King Faisal I of Iraq vs Shah Jahan

Prince Faisal, leading Arab forces alongside British officer T.E. Lawrence, captured Damascus from the Ottoman Empire. This victory was a key moment in the Arab Revolt against Ottoman rule. Faisal established an Arab government in Syria, but his rule was short-lived due to French colonial ambitions.

Faisal was proclaimed King of Syria by the Syrian National Congress. However, France, which had been granted a mandate over Syria, invaded and defeated his forces at the Battle of Maysalun. Faisal was expelled from Syria, ending his brief reign and leading to French colonial rule.

Faisal was crowned King of Iraq under British auspices, following a plebiscite organized by the British authorities. He was chosen as a compromise candidate acceptable to both the British and local Sunni and Shia leaders. His reign aimed to build a modern Iraqi state from three former Ottoman provinces.

Under Faisal's leadership, Iraq achieved formal independence from the British Mandate and was admitted to the League of Nations. This was a major milestone for the country, though Britain retained significant influence through military bases and oil concessions. Faisal died the following year.

Shah Jahan ordered the construction of the Taj Mahal in Agra as a mausoleum for his wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died in childbirth. The building took about 20 years to complete, employing thousands of artisans. The Taj Mahal is a masterpiece of Mughal architecture and a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Shah Jahan began construction of the Red Fort in Delhi, which became the main imperial residence of the Mughal emperors. The fort complex included palaces, halls of public and private audience, and gardens. It served as the political and ceremonial center of the Mughal Empire until 1857.

Shah Jahan commissioned the Jama Masjid in Delhi, one of the largest mosques in India. The mosque was built with red sandstone and white marble, featuring three domes and two minarets. It could accommodate up to 25,000 worshippers and remains a major Islamic site.

Shah Jahan fell ill, and his son Aurangzeb seized the throne. Aurangzeb defeated his brothers in the war of succession and placed Shah Jahan under house arrest in the Agra Fort. Shah Jahan spent his final years confined to a room with a view of the Taj Mahal, where he died in 1666.