Aurangzeb
Al-Sultan al-Azam wal Khaqan al-Mukarram Abul Muzaffar Muhiuddin Muhammad Aurangzeb Bahadur Alamgir I, Padshah Ghazi
Reign	1658 - 1707
Full name	Abul Muzaffar Muhiuddin Muhammad Aurangzeb Alamgir
Born	November 14, 1618
Birthplace	Dahod
Died	March 3, 1707 (aged 88)
Place of death	Ahmednagar
Buried	Valley of Saints
Predecessor	Shah Jahan
Successor	Bahadur Shah I
Wives	Nawab Raj Bai Begum Dilras Bano Begam Udaipuri Mahal Aurangabadi Mahal
Issue	(w. Year 1707 ( MDCCVII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Events 1533 - Conquistadors from Spain under the leadership of Francisco Pizarro arrive in Cajamarca, Inca WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Dahod is a city and a Municipality in Dahod district in the state of Gujarat, Events 1284 - Statute of Rhuddlan incorporated the Principality of Wales into England 1575 - Indian Year 1707 ( MDCCVII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Ahmednagar (Marathi/Hindi अहमदनगर Urdu عحمدناگار is a city of Ahmednagar District The Valley of Saints is located in Khuldabad, a town in the Aurangabad district of Maharashtra, India. Shihab-ud-din Muhammad Shah Jahan I (full title Al-Sultan al-'Azam wal Khaqan al-Mukarram Abu'l-Muzaffar Shihab ud-din Muhammad Sahib-i-Qiran-i-Sani Shah Jahan I Padshah Ghazi Muazzam Bahadur Shah ( Persian: fa بهادر شاه Bahādur Shāh; his name Bahādur means "brave" October 14 Dilras Bano Begam) Zeb-un-Nissa, Zinat-un-Nissa, Muhammad Azam Shah, Mehr-un-Nissa, Muhammad Akbar, (w. Zēb-un-Nisā Makhfī (زیب النساء مخفی (also written Zebunnisa, Zebunnissa, Zebunisa, Zeb-un-Nisa, Zeb-ul-Nissa) ( Muhammad Azam Shah (1653 - 1707 was a Mughal emperor for a brief period between February and June 1707 Muhammad Akbar ( 11 September 1657 – 1704 was the fourth son of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. Nawab Raj Bai Begum) Sultan Muhammad, Bahadur Shah I, Badr-un-Nissa, (w. Muazzam Bahadur Shah ( Persian: fa بهادر شاه Bahādur Shāh; his name Bahādur means "brave" October 14 Aurangabadi Mahal) Zabdat-un-Nissa, (w. Udaipuri Mahal) Muhammad Kam Baksh,
Dynasty	Timurid
Father	Shah Jahan
Mother	Mumtaz Mahal

Aurangzeb (Persian: اورنگ‌زیب (full title: Al-Sultan al-Azam wal Khaqan al-Mukarram Abul Muzaffar Muhiuddin Muhammad Aurangzeb Bahadur Alamgir I, Padshah Ghazi) (November 4, 1618 – March 3, 1707), also known by his chosen Imperial title Alamgir I (Conqueror of the Universe) (Persian: عالمگیر), was the ruler of the Mughal Empire from 1658 until his death. Shihab-ud-din Muhammad Shah Jahan I (full title Al-Sultan al-'Azam wal Khaqan al-Mukarram Abu'l-Muzaffar Shihab ud-din Muhammad Sahib-i-Qiran-i-Sani Shah Jahan I Padshah Ghazi Mumtāz Mahal (April 1593 - 17 June 1631 ( Persian, Urdu: ممتاز محل; pronunciation /mumtɑːz mɛhɛl/ meaning "beloved ornament of the palace" Events 1333 - Flood of the Arno River, causing massive damage in Florence as recorded by the Florentine chronicler Giovanni Villani Events 1284 - Statute of Rhuddlan incorporated the Principality of Wales into England 1575 - Indian Year 1707 ( MDCCVII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a The Mughal Empire ( Persian and self-designation گورکانی; مغلیہ سلطنت) was an Islamic imperial power which ruled most He was the sixth Mughal ruler after Babur, Humayun, Akbar, Jahangir, and Shah Jahan. Babur ( February 14 1483 - December 26 1530) was a Muslim conqueror from Central Asia who following a series of setbacks Background Babur's decision to divide the territories of his empire between two of his sons was unusual in India but it had been a common Central Asian practice since the time of Akbar redirects here For other uses see Akbar (disambiguation Jalaluddin Muhammad Akbar ( Jalāl ud-Dīn Muhammad Akbar Nuruddin Salim Jahangir (full title Al-Sultan al-'Azam wal Khaqan al-Mukarram Khushru-i-Giti Panah Abu'l-Fath Nur ud-din Muhammad Jahangir Padshah Ghazi ''( September 20 Shihab-ud-din Muhammad Shah Jahan I (full title Al-Sultan al-'Azam wal Khaqan al-Mukarram Abu'l-Muzaffar Shihab ud-din Muhammad Sahib-i-Qiran-i-Sani Shah Jahan I Padshah Ghazi His name literally means "Adorning the Crown".

Aurangzeb ruled India for 48 years. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country He brought a larger area under Mughal rule than ever before ^[1]. He is generally regarded as the last 'great' Mughal ruler. His constant wars, however, left the empire dangerously overextended, isolated from its strong Rajput allies, and with a population that (except for the orthodox Sunni Muslim minority) was resentful, if not outright rebellious, against his reign. Rajput constitute one of the major Hindu Kshatriya groups from India His last twenty five years were spent fighting in the Deccan and losing territory to rival states. At his death, the Mughal Empire was shrunken, having lost most of its northwest and being replaced by the Hindu Maratha Empire in large areas of India. The Maratha Empire ( Marathi: मराठा साम्राज्य Marāṭhā Sāmrājya; also transliterated Mahratta Aurangzeb's successors, the "Later Mughals", lacked his strong hand and the great fortunes amassed by his predecessors.

Rise to throne

Early life

Aurangzeb was the third son of the fifth emperor Shah Jahan and Arjumand Bānū Begum (also known as Mumtaz Mahal). Shihab-ud-din Muhammad Shah Jahan I (full title Al-Sultan al-'Azam wal Khaqan al-Mukarram Abu'l-Muzaffar Shihab ud-din Muhammad Sahib-i-Qiran-i-Sani Shah Jahan I Padshah Ghazi Mumtāz Mahal (April 1593 - 17 June 1631 ( Persian, Urdu: ممتاز محل; pronunciation /mumtɑːz mɛhɛl/ meaning "beloved ornament of the palace" After a rebellion by his father, part of Aurangzeb's childhood was spent as a virtual hostage at his grandfather Jahangir's court. Nuruddin Salim Jahangir (full title Al-Sultan al-'Azam wal Khaqan al-Mukarram Khushru-i-Giti Panah Abu'l-Fath Nur ud-din Muhammad Jahangir Padshah Ghazi ''( September 20

After Jahangir's death in 1627, Aurangzeb returned to live with his parents. Shah Jahan followed the Mughal practice of assigning authority to his sons, and in 1634 made Aurangzeb Subahdar (governor) of the Deccan. Subahdar was one of the designations of a governor of a Subah (province during the Mughal era of India who was alternately designated as Sahib-i-Subah He moved to Kirki, which in time he renamed Aurangabad. Aurangabad ( ( औरंगाबाद) from Persian / Urdu اورنگ‌آباد meaning "Built by the Throne" named after Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb In 1637, he married Rabia Durrani. During this period the Deccan was relatively peaceful. In the Mughal court, however, Shah Jahan began to show greater and greater favouritism to his eldest son Dara Shikoh. Dara Shikoh ( Persian: داراشكوه)(March 20 1615 - August 30 1659 was the eldest son of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan and his wife

In 1644, Aurangzeb's sister Jahanara Begum was accidentally burned in Agra. Shahzadi ( Imperial Princess) Jahanara Begum Sahib ( Urdu: شاهزادی جہاں آرا بیگم صاحب) ( April 2 Agra ( pronounced) (आगरा آگرا is a city on the banks of the Yamuna River in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, This event precipitated a family crisis which had political consequences. Aurangzeb suffered his father's displeasure when he returned to Agra three weeks after the event, instead of immediately on hearing of the accident. Shah Jahan dismissed him as the governor of the Deccan. Aurangzeb later claimed (1654) that he had resigned in protest of his father favoring Dara. In 1645, he was barred from the court for seven months. Later, Shah Jahan appointed him governor of Gujarat. Gujarat (ગુજરાત Gujǎrāt, pronounced) is a state in western India. He performed well and was rewarded. In 1647, Shah Jahan made him governor of Balkh and Badakhshan (in modern Afghanistan and Tajikistan), replacing Aurangzeb's ineffective brother Murad Baksh. Balkh ( - Balḫ) also known as Bactra, was once a major world city but was destroyed entirely by the Mongols. Badakhshan ( Tajik: Бадахшон is a region comprising parts of northeastern Afghanistan and southeastern Tajikistan. Afghanistan /æfˈgænɪstæn/ officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan ( Pashto: د افغانستان اسلامي جمهوریت, Tajikistan (təˈdʒɪkɨstæn or /təˈdʒiːkɨstæn/ Тоҷикистон tɔʤikɪsˈtɔn or, Persian تاجیکستان‎ taajikestaan officially the Republic of Murad Baksh (died 1661 was the youngest son of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan and empress Mumtaz Mahal. These areas were at the time under attack from various forces. Aurangzeb's military skill proved successful.

He was appointed governor of Multan and Sindh began a protracted military struggle against the Safavid army in an effort to capture the city of Kandahar. ( Urdu:, Punjabi ملتان، ਮੁਲਤਾਨ is a city in the Punjab Province of Pakistan and capital of Multan District Sindh ( Sindhī: سنڌ Urdu: سندھ is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and historically is home to the Sindhis. The Safavids ( صفوی) were an Iranian ref>Helen Chapin Metz For the 2001 film see Kandahar (film; for the Kandahar meteorite of 1959 see Meteorite falls; for the places in Azerbaijan see Cəndəhar and He failed, and fell again into his father's disfavor.

In 1652, Aurangzeb was re-appointed governor of the Deccan. In an effort to extend boundaries of the Mughal empire, Aurangzeb attacked the border kingdoms of Golconda (1657), and Bijapur (1658). The Adil Shahi or Adilshahi dynasty ruled the Sultanate of Bijapur in the Western area of the Deccan region of Southern India from 1490 Both times, Shah Jahan called off the attacks near the moment of Aurangzeb's triumph. In each case Dara Shikoh interceded and arranged a peaceful end to the attacks. Of all the Muslim rulers who ruled vast territories of India from 712 AD to 1857 AD, probably no one has received as much condemnation from Hindu and Western writers as Aurangzeb. A Hindu ( Devanagari: हिन्दू is an adherent of the philosophies and scriptures of Hinduism, a set of religious, Philosophical He has been castigated as a fundamentalist Muslim who was anti-Hindu, who taxed them, who tried to convert them, who discriminated against them in awarding high administrative positions, and who interfered in their religious matters.

Most Hindus like Akbar compared to Aurangzeb for his multi-ethnic court where Hindus were favored. Historian Shri Sharma states that while Emperor Akbar had fourteen Hindu Mansabdars (high officials) in his court, Aurangzeb actually had 148 Hindu high officials in his court. (Ref: Mughal Government) But this fact is somewhat less known.

War of succession

A painting from circa 1637 shows the brothers (left to right) Shuja, Aurganzeb and Murad Baksh in their younger years.

Shah Jahan fell ill in 1657, and was widely reported to have died. Shihab-ud-din Muhammad Shah Jahan I (full title Al-Sultan al-'Azam wal Khaqan al-Mukarram Abu'l-Muzaffar Shihab ud-din Muhammad Sahib-i-Qiran-i-Sani Shah Jahan I Padshah Ghazi With this news, the struggle for the succession began. Aurangzeb's eldest brother, Dara Shikoh, was regarded as heir apparent, but the succession proved far from certain. Dara Shikoh ( Persian: داراشكوه)(March 20 1615 - August 30 1659 was the eldest son of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan and his wife When Shah Jahan supposedly died, his second son, Shah Shuja (Mughal) declared himself emperor in Bengal. Shāh Shujā ( June 23, 1616 &ndash 1660 was the second son of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan and empress Mumtaz Mahal. Etymology and ethnology The exact origin of the word Bangla or Bengal is unknown though it is believed to be derived from the Dravidian-speaking tribe Bang Imperial armies sent by Dara and Shah Jahan soon restrained this effort, and Shuja retreated.

Soon after, Shuja's youngest brother Murad Baksh, with secret promises of support from Aurangzeb, declared himself emperor in Gujarat. Murad Baksh (died 1661 was the youngest son of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan and empress Mumtaz Mahal. Gujarat (ગુજરાત Gujǎrāt, pronounced) is a state in western India. Aurangzeb, ostensibly in support of Murad, marched north from Aurangabad, gathering support from nobles and generals. Following a series of victories, Aurangzeb declared that Dara had illegally usurped the throne. Shah Jahan, determined that Dara would succeed him, handed over control of his empire to Dara. A Rajput lord opposed to Aurangzeb and Murad, Maharaja Jaswant Singh, battled them both at Dharmatpur near Ujjain, leaving them heavily weakened. Rajput constitute one of the major Hindu Kshatriya groups from India Maharaja Jaswant Singh (1629-1680 was a ruler of Marwar in the present-day Indian state of Rajasthan. WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Ujjain ( Hindi:उज्जैन (also known as Ujain, Ujjayini, Avanti Aurangzeb eventually defeated Singh and concentrated his forces on Dara. A series of bloody battles followed, with troops loyal to Aurangzeb battering Dara's armies at Samugarh. In a few months, Aurangzeb's forces surrounded Agra. Fearing for his life, Dara departed for Delhi, leaving behind Shah Jahan. Delhi (दिल्ली ਦਿੱਲੀ دلی d̪ɪlːiː sometimes referred to as Dilli) is the second largest metropolis of India, with a population The old emperor surrendered the Agra Fort to Aurangzeb's nobles, but Aurangzeb refused any meeting with his father, and declared that Dara was no longer a Muslim. Agra Fort is a UNESCO World Heritage site located in Agra, India.

