SECTION I

REIGN OF JEHANGEER

On the death of Akbar, Selim stepped into the throne and assumed the title of Jehangeer, the Conqueror of the World. The great empire to which he succeeded was in a state of profound tranquillity, not disturbed by any insubordination among the public officers nor by foreign aggression. His first measures were judicious and benevolent. He confirmed most of his father's ministers in their posts, remitted some vexatious taxes which had survived his father's reforms, and made arrangements for giving easy access to the complaints of his subjects. He likewise replaced the Mahomedan creed on the coin, and manifested a superstitious obedience to the precepts of the Koran. But the quiet of the realm was speedily interrupted by the rebellion of his son, Khosroo, to whom he had always exhibited a feeling of strong antipathy. The unhappy youth fled to the Punjab, and collected a force of 10,000 men, but was pursued and captured, when the emperor exhibited the brutality of his disposition by causing 700 of his adherents to be impaled alive, while Khosroo was deliberately carried along the line to witness their agonies.