Shah Jahan II
Shah Jahan II (Persian pronunciation: [ʃɑːh d͡ʒa'hɑːn]; June 1696 – 19 September 1719), born Mirza Rafi-ud-Daulah (Persian: میرزا رفیع الدوله), was the twelfth Mughal emperor for a brief period in 1719. After being chosen by a brotherhood of nobles known as the Sayyids of Barha, he succeeded his short-lived brother Rafi-ud-Darajat in that year. The Sayyid Brothers were the de-facto rulers of the Empire, while Shah Jahan II ruled as a figurehead.[1] Like his brother, he died of tuberculosis and was buried in the dargah of Qutb-ud-Din Bakhtiyar Kaki.
| Rafi-ud-Daulah رفیع الدوله | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Padishah Al-Sultan Al-Azam | |||||||||
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| 12th Mughal Emperor | |||||||||
| Reign | 6 June – 17 September 1719 | ||||||||
| Coronation | 8 June 1719 at Red Fort, Delhi | ||||||||
| Predecessor | Rafi-ud-Darajat Timur II (Titular) | ||||||||
| Successor | Jahangir II (titular) Muhammad Shah | ||||||||
| Regent | Sayyid brothers | ||||||||
| Born | June 1696 Mughal Empire | ||||||||
| Died | 18 September 1719 (aged 23) Bidyapur, near Fatehpur Sikri, Mughal Empire (present-day Uttar Pradesh, India) | ||||||||
| Burial | |||||||||
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| House | House of Babur | ||||||||
| Dynasty |  Timurid dynasty | ||||||||
| Father | Rafi-ush-Shan | ||||||||
| Religion | Sunni Islam (Hanafi) | ||||||||
| Mughal emperors | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Personal life
Shah Jahan II was born as Rafi ud-Daulah. He was the second son of Rafi-ush-Shan and a grandson of Bahadur Shah I.[2] Shah Jahan II's exact date of birth is not known. He was eighteen months older than his brother Rafi ud-Darajat. Whether he married or not, whether he had any child or not is also unknown.[3]
Reign
Shah Jahan II ascended the throne on 6 June 1719 after the death of his younger brother Rafi ud-Darajat due to tuberculosis. His coronation took place at Diwan-i-Khas of the Red Fort. He took the title Shah Jahan II ().[2]
Just like his younger brother, Shah Jahan II was chosen by the kingmaker Sayyid brothers and wielded no power in practicality.[4] His name was read in the khutbah for the first time on 13 June. His first appearance at the Diwan-i-Aam was on 11 June. Without the presence of one of the Sayyid brothers, he was not allowed to meet any noble or to attend the jummah.[2]
Death
Shah Jahan II suffered from tuberculosis just like his younger brother. He was physically and mentally unfit to perform the duties of a ruler. He died on 17 September 1719[5] at Bidyapur. He was buried beside Rafi ud-Darajat at the dargah of Qutbuddin Bakhtiar Kaki.[6]
References
- Mohammad Yasin. Upper India Publishing House. 1958. p. 18.
- Irvine 1921, p. 420.
- Irvine 1921, p. 432.
- Chandra 2005, p. 483.
- Mehta 2005, p. 24.
- Irvine 1921, p. 430.
Lalith.A.Naidu(2022)535p
Bibliography
- Chandra, Satish (2005). Medieval India: From Sultanat to the Mughals Part – II. Har-Anand Publications. ISBN 9788124110669.
- Irvine, William (1921). The Later Mughals. Low Price Publications. ISBN 8175364068.
- Mehta, Jaswant Lal (2005). Advanced Study in the History of Modern India 1707–1813. Sterling Publishers. ISBN 9781932705546.
