Aurangzeb
Sixth Mughal emperor who expanded the empire to its greatest extent.
Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
Aurangzeb, born Muhi al-Din Muhammad on 3 November 1618, was the sixth Mughal emperor, reigning from 1658 until his death in 1707. Under his rule, the Mughal Empire reached its greatest territorial extent, spanning nearly the entirety of the Indian subcontinent. He is a controversial figure, noted for his military expansion, conservative Islamic policies, and the imposition of the jizya tax on non-Muslims.
- born
- 3 November 1618, Dahod
- died
- 3 March 1707
- field
- Emperor, military commander
- nationality
- Mughal (Timurid dynasty)
- known_for
- Expanding the Mughal Empire to its greatest extent; imposing Fatawa-i Alamgiri; reimposing jizya; ordering demolition of non-Muslim temples and schools
Lore & Background
Aurangzeb was the sixth child of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal. As a prince, he served as viceroy of the Deccan (1636–1644) and governor of Gujarat (1645–1647), and jointly administered Multan and Sindh. In September 1657, Shah Jahan nominated his eldest son Dara Shikoh as successor, which Aurangzeb repudiated, proclaiming himself emperor in February 1658. He defeated Shikoh at the Battle of Dharmat in April 1658 and decisively at Samugarh in May 1658. After Shah Jahan recovered from illness in July 1658, Aurangzeb declared him incompetent, imprisoned him in Agra Fort, and had Dara Shikoh executed by beheading.
Reader's Guide
Aurangzeb's reign is characterized by rapid military expansion, with the Mughal Empire surpassing Qing China as the world's largest economy and biggest manufacturing power. He successfully imposed the Fatawa-i Alamgiri as the principal regulating body and prohibited religiously forbidden activities in Islam. However, his legacy is complicated: he is criticized for ordering the demolition of non-Muslim schools and temples and reimposing the jizya tax, which had been suspended for 100 years by his great-grandfather Akbar. Some argue he abandoned the pluralism and tolerance of earlier Mughal emperors. Despite suppressing local revolts, he maintained cordial relations with foreign governments.
Did You Know?
- Aurangzeb was born in Dahod on 3 November 1618, the sixth child of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal.
- In June 1626, eight-year-old Aurangzeb and his brother Dara Shikoh were sent as hostages to the Mughal court in Lahore.
- On 28 May 1633, Aurangzeb rode against a stampeding war elephant and threw his spear at its head, earning the title Bahadur (brave).
- Aurangzeb had Dara Shikoh executed by beheading and his head placed in a box and presented to their imprisoned father.
Notable Quotes (Wikiquote)
"An emperor ought to stand midway between gentleness and severity." — Aurangzeb "In the region of Hindustan, this scrap of bread [i.e., the Mughal Empire] is a generous gift from Their Majesties, Timur and Akbar." — Aurangzeb "Take heart, my friends! There is a God! There is a God!" — Aurangzeb "The demolition of a temple is possible at any time, as it cannot walk away from its place." — Aurangzeb
More in Notable Figures (4)
Elsewhere in the Historical Figures universe
Spotted an error? Know more?
This is a living reference — every entry is fact-audited, and reader corrections feed straight into our audit queue. Suggest an edit · See this site's audit record