In a sudden reversal, Aurangzeb then had Murad arrested after intoxicating him and later executed him;^[2] Murad's former supporters, instead of fighting for Murad, defected to Aurangzeb. Meanwhile, Dara gathered his forces, and moved to the Punjab. Punjab ( ਪੰਜਾਬ پنجاب, पंजाब پنجاب also Panjab (پنجاب meaning "Land of the Five Rivers") (c The army sent against Shuja was trapped in the east, its generals Jai Singh I and Diler Khan, submitted to Aurangzeb, but allowed Dara's son Suleman to escape via the Himalayan foothills and join his father in the Punjab. Accession and early career At the tender age of 10 Jai Singh I became the Raja of Amber and the head of the Kachwaha Rajputs Aurangzeb offered Shuja the governorship of Bengal. Etymology and ethnology The exact origin of the word Bangla or Bengal is unknown though it is believed to be derived from the Dravidian-speaking tribe Bang This move had the effect of isolating Dara and causing more troops to defect to Aurangzeb. Shuja, however, uncertain of Aurangzeb's sincerity, continued to battle his brother, but his forces suffered a series of defeats at Aurangzeb's hands. At length, Shuja went into exile in Arakan (in present-day Myanmar) where he disappeared, and was presumed to be dead. Burma, officially the Union of Myanmar ( pjìdàunzṵ mjàmmà nàinŋàndɔ̀ is the largest country by geographical area in mainland Southeast Asia.

With Shuja and Murad disposed of, and with his father Shah Jahan confined in Agra, Aurangzeb pursued Dara, chasing him across the north-western bounds of the empire. After a series of battles, defeats and retreats, Dara was betrayed by one of his generals, who arrested and bound him. In 1659, Aurangzeb arranged a formal coronation in Delhi. Delhi (दिल्ली ਦਿੱਲੀ دلی d̪ɪlːiː sometimes referred to as Dilli) is the second largest metropolis of India, with a population He had Dara openly marched in chains back to Delhi; when Dara finally arrived, he had his brother executed. Legends about the cruelty of this execution abound, including stories that Aurangzeb had Dara's severed head sent to the dying Shah Jahan. With his succession secured, Aurangzeb kept Shah Jahan under house arrest at the Agra Fort. Twice he allegedly sent poison to the ailing Shah Jahan with the Hakims treating him. On both occasions, the loyal Hakims took the cup to Shah Jahan but themselves drank the poison. It is also said that he had the window of the Agra Fort from where Shah Jahan would look at Taj Mahal, sealed. Agra Fort is a UNESCO World Heritage site located in Agra, India. The Taj Mahal (tɑdʒ

Aurangzeb's reign

Enforcement of Islamic law

The Mughals had for the most part been tolerant of non-Muslims, allowing them to practice their customs and religion without too much interference. Though certain Muslim laws had been in place (e. g. , prohibitions against building new Hindu temples), the protection tax on non-Muslims (the Jizya) was repealed by Emperor Akbar in 1562. Under Islamic law, jizya or jizyah (جزْية ʤɪzjæh Ottoman Turkish: cizye both derived from Pahlavi and ultimately from Aramaic Akbar redirects here For other uses see Akbar (disambiguation Jalaluddin Muhammad Akbar ( Jalāl ud-Dīn Muhammad Akbar Akbar also encouraged political tolerance toward the non-Muslim majority.

Aurangzeb abandoned many of the more liberal viewpoints of his predecessors. He espoused a more fundamentalist interpretation of Islam and a behavior based on the Sharia (Islamic law), which he set about codifying through edicts and policies. Sharia ( Arabic: ar شريعة) is the body of Islamic Religious law. Aurangzeb took personal interest in the compilation of the Fatawa-e-Alamgiri, a digest of Muslim law. Fatawa-e-Alamgiri (also known as Al-Fatawa-i-Hindiya in Turkey Egypt and Syria is a compilation of law created at instance of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb (who was

Under Alamgir, Mughal court life changed dramatically. He (in consultation with clerics), allegedly did not allow music (though some scholars dispute this), and around 1668 commanded court musicians, dancers and singers to cease performing in his presence. Music is an Art form in which the medium is Sound organized in Time. Further, based on Muslim precepts forbidding images, he stopped the production of representational artwork, including the miniature painting that had reached its zenith before his rule. There is however a miniature portrait of the aged Aurangzeb with Qur'an in hand. Soldiers and citizens were also given free rein to deface architectural images such as faces — even on the walls of Mughal palaces. Untold thousands of representational images were destroyed in this way. Aurangzeb abandoned the Hindu-inspired practices of former Mughal emperors, especially the practice of Darshan, or public appearances to bestow blessings, which had been commonplace since the time of Akbar, as well as lavish celebrations of the Emperor's birthday. Darśana ( Darshan, दर्शन is a Sanskrit term meaning "sight" (in the sense of an instance of seeing or beholding from a root

Aurangzeb began to enact and enforce a series of edicts with punishments. Most significantly, Aurangzeb initiated laws which interfered with non-Muslim worship. These included the destruction of several temples (mostly Hindu), a prohibition of certain religious gatherings, collection of the Jizya tax, the closing of non-Islamic religious schools, and prohibition of practices deemed immoral by him, such as temple dances. Under Islamic law, jizya or jizyah (جزْية ʤɪzjæh Ottoman Turkish: cizye both derived from Pahlavi and ultimately from Aramaic Aurangzeb also banned the practice of burning widows alive, and declared "never again should the officials allow a woman to be burnt". ^[3]

