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Mirza Nur-ud-Din Muhammad Salim Baig (known by his imperial name Jahangir) (31 August 1569 - 28 October 1627) was the fourth Mughal Emperor from 1605 to 1627.
Emperor Jahangir
Jahangir was the eldest son of Mughal Emperor Akbar the Great. He was married to Queen Nur Jahan ('Light of the World') and was much under her influence. she handled court matters and coins were issued in her name. He is especially well-known because of his memoirs, the Naam-i-Jahangiri (also called the Jahangir-name by some). His eldest son was Shah Jahan. Prince Khurram rebelled in the last years of his reign. The efforts of Nur Jahan, Jahangir's wife, to marginalize him were unsuccessful. In 1622, Jahangir sent his son Prince Khurram against the combined forces of Ahmednagar, Bijapur and Golconda. After his son Khurram turned against his father and made a bid for power. As with the insurrection of his eldest son Khusrau Mirza, Jahangir was able to defeat the challenge from within his family and retain power. He conquered many new territories both in the north and in the south especially through his most decorated general, Muhammad Beg Zulfiqar Khan. He died at Mirpur on his way back from Kashmir to Lahore. After his death, Nur Jahan isolated herself and never talked to anyone.
He was buried at Lahore city, now in Pakistan. After his death, by his son and successor Shah Jahan came to power. Shah Jahan killed his father for his desire to be the ruler of the world but couldn't succeed, still military campaigns started by Akbar continued.
He also consumed excessive amounts of opium, at one point employing a special servant just to manage his supply of intoxicating drugs.
Though the site is known to have been inhabited for millennia,the origins of Lahore Fort are obscure and traditionally based on various myths.
The first historical reference to a fort at the site is from the 11th century during the rule of Mahmud of Ghazni. The fort was made of mud and was destroyed in 1241 by the Mongols during their invasion of Lahore.A new fort was constructed in 1267 at the site by Sultan Balban of the Mamluk dynasty of the Delhi Sultanate.The re-built fort was destroyed in 1398 by the invading forces of Timur, only to be rebuilt by Mubarak Shah Sayyid in 1421.In the 1430s, the fort was occupied by Shaikh Ali of Kabul[9] It later remained under the control of the Lodi dynasty until Lahore was captured by the Mughal Emperor Babur in 1526.
Mughal era
The use of elephant-shaped column brackets in buildings of the Lahore Fort reflects the influence of Hindu motifs on Mughal architecture during the reign of Akbar.
The present design and structure of the fort trace its origins to 1575 when the Mughal Emperor Akbar occupied the site as a post to guard the northwest frontier of the empire.The strategic location of Lahore, between the Mughal territories and the strongholds of Kabul, Multan, and Kashmir necessitated the dismantling of the old mud-fort and fortification with solid brick masonry.Lofty palaces were built over time, along with lush gardens.Notable Akbar period structures included the Doulat Khana-e-Khas-o-Am, Jharoka-e-Darshan, and Akbari Gate. Many Akbari structures were modified or replaced by subsequent rulers.
The fort's massive Picture Wall dates from the Jahangir period.
Emperor Jahangir first mentions his alterations to the fort in 1612 when describing the Maktab Khana. Jahangir also added the Kala Burj pavilion, which features European-inspired angels on its vaulted ceiling British visitors to the fort noted Christian iconography during the Jahangir period, with paintings of the Madonna and Jesus found in the fort complex.In 1606, Guru Arjan of the Sikh faith was imprisoned at the fort before his death.
Jahangir bestowed the massive Picture Wall, a 1,450 feet (440 m) by 50 feet (15 m) wallwhich is exquisitely decorated with a vibrant array of glazed tile, faience mosaics, and frescoes.On the spandrels of the large arched panels below Jahangir's Khwabgah (the Imperial Bedchamber) are azdahas or winged dragons from ancient Persian mythology,
Shah Jahan's first contribution to the fort commenced in the year of his coronation, 1628, and continued until 1645.Shah Jahan first ordered the construction of the Diwan-i-Aam in the style of a Chehel Sotoun - a Persian style 40-pillar public audience hall.Though construction of the Shah Burj commenced under Jahangir, Shah Jahan was displeased with its design and appointed Asif Khan to oversee reconstruction.Shah Jahan's Shah Burj forms a quadrangle with the famous Sheesh Mahal, and Naulakha Pavilion. Both are attributed to Shah Jahan, although the Naulakha Pavilion may be a later addition possibly from the Sikh era.The white marble Moti Masjid, or Pearl Mosque, also dates from the Shah Jahan period.