Shah Jahan’s Reign – Consolidation and Expansion of the Empire
Medieval History › Mughal Period · Topic 6.25
Shah Jahan (1628 to 1658) kept Akbar's administration but changed the mansabdari rules, with du-aspah sih-aspah ranks, reduced troop quotas and the month-scale, and his careful choice of officers kept the nobility dependable. He ended Ahmadnagar and brought Bijapur and Golconda under suzerainty, fought for Balkh and Qandahar, and saw cultivation grow, but his last years ended in a war of succession.
6 min read · UPSC Prelims · History · Mughal Period
At a Glance
- Reign 1628 to 1658
- Mansab change Reduced quotas; month-scale
- Deccan Ahmadnagar ended; 1636 treaties
- Frontier Balkh and Qandahar
- End War of succession, 1657
- Exam link UPSC Prelims, Medieval History: Mughal Period
Where Does It Fit?
This is the twenty-fifth topic of the category on the Mughal period. The previous topic covered Nur Jahan and the succession of 1627, and this topic assesses Shah Jahan’s reign as a whole. The next topic covers the architecture of his reign. Previous topic: Nur Jahan and Her Political Influence at Jahangir’s Court.
What Changed in the Mansabdari System?
In short: the administration of Akbar continued, but rising numbers of mansabdars and strained finances led to cuts in the troopers they had to maintain.
| Reign | Change |
|---|---|
| Akbar | A mansabdar was paid about Rs 240 per annum per sawar for his contingent |
| Jahangir | Rate reduced to Rs 200; the mansabdar kept 5 per cent of the sawar pay bill for contingent expenses; the du-aspah sih-aspah rank let selected nobles keep double the troopers without raising zat; no sawar rank was normally above zat rank |
| Shah Jahan | A noble kept only one-third, sometimes one-fourth, of his sawar rank in troopers; a 3000 zat and 3000 sawar noble maintained not more than 1000, or 2000 if du-aspah sih-aspah |
| Month-scale | Salaries put on a scale of 10, 8, 6 months or less, and the quota of horses cut accordingly; rarely less than 5 or more than 10 months |
Salaries were in rupees but generally paid by assigning a jagir, since cash payments could be delayed and land carried prestige. The revenue department kept a register of assessed income (jama) in dams at 40 dams to a rupee, the jama-dami. The Mughals bureaucratised the nobility, but could not remove its feudal attachment to land, which was one dilemma the nobility faced. Most Marathas inducted into service had mansabs on a five-month scale or less, so the number of effective horses was far below their rank. The drastic reduction of remounts must have harmed the efficiency of the cavalry. Yet the system worked properly under Shah Jahan because of his careful attention to administration, his appointment of highly competent wazirs, strict discipline and a definite system of promotion, making the nobility loyal and dependable. The basic system is in Mansabdari System and the Dahsala (Land Revenue) System Under Akbar.
How Was the Army Organised?
The cavalry was the principal arm and the mansabdars provided most of it. The ahadis, gentlemen-troopers recruited directly by the emperor with their own muster-master, mustered up to five horses, though sometimes two shared a horse. They did miscellaneous work: clerks of imperial offices, court painters and foremen of the royal karkhanas belonged to this corps, and many served as adjutants and carriers of orders. Under Shah Jahan they numbered 7000 and were often sent into the fighting line as skilled musketeers and bowmen. The emperors also kept walashahis, royal bodyguards, and armed palace guards. Footmen (piyadgan) were numerous but miscellaneous, with matchlock bearers paid three to seven rupees a month. There was a large stable of war elephants and a park of artillery with a heavy section for forts and a mobile light section. Many Ottomans and Portuguese were employed in the artillery at first, but by Aurangzeb’s time Mughal artillery had improved considerably.
What Were the Political and Territorial Achievements?
| Area | Achievement |
|---|---|
| Deccan | Ended Ahmadnagar in 1633 and made Bijapur and Golconda accept Mughal suzerainty in 1636 |
| Northwest | Won Qandahar in 1638 by defection, held Balkh briefly in 1646 to 1647, and lost Qandahar in 1649 despite three sieges |
| Economy | Area under cultivation and production of cash crops grew, and jama-dami income rose broadly in step with prices |
| Court | Shah Jahan was the favourite son after Khusrau’s fall and came to power after Asaf Khan’s moves in 1627 |
The Deccan details are in Mughal Conquest of the Deccan Sultanates (Ahmadnagar, Bijapur, Golconda) and the frontier in Mughal Foreign Policy – Relations with the Uzbeks and Safavid Iran (the Qandahar Issue). Shah Jahan’s reign was also the height of Mughal architecture, as covered in Mughal Architecture Under Shah Jahan (Taj Mahal, Red Fort, Jama Masjid).