There were a great many rebellions during Aurangzebs's reign, including those by the Rajput states of Marwar and Mewar, and the Sikhs. Geography In 1901 the region (Jodhpur state had an area of 90554 km² (34963 square miles Geography The northern part of Mewar is a gently sloping plain drained by the Bedach & Banas River and its tributaries which empty northwest into the Chambal River Sikh (English or; ਸਿੱਖ sikkh, IPA) is the title and name given to an adherent of Sikhism. Things came to such a head that Guru Tegh Bahadur, the ninth Guru (Spiritual Pontiff) of Sikhism, was executed by Aurangzeb for standing up against the forcible conversion of Kashmiri Hindu Brahmins and refusing to convert to Islam {McLeod 1989}. Guru Tegh Bahadur ( 1 April 1621 – 11 November 1675) became the 9th Guru of Sikhism on A guru (गुरु গুরু is a person who is regarded as having great knowledge wisdom and authority in a certain area and uses it to guide others Aurangzeb had demanded that all Kashmiri Brahmins convert to Islam. The Kashmiris then asked for assistance from the Sikh Guru. Guru Tegh Bahadur was proclaimed their Guru, and he advised Aurangzeb that if Tegh Bahadhur could be converted to Islam, then the Brahmins would convert to Islam. Tegh Bahadhur was then executed after his refusal to convert. This day, November 11 is still commemorated by the Sikh community. The son of Guru Tegh Bahadur, the 10th Guru of Sikhism, Guru Gobind Singh led an open revolt against Aurangzeb's forces. Guru Gobind Singh (ਗੁਰੂ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਸਿੰਘ gʊɾu gobɪn̪d̪ sɪ́ŋg ( December 22, 1666 &ndash 7 October, 1708) was It is thought that a letter to Aurangzeb by Guru Gobind Singh (The Zafarnama) contributed to the death of the aged Emperor. The letter highlighted all the atrocties that the Emperor had committed. He is said to have had extreme remorse after reading it, and soon ceased many of his hostilities towards his non-Muslim subjects, especially before his death.

Aurangzeb also ordered the execution of Syedna Qutubkhan Qutbuddin, the Dai-ul-Mutlaq of the Dawoodi Bohras (An Ismaili-Mustaali-Tayyebi sect of Shia Islam) for refusing to declare that the Dawoodi Bohras' religion was not in line with the Prophet's teaching. Syedna Qutbuddin Shaheed was executed by beheading and the Dawoodi Bohra community persecuted and their human rights taken away from them.

The climate of religious orthodoxy is often cited as the reason for these rebellions, as well as for the collapse of the Mughal empire after Aurangzeb. In addition, Aurangzeb's long wars of expansion, especially his decades in the Deccan, seriously strained the imperial treasury, while the many new nobles created and promoted by him (many of them Deccanis) did not share the old loyalty to the empire. Above all, the peasantry was steadily getting bled to death.

Expansion of the empire

Emperor Aurangzeb seated on a golden throne holding a hawk in the Durbar. The term hawk can be used in several ways In strict usage in Europe and Asia, to mean any of the Species in the Subfamily Such scenes would be rare in the latter part of his reign as he was permanently camped in the Deccan, fighting wars.

From the start of his reign up until his death, Aurangzeb engaged in almost constant warfare. He built up a massive army, and began a program of military expansion along all the boundaries of his empire.

Aurangzeb pushed into the north-west — into the Punjab and what is now Afghanistan. Punjab ( ਪੰਜਾਬ پنجاب, पंजाब پنجاب also Panjab (پنجاب meaning "Land of the Five Rivers") (c Afghanistan /æfˈgænɪstæn/ officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan ( Pashto: د افغانستان اسلامي جمهوریت, He also drove south, conquering Bijapur and Golconda, his old enemies. He attempted to suppress the Maratha territories, which had recently been liberated by Chhatrapati Shivaji. The Marāthās ( Marathi: mr मराठा also Mahrattas) form an Indo Aryan group of Hindu Warriors hailing mostly from the present-day Shivaji Bhosle, also known as Chhatrapati Shivaji Raje Bhosle ( Marathi: छत्रपती शिवाजीराजे भोसले (Born February

But the combination of military expansion and religious intolerance had far deeper consequences. Though he succeeded in expanding Mughal control, it was at an enormous cost in lives and to the treasury. And, as the empire expanded in size, the chain of command grew weaker.

The Sikhs of the Punjab grew both in strength and numbers in rebellion against Aurangzeb's armies. Sikh (English or; ਸਿੱਖ sikkh, IPA) is the title and name given to an adherent of Sikhism. When the now weakened Muslim kingdoms of Golconda and Bijapur fell beneath Aurangzeb's might, the Marathas waged a war with Aurangzeb which lasted for 27 years.

Even Aurangzeb's own armies grew restive — particularly the fierce Rajputs, who were his main source of strength. Rajput constitute one of the major Hindu Kshatriya groups from India Aurangzeb gave a wide berth to the Rajputs, who were mostly Hindu. While they fought for Aurangzeb during his life, on his death they immediately revolted against the Empire, an essential after-effect of Aurangzeb's Islamic fundamentalist policies.

With much of his attention on military matters, Aurangzeb's political power waned, and his provincial governors and generals grew in authority.

Conversion of non-Muslims

The conversion of non-Muslims to Islam was a policy objective under Aurangzeb's rule.

Aurangzeb's ultimate aim was conversion of non-Muslims to Islam. Whenever possible the emperor gave out robes of honor, cash gifts, and promotions to converts. It quickly became known that conversion was a sure way to the emperor's favor. ^[4]

In economic and political terms, Aurangzeb's rule significantly favored Muslims over non-Muslims:"In many disputed successions for hereditary local office Aurangzeb chose candidates who had converted to Islam over their rivals. Pargana headmen and quangos or recordkeepers were targeted especially for pressure to convert. A pargana is a former administrative unit of the Indian subcontinent, used primarily but not The message was very clear for all concerned. Shared political community must also be shared religious belief. "^[5].

Attitudes towards Hindus

Aurangzeb has been widely characterized as being anti-Hindu, unlike other more liberal emperors who preceded him. Anti-Hindu prejudice is a negative perception or Religious intolerance against the practice and practitioners of Hinduism. According to some, him seen in negative characterization came about largely due to his disparaging views against Hindus and his attempts to induce the conversion of Hindus to Islam ^[6][7]. Some sources claim that the anti-Hindu measures of Aurangzeb were intended to help the orthodox Sunni faith gain prominence in India in an indirect manner. ^[8] However, his various edicts against Hindus, such as banning the celebration of Diwali and imposition of Jizya on non-Muslims are also factors in determining his attitudes. Diwali, or Deepavali, (also called Tihar and Swanti in Nepal (Markiscarali is a major Indian and Nepalese festival and a significant Pro-British Indian historian, Sir Jadunath Sarkar has traced the anti-Hindu policies of Aurangzeb from as early a year as 1644 AD. Sir Jadunath Sarkar (যদুনাথ সরকার (December 10 1870 - May 19 1958) was a noted Indian Bengali historian ^[9]

Historian E. Taylor writes that his negative views on Hindus were the primary reason for his reversal of the liberal policies of the previous Mughal emperors and "resume the persecution of Hindus" in the Empire, and the many rebellions that arose against him in Rajasthan and among the Marathas. Rājasthān ( Devanāgarī: राजस्थान raːdʒəst̪ʰaːn is the largest state of the Republic of India in terms of area The Marāthās ( Marathi: mr मराठा also Mahrattas) form an Indo Aryan group of Hindu Warriors hailing mostly from the present-day ^[10].

