JAHĀNGĪR

In the course of the seventeenth century only three Mughul emperors held dominion in India – Jahāngīr, Shāh Jahān and Aurungzīb. Such continuity is unusual in the history of any country. None of the three was the equal of Akbar in character or statecraft, yet each was far above the average in ability. Stability at the top helped to maintain stability in the vast fabric of the empire. About the middle of the century the Mughul empire attained to its widest extent, to the height of its power, and probably to the highest level of its prosperity. By the time of the death of Aurungzīb decline had become observable and was to become irreversible. It may be thought that no power on earth could have stayed the decline once it had set in. In an age in which communications between different parts of the empire were still so slow, neither diligence nor genius on a higher level than was available could have held together in peace and unity peoples of so many different races, and adherents of such a variety of religions.

When Akbar died the question of the succession to the throne was settled with less than the usual difficulties. Prince Salīm had been in revolt against his father, and had mortally offended him by the assassination of his favourite Abu'l Fazl (19 August 1602); but before the end father and son had been at least outwardly reconciled.