Taj Mahal And Shah Ismail

His rebellious son Khusrau was sent to the Red Fort at Agra in order to prevent any potential disaster as the rival to his own father. Unfortunately it did not stop Khusrau and he rebelled in April 1606. Jahangir interfered the rebels recklessly leaving his fourteen year-old son Khurram to govern the council himself. Jahangir’s tendency in torturing was notable. It was reported that the guilty people were punished under the feet of the elephants.

His curiosity for science and nature are worth emphasising and he was interested in architecture like his father Akbar. Although he lost time in suppressing Khusrau’s rebels, he continued to finish his father’s four-minaret-mausoleum at Sikandra near Agra which was amongst the masterpiece of elegance of the time.

When he controlled his rebelled son, Jahangir devoted himself to Khurram, the heir to the Empire. Khurram was engaged in April 1607 with the grand daughter of Ghiyas Beg, Arjumand Banu. On the other hand, Ghiyas beg who was awarded by Jahangir with the title of Itımad-ud-daula (pillar of government) was then embarrassed to the loyal family with one of his son’s contribution to Khusrau’s revolts. He saved his son’s life from execution and forced to pay huge amounts to Jahangir for this disorder which was the reason of the delay of Arjumand Banu’s wedding. Khurram married with a Persian girl of Shah Ismail Safavi’s descent in October 1610 and gave birth to his first child, in August 1611.

The selection of thirty-year-old Mehrunissa to Harem by the order of Jahangir was after her husband’s murder intentionally in Bengal. Mehrunissa took the name of Nur Mahal “Light of the Palace” as Jahangir’s last bride and, then, Nur Jahan “Light of the world”. The former problems were gradually solved with Ghiyas Beg after the coming of the new bride. It was also a good period for Arjumand Banu, who was lately able to marry with Khurram in 10 May 1612, a fortunate date which was well-chosen by the astrologers . Jahangir also awarded Ghiyas beg’s son, Arjumand Banu’s father with the title of Asaf Khan in 1614.

After the marriage Khurram gave the title of Mumtaz Mahal Begum to elect from the other women and to honour her.