Later Mughals (1605–1707): Jahangir, Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb Notes for OAS

Later Mughals notes for OPSC OAS and UPSC cover the reigns of Jahangir, Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb, from 1605 to 1707. This page explains the political history, the Nur Jahan Junta, Shah Jahan's architectural achievements and Deccan policy, Aurangzeb's war of succession and religious policies, the territorial climax of the empire, and the Mughal administration of Odisha.

Jahangir (1605–1627): Nur Jahan, Justice and Artistic Refinement

Jahangir succeeded Akbar in 1605. His reign is known for political stability, artistic refinement, and the powerful influence of his wife Nur Jahan. He was the only Mughal emperor who wrote his autobiography in Persian, the Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri.UPPSC 2001

Nur Jahan and the 'Junta'

• Mehrunnisa, given the title Nur Jahan, married Jahangir in 1611 and quickly became a powerful political figure.SSC CGL 2020
• She formed a powerful 'Junta' with her father Ghiyas Beg (Itmad-ud-Daula) and brother Asaf Khan. Her son-in-law Khurram (later Shah Jahan) was initially part of this faction but later rebelled.UPPSC 2013
• Nur Jahan built the tomb of her father, Itmad-ud-Daula, at Agra, often called the 'Baby Taj'.BPSC 2008

Justice and Reforms

• Jahangir installed the famous Chain of Justice (Zanjir-i-Adl) at Agra Fort, a golden chain with 60 bells, so that any aggrieved person could seek direct justice from the emperor.Chain of Justice
• He prohibited the use of tobacco in his empire.IAS (Pre) 2005
• He introduced the Do-aspa and Sih-aspa system, a military reform allowing mansabdars to maintain additional horsemen.BPSC 2004

Relations with the English and Rajputs

• Captain William Hawkins (1608) and Sir Thomas Roe (1615–1619) visited his court. Roe obtained permission to establish a factory at Surat.UPPSC 2013IAS (Pre) 2009
• The Treaty of Chittor (1615) was signed with Rana Amar Singh of Mewar, ending the long Mughal–Mewar conflict.UPPSC 2008

Rebellions and Challenges

• His son Khusrau rebelled and was imprisoned and blinded.MPPSC 2015
• Jahangir imprisoned the Naqshbandi Sufi saint Sheikh Ahmad Sirhindi for his orthodox views.IAS (Pre) 1998

Shah Jahan (1628–1658): The Golden Age of Mughal Architecture and Deccan Policy

Shah Jahan's reign is often called the golden age of Mughal architecture. He shifted the capital from Agra to Delhi, building the city of Shahjahanabad, which included the Red Fort and Jama Masjid.UPPSC 2008

Architecture and Culture

• He built the Taj Mahal in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal (Arjumand Banu Begum).JPSC 2003
• His court was adorned by the Poet-Laureate Kalim.UPPSC 2015
• He introduced the Kornish form of salutation, replacing the more extreme Sijda.Kornish
• He replaced the Ilahi Samvat with the Hijri Samvat for official purposes.MPPSC 2016

Deccan Policy

• Shah Jahan's major Deccan objective was to extinguish the independence of Ahmadnagar, which he saw as a barrier to Mughal control.Satish Chandra
• He isolated Ahmadnagar diplomatically, offering Bijapur a share of its territory for cooperation. Large Mughal armies were deputed against Ahmadnagar in 1629, and the kingdom was finally annexed in 1633 AD.ForumIASSatish Chandra
• He forced Bijapur and Golconda to accept Mughal suzerainty through treaties in 1636.Satish Chandra

War of Succession (1657–1658)

Shah Jahan's illness in 1657 triggered a war of succession among his four sons: Dara Shikoh, Shuja, Aurangzeb and Murad.IASbaba

• Shah Jahan supported Dara Shikoh as his successor and was later imprisoned by Aurangzeb in the Agra Fort until his death in 1666.SSC 2017

