Aurangzeb

Alamgir I, commonly known as Aurangzeb, was the sixth Mughal emperor. He ruled from 1658 until 1707. During his time, the Mughal Empire grew very large, covering most of the Indian subcontinent.

Aurangzeb was the son of Shah Jahan. Before becoming emperor, he held important jobs. He became emperor after a struggle with his brother Dara Shikoh. Aurangzeb expanded the empire through many military campaigns and made the Mughal army strong.

Aurangzeb was a devoted Muslim. He built many mosques and created important laws. His rule is remembered in different ways. Some people say he treated non-Muslims unfairly, while others say he was fair to all his subjects. His time as emperor left a complex legacy that people still discuss today.

Early life

Aurangzeb was born in Dahod on 3 November 1618. He was the sixth child of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal. Aurangzeb was a descendant of Timur through his father.

When he was young, Aurangzeb studied many subjects. These included combat, military strategy, and administration. He also learned about Islamic studies, Turkic and Persian literature. Aurangzeb spoke the Hindustani language well. He also knew his ancestral language of Chagatai Turkic, though he liked Persian better. He learned the Quran and the hadith.

When Aurangzeb was fifteen, he showed great bravery. During an event, a war elephant ran through a camp. Aurangzeb rode towards the elephant and threw a spear at it. Even though he fell off his horse, he was safe. His father rewarded him for his bravery.

Ancestry

Career as prince

In December 1634, Aurangzeb got his first big job. He was put in charge of an army going to Bundelkhand to deal with a ruler of Orchha, Jhujhar Singh. Singh had attacked another area without permission. Aurangzeb let his generals lead the fight. The campaign worked well, and Singh lost his power.

Aurangzeb became the leader of the southern parts of the empire in 1636. He helped end a rival kingdom and managed many areas, including Khandesh, Berar, Telangana, and Daulatabad. He also got married several times. In 1644, he visited his sister in Agra who had been hurt in an accident. Because of this, he was dismissed from his job as leader of the southern areas.

Later, he became the leader of Gujarat. His time there was quiet but had some disagreements. He then moved to lead areas near Balkh and Badakhshan, where he faced tough enemies but didn’t achieve much. He was later made leader of Multan and Sindh, but his plan to take back an important city failed because of supply problems and poor equipment.

In 1653, Aurangzeb became leader of the southern areas again. He worked to improve the economy by organizing land surveys and helping farmers. He also planned to take more land by attacking nearby kingdoms but felt unhappy when his father decided not to fight for full victory.

War of succession

Main article: Mughal war of succession (1658–1659)

Shah Jahan had four sons, each ruling different parts of the empire. His oldest son, Dara Shikoh, was his favorite. This made the younger sons unhappy, and they tried to work together against Dara. There were no clear rules about who would be the next ruler, so the sons often fought among themselves for power.

The biggest fight was between Dara Shikoh and Aurangzeb. Most important people and officials supported either Dara or Aurangzeb. Although they had some different beliefs—Dara was more open-minded and Aurangzeb was more traditional—most decisions depended on who could get more support from military leaders and soldiers.

When Shah Jahan became ill in 1657, rumors spread that he had died. This made his sons worried. Shah Shuja, who ruled Bengal, declared himself king and moved toward Agra with his army. Aurangzeb and another brother, Murad, also claimed control over their areas. Finally, Aurangzeb defeated his brothers and took control. Dara Shikoh was captured, and Aurangzeb became the new emperor. Shah Jahan was placed under care in Agra Fort and was treated well.

Reign

The name Aurangzeb means 'Ornament of the Throne'. His chosen title Alamgir means Conqueror of the World.

Aurangzeb's full imperial title was very long and included many honorifics. He was also known by other titles such as Caliph of The Merciful and Monarch of Islam.

Aurangzeb's government included more Hindus than previous rulers. The number of Hindu officials grew due to the inclusion of Marathas, especially during campaigns in the Deccan region. Despite this, Aurangzeb tried to reduce the number of non-Muslim nobles in his court and encouraged some high-ranking Hindu officials to convert to Islam.

During Aurangzeb's time, the Mughal Empire was the world's largest economy and the biggest manufacturing power.

Aurangzeb followed Islamic teachings strictly. He wanted to make Islam more prominent in his rule, though not everyone agreed with his policies.

Aurangzeb removed many long-standing taxes that affected his people shortly after becoming ruler. Later, he reintroduced a military tax on non-Muslim subjects after a hundred years without it.

Aurangzeb collected revenue from 24 provinces through taxes, customs, and land taxes. His annual income was very large.

Aurangzeb did not want verses from the Quran on coins because they were touched often. Instead, his coins showed the mint city and year, along with a poetic couplet.

Aurangzeb built and repaired many structures, mostly mosques, but also secular buildings like palaces and forts. He was especially dedicated to repairing existing mosques and tombs.

The textile industry grew a lot during Aurangzeb's rule. Workshops employed many artisans who made fine silks, brocades, and other luxurious fabrics. Techniques like Kalamkari also developed during this time.

Rebellions

During Aurangzeb's rule, many groups in northern and western India, such as the Marathas, Rajputs, Hindu Jats, Pashtuns, and Sikhs, began to challenge Mughal authority. These groups became better fighters by working with and against the Mughals.

In 1669, the Hindu Jats around Mathura rebelled and made their own state, but they were defeated. In 1659, Maratha leader Shivaji attacked the Mughal Viceroy Shaista Khan and tried to take control of areas like the Deccan, Janjira, and Surat. In 1689, Aurangzeb's forces captured and killed Shivaji's son Sambhaji, but the Marathas kept fighting.

In 1679, the Rathore clan rebelled when Aurangzeb did not allow their young prince to become king, causing trouble among the Rajput rulers and loss of Mughal power in the region.

