Jahandar Shah
| Jahandar Shah | |
|---|---|
 |
|
 8th Mughal Emperor of India |
|
| Reign | 27 February 1712 - 11 February, 1713 (0 years, 350 days) |
| Coronation | 29 March 1712 at Lahore |
| Predecessor | Bahadur Shah I |
| Successor | Farrukhsiyar |
| Spouse | Anup Bai Saidat-un-Nisa Begum Imtiaz Mahal Begum Lal Kunwar Jina Begum |
| Issue | |
| Muhammad Azhar-ud-Din Bahadur A'az-ud-Din Wali Ahd Bahadur Muhammad Aziz-ud-Din Bahadur Alamgir II Izz-ud-Din Bahadur Said-un-Nisa Begum Iffat Ara Begum Rabi Begum |
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| Full name | |
| Ma'az-ud-Din Jahandar Shah Bahadur | |
| House | Timurid |
| Father | Bahadur Shah I |
| Mother | Nizam Bai |
| Born | May 9, 1661 Deccan, Mughal Empire |
| Died | February 12, 1713 (aged 51) Delhi, Mughal Empire |
| Burial | Humayun's Tomb |
| Religion | Islam |
Jahandar Shah (1661–1713) was a Mughal Emperor who ruled India for a brief period in 1712-1713. His title was Shahanshah-i-Ghazi Abu'l Fath Muiz-ud-Din Muhammad Jahandar Shah Sahib-i-Quran Padshah-i-Jahan (Khuld Aramgah).
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[edit] Early life
Jahandar Shah was born on 10 May 1661, a son of the emperor Bahadur Shah I. Upon the death of their father on 27 February 1712, he and his brother Azim-ush-Shan both declared themselves emperor and conducted a struggle for the succession. Azim-us-Shan was killed on 17 March 1712 and Jahandar Shah was able to rule for a further eleven months. Before coming to the throne, Jahandar Shah had sailed around the Indian ocean, and had been a very prosperous trader, and was later appointed Subedar of Sindh. He was the father of three sons, including Aziz-ud-Din who reigned as Mughal emperor between 1754 and 1759.
[edit] Reign
His court was depraved. He was a mere puppet in the hands of his favourite wife, Lal Kunwar. Before her elevation to the position of Queen Consort, she was a mere dancing girl. Her children were promoted to the highest offices of the Empire. He was defeated in the battle at Agra on 10 January 1713 by Farrukhsiyar, his nephew and the second son of Azim-us-Shan, with the support of the Syed Brothers.
His authority was rejected by the third Nawab of the Carnatic Muhammed Saadatullah Khan I, who killed De Singh of Orchha, mainly because the Nawab believed that he was the righteous commander of the Gingee Fort, and began a smear campaign referring to Jahandar Shah as an usurper to the Mughal throne. To further strengthen his authority Jahandar Shah sent gifts to the Ottoman Sultan Ahmad III.[1]
He fled to Delhi, from where he was captured and handed over to the new Emperor, who confined him along with Lal Kunwar. He lived in confinement for a month, until 11 February 1713, when professional stranglers were sent to murder him.
[edit] Death
When the stranglers were admitted into the prison, Lal Kunwar shrieked, clasped hold of her lover and refused to let go. Violently forcing the two apart, they laid hands on Jahandar Shah and finished him off. His head was severed and presented to Farrukhsiyar, while his body was taken to Humayun's Tomb and interred there. Lal Kunwar was sent to Suragpura (Hamlet of Happy Wives) where the widows of previous emperors lived in retirement.
[edit] References
| Preceded by Bahadur Shah I |
Mughal Emperor 1712–1713 |
Succeeded by Farrukhsiyar |
