Committee Description

The Mughal Empire ,  once one of the wealthiest and most powerful in the world ,  now teeters on the edge of collapse. Emperor Shah Jahan, the mighty ruler and visionary builder of the Taj Mahal, lies ill and incapacitated. As his health falters, the question of succession ,  a long-standing tension within the Mughal dynasty , becomes a matter of utmost urgency.

Unlike European monarchies, the Mughal Empire does not follow a strict law of primogeniture ,  succession must be seized, not inherited. Shah Jahan’s four ambitious sons , Dara Shikoh, Shuja, Murad, and Aurangzeb ,  each command their own treasuries, armies, and territories with near autonomy. Each believes he is the rightful heir to the Peacock Throne and is prepared to fight tooth and nail for the title. Court factions quickly form around the princes, while regional governors, military commanders, and religious leaders begin calculating where their interests lie. Rumours of rebellion, foreign intervention, and political scheming swirl through the corridors of power.

Meanwhile, the empire faces mounting external threats. The Rajput kingdoms, traditionally allies, yet fiercely independent , see opportunity in imperial weakness. Sikh leaders in Punjab and the Deccan Sultanates in the south watch carefully, ready to break away or bargain for advantage. Even foreign powers like the Safavid Persians and European trading companies lurk at the empire’s edges, poised to tip the balance in exchange for influence and wealth.

This advanced crisis committee simulates the Imperial Court of the Mughal Empire in 1658, with delegates assuming roles ranging from imperial advisors and nobles to military commanders, foreign envoys, and royal family members. As civil war looms, the committee must navigate court intrigue, manage disintegrating central authority, maintain unity, and confront the rising ambitions of Shah Jahan’s sons.

Will you preserve the greatness of the Mughal Empire , or will history mark this Imperial Court as the beginning of its descent into anarchy and decline? The empire’s fate rests in your hands.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact Rian Reichel at crisis@ssuns.org

Alice Chalaud

Chair

Anya Kasuri

Vice Chair

Charles Meagher

Vice Chair

Philippe Valtat

Crisis Director

Sadie Rubin

Assistant Crisis Director