Tansen was a court musician of

Concept

In Mughal India, each emperor maintained his own court of scholars, artists, and administrators. Identifying which ruler a historical figure served means matching that person's documented career period and role to a specific reign.

Application

Tansen (born Ramtanu Pandey) was a celebrated Hindustani classical vocalist and composer who entered imperial service around 1562 and became one of the most celebrated courtiers of Akbar (reigned 1556–1605), later grouped among the Navaratnas (nine gems) of Akbar's court. He is credited with composing or popularizing ragas such as Miyan ki Todi, Miyan ki Malhar, and Darbari Kanada.

Cross-check

• Humayun (reigned 1530–1540, 1555–1556): died in 1556, before Tansen's documented service at the imperial court began.

• Bahadur Shah Zafar (reigned 1837–1857): the last Mughal emperor, reigning nearly two and a half centuries after Tansen's death in 1586.

• Aurangzeb (reigned 1658–1707): ascended more than five decades after Tansen's death in 1586.

Tansen served as the court musician of Akbar.