Aurangzeb – The Last Powerful Mughal Emperor
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Discover the life, reign, and legacy of Aurangzeb Alamgir — the longest-reigning and most controversial Mughal emperor in Indian history. Read about his religious policies, wars, administration, and impact.
Introduction
Aurangzeb Alamgir (1618–1707) was the sixth Mughal emperor of India and the last to rule over a truly vast and unified empire. His reign lasted nearly 50 years and marked both the peak and the beginning of the decline of the Mughal dynasty.
Early Life of Aurangzeb
Born on 3 November 1618 in Dahod, Gujarat.
Son of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal.
Received education in Persian, Arabic, and Islamic studies.
Known for his strict religious discipline even from a young age.
Appointed Governor of the Deccan at age 18.
War of Succession (1657–1658)
After Shah Jahan fell ill, his four sons fought for power:
Dara Shikoh (eldest, liberal)
Shah Shuja
Murad Baksh
Aurangzeb (conservative and strategic)
Aurangzeb defeated Dara Shikoh in the Battle of Samugarh.
Crowned himself as Emperor Alamgir in 1658.
Imprisoned his father in Agra Fort.
Religious Policies
Aurangzeb was a devout Sunni Muslim, and his religious policies were based on Islamic Sharia law.
Key Actions:
Reintroduced Jizya tax on non-Muslims in 1679.
Banned music and arts from the royal court.
Demolished several Hindu temples, including Kashi Vishwanath.
Executed Guru Tegh Bahadur, the 9th Sikh Guru.
Discriminated against Shias and Sufis as well.
Empire Expansion: Success & Strain
Aurangzeb expanded the Mughal Empire to its greatest territorial extent:
Conquests:
Annexed Bijapur (1686) and Golconda (1687).
Fought continuous wars in the Deccan for 25+ years.
Problems caused by wars:
Huge military expenses.
Tax burden on common people.
Overstretching of empire led to weakened central control.
Administration and Governance
Aurangzeb was known for his personal discipline and strict control over governance.
Key Administrative Features:
Ordered the writing of Fatwa-e-Alamgiri, a compilation of Islamic law.
Promoted honesty and anti-corruption measures in the empire.
Lived a simple life — wore plain clothes, wrote Qurans by hand for money.
Reduced royal luxuries and personal expenses.
Resistance & Rebellions
During Aurangzeb’s rule, multiple revolts broke out due to his rigid policies:
Major Uprisings:
Marathas under Shivaji and his successors (guerilla warfare).
Rajput resistance after broken alliances.
Sikh rebellion post Guru Tegh Bahadur’s martyrdom.
Jats and Satnamis revolted in northern India.
Economic Decline
Aurangzeb’s long military campaigns drained the empire's wealth.
Economic Effects:
Trade and agriculture declined.
Increased taxes led to peasant revolts.
Infrastructure development slowed down.
Death and Legacy
Died on 3 March 1707 in Ahmednagar.
Buried in a simple grave in Khuldabad, Maharashtra.
His death marked the beginning of the fall of the Mughal Empire.
Graph: Mughal Empire Under Aurangzeb
Suggested Graph Idea (for your blog):
A Timeline Graph showing:
Year Major Event
1618 Birth of Aurangzeb
1658 Became emperor
1679 Jizya tax reimposed
1686–87 Deccan campaigns
1707 Death and decline begins
You can create this timeline as a visual chart using tools like Canva, Google Charts, or Chart.js on your blog.
Positive Contributions
Maintained law and order strictly.
Fought corruption.
Expanded the empire to the largest geographical size.
Lived a frugal and disciplined life.
Criticisms
Religious intolerance increased societal divisions.
Destruction of temples and discrimination against non-Muslims.
Economic instability due to long wars.
Suppressed arts and culture.
Conclusion
Aurangzeb remains a complex figure in Indian history. While he was a dedicated and disciplined ruler, his policies
of religious orthodoxy, suppression of culture, and endless warfare contributed to the slow decline of the once-glorious Mughal Empire. His reign teaches us the importance of balance between power and tolerance.
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