Jahangir (The Mughal Empire)
Chapter 05 Jahangir
Class: 12th
Jama-dami: -
The Mughal nobles had great attachment for land because control over land was a mark of social
prestige. The revenue department had therefore to mark an assessment of the income of different
areas so that each nobles and mansabdar was assigned land or jagir according to his status. This
assessment was made in ‘dams’ Therefore, the income of the jagir was called Jamadami.
Ahadi: -
‘Ahadi’ were brave soldiers who were directly recruited by the Mughal Emperor. They were
besides the troops provided by the Mansabdars. As these ‘gentalman’ troopers were recruited by
the Emperor himself so they were considered highly trusted and were paid higher salaries than
other troopers.
Karkhanas: -
‘Kurkhanas’ was a government department that catered to the needs of royal house hold not only
by manufacturing but also by purchasing goods from the market.
Barak-andaz and Tir-andaz: -
‘Barakandaz’ were the skilled musketeers who trained their muskets on the enemies and brought
havoc upon them. On the other hand, ‘Tir-andaz’ were the bowmen who struck arrows while
mounted on their horses. Both were an important part of Mughal army.
Banduqchi
‘Banduqchi’ were the matchlock bearers. They farmed a part of the footmen in the Mughal army
and were paid salaries between three and seven rupees a month.
After the death of Akbar in 1605 his eldest son Jahangir succeeded to the throne without any
difficulty. His two younger brothers Murad and Danyal had already died due to excessive
drinking. However, shortly after Jahangir’s accession, his eldest son, Khusrau rebelled against
his father. Khusrau had intentions of occupying Lahore but he was pursued by his father and was
captured and imprisoned and later on murdered by his brother Prince Khurram (Shah Jahan) in
1622. Jahangir died in 1627 and was buried at Shahdra, near Lahore.
Achievements: - In 1614 Usman Khan the Afghan governor of Bengal revolted against
Mughals. He was, however, defeated by imperial forces in 1615 and peace was resorted in
Bengal.
The main achievement of Jahangir, was the settlement of outstanding dispute with Mewar. Rana
Pratab had been succeeded by his son Rana Amar Singh. Akbar had sent a series of expeditions
against Amar Singh in order to force him to accept Mughal suzerainty. Jahangir himself was sent
twice against him, but could achieve little. However, after his succession in 1605 Jahangir took
up the matter energetically. In 1614 A.D. Prince Khuram fought a successful war against Amar
Singh and he accepted the Mughal suzerainty.
Jahangir in return gave him all the territories including Chittor and did not insist up on the
Rana’s paying personal homage to him.
Like his father, Jahangir realized that conquests could be lasting on the basis not of force but of
securing the good will of the people. He therefore treated the defeated Afghan and Rajput chiefs,
and their followers with consideration ad sympathy.
Setbacks: - Akbar had conquered Qandhar from the Persians in 1595. In 1622 Shah Abbas, the
Shah of Iran abruptly attacked Qandhar and captured it. Jahangir had a mind of reconquering
Qandhar but due to the rebellion of prince Khuram he could not achieve success and Qandhar
was lost which lowered the prestige of the Mughals.
Nur Jahan
Nur Jahan’s original name was Mehr-un-Nisa. She was the daughter of Mirza Ghias Beg
(Itimadudaula - title), who belonged to a respectable family of Persia. On account of some
adverse circumstances, Ghias Beg left Persia to try his luck in India.
Nur Jahan was first married to an Iranian young man, Ali Quli Khan (Sher Afghan) who was the
governor of Burdwan. It has been alleged by some historians that when Jahangir came to the
throne he managed to kill Sher Afghan in 1607 in order to marry Mehr-un-Nisa. But sober
historians do not believe that Jahangir was responsible for the death of her husband. She got
married to Jahangir in 1611. Her father Itimaduldaula had been made joint diwan by Jahangir in
the first year of his reign. Having been tested in this office and following Nur Jahans marriage
with Jahangir, Itmadudaula was raised to the office of the chief Diwan and her brother Asaf
Khan was made Khan-i-Saman and later wakil. Other members of the family also benefitted
from the allaiance, their mansabs being augmented. Nur Jahan died in 1645 and was laid in a
grave besides Jahangir.
Role of Nur Jahan: - Nur Jahan’s marriage with Jahangir in 1611 marks a turning point in the
history of Jahangir’s reign as because of this alliance Nur Jahan and her family assumed
influential position. Immediately after her marriage, Nur Jahan became almost a de facto ruler.
No grant of land was conferred upon any women except under her seal. Her name began to
appear on the coins along with her husband and the royal farmans began to be issued at her
instance. Sometimes she would sit in the balcony of her palace, while the nobles would present
themselves, and listen to her diktats. Slowly and gradually she not only began to participate in
the administration but also tried to concentrate all the authority in her hands. That is why some
historians call the period between 1611-1627 as the reign of Nur Jahan. Some modern historians
like Noor-ul-Hasan and Chandrapanth do not agree with the theory of overwhelming influence of
Nur Jahan upon Jahangir. They believed that Nur Jahan’s family assumed power and position by
dint of their long-standing service in the Mughal administration where they proved very efficient
and loyal. According to them as long as Jahangir was in good health he assumed real power.
That is why we find Nur Jahan’s opponents in the Mughal service.
However, the fact remains that after her marriage with Jahangir, his father and other family
members were also benefited. Itamaduddaula was given substantial increase in mansab and was
raised to the office of chief diwan. Her brother Asaf Khan was also appointed the Khan-i-Saman,
a post reserved for nobles in whom the emperor had full confidence. Her another brother Abdul
Hassan received the title of Itqad Khan and was given a good mansab. Nur jahans maternal
uncle, her sisters, her brother-in-law and other relations were given high positions.
Nur Jahan’s Junta: Nur Jahan could not have exercised the authority without a strong supporting
structure. The structure was Junta comprising at its height Nur Jahan; her father Itimaduddaula;
her brother Asaf Khan and her step-son Khurram (Shahjahan). Almost all the European travelers
are unanimous that the administration was really in the hands of the Junta. For example to quote
Pelsart, “ If any one with request is allowed to speak to the king, the king hears him indeed, but
will give no answer of yes or no, refer him promptly to Asaf Khan, who in the same way will not
dispose off no important matter without communicating with his sister, the queen…”
However some historians do not agree with this view. They point out that till 1622 when
Jahangirs health broke down all the important decisions were taken by the Jahangir himself as is
clear from his autobiography.
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