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HISTORY OF INDIA.

[liOOK IT.

A.D. 1628.

Xur Jeliaii's intrigiieafor Shehri it.

Accession of Khurram,

iiTider the title of Sliah Jehan.

made Viceroy of Gujerat, in which capacity mention i.s often made of liim in the journal of Sir Thomas Roe.

Wliile Khurram's way to tlie throne wuh thas apparently clear, he Ktood on the brink of a precipice. Hi.s brother Shehriar, the youngest son of Jehangir, had become the son-in-law of Nur Jehan by marrying Shir Afgan, her daughter by her first husband. In consequence of this affinity, Nur Jehan was bent on securing the succession to Shehriar, and made no .secret of her intention. She had little difficulty in gaining the assent of Jehangir; but Khurram, deter- mined not to be excluded from the great object of his ambition, rai.sed the standard of revolt. He had married the daughter of Asof Khan, Nur Jehan's brother, and in him had a. powerful supporter; but Nur Jehan chose her measures so skilfully, that Khurram soon found himself a fugitive in the Deccan. Here he succeeded in forming a league with his old opponent Mullik Amber; but misfortune still attended him, and he was obliged to throw liimself on his father's mercy. It would not have availed him ; but a new revolt, produced by the imperiousness of Nur Jehan, drew off her thoufdits from the vengeance which she was meditating, and he escaped. In consequence of the revolt, both Jehangir and his queen became for a time prisoners in the hands of Mohabat Khan, a celebrated general, to whose military talents Khurram's previous discomfiture had mainly been owing. Jehangir died shortly after obtaining his liberty, leaving a will which appointed Shehriar his successor. Nur Jehan attempted to give effect to it, but the death of her husband complete!}' desti'oyed her influence ; and though she survived for many years, she never

again figured in public life. Sheh- riar, by seizing the roj-al treasure, was able to raise an armv and fiofht a battle for the crown. Khurram,however, now supported by the leading parties in the state, com- pletely defeated him, and, with the usual cruel pohcy

of his race, put him to death, along with two sons of another brother who had joined him. All opposition now ceased ; and Khui-ram, on his arrival at Agra, 26th January, 1628, mounted the throne under the title of Shah Jehan.

Shah Jehan, overjoyed at his accession after the many misfortunes which had befallen him, and which had made liim at one time despair of being able

Gateway to thr Fort at Agra. — Oriental Drawing, East India House.