Jahan's Chronicle

  The Moguls were Muslim warriors that came to India from Asia.  In 1519, Prince Babar defeated the North Indian ruler Sultan Ibrahim.  This made him the 1st Mogul emperor.  He disliked India and felt as if it was very disorderly.  In an attempt to create order he began planting beautiful gardens.
    For the next several years rulers changed.  Some had no interest in military matters and ended up loosing part of the empire.
     After several generations, Akbar came to the throne.  He was the next great Mogul emperor.  He was succeeded by his son, Salim, who later took the name Jahangir.  He inherited a vast empire.
    In 1592,  a prince was born to emperor Jahangir in Lahore, which is now Pakistan.  This young, new prince was very close to his grandfather, Akbar.  In fact, Akbar taught him how to hunt and use weapons.  He also told him stories about warriors, battles, and how to be a great ruler.
     Then, in 1607, Khurram visited a New Year's Fair.  While he was there he stopped to bargain for some gems at the stand of Arjumand Bano.  She was the fifteen year old daughter of a Prime Minister.  It was love at first sight.  Five years later he was allowed to marry her.
     Even though Prince Khurram had a happy marriage, his life as a prince was far from happy.  People were plotting to destroy him.  Realizing this, he left the court and formed his own army.  Many people became his supporters.
    When his father died in 1627, he rushed to Agra to claim the throne.  He had all of his rivals and male relatives killed.  He was crowned in 1628.  He became the 5th Mogul emperor.  His name was changed to Shah Jahan and his wife's name became Mumtaz Mahal.
    Mumtaz Mahal was an inseperable companion for her husband.  She went with him on all of his journeys and military expeditions.  She was not only his wife, but also his counselor.  She was always giving food and money to those who flocked at the palace gates.  She inspired Shah Jahan to give to the poor.
     With her by his side, he was able to strengthen the empire.  He expanded his territory by conquering nearby lands and became a very wealthy man.  With his fortune, he was able to move the capital to Delhi.  He also declared Islam the state religion.
     During all of this time his wife was his loyal companion and stayed close by his side.  In fact, she died giving birth to their fourteenth child while they were on a military expedition.
     Shah Jahan was totally grief stricken.  He stayed in a state of melancholy for two years.  Then he started focusing on building projects.  His reign is believed to mark the height of Mogul architecture.
     He supervised the contruction of the Red Fort and the Jami Masjid, a large mosque in India.  He also started a project that dominated the rest of his life, the building of a shrine to honor his beloved wife.  It was his everlasting love that inspired the building of the Taj Mahal.
     Rivalry broke out between his sons. One of his sons finally turned on him and took the throne from him in 1658.  He had his father, Shah Jahan,  imprisoned at the Red Fort in Agra until he died in 1666.
     The Red Fort or Fort Agra was directly across from the famous Taj Mahal.  Shah Jahan  died looking at his most beautiful creation, the image of wife's tomb.

(The word "Mogul" has several spellings. We have chosen this spelling for clarity and consistencey throughout our site.)