In 1672, the Satnami sect near Delhi took over the administration of Narnaul but were defeated by Aurangzeb's forces. In 1671, the battle of Saraighat was fought against the Ahom Kingdom, where the Mughals lost.

Maharaja Chhatrasal, a warrior from the Bundela Rajput clan, fought against Aurangzeb and made his own kingdom in Bundelkhand, becoming the Maharaja of Panna.

Jat rebellion

In 1669, Hindu Jats rebelled against Aurangzeb because of new taxes and damage to Hindu temples in Mathura. The rebellion was led by Gokula, a rebel landholder from Tilpat. By 1670, the Mughal Army defeated many Jat rebels and took control of Tilpat. Gokula was captured and killed, but the Jats rebelled again. Raja Ram Jat, seeking revenge for his father's death, attacked Akbar's tomb and damaged the Taj Mahal. He was later captured and killed. After Aurangzeb's death, the Jats made their own state of Bharatpur.

Mughal–Maratha Wars

In 1657, while Aurangzeb was attacking Golconda and Bijapur in the Deccan, Maratha warrior Shivaji used smart tactics to take control of forts. Shivaji became the leader of many Maratha clans and attacked the Adil Shahis, gaining weapons and land. In 1659, Aurangzeb sent general Shaista Khan to get back lost forts, but Shivaji raided his palace and hurt him.

Aurangzeb then sent general Raja Jai Singh to defeat the Marathas. After some battles, Shivaji agreed to meet Aurangzeb but was unhappy with how he was treated. He was held but later escaped. Shivaji offered to work with Aurangzeb again, but the emperor ignored him. With help from others, Shivaji finally agreed and was given a title, though he did not get back his forts.

In 1689, Aurangzeb captured and killed Sambhaji, Shivaji's successor. Rajaram, Sambhaji's successor, and later his widow Tarabai kept fighting the Mughals. The Marathas used quick attacks, avoiding big battles. They moved into areas like Malwa, Hyderabad, and Southern India. Aurangzeb fought the Marathas for over twenty years without a clear win.

Ahom campaign

In 1660, Mir Jumla II, the viceroy of Bengal, was told to get back lost lands. The Mughals took Kuch Behar and began taking areas in Assam. They reached Garhgaon, the capital of the Ahom kingdom, in 1662. The ruler had run away, and the Mughals took many elephants, goods, and ships. Mir Jumla II died on his way back to Dacca in 1663. The battle of Saraighat was the last big try by the Mughals to take Assam. Although they briefly got Guwahati, the Ahoms took it back in 1682 and kept it until the end of their rule.

Satnami opposition

In May 1672, the Satnami sect began a rebellion near Delhi. They thought they were safe from Mughal soldiers and marched towards Delhi. Aurangzeb used a big army and stopped the rebellion.

Sikh opposition

The ninth Sikh Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur, spoke up against forcing people to change their religion. When asked to help Kashmiri Pandits keep their faith, he challenged Aurangzeb to make him convert to Islam. Aurangzeb arrested him, and after he refused to convert, Guru Tegh Bahadur was killed in 1675. In response, his son Guru Gobind Singh formed the Khalsa in 1699, which later led to the Sikh Confederacy and the Sikh Empire.

Pashtun opposition

In 1672, a Pashtun revolt began after Mughal soldiers treated a woman badly. The Safi tribes fought back, leading to a big rebellion. Aurangzeb used strict methods, including burning villages and trying to split the tribes. The revolt grew, and the Mughals lost control in the Pashtun areas. The important trade route between Attock and Kabul was closed, causing big problems. By 1674, Aurangzeb had to lead personally. Using a mix of diplomacy, bribes, and force, the Mughals managed to partly stop the revolt but never fully controlled the area.

Rathore rebellion

The Rathore rebellion from 1679 to 1707 began after Aurangzeb tried to control who would be the next leader of Marwar following the death of Jaswant Singh of Marwar. Aurangzeb tried to split Marwar into two parts and offered to raise one of the princes as a Muslim in return for Jodhpur. Rajput nobles, led by Durgadas Rathore, fought this interference, leading to a long war between the Mughals and the Rajputs of Marwar, who were supported by Mewar Rajputs. The fighting continued for almost thirty years and got worse after Aurangzeb's death in 1707, when the Rathores took Jodhpur.

Death

See also: Tomb of Aurangzeb

By 1689, the Mughal Empire was very large. However, this success did not last long.

Aurangzeb built a small marble mosque called the Moti Masjid in the Red Fort in Delhi. His many wars caused big money problems for the empire.

Aurangzeb died at his military camp in Bhingar near Ahmednagar on 3 March 1707. He asked for a simple funeral. His grave in Khuldabad, Aurangabad, shows his strong belief in his faith.

After Aurangzeb's death, weak leaders and fights weakened the Mughal Empire. His son Bahadur Shah I became emperor, but he was not strong. Soon after, the Maratha Empire grew stronger and took control of much of the Mughal lands. Within a few decades, the Mughal Emperor had very little power outside of Delhi.

Assessments and legacy

Aurangzeb's rule has been seen in different ways by different people. Some say he was a wise and fair ruler who made the Mughal Empire very large. Others feel he was too strict and unfair, especially toward people who followed different religions. Because of these different views, Aurangzeb's time as a leader remains a complex and often debated part of history.

Aurangzeb has been important in stories and books. He appeared in a play called Aureng-zebe by John Dryden. Other books about him include Alamgirnama by Mirza Mohammed Qasim, Aurangzeb Alamgir par ek nazar, a Hindi novel by Acharya Chatursen Shastri, Shahenshah by N S Inamdar, and more recent works like Aurangzeb: The Man and the Myth by Audrey Truschke.

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