Mughal Romance: Nur Jahan and Jahangir
Mihr-un-nissa, the widow of Sher Afgan became the de facto ruler of the Mughal Empire during Jahangir's reign. Apart from the khutba (prayer for the reigning monarch), she held all the privileges of a monarch. In many ways, Nur Jahan can be compared to Raziyya Sultan of Delhi Sultanate. However, Nur Jahan only gained power after her marriage to Jahangir.
Also Read: Was Jahangir Responsible for the Murder of Sher Afgan?
Mihr-un-nissa, later known as Nur Jahan, was born in Kandahar, Afghanistan, on May 31, 1577, to a Persian noble family. Her parents were Mirza Ghiyas Beg (Itimad-ud-daula) and Asmat Begum. After the death of Ghiyas Beg's father, the family moved to India and joined emperor Akbar's service. Mihr-un-nissa was initially married to Sher Afgan, a Persian nobleman, during Akbar's reign.
Born as prince Salim, Jahangir was Mihr-un-nissa's second husband. They married in 1611 when Mihr-un-nissa was thirty-four years old and already had a daughter. As a queen, she was not merely a ceremonial consort. She quickly became Jahangir's favorite wife, and was given the titles of Nur Mahal (Light of the Palace) and then Nur Jahan (Light of the World) in 1616. Jahangir granted her rights of sovereignty and government. Royal decrees bore her signature, and coins were minted in her name. Gradually Nur Jahan became the virtual ruler of the kingdom while Jahangir would say, "I require nothing beyond a glass of wine and half a piece of meat."
Following her marriage to Jahangir, Nur Jahan's relatives and servants were elevated to highest positions in the court. Her father, Itimad-ud-daula, became the wazir, while her brother, Abul Hasan was given the title of Asaf Khan in 1614. Asaf Khan's daughter, Arjumand Banu Begum, also known as Mumtaz Mahal, who had been betrothed to prince Khurram (afterwards Shah Jahan, Jahangir's third son) in 1607, married him in 1612.
Historical records praise Nur Jahan's beauty, wisdom, and generosity. She arranged marriages for orphan girls, provided them with dowries. She was known for her problem-solving skills. Nur Jahan was skilled in designing clothing, veils, and ornaments, as well as decorating apartments and organizing feasts and events. She was also a talented poetess.
Nur Jahan often accompanied Jahangir on hunting expeditions. During one such expedition, she displayed incredible marksmanship by killing a tiger with a single shot, a feat that even Jahangir's huntsman, Mirza Rustam, could not accomplish. On another occasion, "She shot two tigers with one shot each and knocked over the two others with four shots. In the twinkling of an eye she deprived of life the bodies of these four tigers," noted Jahangir. Impressed by her prowess, Jahangir rewarded her with diamond bracelets worth a lakh rupees and showered her with 1000 ashrafis.
Nur Jahan's devotion to her husband was evident in her actions. That is why Jahangir gave her the title of Nur Jahan in accordance with his own name, Nur-ud-din Jahangir. Jahangir himself acknowledged her as the one who cared for him the most, saying, "I did not think anyone was fonder of me than Nur Jahan Begum."
When Jahangir fell seriously ill due to his addiction to wine in 1621, Nur Jahan took charge of his care. "Nur Jahan Begum, whose sense and experience exceeded that of the physicians, in her kindness and devotion, exerted herself to reduce the quantity of my potations. Although I had before discarded the doctors and their advice, I now had faith in her attention. She gradually reduced the quantity of wine I took, and guarded me against unsuitable food and improper things."
Francisco Pelsaert, in his book "Jahangir's India," described the intimate relationship between Jahangir and Nur Jahan, "When the last cup has been drunk, the king goes to bed. As soon as all the men have left, the queen comes with the female slaves, and they undress him, chafing and fondling him as if he were a little child. This is the time when his wife, who knows so well how to manage him that she obtains whatever she asks for or desires, gets always 'yes,' and hardly ever 'no' in reply."
Once Nur Jahan became ill and was quickly healed with the assistance of the physician Hakim. In appreciation, Jahangir granted Hakim three villages and rewarded him with a substantial sum of silver equal to his weight.
Mahabat Khan was later summoned to court for his failure to deliver the elephants that were supposed to be acquired during Shah Jahan's revolt, and to provide an account of owed state funds. Asaf Khan aimed to publicly shame him and diminish his reputation.
Adding to his troubles, Mahabat Khan had married his daughter to Barkhurdar without obtaining the customary permission from Jahangir. As a result, Barkhurdar was imprisoned and the dowry given by Mahabat Khan was confiscated. This resulted in the revolt of Mahabat Khan in 1626.
During Jahangir's journey to Kabul, Mahabat Khan, accompanied by 4000-5000 rajputs, arrived at the emperor's camp near the River Jhelum and took him captive. Mahabat Khan sent troops to hold the bridge, preventing anyone from crossing from the other side. He expressed his fear of facing disgrace, torture, and death at the hands of Asaf Khan's malice, seeking the emperor's protection. "Sire, if I deserve to be killed and punished, kill and punish me in your imperial presence."
