Title & tenure
5th Mughal Emperor (1628–1658)
In office: 1628 – 1658
- Predecessor:
- Jahangir
- Successor:
- Aurangzeb
Biography
Shah Jahan secured the throne after a violent war of succession against his brothers following Jahangir's death, and went on to preside over the Mughal Empire at the height of its wealth and architectural achievement.
Achievements
- Commissioned the Taj Mahal in Agra as a mausoleum for his wife Mumtaz Mahal, now one of the most recognized buildings in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Built the Red Fort and Jama Masjid in his new capital, Shahjahanabad (old Delhi)
- Commissioned the Lahore Fort's Sheesh Mahal and other major Mughal monuments across the empire
- Oversaw the construction of the Peacock Throne, a symbol of Mughal imperial wealth
Key events
- War of succession (1627–28) against his brothers following Jahangir's death, which he won after having several rival relatives executed
- Deccan campaigns extending Mughal control further into southern India
- Fell seriously ill in 1657, triggering a second war of succession among his own sons
Legacy
Shah Jahan's reign is remembered as the artistic and architectural peak of the Mughal Empire, above all through the Taj Mahal, though his lavish building projects also strained the empire's treasury.
How it ended
Deposed and imprisoned in 1658 by his own son Aurangzeb after losing the war of succession; held under house arrest in Agra Fort, reportedly able to see the Taj Mahal from his window, until his death in 1666.