Impact of Aurangzeb's reign

This is again a disputed issue. Mainstream historians, such as Irfan Habib (who refers to a severe agrarian crisis) and Athar Ali (who blames the never-ending Deccan wars), believe that the real crisis was in the political and economic policies. Irfan Habib (born 1931 is an Indian Historian, a former Chairman of the Indian Council of Historical Research and a Padma Bhushan awardee Athar Ali (born 5 March 1961 in Panjan Kasana, Gujrat) is a Pakistani Norwegian politician for the Red Party Some, like Satish Chandra believe in addition that the Mughal empire was already weakened (a Jagirdari crisis) before Aurangzeb came to the throne, so it was only his steadfast commitment to strong rule and expansion that kept it from falling apart during his reign itself.

Rebellions

Many subjects rebelled against Aurangzeb's policies, among them his own son, Prince Akbar.

• In 1667, the Yusufzai Pashtuns revolted near Peshawar and were crushed. The Yūsufzai (also Youssofzay, Yousafzai, Esapzey, Yousufi, or Yūsufi) ( Urdu: یوسف زئی) are one of Pashtuns ( Pashto: پښتون Paṣtūn, Paxtūn, also rendered as Pushtuns, Pakhtuns, Pukhtuns) also called ( پښور; Urdu: پشاور) is the capital of the North-West Frontier Province and the administrative centre for the Federally Administered
• In 1669, the Jats around Mathura revolted and led to the formation of Bharatpur state after his death. Mathura ( IAST mathurā)( Hindi: मथुरा is a holy City in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.
• In 1670, Chhatrapati Shivaji had opened the war against the Mughals. Shivaji Bhosle, also known as Chhatrapati Shivaji Raje Bhosle ( Marathi: छत्रपती शिवाजीराजे भोसले (Born February He opposed Aurangzeb with full strength and stopped him from entering the Deccan.
• In 1672 the Satnamis, a Kabirpanthi sect concentrated in an area near Delhi, staged an armed revolt, taking over the administration of Narnaul, and defeating Mughal forces in an advance on Delhi. Kabirpanthi (or Kabir Panth) is a religious community in India which recognizes Kabir as their Satguru or Prophet. Narnaul is a city and a Municipal council in Mahendragarh district in the Indian state of Haryana. Aurangzeb sent an army of ten thousand, including his Imperial Guard, and put the rebellion down.

Soon afterwards the Afridi Pashtuns in the north-west also revolted, and Aurangzeb was forced to lead his army personally to Hasan Abdal to subdue them. Pashtuns ( Pashto: پښتون Paṣtūn, Paxtūn, also rendered as Pushtuns, Pakhtuns, Pukhtuns) also called Hasan Abdal (حسن ابدال is an historic town in Northern Punjab, Pakistan.

When Maharaja Jaswant Singh of Jodhpur died in 1679, a conflict ensued over who would be the next Raja. Jodhpur (जोधपुर is the second largest City in the Indian State of Rajasthan. Aurangzeb's choice of a nephew of the former Maharaja was not accepted by other members of Jaswant Singh's family and they rebelled, but in vain. Aurangzeb seized control of Jodhpur. He also moved on Udaipur, which was the only other state of Rajputana to support the rebellion. WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Udaipur (उदयपुर is a city and a Municipal council in Udaipur district in Rājputāna, also called Rājwār was the name of present Rājasthān state the largest state of the Republic of India in terms of area before its formation in 1949 CE There was never a clear resolution to this conflict, although it is noted that the other Rajputs, including the celebrated Kachhwaha Rajput clan of Raja Jai Singh, the Bhattis, and the Rathores, remained loyal. Sub-clans Overall sub-clans of the Kachwaha number around 71 Prominent sub-clans of the Kachhawa clan include Rajawat, Shekhawat, Sheobramhpota Bhati / Bhatti (भाटी (Bhati ਭੱਟੀ (Bhatti / भटटी بھٹی is a Rajput Caste and is one of the largest tribes among Rajputs Early history Based on "khyats" (traditional accounts written in seventeenth century it is surmised that the Rathores and Rathods were originally feudatories of the On the other hand, Aurangzeb's own third son, Prince Akbar, along with a few Muslim Mansabdar supporters, joined the rebels in the hope of dethroning his father and becoming emperor. The rebels were defeated and Akbar fled south to the shelter of the Maratha Chhatrapati Sambhaji, Chhatrapati Shivaji's successor. Sambhaji Raje Bhonsle ( Marathi: धर्मवीर संभाजी राजे भोसले ( May 14, 1657 &ndash March 11,

The Sikh rebellion

Early in Aurangzeb's reign, various insurgent groups of Sikhs engaged Mughal troops in increasingly bloody battles. In 1670, the ninth Sikh Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur encamped in Delhi, receiving large numbers of followers, and this is said to have attracted the ire of Aurangzeb^[11]. Sikh (English or; ਸਿੱਖ sikkh, IPA) is the title and name given to an adherent of Sikhism. Guru Tegh Bahadur ( 1 April 1621 – 11 November 1675) became the 9th Guru of Sikhism on

In 1675, a group of Kashmiri Brahmins, who were of the Hindu faith, were being pressured by Muslim authorities to convert to Islam. Brahmin ( Brāhmaṇa, sa ब्राह्मणः is the class of educators scholars and preachers in Brahminical Hinduism. The Pandits approached Guru Tegh Bahadur with their dilemma. A paṇḍit or pundit ( Devanagari: पण्डित is a scholar a teacher particularly one skilled in Sanskrit and Hindu Law, Religion To demonstrate a spirit of unity and tolerance, the Guru agreed to help the Brahmins. He told them to inform Aurangzeb that the Brahmins would convert only if Guru Tegh Bahadur himself was converted. The Guru subsequently arrested and taken to Delhi before the Emperor. Teg Bahadur was offered a choice between accepting Islam or death; he chose death. ^[12]His three close aides were also executed, Bhai Mati Das was sawn in half, Bhai Sati Das was wrapped in wool and burnt alive and Bhai Dayal Das was boiled alive. ^[13][14][15]

The execution of Guru Tegh Bahadur infuriated the Sikhs. In response, his son and successor, the ten Guru of Sikhism Guru Gobind Singh further militarized his followers. Guru Gobind Singh (ਗੁਰੂ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਸਿੰਘ gʊɾu gobɪn̪d̪ sɪ́ŋg ( December 22, 1666 &ndash 7 October, 1708) was

