Shah Jahan's Succession Crisis

Timeline

1. 1644Agra Fort · Uttar PradeshShah Jahan kept his eldest son Dara Shikoh at the heart of the court, entrusting him with regency and ceremonial duties, and relying on his judgment in fiscal, religious, and scholarly affairs; court and country generally regarded him as the most likely successor.
2. 1644–1648Mughal provinces · IndiaAurangzeb was transferred to the governorship of Gujarat in 1644, while brothers Shuja, Murad, and others took charge of key regions such as Bengal and Gujarat. The princes accumulated military merit and revenue sources on the frontier, forming a power-culture polarity with Dara, who remained deep in the court.
3. 1648–1650Whole Mughal Empire · IndiaBy around 1650, differences among the sons over military command, religious policy, and court appointments became increasingly public. Shah Jahan still tried to maintain balance through favor and appanages, but the tension between primogeniture custom and the princes' military strength had become irreconcilable.