The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period v4.c18.98

v4.c18.98

Even during boyhood the restless uncertainty as to their hopes of a crown that always obsessed the sons of an oriental ruler was forced upon him. The dispute with his elder brother Khusrav over the elephant fight which disturbed the last days of his grandfather Akbar occurred when he was not fourteen, and shortly afterwards he saw Khusrav try to wrest the throne from their father. During a stay of over three years (1615–19) in India Sir Thomas Roe was at the court for long periods and his business brought him into contact with Shāh Jahān, who was then governor of Gujarāt and thus of great importance to the British ambassador endeavouring to establish trade. The grievances of the English traders naturally prejudiced Roe against the man whom he believed to be responsible for not righting them. Moreover, the prince disliked Roe, who insisted on being treated with the dignity due to his office as ambassador and could not be cajoled or brow-beaten. Roe’s allowances from the company did not permit him to offer presents so costly as those of the Portuguese who were his competitors for favour. Allowing for these sources of bias Roe’s judgement of the prince is confirmed by other sources. He found Shāh Jahān at the age of twenty-four already mature, and writes: