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India: Portrait of Emperor Jahangir with his Empress Nur Jahan, Mughal miniature painting, c. 19th century

India: Portrait of Emperor Jahangir with his Empress Nur Jahan, Mughal miniature painting, c. 19th century

Jahangir (Hindi: नूरुद्दीन सलीम जहांगीर Urdu: سلیم جهانگیر نورالدینPersian: نورالدین سلیم جهانگیر) (full title: Al-Sultan al-'Azam wal Khaqan al-Mukarram, Khushru-i-Giti Panah, Abu'l-Fath Nur-ud-din Muhammad Jahangir Padshah Ghazi [Jannat-Makaani]) (20 September 1569 – 8 November 1627) was the ruler of the Mughal Empire from 1605 until his death in 1627.

The name Jahangir is from Persian جهانگیر,meaning 'World Conqueror'. Nur-ud-din or Nur al-Din is an Arabic name which means 'Light of the Faith'. Born as Prince Muhammad Salim, he was the third and eldest surviving son of Mogul Emperor Akbar. Akbar's twin sons, Hasan and Hussain, died in infancy. His mother was the Rajput Princess of Amber, Jodhabai (born Rajkumari Hira Kunwari, eldest daughter of Raja Bihar Mal or Bharmal, Raja of Amber, Rajasthan).

Begum Nur Jahan (Persian/Urdu: نور جہاں ) (alternative spelling Noor Jahan, Nur Jehan, Nor Jahan, etc.) (1577–1645), also known as Mehr-un-Nisaa, was an Empress of the Mughal Dynasty that ruled much of the Indian subcontinent. She was an aunt of Empress Mumtaz Mahal, Emperor Shah Jahan's wife for whom the Taj Mahal was constructed.

Begum Nur Jahan was the twentieth and favourite wife of Mughal Emperor Jahangir, who was her second husband - and the most famous Empress of the Mughal Empire. The story of the couple's infatuation for each other and the relationship that abided between them is the stuff of many (often apocryphal) legends.

She remains historically significant for the sheer amount of imperial authority she wielded - the true 'power behind the throne', as Jehangir was battling serious addictions to alcohol and opium throughout his reign - and is known as one of the most powerful women who ruled India.

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