mughal Empire was a rich center of arts, crafts and architecture. The emperor’s love for architecture is legendary; some of the nation’s most well-known architectural and artistic accomplishments were undertaken during his reign. The Taj Mahal, the Red Fort and the Jama Masjid in Delhi, and the Shalimar Gardens of Lahore are examples of Mughal architecture that survive to this day.

Major Work

Emperor Shah Jahan is best remembered as a patron of Mughal architecture and is known for the grand legacy of architectural structures constructed during his reign. The most famous of them is the Taj Mahal, which he built in the memory of his favorite wife the empress Mumtaz Mahal. The exquisite building, constructed from white marble underlaid with brick, took 20 years to complete. The Taj Mahal till date remains one of the most visited tourist attractions in India.

Personal Life & Legacy

Shah Jahan married several times, but his favorite wife was Arjumand Banu Begum (his second wife) also known as Mumtaz Mahal whom he married in 1612. Their marriage was a happy one, marked by genuine affection for each other. Mumtaz bore him 14 children. She suffered from complications during the birth of their last child and died of postpartum hemorrhage in 1631. Shah Jahan was grief stricken following her death. Shah Jahan also had children from his other wives.

He fell ill in 1658, and Dara Shukoh, his eldest son, assumed the role of regent due to Shah Jahan’s inability to manage the court. This angered Shah Jahan’s other sons who rebelled against their brother. Aurangzeb, the emperor’s third son, overpowered all of his brothers and placed Shah Jahan under house arrest in Agra Fort.

Shah Jahan’s eldest daughter, Jahanara Begum, voluntarily accompanied her father and took care of him in his old age. Shah Jahan died on 22 January 1666. His body was interred at Taj Mahal, next to the body of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal

Facts About Shah Jahan

Shah Jahan was known for his love of architecture and design, and he commissioned the construction of the iconic Taj Mahal in memory of his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal.

Shah Jahan was a skilled calligrapher and poet, and he contributed to the development of Persian and Urdu literature during his reign.

Shah Jahan was a patron of the arts and supported the growth of music, dance, and other cultural traditions in the Mughal court.

Shah Jahan was passionate about gardening and landscaping, and he created beautiful gardens and parks around his palaces and monuments.

Shah Jahan had a keen interest in astronomy and mathematics, and he supported the work of scholars and scientists during his rule.

Shah Jahan Biography

You wanted to know

What is Shah Jahan famous for?

How long did Shah Jahan rule?

What is the significance of Shah Jahan's reign?

Where is Shah Jahan buried?

What led to Shah Jahan's house arrest?