However, Mahabat Khan overlooked the importance of detaining Nur Jahan, which ultimately led to her successful escape. Nur Jahan disguised herself and, accompanied by a small group of guards, managed to cross the bridge and reached her brother Asaf Khan.
Mahabat Khan suggested to Jahangir that they go hunting, but with the rajputs guarding them, to give the impression that the emperor willingly sought his protection to escape the influence of his wife and brother-in-law.
Nur Jahan exhibited great resourcefulness and courage in rescuing her husband from the grasp of Mahabat Khan. She called a council of chief officers and made preparations to cross the river the following morning to confront Mahabat Khan. Seated on an elephant with Shahryar's infant daughter on her lap, Nur Jahan led the imperial officers across the river through a ford. On the opposite bank, Mahabat Khan's forces were prepared for battle. The difficult ford caused the imperialists to be divided into several groups, leading to a fierce battle.
The battle concluded with Mahabat Khan emerging victorious. Nur Jahan's elephant was wounded with two sword cuts on its trunk during the conflict. She surrendered to Mahabat Khan and joined her husband in captivity. Mahabat Khan then escorted the emperor on the journey to Kabul.
Following Nur Jahan's advice, Jahangir cleverly gained Mahabat Khan's trust by expressing relief at being freed from the influence of Nur Jahan and Asaf Khan by his loyal servant. Jahangir pretended to confide in Mahabat Khan, revealing that Nur Jahan was conspiring against him. Jahangir appeared content with his situation and claimed to have regained his former happiness.
Deceived by Jahangir's words, Mahabat Khan reduced the number of rajput guards. Meanwhile, Nur Jahan was actively working to turn the resentful nobles against Mahabat Khan, steadily increasing her followers.
As they neared Rohtas, the conspiracy was set in motion. Jahangir sent a messenger to Mahabat Khan, asking him to postpone his usual parade as the emperor planned to review the troops gathered by Nur Jahan. He instructed Mahabat Khan to move forward to avoid a clash between the two parties.
Mahabat Khan quickly realized he had been outwitted and fled. This cunning scheme devised by Jahangir and Nur Jahan ultimately led to the downfall of Mahabat Khan.
Also Read: Was Jahangir Responsible for the Murder of Sher Afgan?
Mihr-un-nissa, later known as Nur Jahan, was born in Kandahar, Afghanistan, on May 31, 1577, to a Persian noble family. Her parents were Mirza Ghiyas Beg (Itimad-ud-daula) and Asmat Begum. After the death of Ghiyas Beg's father, the family moved to India and joined emperor Akbar's service. Mihr-un-nissa was initially married to Sher Afgan, a Persian nobleman, during Akbar's reign.
Born as prince Salim, Jahangir was Mihr-un-nissa's second husband. They married in 1611 when Mihr-un-nissa was thirty-four years old and already had a daughter. As a queen, she was not merely a ceremonial consort. She quickly became Jahangir's favorite wife, and was given the titles of Nur Mahal (Light of the Palace) and then Nur Jahan (Light of the World) in 1616. Jahangir granted her rights of sovereignty and government. Royal decrees bore her signature, and coins were minted in her name. Gradually Nur Jahan became the virtual ruler of the kingdom while Jahangir would say, "I require nothing beyond a glass of wine and half a piece of meat."
Following her marriage to Jahangir, Nur Jahan's relatives and servants were elevated to highest positions in the court. Her father, Itimad-ud-daula, became the wazir, while her brother, Abul Hasan was given the title of Asaf Khan in 1614. Asaf Khan's daughter, Arjumand Banu Begum, also known as Mumtaz Mahal, who had been betrothed to prince Khurram (afterwards Shah Jahan, Jahangir's third son) in 1607, married him in 1612.
Historical records praise Nur Jahan's beauty, wisdom, and generosity. She arranged marriages for orphan girls, provided them with dowries. She was known for her problem-solving skills. Nur Jahan was skilled in designing clothing, veils, and ornaments, as well as decorating apartments and organizing feasts and events. She was also a talented poetess.
Nur Jahan often accompanied Jahangir on hunting expeditions. During one such expedition, she displayed incredible marksmanship by killing a tiger with a single shot, a feat that even Jahangir's huntsman, Mirza Rustam, could not accomplish. On another occasion, "She shot two tigers with one shot each and knocked over the two others with four shots. In the twinkling of an eye she deprived of life the bodies of these four tigers," noted Jahangir. Impressed by her prowess, Jahangir rewarded her with diamond bracelets worth a lakh rupees and showered her with 1000 ashrafis.
Nur Jahan's devotion to her husband was evident in her actions. That is why Jahangir gave her the title of Nur Jahan in accordance with his own name, Nur-ud-din Jahangir. Jahangir himself acknowledged her as the one who cared for him the most, saying, "I did not think anyone was fonder of me than Nur Jahan Begum."
