and intolerant of advice, was appointed Regent.  On receiving this intelligence, his younger brothers, Shuja, Viceroy of Bengal, and Murad, Viceroy of Gujarat, declared their independence, and marched upon Agra.  Aurangzib, the third son, a religious bigot, but the ablest and most virile of the brothers, hastened to join them, and being placed in chief command, attacked Dara’s army close to Agra and completely defeated him.  Three days afterwards he entered the city.  Shah Jahan sent his chamberlain to order him to leave the city at once and return to his post in the Deccan, but Aurangzib, affecting to believe that his father was dead, disregarded the order.  He succeeded by bribes and promises in bringing over some of the principal nobles to his side, and being well informed by Rushanara, his younger sister, who was his equal in cunning and artifice, of all that went on in the palace, he baffled Shah Jahan’s attempts to lay hands on him.  At last, under pretence of arranging an amicable meeting with his son Mahmud, Aurangzib beguiled Shah Jahan into withdrawing his troops from the Fort.  Mahmud immediately forced his way in with a picked body of men and seized the person of the Emperor.  The plan succeeded so well that no attempt at a rescue was made.

The French traveller Tavernier, who has left a complete record of the time, writes of this event:  “It is most surprising that not one of the servants of the grand King offered to assist him; that all his subjects abandoned him, and that they turned their eyes to the rising sun, recognizing no one as king but Aurangzib.  Shah Jahan, though still living, passed from their memories.  If, perchance, there were any who felt touched by his misfortunes, fear made them silent, and made them basely abandon a king who had governed them like a father, and with a mildness which is not common with sovereigns.  For although he was severe enough to the nobles when they failed to perform their duties, he arranged all things for the comfort of the people, by whom he was much beloved, but who gave no signs of it at this crisis.”

Shah Jahan remained confined in a set of apartments of the Agra Palace for seven years.  He died in 1666, and was buried by the side of Mumtaz Mahal in the Taj.  His captivity was shared by his favourite daughter, Jahanara, who since the death of her mother had ruled the imperial household and taken a prominent part in state affairs.  She had actively supported the cause of Dara, and thus incurred the resentment of Aurangzib.  On her father’s death she retired to Delhi, and she lived there until 1681.  Her simple grave, covered with grass, is in a quiet corner of the courtyard of Nizamudin’s tomb, near Delhi, where the memory of her filial piety adds to the poetic charm of all the surroundings.

The Monuments of Shah Jahan’s Reign at Agra.

The Taj Mahal (p. 72); the Jami Masjid (p. 69); and the following buildings in the Fort:  The Muti Masjid (p. 43); the Diwan-i-am (p. 46); the Diwan-i-khas (p. 55); the Khas Mahal (p. 59).