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Constructed
in
1639
by
the
fifth
Mughal
Emperor
Shah
Jahan
as
the
palace
of
his
fortified
capital
Shahjahanabad,
the
Red
Fort
is
named
for
its
massive
enclosing
walls
of
red
sandstone.
The
imperial
apartments
consist
of
a
row
of
pavilions,
connected
by
a
water
channel
known
as
the
Stream
of
Paradise
(Nahr-i-Bihisht).
The
fort
complex
is
"considered
to
represent
the
zenith
of
Mughal
creativity
under
Shah
Jahan",[7]
and
although
the
palace
was
planned
according
to
Islamic
prototypes,
each
pavilion
contains
architectural
elements
typical
of
Mughal
buildings
that
reflect
a
fusion
of
Persian,
Timurid
and
Hindu
traditions.[8]
The
Red
Fort's
innovative
architectural
style,
including
its
garden
design,
influenced
later
buildings
and
gardens
in
Delhi,
Rajasthan,
Punjab,
Kashmir,
Braj,
Rohilkhand
and
elsewhere.[9]
The
fort
was
plundered
of
its
artwork
and
jewels
during
Nadir
Shah's
invasion
of
the
Mughal
Empire
in
1747.
Most
of
the
fort's
precious
marble
structures
were
subsequently
destroyed
by
the
British
following
the
Revolt
of
1857.[10]
The
fort's
defensive
walls
were
largely
spared,
and
the
fortress
was
subsequently
used
as
a
garrison.[10]
It
was
designated
a
UNESCO
World
Heritage
Site
in
2007
as
part
of
the
Red
Fort
Complex.[9][11]
Emperor
Shah
Jahan
commissioned
construction
of
the
Red
Fort
on
12
May
1638,
when
he
decided
to
shift
his
capital
from
Agra
to
Delhi.
Originally
red
and
white,
Shah
Jahan's
favourite
colours,[12]
its
design
is
credited
to
architect
Ustad
Ahmad
Lahori,
who
also
constructed
the
Taj
Mahal.[13][14]
The
fort
lies
along
the
Yamuna
River,
which
fed
the
moats
surrounding
most
of
the
walls.[15]
Construction
began
in
the
sacred
month
of
Muharram,
on
13
May
1638.[16]:01
Supervised
by
Shah
Jahan,
it
was
completed
on
6
April
1648.[17][18][19]
Unlike
other
Mughal
forts,
the
Red
Fort's
boundary
walls
are
asymmetrical
to
contain
the
older
Salimgarh
Fort.[16]:04
The
fortress-palace
was
a
focal
point
of
the
city
of
Shahjahanabad,
which
is
present-day
Old
Delhi.
Shah
Jahan's
successor,
Aurangzeb,
added
the
Pearl
Mosque
to
the
emperor's
private
quarters,
constructing
barbicans
in
front
of
the
two
main
gates
to
make
the
entrance
to
the
palace
more
circuitous.[16]:08
The
administrative
and
fiscal
structure
of
the
Mughal
dynasty
declined
after
Aurangzeb,
and
the
18th
century
saw
a
degeneration
of
the
palace.
When
Jahandar
Shah
took
over
the
Red
Fort
in
1712,
it
had
been
without
an
emperor
for
30
years.
Within
a
year
of
beginning
his
rule,
Shah
was
murdered
and
replaced
by
Farrukhsiyar.
Muhammad
Shah,
known
as
'Rangila'
(the
Colourful)
for
his
interest
in
art.
In
1739,
Persian
emperor
Nadir
Shah
easily
defeated
the
Mughal
army,
plundering
the
Red
Fort,
including
the
Peacock
Throne.
Nadir
Shah
returned
to
Persia
after
three
months,
leaving
a
destroyed
city
and
a
weakened
Mughal
empire
to
Muhammad
Shah.[16]:09
The
internal
weakness
of
the
Mughal
Empire
made
the
Mughals
only
titular
rulers
of
Delhi,
and
a
1752
treaty
made
the
Marathas
protectors
of
the
throne
at
Delhi.[20][21]
The
1758
Maratha
victory
at
Sirhind
aided
by
the
Sikhs
and
successive
defeat
at
Panipat[22]
placed
them
in
further
conflict
with
Ahmad
Shah
Durrani.
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