Aurangzeb (1658–1707): Territorial Climax and Religious Policy

Aurangzeb assumed the title Alamgir and ruled for nearly 50 years. Under him, the Mughal Empire reached its greatest territorial extent, but his policies also sowed the seeds of decline.trcollege PDF

Religious Policy

• He re-imposed the Jizya on non-Muslims in 1679, reversing Akbar's policy.UPPSC 2002
• He banned the construction of new Hindu temples and adopted a stricter Islamic policy compared to Akbar's Sulh-i-Kul.
• He executed the Sikh Guru Tegh Bahadur in 1675 for refusing to convert and for defending religious freedom.WBCS 2017
• Despite his orthodox policies, he employed a large number of Hindu nobles and generals, especially in the Deccan.UPPSC 2000

Deccan Campaigns and Territorial Expansion

• Aurangzeb spent a major part of his reign campaigning in the Deccan.NDA 2006
• He annexed Bijapur in 1686 and Golconda in 1687, bringing the Mughal Empire to its territorial climax.UPPSC 2004Shodhganga
• The last Golconda ruler, Abul Hasan Qutb Shah, was imprisoned, and his ministers Madanna and Akkanna were killed.UPSC 2020
• These conquests overstretched the empire's resources and contributed to its eventual decline.

Administration and Challenges

• The empire was divided into 21 provinces at its peak under Aurangzeb.Aurangzeb provinces
• The Satnami rebellion and Jat revolts occurred during his reign, rooted in agrarian distress.WBCS 2017
• His son Akbar II rebelled against him, weakening his position against the Rajputs.UPPSC 2007
• Historian Irfan Habib analysed the structural flaws of the Mughal system, particularly the agrarian crisis, to explain the decline.trcollege PDF

Odisha Angle: Mughal Administration of Odisha (1607–1707)

Mughal rule in Odisha was consolidated during the reigns of Jahangir, Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb. The province was administered as a Subah and often merged with Bengal.Archive.org History of OrissaDDCE Utkal

Jahangir's Reign: Beginning of Mughal Administration

• Organised Mughal rule in Odisha really began under Jahangir, with the appointment of the first Subahdar in 1607.Archive.org History of Orissa
• The first Subahdar was Hashim Khan, appointed on 26 September 1607. He was later transferred to Kashmir in 1611.Archive.org History of Orissa
• During Hashim Khan's governorship, the Mughals besieged the Jagannath Temple at Puri, and the titular Gajapati Purushottama resisted with a large force. The temple was eventually brought under Mughal control, but the Mughals adopted a policy of conciliation towards the temple.Archive.org History of Orissa
• The region south of Chilika Lake became the boundary between the Mughal and Bahmani (later Bijapur/Golconda) spheres of influence during Jahangir's reign.Movement for Special Province of Orissa

Shah Jahan's Reign: Governors and Consolidation

• Shah Jahan appointed Muhammad Taqi Simnani (Shah Quli Khan) as the Governor of Odisha after his accession.Archive.org History of Orissa
• Other governors included Baqar Khan, who occupied Mansurgarh, and Mutaqad Khan.DDCE Utkal
• Shah Jahan generally took a tolerant view of the Jagannath Temple at Puri, though he favoured Muslim cases in Odisha.Egyanagar OSOU

Aurangzeb's Reign: Rebellions and Harsh Measures

• During Aurangzeb's rule, Odisha saw the murder of Krushna Chandra Bhanja, suppression of zamindars, and the rebellion of Mukundadeva.DDCE Utkal
• Governor Khan-i-Dauran took harsh steps to suppress rebellions.DDCE Utkal
• Another governor, Junaid, was known for his bigotry.DDCE Utkal
• Despite these tensions, Mughal administration continued, and Odisha remained part of the Mughal Empire until Aurangzeb's death in 1707.Archive.org History of Orissa

Practice Questions on Later Mughals for OPSC OAS