Nur Jahan was indeed possessed of exquisite beauty, a fine taste for Persian literature, poetry and arts, “a piercing intellect, a versatile temper, and sound common sense”. But the most dominating trait of her character was her inordinate ambition, which led her to establish an unlimited ascendancy over her husband. Her father, I’timad-ud-daulah, and brother, Asaf Khan, became prominent nobles of the court, and she further strengthened her position by marrying her daughter by her first husband to Jahangir’s youngest son, Prince Shahryar.
The early part of Jahangir’s reign witnessed some important military successes. Attention was first directed towards Bengal, the annexation of which had not yet put an end to the Afghan opposition there. The frequent change of governors in Bengal encouraged the local Afghans to rebel under ‘Usman Khan during the governor-ship of Islam Khan, who was, however, a capable man and took prompt measures to suppress the rebellion. The Afghans were defeated by the imperialists on the 12th March, 1612, and their leader, ‘Usman Khan, died from the effect of a severe wound in the head. The political power of the Afghans, so long opposed to the Mughuls, came to an end, and Jahangir’s conciliatory policy made them henceforth friendly to the Empire.
The most distinguished triumph of Mughul imperialism during the reign of Jahangir was its victory over the Rajputs of Mewar, who had so long defied its might. Amar Singh of Mewar was devoid of the unflinching resolution of Pratap, and the policy of Prince Khurram, the third son of Jahangir, compelled him to negotiate for peace. The Rani and his son Karan submitted to the Mughuls and recognised the suzerainty of the Empire. The Rana himself was exempted from personal attendance at the imperial court, and no princess of his family was ever taken to the imperial harem. As Jahangir himself observed: “The real point was that as Rana Amar Singh and his fathers, proud in the strength of their hilly country and their abodes, had never seen or obeyed any of the Kings of Hindustan, this should be brought about in my reign.” Jahangir subsequently placed two life-size marble statues of the Rana and his son in the garden of his palace at Agra. By granting generous terms to Mewar and adopting a conciliatory policy towards it, Jahangir secured its loyalty for the Mughul Empire till Aurangzeb’s policy alienated Rana Raj Singh.
In the Deccan, Jahangir pursued the forward policy of his father and a desultory war dragged on throughout his reign against the kingdom of Ahmadnagar. Complete success of the Mughul over the forces of Ahmadnagar was not possible, owing partly to the strength of the Deccan kingdom and partly to the weak conduct of the war by the imperial troops. The kingdom of Ahmadnagar was then ably served by its Abyssinian minister, Malik Ambar, a born leader of men and one of the greatest statesmen that Medieval India produced. His reorganization of the revenue system of the kingdom on sound lines contributed to its financial stability, and his training of the soldiers, mostly Marathas, in the guerrilla method of warfare enabled them to cope successfully with the imperialists. Mu’tamid Khan, the Mughul court-chronicler who could not have been biased towards Malik Ambar thus describes him: ‘This Ambar was a slave, but an able man. In warfare, in command, in sound judgment, and in administration, he had no rival or equal. He well understood the predatory warfare, which in the language of the Dakhin is called bargi-giri. He kept down the turbulent spirits of that country, and maintained his exalted position to the end of his life and closed his career in honour. History records no other instance of an Abyssinian slave arriving at such eminence.” The activities of the imperial troops were, on the other hand, greatly hampered by continual dissensions among the commanders. The normal command of the campaigns was first given to Prince Parwez and subsequently to Prince Khurram. But ‘Abdur Rahim Khan-i-Khanan, and some other chief nobles, really controlled all affairs. They occupied their time more in mutual quarrels than in fighting against the Deccanis. Only a partial success was gained by the Mughuls in A.D. 1616, when Prince Khurram captured Ahmadnagar and some other strongholds. For this victory Khurram was rewarded by his father with the title of Shah Jahan (King of the World). He received various gifts, and was elevated to the rank of 30,000 zat and 20,000 sawar. But the victory of the Mughuls over Ahmadnagar was more apparent than real. The Deccan was far from being completely conquered by them. It has been justly remarked that “nothing could conceal the stern reality that the expenditure of millions of rupees and thousands of lives had not advanced the Mughul frontier a single line beyond the frontier of 1605”.
A notable military success of Jahangir’s reign was the capture of the strong fortress of Kangra in the hills of the north-eastern Punjab on the 16th November, 1620. But this event, in which Jahangir found cause for exultation, was quickly followed by disasters and rebellions which had no end till he closed his eyes for ever.
The first serious disaster for the Empire was the loss of Qandahar, which had long been a source of friction between the Mughuls and the Persians. Deceiving the Mughul officers by gifts and friendly professions, Shah ‘Abbas (1587-1629), one of the greatest rulers of Asia in his time, took advantage of internal disorders in the Empire to besiege Qandahar in 1621, and finally took it in June, 1622. The huge preparations of Jahangir for the recapture of Qandahar were in vain, as his son Shah Jahan, whom he ordered to lead the expedition, apprehending that his absence from the capital would be utilised by Nur Jahan to prejudice his claims to the throne, and to strengthen those of her son-in-law, Shahryar, did not move. Alienated by the intrigues of Nur Jahan, Shah Jahan soon rose in rebellion against his father, as the Emperor had not the courage or power to restrain the Empress. Placed on the horns of a dilemma facing the Persian pressure on the north-west and the defection of Shah Jahan within the heart of the Empire– Jahangir was in sore straits. His attention and effort had soon to be diverted towards the suppression of the danger at home.
Shah Jahan, joined by the aged officer ‘Abdur Rahim Khan-I-Khanan at first intended to march on Agra, but an imperial army under the nominal command of Prince Parwez and with Mahabat Khan as its real leader, completely defeated him at Balochpur, south of Delhi, in 1623. He was chased from province to province and met with repeated reverses. He first proceeded to the Deccan, whence he was driven to Bengal. But unable to maintain his hold there, he returned to the Deccan and for a few years wandered about seeking the alliance of Malik ‘Ambar and others. He was finally reconciled to his father in 1625. His sons, Dara Shukoh and Aurangzeb, were sent to the imperial court, probably to serve as hostages for his good behaviour; and he retired to Nasik with his wife, Mumtaz Mahal, a niece of Nur Jahan, and youngest son, Murad. Thus ended the futile rebellion of Shah Jahan, with no gain for him but with ample damage to the Empire.
