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Shah Jahan
Born On: January 5, 1592
Died On: January 22, 1666
Achievements: Founder of the magnificent monument Taj Mahal, Also associated
with the Red Fort of Delhi, Jama Masjid of Delhi, Section of Agra Fort, the
Wazir Khan Mosque and the Moti Masjid in Lahore, Pakistan.
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Shah Jahan, his name along with the name of his wife Mumtaz Mahal, being
synonymous with the existence and ever growing popularity of Taj Mahal, was a
Mughal Emperor of the Southern Asia who reigned from 1627 to 1658. Born as
Prince Shihab-ud-din Muhammad Khurram in the Lahore, Pakistan of 1592, Shah
Jahan was the son of Emperor Jahangir. His name Khurram, which means "joyful" in
Persian, was given to him by his grandfather Akbar the Great. Displaying great
military skills at an early age against numerous enemies including Mewar, the
Lodi in the Deccan, and Kangra, impressed his father so much that Shah Jahan
received the title "Shah Jahan Bahadur" from him. He wasn't just a sharp
military leader, but also had an exceptional talent for building and proved it
by re-designing buildings within the Agra fort. Among many titles he had earned,
"The Builder of the Marvels" was one that was about to be proved the most
deserving in the time to come.
The most significant part of Shah Jahan's life history began in 1607 when he was
15 and was betrothed to Arjumand Banu Begum, the granddaughter of a Persian
noble and was just 14 at that time. After they got married in 1612, Arjumand
became the unquestioned love of his life. Khurram, upon finding her appearance
and character elect among all the women of the time, bestowed her with the title
of Mumtaz Mahal, meaning "Jewel of the Palace". Although Mumtaz was one among
the few wives Shah Jahan had had, according to the official court chronicler
Qazwini, the relationship with his other wives "had nothing more than the status
of marriage. The intimacy, deep affection, attention and favor which His Majesty
had for the Cradle of Excellence (Mumtaz) exceeded by a thousand times what he
felt for any other". She was his inseparable companion, accompanying him even on
military ventures, a trusted confidante and their relationship was intense.
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After she died in 1631 while giving birth to their 14th child, Shah Jahan
undertook the work of constructing world's most beautiful monument in her
memory. This monument, which entombs Mumtaz Mahal as well as Shah Jahan, came to
be known as "Taj Mahal", the building of which took 22 years and 22000 laborers.
It was in 1657 that Shah Jahan fell ill, and Dara, Mumtaz Mahal's eldest son
assumed responsibility of his father's throne. His other son, Aurangzeb,
accompanied by his younger brothers Shuja and Murad marched upon Agra to in
order to claim their share. They defeated Dara's armies and declared their
father Shah Jahan incompetent to rule and put him under house arrest in Agra
Fort. After Shah Jahan died in 1666 in captivity, his body was taken quietly by
two men and was laid beside Mumtaz. Apart from the Taj Mahal, one of the Seven
Wonders of the World, the Red Fort of Delhi, Jama Masjid of Delhi, Section of
Agra Fort, the Wazir Khan Mosque and the Moti Masjid in Lahore, Pakistan, are
some of the noble structures associated with the name of Shah Jahan, meaning
"King of the World" in Persian.
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