Jahangir Information Sheet

Jahangir

Akbar died in 1605 aged 63.

Salim, his son, became the Mughal emperor, aged 36.
He took the name Jahangir which means “seizer of the world”.
He wanted to be known as a just and fair ruler. He continued his father’s policies and all religions were tolerated.
His reign was marked by stability and peace.

In public he always wore clothes covered in diamonds, rubies and pearls and wore lots of rings and chains. He designed his clothes – both the fabric and their style.

Jahangir was interested in nature and art, from all countries, not just Mughal art. He asked European traders and diplomats for examples of European art for the Mughal court. Like previous emperors, he laid out gardens.

Later in his reign, Jahangir was not in good health.
In 1619 he began to travel around the Empire.
He found Agra to be too hot so he went to Srinagar and then to Kashmir in 1620.
At Kashmir he was affected by asthma and his doctors couldn’t relieve his symptoms. The asthma finally eased but Jahangir had lost a lot of weight. People feared that Jahangir might die. His son Shah Jahan was worried that others would seize the throne and in 1622 led an army to claim it. Jahangir saw this as a rebellion against him.

By 1627 Jahangir was very ill, so ill that he couldn’t travel through the Punjab, so he returned to Kashmir. By the time he reached Bhimbhar he could not even swallow a sip of wine.

Jahangir died on the 7th November 1627, aged 58. He had reigned for 22 years.
His death had been expected, and there was a struggle for power.

Jahangir’s two sons Shah Jahan and Shahryar and his two nephews claimed the throne.

Shah Jahan was proclaimed emperor in February 1628. He had the other princes who had claimed the throne put to death.