Noor Jahan, the chief queen of the Mughal emperor Jahangir, was one of the most powerful and influential women in Indian history. Her earlier name was Mihrunnisa and she was the daughter of Mirza Ghiyas Beg, a native of Persia who secured employment under Akbar. She had been married earlier and was widowed. When Jahangir married her in 1611, he gave her the title 'Noorjahan' meaning 'light of the world.'
Noor Jahan was Jahangir's twentieth and last wife. She was a woman of exceptional beauty as well as courage. She was generous and kind hearted and acted as an asylum for all sufferers. Noorjahan shared Jahangir's love for painting, poetry and architecture and was a great patron of these. As Jahangir was influenced by alcohol and opium, Noor Jahan was quite often forced to take over the reins of the empire. Noor Jahan died in 1643 and was buried in Shadara in Lahore.