When Jahangir fell seriously ill due to his addiction to wine in 1621, Nur Jahan took charge of his care. "Nur Jahan Begum, whose sense and experience exceeded that of the physicians, in her kindness and devotion, exerted herself to reduce the quantity of my potations. Although I had before discarded the doctors and their advice, I now had faith in her attention. She gradually reduced the quantity of wine I took, and guarded me against unsuitable food and improper things."
Francisco Pelsaert, in his book "Jahangir's India," described the intimate relationship between Jahangir and Nur Jahan, "When the last cup has been drunk, the king goes to bed. As soon as all the men have left, the queen comes with the female slaves, and they undress him, chafing and fondling him as if he were a little child. This is the time when his wife, who knows so well how to manage him that she obtains whatever she asks for or desires, gets always 'yes,' and hardly ever 'no' in reply."
Once Nur Jahan became ill and was quickly healed with the assistance of the physician Hakim. In appreciation, Jahangir granted Hakim three villages and rewarded him with a substantial sum of silver equal to his weight.
Conflict between Nur Jahan and Shah Jahan
In 1621, Nur Jahan arranged the marriage of her daughter, Ladli Begum, to Jahangir's youngest son, prince Shahryar, with the intention of having him succeed his father. This decision led to a conflict with prince Shah Jahan and eventually led to his failed rebellion.Mahabat Khan's Revolt (1626)
Mahabat Khan was one of Jahangir's powerful generals. Nur Jahan and her brother, Asaf Khan, grew worried about Mahabat Khan's growing influence and his close alliance with prince Parveiz, the second son of Jahangir. Together, Mahabat Khan and Parveiz had successfully suppressed Shah Jahan's revolt. In an effort to weaken their alliance, Nur Jahan had Mahabat Khan transferred to govern Bengal, a distant province.Mahabat Khan was later summoned to court for his failure to deliver the elephants that were supposed to be acquired during Shah Jahan's revolt, and to provide an account of owed state funds. Asaf Khan aimed to publicly shame him and diminish his reputation.
Adding to his troubles, Mahabat Khan had married his daughter to Barkhurdar without obtaining the customary permission from Jahangir. As a result, Barkhurdar was imprisoned and the dowry given by Mahabat Khan was confiscated. This resulted in the revolt of Mahabat Khan in 1626.
During Jahangir's journey to Kabul, Mahabat Khan, accompanied by 4000-5000 rajputs, arrived at the emperor's camp near the River Jhelum and took him captive. Mahabat Khan sent troops to hold the bridge, preventing anyone from crossing from the other side. He expressed his fear of facing disgrace, torture, and death at the hands of Asaf Khan's malice, seeking the emperor's protection. "Sire, if I deserve to be killed and punished, kill and punish me in your imperial presence."
However, Mahabat Khan overlooked the importance of detaining Nur Jahan, which ultimately led to her successful escape. Nur Jahan disguised herself and, accompanied by a small group of guards, managed to cross the bridge and reached her brother Asaf Khan.
Mahabat Khan suggested to Jahangir that they go hunting, but with the rajputs guarding them, to give the impression that the emperor willingly sought his protection to escape the influence of his wife and brother-in-law.
Nur Jahan Saves Jahangir
Nur Jahan exhibited great resourcefulness and courage in rescuing her husband from the grasp of Mahabat Khan. She called a council of chief officers and made preparations to cross the river the following morning to confront Mahabat Khan. Seated on an elephant with Shahryar's infant daughter on her lap, Nur Jahan led the imperial officers across the river through a ford. On the opposite bank, Mahabat Khan's forces were prepared for battle. The difficult ford caused the imperialists to be divided into several groups, leading to a fierce battle.
The battle concluded with Mahabat Khan emerging victorious. Nur Jahan's elephant was wounded with two sword cuts on its trunk during the conflict. She surrendered to Mahabat Khan and joined her husband in captivity. Mahabat Khan then escorted the emperor on the journey to Kabul.
Following Nur Jahan's advice, Jahangir cleverly gained Mahabat Khan's trust by expressing relief at being freed from the influence of Nur Jahan and Asaf Khan by his loyal servant. Jahangir pretended to confide in Mahabat Khan, revealing that Nur Jahan was conspiring against him. Jahangir appeared content with his situation and claimed to have regained his former happiness.
Deceived by Jahangir's words, Mahabat Khan reduced the number of rajput guards. Meanwhile, Nur Jahan was actively working to turn the resentful nobles against Mahabat Khan, steadily increasing her followers.
As they neared Rohtas, the conspiracy was set in motion. Jahangir sent a messenger to Mahabat Khan, asking him to postpone his usual parade as the emperor planned to review the troops gathered by Nur Jahan. He instructed Mahabat Khan to move forward to avoid a clash between the two parties.
Mahabat Khan quickly realized he had been outwitted and fled. This cunning scheme devised by Jahangir and Nur Jahan ultimately led to the downfall of Mahabat Khan.
Comments