‘Nur lifted her musket. Aiming between the tiger’s eyes’: How empress Nur Jahan killed a maneater

It was the autumn of 1619. The days were clear and cool, perfect for travel. The royals had returned from western India some months prior. After her hectic travels and constant imperial engagements, the empress was weary. The emperor began thinking about a pleasure trip to Kashmir, as a restorative for his beloved Nur. He had been there twice with his father. He often described it as the garden of eternal spring. We can imagine Jahangir telling Nur about the beauty of Kashmir, its countless waterfalls, the sweet-smelling roses, violets, and narcissi, the views of lofty peaks.

And so, the royal cavalcade of the emperor and empress set out again from Agra, headed toward the tall Himalayas. Queen Mother Harkha and other royal women were in the procession. So were Prince Shah Jahan, as well as the empress’s elderly father and brother and nobles, officers, stewards, attendants, servants, and soldiers. Mahabat Khan, the loyal general, recently appointed governor of Kabul, escorted the cavalcade part of the way.

Traveling one stage behind the main convoy was Khusraw, the former rebel prince. At Nur and Harkha’s urging – and after listening to advice from the holy man Jadrup – the emperor had reconciled with his eldest...

Read more