Mogul emperor of India from 1628, under whom the dynasty reached its zenith. Succeeding his father
Jahangir, he extended Mogul authority into the Deccan plateau (eastern India), subjugating Ahmadnagar, Bijapur, and Golconda 1636, but lost Kandahar in the northwest to the Persians 1653. His reign marked the high point of Indo-Muslim architecture, with Delhi being rebuilt as Shahjahanabad, while the Taj Mahal and Pearl Mosque were constructed at Agra. On falling seriously ill 1658 he was dethroned and imprisoned by his son
Aurangzeb.
© RM 2009. Helicon Publishing is division of RM.