Jahangir (Nur-ud-din Muhammad, 1605 –1627) was the fourth Mughal Emperor from 1605 until his death in 1627.Jahangir was the eldest son of Mughal Emperor Akbar. The first year of Jahangir's reign saw a rebellion organized by his eldest son Khusraw. The rebellion was soon put down; Khusraw was brought before his father in chains. After subduing and executing nearly 2000 members of the rebellion, he blinded his renegade son Khusrau.

Jahangir built on his father's foundations of excellent administration, and his reign was characterized by political stability, a strong economy and impressive cultural achievements. The imperial frontiers continued to move forward—in Bengal, Mewar, Ahmadnagar and the Deccan. The only major reversal to the expansion came in 1622 when Shahanshah Abbas, the Safavid Emperor of Persia, captured Kandahar while Jahangir was battling his rebellious son, Khusraw in Hindustan. The rebellion of Khurram absorbed Jahangir's attention, so in the spring of 1623 he negotiated a diplomatic end to the conflict. Much of India was politically pacified; Jahangir's dealings with the Hindu rulers of Rajputana were particularly successful, and he settled the conflicts inherited from his father. The Hindu rulers all accepted Mughal supremacy and in return were given high ranks in the Mughal aristocracy.

Conquests

In the year 1594 Jahangir's was dispatched by his father the Mughal Emperor Akbar, alongside Abdul Hasan Asaf Khan and Abu'l-Fazl ibn Mubarak to defeat the renegade Vir Singh Deo of Bandela and capture the city of Orchha, which was considered the center of the revolt. Jahangir arrived with a force of 12,000 after many ferocious encounters and the Battle of Orchha, Jahangir finally subdued the Bandela and ordered Vir Singh Deo to surrender. After tremendous casualties and the start of negotiations between the two, Vir Singh Deo handed over 5000 Bundela infantry and 1000 cavalry but he feared Mughal retaliation and remained a fugitive until his death. The victorious Jahangir Only 16 years of age, ordered the completion of the Jahangir Mahal a famous Mughal citadel in Orchha to commemorate and honor his victory.

Jahangir then gathered his forces under the command of Ali Kuli Khan and fought Lakshmi Narayan of Koch Bihar. Lakshmi Narayan, then accepted the Mughals as his suzerains he was given the title Nazir and later established a garrison at Atharokotha.

In 1613, the Portuguese seized the Mughal ship Rahimi, which had set out from Surat on its way with a large cargo of 100,000 rupees and Pilgrims, who were on their way to Mecca and Medina in order to attend the annual Hajj. Jahangir was outraged by the capture of the ship and the captivity of its crew and guests. The Mughal Emperor Jahangir, ordered the apprehension of all Portuguese within the Mughal Empire, he further confiscated churches that belonged to the Jesuits.

Jahangir was responsible for ending a century long struggle with the state of Mewar. The campaign against the Rajputs was pushed so extensively that the latter were made to submit and that too with a great loss of life and property. Jahangir also thought of capturing Kangra Fort, which Akbar had failed to do. Consequently a siege was laid, which lasted for fourteen months, and the fort was taken in 1620.The district of Kistwar, in the state of Kashmir, was also conquered.

Death

Jahangir died on the way back from Kashmir near Sarai Saadabad in 1627. To preserve his body, the entrails were removed and buried in the Chingus Fort, Kashmir. The body was then transferred to Lahore to be buried in Shahdara Bagh, a suburb of Lahore, Punjab.

Akbar died in A.D. 1605 and was succeeded by his son Jahangir. Jahangir sent an expedition against Rana Amar Singh, son of Maharana Pratap of Mewar. Finally, Jahangir offered most liberal terms to Mewar and ended the long struggle between Mewar and the Mughals. This liberality was shown in part owing to the fact that Jahangir had taken refuge in Mewar at the time of his revolt against Akbar.

Jahangir also faced the revolt of his son Khusrau. The Sikh Guru Arjundev, out of compassion for Khusrau, who was in dire distress, had given him money. Jahangir came to know of this and summoned the Guru. Jahangir imposed a fine of rupees two lakh for this offence, which Guru Arjundev refused to pay. In June A.D. 1606, for five days he was physically tortured and finally put to death.

Another important event of Jahangir’s reign was his marriage to Nur Jahan on whom he conferred the title of ‘Nur Mahal’ (light of the palace). She was very influential and helped him rule the Kingdom.

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