Shah Jahan

5 January 1592 – 22 January 1666

Shah Jahan (1592-1666) was the fifth Mughal emperor, reigning from 1628 to 1658 over the empire at the height of its architectural and cultural glory. He is best remembered for commissioning the Taj Mahal at Agra as a mausoleum for his wife Mumtaz Mahal, as well as the Red Fort and Jama Masjid in Delhi. Deposed by his son Aurangzeb in 1658, he spent his final years confined in Agra Fort.

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Well-documented people whose lives overlapped with Shah Jahan.

Life events

Born Prince Khurram in Lahore
5 January 1592

He was born in Lahore, the third son of Emperor Jahangir, and was a favorite of his grandfather Emperor Akbar.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Birth ✓
Married Arjumand Banu Begum (Mumtaz Mahal)
May 1612

He married Arjumand Banu Begum, later titled Mumtaz Mahal, who became his beloved chief consort and bore him fourteen children.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Relationship ✓
Led successful Mughal campaigns in the Deccan as Prince Khurram
1617

His military victories in the Deccan earned him the title 'Shah Jahan' (King of the World) from his father Jahangir.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Career ✓
Rebelled unsuccessfully against his father Jahangir
1622 – 1626

Fearing exclusion from the succession, he rose in revolt but was eventually forced to submit and reconcile with his father.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Other ✓
Ascended the Mughal throne as Emperor Shah Jahan
14 February 1628

Following Jahangir's death, he secured the succession and was enthroned at Agra in early 1628.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Achievement ✓
Death of Mumtaz Mahal
17 June 1631

His wife Mumtaz Mahal died in childbirth at Burhanpur, a loss that profoundly affected him.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Personal ✓
Commissioned the Taj Mahal at Agra
1632 – c. 1653

He began construction of the white marble mausoleum for Mumtaz Mahal, now regarded as a masterpiece of Mughal architecture.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Achievement ✓
Founded the new capital of Shahjahanabad (Old Delhi)
1648

He moved the imperial capital from Agra to his newly built city of Shahjahanabad, centered on the Red Fort.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Relocation ✓
Deposed by his son Aurangzeb and confined in Agra Fort
July 1658

After a war of succession triggered by his illness, Aurangzeb deposed him and kept him under house arrest in Agra Fort for the rest of his life.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Other ✓
Died in captivity at Agra Fort
22 January 1666

He died after nearly eight years of confinement and was buried beside Mumtaz Mahal in the Taj Mahal.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Death ✓