Aurangzeb installed his son Bahadur Shah as governor of the northwest territories. Two The new governor relaxed enforcement of Aurangzeb's edicts, and an uneasy peace ensued. However, Gobind Singh had determined that the Sikhs should actively prepare to defend their territories and their faith. In 1699, he established the Khalsa Panth. For the village in Azerbaijan see Xəlsə. Khalsa ( Punjabi: pa ਖਾਲਸਾ literally "Pure" refers to the collective Panthan (meaning "path" in Sanskrit is the term used for several religious traditions in India

This development alarmed not only the Mughals, but the nearby Hill Rajputs. In a temporary alliance, both groups attacked Gobind Singh and his followers. The united Mughal and Rajput armies laid siege to the fort at Anandpur Sahib. Anandpur Sahib (ਅਨੰਦਪੁਰ ਸਾਹਿਬआनन्दपुर साहिब is a city and a Municipal council in Rupnagar district in the state Although they faced certain death, the Sikhs refused to surrender. In an attempt to dislodge the Sikhs, Aurangzeb vowed that the Guru and his Sikhs would be allowed to leave Anandpur safely. Aurangzeb is said to have validated this promise in writing; the events of which Gobind Singh wrote in his letter to Aurengzeb, the Zafarnama (letter of victory) after he escaped unharmed^[16] . Gobind Singh had invested in the five beloved ones (the first five to become baptised Khalsa Sikhs) the executive command over the Guru. The five beloved ones ordered the Guru to leave the Anandpur Sahib Fort. The Guru hestitately agreed with the order and left Anandpur Sahib fort. It is reported that when they abandoned the fort under the cover of darkness, the Mughals were alerted and enagaged them in battle once again.

The Mughals, suffered considerable losses against the growing Sikh fighting force ^[17]. Guru Gobind Singh's two elder sons died fighting while his two younger sons were bricked alive by Wazir Khan, the Mughal Governor of the Punjab at Sirhind^[18], and much of the Sikh force were decimated. WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Sirhind-Fatehgarh is a city and a Municipal council in Fatehgarh Sahib district in the Guru Gobind Singh then held a last stand at Muktsar, where the soldiers who had previously abandoned Guru Gobind Singh came to fight for him, and the Sikhs defeated the Mughal Army. WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Muktsar ( ਮੁਕਤਸਰ) is a city and a Municipal council in Muktsar district in the ^[19]

Afterwards, Guru Gobind Singh, in response, sent Aurangzeb an eloquent yet defiant letter entitled the Zafarnama (Letter of Victory), written in Persian, accusing the emperor of treachery, and claiming a moral victory.

On receipt of this letter, Aurangzeb is said to have invited Guru Gobind Singh to a meeting in Ahmednagar^[20], but Aurangzeb died before Guru Gobind Singh arrived.

The Deccan wars and the Rise of the Marathas

In the time of Shah Jahan, the Deccan had been controlled by three Muslim kingdoms: Ahmednagar, Bijapur and Golconda. Following a series of battles, Ahmendnagar was effectively divided, with large portions of the kingdom ceded to the Mughals and the balance to Bijapur. One of Ahmednagar's generals, a Hindu Maratha named Shahaji, joined the Bijapur court. The Marāthās ( Marathi: mr मराठा also Mahrattas) form an Indo Aryan group of Hindu Warriors hailing mostly from the present-day Shahaji Bhosale (Kannadaಶಾಹಜಿ ಭೊಂಸಲೆ was the eldest son of Maolji Bhosale of Verul (present-day Ellora, Maharashtra) Shahaji sent his wife and young son Shivaji in Pune to look after his Jagir. Shivaji Bhosle, also known as Chhatrapati Shivaji Raje Bhosle ( Marathi: छत्रपती शिवाजीराजे भोसले (Born February Pune (ˈpuːneɪ Marathi: पुणे Hindi: पूना formerly Poona, is the second largest city in the state of Maharashtra

In 1657, while Aurangzeb attacked Golconda and Bijapur, Shivaji, using guerrilla tactics, took control of three Bijapuri forts formerly controlled by his father. With these victories, Shivaji assumed de facto leadership of many independent Maratha clans. The Marathas harried the flanks of the warring Bijapuris and Mughals, gaining weapons, forts, and territories.

Shivaji's small and ill-equipped army survived an all out Bijapuri attack, and Shivaji personally killed the Bijapuri general, Afzal Khan. Afzal Khan may refer to Afzal Khan (general, Bijapuri general Afzal Khan (actor, Pakistani actor (aka John Rambo With this event, the Marathas transformed into a powerful military force, capturing more and more Bijapuri and Mughal territories.

Following his coronation in 1659, Aurangzeb sent his trusted general and maternal uncle Shaista Khan to the Deccan to recover his lost forts. Mirza Abu Talib, better known by his title Shaista Khan শায়েস্তা খাঁ was a Subahdar and general in the Army of the Shaista Khan drove into Maratha territory and took up residence in Pune. Pune (ˈpuːneɪ Marathi: पुणे Hindi: पूना formerly Poona, is the second largest city in the state of Maharashtra In a daring raid, Shivaji attacked the governor's residence in Pune, killed Shaista Khan's son, even hacking off Shaista Khan's thumb as he fled. Once more the Marathis rallied to his leadership, taking back the territory.

Aurangzeb ignored the rise of the Marathas for the next few years. Shivaji continued to capture forts belonging to both Mughals and Bijapur. At last Aurangzeb sent his greatest general the old Raja Jai Singh I of Amber, a Hindu Rajput, to attack the Marathas. Accession and early career At the tender age of 10 Jai Singh I became the Raja of Amber and the head of the Kachwaha Rajputs Amber was a city of Rajasthan state, India, it is now part of the Jaipur Municipal Corporation Jai Singh's blistering attacks were so successful that he was able to persuade Shivaji to agree to peace by becoming a Mughal vassal. Raja Jai Singh I also promised the Maratha hero his safety, placing him under the care of his own son, the future Raja Ram Singh I. Career as prince Kunwar Ram Singh had served in the campaigns of his great father Jai Singh I and by 1654 had acquired a rank of commander of 3000 (cavalry in the However, circumstances at the Mughal court were beyond the control of the Raja, and when Shivaji and his son Sambhaji went to Agra to meet Aurangzeb, they were placed under house arrest, from which they managed to effect a daring escape. Sambhaji Raje Bhonsle ( Marathi: धर्मवीर संभाजी राजे भोसले ( May 14, 1657 &ndash March 11,

