The Mughal Empire reached its greatest geographic extent under the authority of Aurangzeb, who reigned from 1658 until 1707. During his nearly five-decade tenure, he oversaw the expansion of Mughal influence across almost the entirety of the Indian subcontinent, transforming the state into the world's largest economy and its most significant manufacturing power during the late seventeenth century.
Early Development and Military Training
Born in Dahod on 3 November 1618 to Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal, Aurangzeb belonged to the Timurid dynasty. His childhood included a period as a hostage in Lahore following an unsuccessful rebellion by his father in 1626. After his grandfather Jahangir died, Aurangzeb returned to Agra in 1628. His education focused on combat, administration, and Islamic studies, supplemented by fluency in Persian, Hindustani, Chagatai, and Arabic. His reputation for military resolve was cemented at age fourteen when he confronted a charging war elephant, an act that earned him the title Bahadur from his father.
Twenty questions, eight minutes on the clock, and a percentile measured against everyone who has taken it. No sign-up.
Take the IQ test →Ascension to the Mughal Throne
Aurangzeb gained initial administrative experience as the viceroy of the Deccan and governor of Gujarat. By 1657, a succession crisis emerged when Shah Jahan named his eldest son, Dara Shikoh, as heir. Aurangzeb challenged this appointment, defeating the allied forces of Shikoh and the Kingdom of Marwar at the Battle of Dharmat in April 1658. Following a decisive victory at the Battle of Samugarh in May, Aurangzeb declared his father incompetent and imprisoned him in the Agra Fort. He subsequently ordered the execution of Dara Shikoh.
Governance and Religious Policy
As a devout Muslim, Aurangzeb utilized the Fatawa-i Alamgiri as the primary legal framework for his empire. His internal policies were marked by the construction of numerous mosques and the patronage of Arabic calligraphy, alongside the prohibition of activities he deemed un-Islamic. His reign was also characterized by controversial shifts in social policy, including the destruction of various non-Muslim schools and temples and the reimposition of the jizya tax, reversing the policy of religious pluralism practiced by his great-grandfather Akbar.
Final Years and Legacy
Aurangzeb spent his later years managing the vast territories he had acquired, eventually dying at Ahilyanagar on 3 March 1707. He was buried at the Tomb of Aurangzeb. While his military leadership ensured the Mughal Army became one of the most formidable forces in the world, historians often debate his legacy regarding religious intolerance and the suppression of local revolts, which complicated the stability of the empire he expanded.
Fast facts
- Born: 3 November 1618, Dahod
- Died: 3 March 1707, Ahilyanagar
- Reign: 1658-1707
- Religion: Islam
- Dynasty: Timurid
- Primary Languages: Persian, Hindustani, Arabic, Chagatai
- Military Titles: Viceroy of the Deccan, Governor of Gujarat
Questions readers ask
What major shift occurred in taxation under Aurangzeb?
He reimposed the jizya, a tax on non-Muslim subjects, which had been suspended by Akbar a century earlier.
How large did the empire become under his leadership?
It reached its greatest extent in history, spanning nearly the entire Indian subcontinent.
Achievements
- Worked as monarch