How Did the War of Succession Begin?
There was no clear tradition of succession among the Muslims or Timurids; partition had been unsuccessful and Hindu traditions were not clear either. Towards the end of 1657 Shah Jahan fell ill at Delhi, his life despaired of, and rumours spread that he had died and that Dara was concealing it. He recovered under Dara’s care. Shuja in Bengal, Murad in Gujarat and Aurangzeb in the Deccan prepared for war. Hoping to avert conflict, Shah Jahan nominated Dara as wali-ahd and raised his zat from 40,000 to an unprecedented 60,000, with a chair next to the throne. This convinced the other princes of partiality and strengthened their resolve. Dara, in command of the armies, was defeated owing to divided counsel and under-estimation of his opponents. As an analytical point, the Mughal state at its height lacked a rule of succession, and the war that ended Shah Jahan’s rule was the dynasty’s weak point, as discussed in Assessment of Aurangzeb’s Reign and the Jagirdari Crisis.
Why Is This Topic Important?
- Administrative detail Du-aspah, month-scale and jama-dami are asked
- Context Prime of the empire and its strain
- Link Succession war and Aurangzeb
What Came Next?
The next topic describes Mughal architecture under Shah Jahan. Next topic: Mughal Architecture Under Shah Jahan (Taj Mahal, Red Fort, Jama Masjid).
Key People and Terms
- Du-aspah sih-aspah Double quota of troopers
- Month-scale Reduced pay and troop quota
- Jama-dami Assessed income in dams
- Ahadi Gentleman trooper
- Wali-ahd Nominated heir
- Walashahi Royal bodyguard
Exam Corner
Points to Remember
- Reign: 1628 to 1658.
- Quota cut to one-third of sawar rank.
- 40 dams = 1 rupee.
- 7000 ahadis under Shah Jahan.
- Dara raised to 60,000 zat.
Do Not Confuse With
- Du-aspah and month-scale Double quota versus reduced quota
- Zat and sawar Personal rank versus troopers maintained
- Ahadis and walashahis Gentleman troopers versus bodyguards
Memory Hook
Quotas cut, months scaled, ahadis in the line, Dara raised, brothers rise.
Mains Angle
Questions on Shah Jahan ask for an assessment of the mansabdari system and the succession. These points add depth.
- Reform Cost-cutting in the troop quota
- Effect Fewer remounts; weaker cavalry
- Crisis No succession rule
A Question You May Face
An original practice question, not a past paper question.
“Discuss the changes in the mansabdari system under Shah Jahan and their effects.”
How to Answer
- Base Akbar’s system.
- Changes Du-aspah, one-third, month-scale.
- Effects Fewer remounts, but loyal nobles.
- End Succession war.
GS Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the month-scale under Shah Jahan?
The month-scale put mansabdars' salaries on a ten, eight, six or fewer months basis, and reduced the troopers and horses they had to maintain accordingly. It was rare to get less than five months or more than ten.
What was du-aspah sih-aspah?
Du-aspah sih-aspah, introduced under Jahangir, let selected nobles keep double the quota of troopers indicated by their sawar rank without raising their zat rank. A noble with 3000 zat and 3000 sawar of this kind had to maintain 6000 troopers.
Who were the ahadis?
The ahadis were gentleman-troopers recruited directly by the emperor, with their own muster-master and higher pay. Under Shah Jahan they numbered 7000 and also served as clerks, painters, foremen of karkhanas and skilled musketeers and bowmen.
How did the war of succession begin in 1657?
Shah Jahan fell ill at Delhi at the end of 1657 and rumours spread that he had died. Shuja, Murad and Aurangzeb prepared for war, and Shah Jahan's nomination of Dara as wali-ahd convinced them of his partiality.
Why did the mansabdari system work well under Shah Jahan?
It worked because Shah Jahan paid meticulous attention to administration, chose competent wazirs and men for service, kept strict discipline and gave promotions and rewards through a definite system, which made the nobility loyal and dependable.
PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis
1 The month-scale reduced the troopers a mansabdar had to maintain.
Pay and quotas were scaled together.
2 Dara was raised to a zat rank of 60,000.
This convinced the other princes of partiality.
3 The du-aspah sih-aspah rank was introduced by Shah Jahan.
It was introduced under Jahangir.
4 Shah Jahan reigned from 1628 to 1658.
His last years were clouded by the war of succession.
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