1. Introduction
2. Early Career of Jahangir (1605-1627)
2.1. Salim’s Revolt 1599-1604
2.2. Early Measures
3. Rebellion of Prince Khusrav ((1606)
3.1. War and Peace with Mewar
4. Jahangir and the Deccan
4.1. Kangra
4.2. Ahemdnagar
4.3. Loss of Kandhar
4.4. Other Conquests
5. Nur-Jahan
6. Shah Jahan’s Rebellions (1623-1625)
7. Mahabat Khan’s Rebellion (1626)
8. Religion
9. Relation with Europeans
10. The Death of Jahangir
11. Succession Tussle in Jahangir’s Last Years
12. Jahangir’s Place in History
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Topic – Jahangir (Notes)
Subject – History
(Early Medieval Indian History)
Table of Contents
Introduction
The reign of Jahangir saw the fruition of the empire which Akbar had so gloriously re-built out of the slender resources left to him by his ill-fated father. During the reign of Akbar, the empire had been established on such secure foundations that it was not to be shaken for at least a hundred years.
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 had lost all his children in early youth, desired an heir who would 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, appointing a series of able tutors to teach him Persian, Turki, Arabic, and Hindi. The most notable among them 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 military administration at an early age. In 1585, he was elevated to the rank of 12000 in the imperial service, and in the same year, he was married to his cousin Man Bai, daughter of Raja Bhagwandas of Amber. He had a number of other wives as well.
In spite of all the care his father took, Prince Salim acquired many of the evils of his age. He was a man of loose morals and was heavily addicted to wine.
Salim’s Revolt 1599-1604
Salim was anxious to grasp sovereign power and rose in revolt against his father in 1599 while 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 north by the middle of 1601, but he took a lenient view and offered the rebel prince the Governorship of Bengal and Orissa, though this failed to win him back.
Salim further angered his father by securing the murder of Abul Fazl, a trusted counsellor of Akbar. Yet Akbar refrained from military action because Salim was his only surviving son and therefore entitled to succeed him.
A conspiracy was hatched by Raja Man Singh and others to deprive Salim of his right of succession by supporting the claim of his son Prince Khusrav. For a time even Akbar considered this, but later abandoned the thought. The fear of being superseded 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. Two parties emerged at court — one supporting Salim, the other Khusrav. A few days before Akbar’s death, Salim was nominated heir-apparent. Salim ascended the throne in October 1605 after Akbar’s death and assumed the title of Jahangir.
Early Measures
Soon after his accession, Jahangir tried to win the hearts of the people through several measures. He released prisoners and struck coins in his name. He also issued 12 ordinances to be uniformly implemented across the empire:
I. Prohibition of cesses
II. Regulations against highway robbery and theft
III. Free inheritance of property of deceased persons
IV. Prohibition of sale of wine and intoxicating liquor
V. Abolition of inhuman corporal punishments
VI. Prohibition of forcible seizure of property
VII. Building of hospitals and appointment of physicians
VIII. Prohibition of animal slaughter on certain days
IX. Respect paid to Sunday
X. Confirmation of mansabs and jagirs
XI. Confirmation of aima lands (lands devoted to religious purposes)
XII. Amnesty to all prisoners in forts and prisons
He also set up a chain of justice between the Shah Burj in the Agra fort and a stone pillar on the banks of the Jamuna, enabling the people to approach him directly.
Jahangir quickly secured firm control over the state machinery. He pardoned political opponents and treated them generously. The administrative changes he made were aimed at strengthening his support base. He rewarded Bir Singh Bundela, the murderer of Abul Fazl, with the rank of Commander of 3000, while Abdur Rahman received the mansab of 2000.
Mirza Ghiyas Beg, a Persian immigrant and father of Noor Jahan, was appointed imperial Dewan with the title of Itimad-ud-Daula.
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