Jahangir

Jahangir, born Salim in 1569, was the fourth Mughal emperor and ruled from 1605 to 1627. He was the son of Akbar the Great and Mariam-uz-Zamani, and his reign continued the centralized administration and cultural patronage established by his father. His early years were marked by political and military responsibilities within the empire, including a rebellion by his son Khusrau Mirza that was suppressed before he claimed the throne.

During Jahangir's reign, the Mughal state maintained a policy of relative religious tolerance, while balancing the interests of diverse communities. He supported the continuation of Akbar’s policy of fusion and dialogue, although his rule also involved decisive actions against perceived threats to imperial authority. In 1606, Guru Arjan, the fifth Sikh Guru, was executed after tensions over political and religious loyalties, a decision that affected Sikh–Mughal relations and remains a point of historical controversy.

Jahangir's court became known for its cultural vibrancy and administrative vitality. He continued patronage of the arts, letters, and architecture, and his era saw the documentation of court life in the Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri (Jahangir’s autobiography), which provides insight into his views and governance. The influence of Nur Jahan, his wife, grew in the later years of his reign, shaping court politics and patronage networks.

Relations with Europeans diversified trade and diplomacy, with continued contact with the English and Dutch and a degree of religious and cultural exchange, including the presence of Jesuit missions in the subcontinent. Jahangir died in 1627 and was succeeded by his son Shah Jahan (Khurram). His reign is often seen as a bridge between Akbar’s consolidation and the later expansions of the Mughal era.