The Seven Cities of Delhi
to succeed him, but this son was defeated, taken prisoner by Khurram's adherents, and then, as usual, blinded. Until Prince Khurram could arrive, a nephew of his was set up as emperor. When the Prince came, he cruelly had the puppet-king strangled, and removed every possible disputant of the throne. This was a return
to methods of barbarism, for which he suffered when he saw his own son do the same to his brothers. He caused himself to be proclaimed
emperor at Agra early in 1628, and assumed the titles of ABUL MUZAFFAR SHAHAB-UD-DIN,SHAH JAHAN,SAHIB-I-KIRAN SANI.
The first few years of his reign were occupied in wars in the Deccan, and the emperor did not return to Agra until the year 1633. Two years previously his favourite sultana, Arjamund Banu Begam, had died, and over her grave he ordered to be built the beautiful mausoleum which we have learnt to call the "Taj Mahal," a wrong term for it; the natives call it "Taj Bibi ka Roza," the "Taj lady's tomb," which is more correct. It seems a pity to destroy the legend that Shah Jahan was faithful to her memory; but that he was not, for we have noticed at least three mosques at Delhi built by his wives. That he was faithful to her while she lived seems true, and that was a great compliment.226
