Shah Jahan - The Great Mughal Emperor Quiz

Answer: Jahangir

Shah Jahan (lived 1592-1666, reigned 1627-1658) was the third and favourite son of emperor Jahangir. Jahangir's other sons were Khusraw, Pervez and Shaharyar.

Answer: Khurram Shihab-ud-din Muhammed

Khurram Shihab-ud-din Muhammed was given the name Shah Jahan (Lord of the World) by his father Jahangir in 1617, after Khurram's military successes against the Lodi in the Deccan secured the southern border of the empire. Zahir ud-Din Muhammed was the full name of Babur, founder of the Mughal dynasty in India. Ali Muhammed Shah is a made up name.

Answer: Mumtaz Mahal

Akbarabadi Mahal and Kandahari Mahal were Shah Jahan's wives too but their relationship with him had nothing more than the status of marriage. Nur Jahan was Jahangir's wife and Shah Jahan's stepmother. Mumtaz Mahal's original name was Arjumand Banu Begum. Mumtaz Mahal actually means "Jewel of the Palace". Shah Jahan was very taken with her.

Answer: 20

Shah Jahan was betrothed to Mumtaz Mahal in 1607, when he was just 15. He married her five years later in 1612. She was 19 at the time.

Answer: 1627

Shah Jahan revolted against his father in 1622. Though the revolt was finally crushed in 1626 and he had to submit to his father unconditionally, he still became the emperor in 1627 after his father's death.

Answer: True

Shah Jahan was involved in many wars and campaigns. These exhausted the Mughal treasury. The first signs of an imperial decline became apparent in his later years.

Answer: Badshahi Mosque, Lahore

The Badshahi Mosque was constructed by his son and successor Aurangzeb in 1673. The Pearl Mosque was built in 1645 and the Shalimar Gardens in 1641-42 by Shah Jahan. The Red Fort in Delhi was constructed by Shah Jahan in 1639. It is the place where the Prime Minister of India addresses the nation on Independance Day (15th August). All of these, apart from the Badshahi Mosque, are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Answer: He was overthrown by a rebellion led by his son Aurangzeb

In 1657, Shah Jahan became ill and was widely reported to have died. The struggle for succession began among his sons, though the real contenders were his eldest son Dara Shukoh and his third son Aurangzeb. Aurangzeb defeated Dara and declared Shah Jahan incompetant to rule.

He imprisoned Shah Jahan in Agra Fort where he lived till his death in 1666. Dara was eventually captured and Aurangzeb had him marched back to Delhi in chains and then was publicly executed.

Answer: False

His successor Aurangzeb (lived 1618-1707, reigned 1658-1707) was an equally strong ruler. Though some historians argue that the empire had already began to decline in Shah Jahan's later years, Aurangzeb was able to keep the empire from breaking apart during his reign. So he, too, can be considered as the last strong Mughal ruler.

Answer: The Taj Mahal

Aurangzeb had his father buried in the Taj Mahal, beside his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal.