Shah Jahan

Ghiyasuddin Shah Jahan (??? ????, also spelled Shah Jehan, Shahjehan, etc.; January 5, 1592–January 22, 1666) was the ruler of the Mughal Empire in India from 1628 until 1658. The name Shah Jahan comes from Persian ???????? meaning "The Ruler of the World". Shah Jahan is best known as the builder of the Taj Mahal, a shrine to his Persian second wife, Arjumand Bano Begum, popularly known as Mumtaz Mahal ("Ornament of the Palace") whom he married on May 10,1612, at the age of 20.

Rise to power

Shah Jahan was born with the name Prince Khurram to Jahangir and the Hindu Rajput Princess Manmati, and was reportedly close to his grandfather Akbar as a child. Khurram raised an army against Jahangir in 1622, but the insurgency failed. He was forgiven and accepted back into the fold but two of his sons, Prince Aurangzeb and Dara Shikoh, were sent to Jahangir's court against the possibility of Prince Khurram revolting again.

Related Topics:
Jahangir - Hindu - Rajput - Akbar - 1622 - Aurangzeb - Dara Shikoh

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After Jahangir's death in 1627, Khurram captured power after a fratricidal war against his weaker brother, Shahryar, who was supported by Jahangir's powerful widow Nur Jehan. It was shortly after this that he took the rule name Shah Jahan, February 4 1628.

Related Topics:
1627 - Nur Jehan - February 4 - 1628

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