Shivaji returned to the Deccan, successfully drove out the Mughal armies, and was crowned Chhatrapati or Emperor of the Maratha Empire in 1674. Chhatrapati (also Chatrapati) is an honorific or an imperial title for an Indian ruler While Aurangzeb continued to send troops against him, Shivaji expanded Maratha control throughout the Deccan until his death in 1680. Shivaji was succeeded by his son Sambhaji. Militarily and politically, Mughal efforts to control the Deccan continued to fail. Aurangzeb's son Akbar left the Mughal court and joined with Sambhaji, inspiring some Mughal forces to join the Marathas. Muhammad Akbar ( 11 September 1657 – 1704 was the fourth son of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. Aurangzeb in response moved his court to Aurangabad and took over command of the Deccan campaign. More battles ensued, and Akbar fled to Persia. The Persian Empire was a series of Iranian empires that ruled over the Iranian plateau, the original Persian homeland and beyond in Western Asia

For nine years, Aurangzeb couldn't win a single fort from the Marathas. The Marāthās ( Marathi: mr मराठा also Mahrattas) form an Indo Aryan group of Hindu Warriors hailing mostly from the present-day But in 1689 Aurangzeb captured Sambhaji and publicly tortured and killed him. Sambhaji Raje Bhonsle ( Marathi: धर्मवीर संभाजी राजे भोसले ( May 14, 1657 &ndash March 11, Sambhaji was succeeded by his brother Rajaram. Early life He was pampered by his mother and liked by all due to his docile nature Maratha Sardars (commanders) fought individual battles against the Mughals, and territory changed hands again and again during years of endless warfare. As there was no central authority among the Marathas, Aurangzeb was forced to contest every inch of territory, at great cost in lives and treasure. Even as Aurangzeb drove west, deep into Maratha territory — notably conquering Satara — the Marathas expanded their attacks further into Mughal lands, including Mughal-held Malwa and Hyderabad. For the Moth Genus, see Satara (moth. Satara (Marathiसातारा is a Town located in the Hyderābād and Berar (హైదరాబాదు حیدر آباد under the Nizams was the largest Princely state in the erstwhile Indian Empire Once, the Marathas attacked the imperial camp in the night, and cut off the ropes of the Emperor's tent. The Emperor escaped being crushed by the heavy tent only because he happened to be spending that night in another tent.

Aurangzeb waged continuous war for more than two decades with no resolution. After his death, new leadership arose among the Marathas, who soon became unified under the rule of Shahu, Shivaji's grandson. Shrimant Shahu Sambhaji Raje Bhonsle Chhatrapati Maharaj (1682-1749 was the fourth ruler of the Maratha Empire created by his grandfather Chhatrapati Shivaji, and

The Pashtun rebellion

Along with the Rajputs, the Pashtun tribesmen of the Empire were considered the bedrock of the Mughal Army. Pashtuns ( Pashto: پښتون Paṣtūn, Paxtūn, also rendered as Pushtuns, Pakhtuns, Pukhtuns) also called They were crucial defenders of the Mughal Empire from the threat of invasion from the North-West. The Mughal Empire ( Persian and self-designation گورکانی; مغلیہ سلطنت) was an Islamic imperial power which ruled most The Pashtun revolt in 1672 was triggered when soldiers under the orders of the Mughal Governor Amir Khan attempted to molest women of the Safi tribe in modern day Kunar. Kunar ( کُنَر) is one of the thirty-four Provinces of Afghanistan, located in the northeastern part of the country and on the border with Pakistan 's The Safi tribes attacked the soldiers. This attack provoked a reprisal, which triggered a general revolt of most of the tribes. Attempting to reassert his authority, Amir Khan led a large Mughal Army to the Khyber pass. The Khyber Pass, (also spelled Khaiber or Khaybar (درہ خیبر (altitude  m   ft is the Mountain pass that links Pakistan and There the army was surrounded by tribesmen and routed, with only four men, including the Governor, managing to escape.

After that the revolt spread, with the Mughals suffering a near total collapse of their authority along the Pashtun belt. The closure of the important Attock-Kabul trade route along the Grand Trunk road was particularly critical. Attock ( Urdu:) the headquarters of Attock District, is a city located in the northern border of the Punjab province of Pakistan } Kābul ( Persian and Pashto: کابل, IPA:) is the Capital and largest city of Afghanistan, with The Grand Trunk Road (commonly abbreviated to GT Road is one of South Asia 's oldest and longest major roads By 1674, the situation had deteriorated to a point where Aurangzeb himself camped at Attock to personally take charge. Switching to diplomacy and bribery along with force of arms, the Mughals eventually split the rebellion and while they never managed to wield effective authority outside the main trade route, the revolt was partially suppressed. However the long term anarchy on the Empire's North-Western frontier that prevailed as a consequence ensured that the Persian Nadir Shah's forces half a century later faced little resistance on the road to Delhi. Nāder Shāh Afshār ( also known as Nāder Qoli Beg - نادر قلی بیگ or Tahmāsp Qoli Khān - تهماسپ قلی خان) (November Delhi (दिल्ली ਦਿੱਲੀ دلی d̪ɪlːiː sometimes referred to as Dilli) is the second largest metropolis of India, with a population

Legacy

17th Century Badshahi Masjid built by Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in Lahore

One of the thirteen gates at the Lahore Fort, this one built by Mughal emperor Aurangzeb and named Alamgir

Aurangzeb's influence continues through the centuries. As a means of recording the passage of Time, the 17th Century was that Century which lasted from 1601 - 1700 in the Gregorian calendar The Badshahi Mosque ( Urdu: بادشاھی مسجد) or the 'Emperor's Mosque ' was built in 1673 by the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb in Lahore ( lahor is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and is the second largest city in Pakistan after Karachi. He was the first ruler to attempt to impose Sharia law on a non-Muslim country. Sharia ( Arabic: ar شريعة) is the body of Islamic Religious law. His critics^[21], decry this as intolerance, while his mostly Muslim supporters applaud him, some calling him a Caliph. The Caliph is the Head of state in a Caliphate, and the title for the leader of the Islamic Ummah, an Islamic community ruled by the Shari'ah He engaged in nearly perpetual war, justifying the ensuing death and destruction on moral and religious grounds. He eventually succeeded in the imposition of Islamic Sharia in his realm, but alienated many constituencies, not only non-Muslims, but also Shi'ite Muslims. This led to increased militancy by the Marathas, the Sikhs, and the Rajputs, who along with other territories broke from the empire after his death; it also led to disputes among Indian Muslims. The destruction of Hindu temples ^[22] remains a dark stain on Hindu-Muslim relations in India to this day. A Hindu ( Devanagari: हिन्दू is an adherent of the philosophies and scriptures of Hinduism, a set of religious, Philosophical A Muslim (مسلم pronounced Muslim, not Muzlim) is an adherent of the Religion

Unlike his predecessors, Aurangzeb considered the royal treasury as a trust of the citizens of his empire and did not use it for personal expenses or extravagant building projects. He left few buildings, save for a modest mausoleum for his first wife, Bibi Ka Maqbara, sometimes called the mini-Taj Mahal, in Aurangabad. Bibi Ka Maqbara was built by Prince Azam Shah, son of Emperor Aurangzeb, in the late 17th century as a loving tribute to his mother Dilras Bano Begam He also created the Badshahi Masjid mosque (Imperial or Alamgiri Mosque) in Lahore, which was once the largest outside of Mecca. The Badshahi Mosque ( Urdu: بادشاھی مسجد) or the 'Emperor's Mosque ' was built in 1673 by the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb in Lahore ( lahor is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and is the second largest city in Pakistan after Karachi. He also added a small marble mosque known as the Moti Masjid (Pearl Mosque) to the Red Fort complex in Delhi. This article is about the Red Fort in Delhi India The Agra Fort is also known as the "Red Fort" His constant warfare, however, drove his empire to the brink of bankruptcy just as much as the wasteful personal spending and opulence of his predecessors.

