universe, while he was himself worshipped by the ignorant multitude.
Akbar died in 1605, in his sixty-third year. He lies buried beneath a
plain slab in the magnificent mausoleum which he had reared at Sikandra,
near his capital of Agra. As his name is still cherished in India, so
his tomb is still honoured, being covered by a cloth presented by Lord
Northbrook when viceroy in 1873.
Jahangir.
The reign of Jahangir, his son, extended from 1605 to 1627. It is
chiefly remarkable for the influence exercised over the emperor by his
favourite wife, surnamed Nur Jahan. The currency was struck in her name,
and in her hands centred all the intrigues that made up the work of
administration. She lies buried by the side of her husband at Lahore,
whither the seat of government had been moved by Jahangir, just as
Akbar had previously transferred it from Delhi to Agra. It was in the
reign of Jahangir that the English first established themselves at
Surat, and also sent their first embassy to the Mogul court.
Shah Jahan.
Jahangir was succeeded by his son Shah Jahan, who had rebelled against
his father, as Jahangir had rebelled against Akbar. Shah Jahan's reign
is generally regarded as the period when the Mogul empire attained its
greatest magnificence, though not its greatest extent of territory. He
founded the existing city of Delhi, which is still known to its
Mahommedan inhabitants as Shahjahanabad. At Delhi also he erected the
celebrated peacock throne; but his favourite place of residence was
Agra, where his name will ever be associated with the marvel of Indian
architecture, the Taj Mahal. That most chaste and most ornamental of
buildings was erected by Shah Jahan as the mausoleum of his favourite
wife Mumtäz Mahal, and he himself lies by her side (see AGRA). Shah
Jahan had four sons, whose fratricidal wars for the succession during
their father's lifetime it would be tedious to dwell upon. Suffice it to
say that Aurangzeb, by mingled treachery and violence, supplanted or
overthrew his brothers and proclaimed himself emperor in 1658, while
Shah Jahan was yet alive.
Aurangzeb.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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