Moghal Empire to be Focus of Passport to India
On April 28, AIS will live the history, splendor, and romance of the era of the Great Moghals. But just who were these emperors? Their names are synonymous with great power and wealth. Their buildings are exemplified by the world's most romantic wonder: the Taj Mahal. A fraction of their legendary wealth is represented in Britain's "Mountain of Light" and Iran's "Sea of Light" diamonds and the Peacock throne, all carried off during the 18th and 19th centuries.
The Moghals were the longest reigning dynasty who traced their lineage directly to the Mongol Chengiz Khan and the Central Asian warlord Teymur/Tamerlane. Their dynasty spanned over three centuries, from 1526 to 1858.
Babur
Babur (1483-1530), the founder of the Moghal Empire in India, was born in Ferghana (in modern Uzbekistan) on February 14, 1483. A born leader, brilliant general and swordsman of extraordinary strength, he was also a romantic.
Having inherited his father's small kingdom at the age of 14 he sought to follow his paternal ancestor, Teymur, and conquer Samarkand, which he did on the third try—only to be driven out not only of Samarkand but Ferghana as well.
So followed the years he refers to as "the wandering days" in his autobiography The Baburnama, considered one of the most romantic and enthralling literary works of all time, in which he describes with vivid detail and disarming honesty the hardships of this period of his life.
In 1504 he took Kabul, which became the first capital of the Moghal empire, and from there made his bid for India, which was then controlled by the Turkish Sultan Ibrahim Lodi of Delhi. In 1526, after five attempts, he crushed Lodi, and continued to subdue the Rajput and Afghan chiefs who shared political control of India. Babur hated India and pined for the wondrous gardens and fruits of Kabul, where he wished to be buried. He was finally laid to rest in Bagh-i Babur, his favorite garden.
Humayun
Humayun, who ruled from 1530 to 1556, inherited a fledgling empire which he soon lost. He was faced with resurgent Afghan and Rajput nobles in addition to disloyal brothers. He was overthrown in 1540 by the Afghan Sher Khan, and fled to Iran where the Persian Shah, Tahmasp, gave him support to regain his kingdom. He recaptured Kabul, his capital for the next ten years. In 1555, Sher Khan died, and Humayun attacked Delhi and reclaimed his throne.
Though he lacked his father's and his son's abilities, Humayun was a gentleman learned in the sciences. Superstitious to a fault, he was over indulgent and constantly forgave his brothers' treachery only to be deceived repeatedly. Greatly interested in the arts, he laid the foundation of the Moghal school of painting but did not live to see it flourish. Within a year of regaining his throne, he died after falling down the steps of his library.
Akbar
Akbar the Great ruled from 1556 to 1605. He initiated the Moghal dynasty's greatest period in addition to his military gains, where he extended Moghal rule over all India.
Practicing universal tolerance, he tried to remove all distinctions between Muslims and non-Muslims. He abolished the jizya tax on all non-Muslims and married into the powerful Rajput families.
His greatest contribution was in the arts and religion. He commissioned extensive architectural, artistic and literary programs, and had histories, epics and other literary works translated and illustrated.
The most tolerant of rulers, he preserved Hindu temples and presided over religious debates where scholars of all religions gathered. After five celebrated decades of rule, he died in 1605 and was buried in a tomb garden at Sikandra, a short distance from Agra.
Jahangir
Nuruddin Salim Jahangir, the "World Seizer," was born after Akbar, and ruled from 1605 to 1627. Despairing of having no heirs, he consulted the sage Sheikh Salim Chisti in the village of Sikri near Agra. He named his eldest son after the saint and made Agra his capital, building his famous Fathepur Sikri, the City of Victory, where the Moghal court resided for 15 years.
Jahangir continued his father's patronage of the arts, loved nature and left an autobiography which includes detailed records of wildlife. He was famous for the "Chain of Justice" outside his palace, which had 60 bells. Anyone in distress could simply pull the chain and get a personal audience with the Emperor. Because he was overly fond of wine, and a romantic, his powerful Persian wife Nur Jahan took control of the affairs of state and ruled in his stead.
Shah Jahan
Shah Jahan ruled the empire from 1627 to 1666. His reign is considered the golden age of architecture, exemplified by many splendid monuments. Among these is the Taj Mahal, built as a tomb for his wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died giving birth to their 13th child. The splendor of Moghal India is personified in paintings of him, bejeweled, seated on his Peacock Throne.
Overthrown by his son Aurangzeb, Shah Jahan was imprisoned in the Agra Fort, with a small view of the Taj Mahal as his only consolation until his death eight years later. He was laid to rest beside Mumtaz, in the world's most famous mausoleum.
Many romantic theories surround the Taj Mahal. Mumtaz Mahal is buried in the center, and Shah Jahan is next to her to the side. This has led to the theory that Shah Jahan intended to build himself a replica of the Taj Mahal across the river Jumna, in black marble to contrast and compliment the white marble of the Taj Mahal, a symbol of their perfect balance and harmony in life and death.
Aurangzeb
Aurangzeb, the last of the Great Moghal emperors, ruled from 1666 to 1707. A ruthless man and a devout Muslim, he reversed all of Akbar's polices of religious tolerance. Hindus were forced to convert to Islam and temples were destroyed.
In his quest for power, Aurangzeb overthrew his father and executed his brother, Dara Shukoh. During his 49-year reign, he expanded the kingdom with constant warfare, which left a weak, overextended empire. The origins of conflicts which led to the final separation of India and Pakistan can be traced to his rule. His successors, known as the Later Moghals, witnessed the decay and exploitation of the empire.
The Moghal empire ended in 1858 with the exile of Bahadur Shah (ruled 1838 to 1858) by the British, who executed his sons in his presence, and presented their severed heads to him. The title Emperor of India was subsequently taken by Queen Victoria.