Stanley Wolpert writes in his New History of India ISBN 0-19-516677-9 (Oxford, 2003)

Later in his life, Aurangzeb always portrayed himself as a humble person with head bowed in all his paintings.

He alienated many of his children and wives, driving some into exile and imprisoning others. At the ebb of his life, he expressed his loneliness and perhaps a regret for his militant intolerant rule. His personal piety is undeniable. Unlike the often alcohol- and women-absorbed personal lives of his predecessors, he led an extremely simple and pious life. He followed Muslim precepts with his typical determination, and even memorized the entire Qur'an. The Qur’an ( القرآن, literally "the recitation" also sometimes transliterated as Qur’ān, Koran, Alcoran He knitted Haj caps and copied out the Qur'an throughout his life and sold these anonymously. Hanover Airport, also called Langenhagen Airport with reference to the nearby town of Langenhagen, is situated 11km north of the centre of Hanover The Qur’an ( القرآن, literally "the recitation" also sometimes transliterated as Qur’ān, Koran, Alcoran He used only the proceeds from these to fund his modest resting place. He died in Ahmednagar on Friday, February 20 1707 at the age of 88, having outlived many of his children. WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Ahmednagar (Marathi/Hindi अहमदनगर Urdu عحمدناگار is a city of Ahmednagar District Year 1707 ( MDCCVII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a His modest open-air grave in Khuldabad expresses his strict and deep interpretation of Islamic beliefs. WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Khuldabad (also Kuldabad or Khultabad) is a city and a Municipal council in

After Aurangzeb's death, his son Bahadur Shah I took the throne. Muazzam Bahadur Shah ( Persian: fa بهادر شاه Bahādur Shāh; his name Bahādur means "brave" October 14 The Mughal Empire, due both to Aurangzeb's over-extension and to Bahadur Shah's weak military and leadership qualities, entered a period of long decline. Immediately after Bahadur Shah occupied the throne, the Maratha Empire — which had been held at bay by Aurangzeb, albeit at a high human and monetary cost — consolidated and launched effective invasions of Mughal territory, seizing power from the weak emperor. Within 100 years of Aurangzeb's death, the Mughal Emperor was to become a puppet of the Maratha Empire and then the British East India Company, with little power beyond Delhi and ignored by most Indian princes. The Maratha Empire ( Marathi: मराठा साम्राज्य Marāṭhā Sāmrājya; also transliterated Mahratta The Honourable East India Company ( HEIC) referred to most commonly as the East India Company, also historically and colloquially as John Company, or

Trivia

• There is a famous story that when the Emperor allegedly banned music in the court, the musicians arranged a mock funeral of the "Lady Music. " The Emperor who witnessed it commented, "Let her be well and truly buried!"
• Alamgir ("Conqueror of the Universe"), as he preferred to style himself, in his old age, regretted the errors he made. ^[23]. He implored his sons not to engage in a war of succession and left behind a will dividing his empire among them. His sons ignored the will and fought a bitter war of succession.
• Aurangzeb's son Akbar rebelled against him and fled to Persia. The Persian Empire was a series of Iranian empires that ruled over the Iranian plateau, the original Persian homeland and beyond in Western Asia He wrote a stinging letter to his father.
• During Aurangzeb's reign, the Portuguese born Catholic Dona Juliana Dias da Costa came into his court and eventually would become harem-queen to his son Bahadur Shah I, and used to ride a war elephant beside him during battles to defend his authority. Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic (República Portuguesa is a country on the Iberian Peninsula. Dona Juliana Dias da Costa (1658-1733 was a woman of Portuguese descent from Kochi taken to the Mughal Empire 's court of Aurangzeb Muazzam Bahadur Shah ( Persian: fa بهادر شاه Bahādur Shāh; his name Bahādur means "brave" October 14
• Aurangzeb nipped the attempts of the East India Company to gain territory by attacking it in 1687.
• Aurangzeb Alamgir had five sons.
• Aurangzeb's mother Empress Mumtaz Mahal had expired in a place called "Jamod". Mumtāz Mahal (April 1593 - 17 June 1631 ( Persian, Urdu: ممتاز محل; pronunciation /mumtɑːz mɛhɛl/ meaning "beloved ornament of the palace" The actual name of the place is "Jah-e-Mout", known today as Jamod in the Buldhana district in Maharashtra and 60 km from Burhanpur in Madhya Pradesh. WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Buldana is a city and a Municipal council in Buldana district in the state of Maharashtra Maharashtra ( Marathi: mahārāṣṭra, IPA) is a state located on the western coast of India. Burhanpur (बुरहानपुर is a town in Madhya Pradesh state India. Madhya Pradesh (abbreviated as MP) ( Hindī: मध्य प्रदेश pronounced, Translation: Middle Province) often

References

Additional references

• Captive Princess-Zeb-un-Nissa, Annie Krynicki Kreiger pub by Oxford University Press
• Essays on Islam and Indian History, Richard M. Eaton. Reprint. New Delhi, Oxford University Press, 2002 (ISBN 0-19-566265-2). -- Eaton's essay "Temple Desecration and Indo-Muslim States", which attempts to comprehend Aurangzeb's motivation in destroying temples, has generated much recent debate
• The Peacock Throne, Waldemar Hansen (Holt, Rinehart, Winston, 1972). -- a very British accounting of Aurangzeb's reign, but filled with excellent references and source material
• A Short History of Pakistan, Dr. Ishtiaque Hussain Qureshi, University of Karachi Press.
• Delhi, Khushwant Singh, Penguin USA, Open Market Ed edition, February 5, 2000. (ISBN 0-14-012619-8)

Mcleod, H. (1989) Who is a Sikh. Oxford. Claredon.

See also

• Mughal empire
• Emperor of India

External links

• Quran hand-written by the emperor- BBC
• Article on Aurganzeb from MANAS group page, UCLA
• Aurangzeb: Bad ruler or bad history?
• Aurangzeb- BBC
• The Tragedy of Aureng-zebe Text of John Dryden's drama, based loosely on Aurangzeb and the Mughal court, 1675
• Legends on Indian Coins
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