Aurangzeb, one of the most powerful and controversial rulers of the Mughal Empire, ascended the throne in 1658 and ruled until his death in 1707. His reign saw the greatest territorial expansion of the empire but also its gradual decline due to prolonged wars and internal strife. Below is a chronological account of his life and rule:
Table of Contents
Early Life and Rise to Power
- November 3, 1618: Aurangzeb was born in Dahod, Gujarat, as the third son of Emperor Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal.
- 1628: His father, Shah Jahan, ascended the Mughal throne after the death of Emperor Jahangir.
- 1636: Aurangzeb was appointed the Viceroy of the Deccan by his father at the young age of 18.
- 1645: He was transferred to Gujarat as governor and later to Multan and Sindh, where he successfully managed military campaigns.
- 1647: He was appointed governor of Balkh and Badakhshan but faced difficulties due to harsh climate and resistance from local tribes.
- 1652: Reappointed as Viceroy of the Deccan, where he launched military campaigns against the Deccan Sultanates.
- 1657: Shah Jahan fell seriously ill, triggering a war of succession among his sons.
- 1658: Aurangzeb defeated his elder brother Dara Shikoh at the Battle of Samugarh and imprisoned his father Shah Jahan.
- July 31, 1658: Aurangzeb formally crowned himself Emperor of the Mughal Empire.
Aurangzeb’s Reign (1658–1707)
- 1660: He executed his brothers Dara Shikoh and Murad Baksh to eliminate threats to his rule.
- 1663: Shivaji, the Maratha leader, attacked Surat; this marked the beginning of a long conflict with the Marathas.
- 1665: Treaty of Purandar signed with Shivaji; Aurangzeb later invited him to Agra but imprisoned him.
- 1666: Shivaji escaped from Mughal captivity, intensifying resistance against Aurangzeb.
- 1670: The Jats of Bharatpur revolted against Aurangzeb’s rule.
- 1672: The Satnami revolt in North India was suppressed by Mughal forces.
- 1675: Execution of Guru Tegh Bahadur, the ninth Sikh Guru, led to growing Sikh resistance under Guru Gobind Singh.
- 1681: Aurangzeb launched a full-scale campaign in the Deccan against the Marathas, leading to a prolonged war.
- 1686-1687: Conquered the Deccan Sultanates of Bijapur and Golconda, further expanding Mughal control in the south.
- 1699: Guru Gobind Singh founded the Khalsa, strengthening Sikh resistance against Mughal rule.
- 1700: The Marathas, under Rajaram and later Tarabai, continued guerrilla warfare against the Mughals.
- 1705: Aurangzeb’s Deccan campaigns drained the empire’s resources, and his army struggled to suppress the Marathas.
- 1706: Aurangzeb moved to Ahmednagar due to his declining health.
Death and Legacy
- March 3, 1707: Aurangzeb died in Bhingar, near Ahmednagar, at the age of 88.
- His body was temporarily kept in Ahmednagar before being transported to Khadki (Aurangabad), where he was buried in a simple grave at the Dargah of Sheikh Zainuddin Shirazi.
- His death led to a war of succession among his sons, weakening the Mughal Empire.
- The empire began to decline rapidly, with the Marathas, Sikhs, and later the British taking advantage of the Mughal weakness.
Conclusion
Aurangzeb’s reign, spanning nearly 50 years, was marked by military conquests, religious orthodoxy, and internal strife. His policies expanded the Mughal Empire to its greatest extent but also led to its eventual downfall. His legacy remains debated—seen by some as a ruthless ruler and by others as a disciplined administrator. His death in 1707 marked the beginning of the empire’s decline, shaping the future of Indian history.
Also read:
Aurangzeb Death, Reason, Place, Year, and His Tomb
The Life and Death of Sambhaji by Medha Deshmukh Bhaskaran published by Penguin in 2021
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