The emperor was Jahangir. He allowed the British East India Company to set up a trading post at Surat in 1613, which opened the door for British trade in India.

Quick context

  • Jahangir was the Mughal emperor who granted the early trading permission to the British.
  • Later, Farrukhsiyar issued a much more important farman in 1717 that expanded British trading privileges further.

Why this matters

That first permission under Jahangir was the starting point, but the 1717 farman is often seen as the bigger turning point because it gave the Company wider trade advantages.

If you want, I can also give you the one-line history answer in a very simple exam style.