Editing Lahore Fort (section)

===Mughal era===

====Akbar period====
[[File:Elephant-shaped column brackets at Lahore Fort.jpg|thumb|upright|The use of elephant-shaped column brackets in buildings of the Lahore Fort reflects the influence of Hindu motifs on Mughal architecture during the reign of Akbar.]]
The present design and structure of the fort trace its origins to 1575 when the Mughal Emperor Akbar occupied the site as a post to guard the northwest frontier of the empire.<ref name="LF">Asher, p.47</ref> The strategic location of Lahore,  between the Mughal territories and the strongholds of Kabul, [[Multan]], and [[Kashmir]] necessitated the dismantling of the old mud-fort and fortification with solid brick masonry.<ref>[http://archnet.org/library/sites/one-site.jsp?site_id=3991 Lahore Fort Complex] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080507070803/http://archnet.org/library/sites/one-site.jsp?site_id=3991 |date=7 May 2008 }}. Archnet Digital Library. Retrieved 7 March 2008</ref> Lofty palaces were built over time, along with lush gardens.<ref>{{harvnb|Neville|2006|p=xiv}}</ref> Notable Akbar period structures included the Doulat Khana-e-Khas-o-Am, Jharoka-e-Darshan, and Akbari Gate. Many Akbari structures were modified or replaced by subsequent rulers.<ref>Chaudhry, p.258</ref>

====Jahangir period====
[[File:A_picture_of_Gate_back_in_2000AD_by_Usman_Ghani.jpg|thumb|The fort's massive Picture Wall dates from the [[Jahangir]] period.]]
Emperor [[Jahangir]] first mentions his alterations to the fort in 1612 when describing the [[Lahore Fort#Maktab Khana|Maktab Khana]]. Jahangir also added the [[Lahore Fort#Kala Burj|Kala Burj]] pavilion, which features European-inspired angels on its vaulted ceiling.<ref name="AMI"/> British visitors to the fort noted [[Christian iconography]] during the Jahangir period, with paintings of the [[Madonna (art)|Madonna]] and [[Jesus]] found in the fort complex.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Schimmel|first1=Annemarie|title=The Empire of the Great Mughals: History, Art and Culture|date=2004|publisher=Reaktion Books|isbn=9781861891853|pages=[https://archive.org/details/empireofgreatmug00anne/page/352 352]|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/empireofgreatmug00anne/page/352}}</ref> In 1606, [[Guru Arjan]] of the Sikh faith was imprisoned at the fort before his death.<ref>{{cite book|author=Pashaura Singh| title= Life and Work of Guru Arjan: History, Memory, and Biography in the Sikh Tradition| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FbPXAAAAMAAJ| year=2006| publisher=Oxford University Press| isbn=978-0-19-567921-2| pages=23, 217–218812}}</ref>

Jahangir bestowed the massive [[Lahore Fort#Picture Wall|Picture Wall]], a {{convert|1450|ft|m}} by {{convert|50|ft|m}} wall<ref name="Completion of Fort Picture Wall">{{cite news|title=Completion of Fort Picture Wall|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/134915-Completion-of-Fort-Picture-Wall|access-date=24 December 2016|agency=The News|date=15 July 2016}}</ref> which is exquisitely decorated with a vibrant array of glazed tile, faience mosaics, and frescoes.<ref name="Completion of Fort Picture Wall"/> On the spandrels of the large arched panels below Jahangir's ''Khwabgah'' (the Imperial Bedchamber) are ''azdahas'' or winged dragons from ancient Persian mythology, cup-bearing angel figures herons, cranes and other flying birds. Many of the scenes displayed on this 'Picture Wall' illustrate the court life of the Mughal sovereigns, their sports and their pastimes. One of the finest panels shows four horsemen playing the noble game of Vaughan, nowadays known as [[polo]]. Most prominent are those relating to elephant fights, which were one of the favourite recreations of the Mughal court.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1260991|title=Mural extraordinaire|last=Said|first=Farid|date=29 May 2016|website=Dawn}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/27kdgH4RcFpHB8nlvY9xfX5/the-greatest-wall-youve-never-heard-of-mesmerising-mosaics-hidden-in-pakistans-lahore-fort|title=The Greatest Wall You've Never Heard Of: Mesmerizing Mosaics Hidden in Pakistan's Lahore Fort|last=Khan|first=Nadeem|date=28 March 2016|website=BBC}}</ref>

The [[Mosque of Mariyam Zamani Begum]] was built adjacent to the forts of the eastern walls during the reign of Jahangir. While the mosque likely served as a Friday congregational mosque for members of the Royal Court, it was not financed by Jahangir, although it likely required his approval.<ref name="AMI" /> The foundation of this mosque was laid by the [[Mariam-uz-Zamani|Empress Mariam-uz-Zamani]] in the year 1611 and the construction was completed on the order of her son Jahangir in her honor.

====Shah Jahan period====
Shah Jahan's first contribution to the fort commenced in the year of his coronation, 1628, and continued until 1645.<ref name="AMI"/> Shah Jahan first ordered the construction of the [[Lahore Fort#Diwan-i-Aam|Diwan-i-Aam]] in the style of a ''Chehel Sotoun'' - a Persian style 40-pillar public audience hall.<ref name="AMI"/> Though construction of the Shah Burj commenced under Jahangir, Shah Jahan was displeased with its design and appointed [[Abul-Hasan ibn Mirza Ghiyas Beg|Asif Khan]] to oversee reconstruction.<ref name="AMI"/> Shah Jahan's Shah Burj forms a quadrangle with the famous [[Sheesh Mahal (Lahore Fort)|Sheesh Mahal]], and Naulakha Pavilion. Both are attributed to Shah Jahan, although the Naulakha Pavilion may be a later addition possibly from the Sikh era.<ref name="AMI"/> The white marble Moti Masjid, or Pearl Mosque, also dates from the Shah Jahan period.

====Aurangzeb period====
[[File:Alamgiri Gate - Main entrance to Lahore Fort.jpg|thumbnail|The fort's iconic Alamgiri Gate was built during the reign of Emperor [[Aurangzeb]].]]
Emperor Aurangzeb, built the Alamgiri Gate,<ref>Bhalla, p.81</ref> whose semi-circular towers and domed pavilions are a widely recognised symbol of Lahore that was once featured on [[Pakistani rupee|Pakistani currency]].