Page:Aurangzíb and the Decay of the Mughal Empire.djvu/19

a favourable opinion of his intelligence, and there can be no question that he displayed commendable energy in maintaining his authority throughout his wide dominions, in suppressing the rebellion of his eldest son, and in directing campaigns in the Deccan and against the Rájput chiefs. Jahángír cannot be credited, it is true, with the genius of initiative; but he was wise enough to continue the policy of his father, and this policy still retained the loyalty of the Hindús. His toleration arose more from indifference than from a liberal mind; but Muslim as he professed to be, he showed the same indulgence towards Hindús and Christians as Akbar had displayed. He too was a patron of Christian art: pictures and statues of the Madonna formed part of the decoration of his palaces. No doubt the success of his government was largely due to the abilities of his statesmen and generals; but the Emperor had wit and power enough to have taken his own line, if he had not preferred wisely to follow in the steps of his father. Towards the end of his reign, indeed, he fell completely under the influence of his imperious and gifted queen, the celebrated Núr-Jahán, who practically ruled the empire, with the aid of her brother, Ásaf Khán; and the effects of her sway were seen in the weakening of the old military spirit of the Mughals, the driving of the most capable of the Emperor's sons, Prince Khurram, into open rebellion, the increase of the pernicious practice of farming out the provincial governments, the spread of brigandage, and the monstrous cupidity of the Court in the matter