Aurangzeb,son

He was the third son of Shah Jahan, the fifth Mughal emperor, and his wife Mumtaz Mahal, for whom the famous Taj Mahal was later built. The Mughals were descendants of the Timurid dynasty, which traced its origins to the Turco-Mongol conqueror Timur. The Mughal rulers, including Aurangzeb, saw themselves as heirs to this legacy of Central Asian conquest and Persian culture, which deeply influenced the administration and culture of the Mughal court.

He was given military and administrative positions from a young age, which helped him gain experience and demonstrate his capabilities as a leader. In , Aurangzeb was appointed viceroy of the Deccan, a region of southern India where Mughal influence was still expanding. His early administration there set the tone for his later governance—focused on military conquest, efficient administration, and religious observance.

Between and , Aurangzeb served as governor of Gujarat, one of the wealthiest provinces of the empire. In , he was entrusted with the joint administration of the provinces of Multan and Sindh, two strategically important regions. During this time, Aurangzeb also led expeditions into neighboring Safavid territories, displaying his military skill and ambition.

In contrast, Aurangzeb was seen as more orthodox in his religious beliefs and was determined to assert his claim to the throne. When Shah Jahan fell ill in , a war of succession broke out between his sons. He allied himself with another of his brothers, Murad, and decisively defeated Dara Shikoh at the Battle of Samugarh in This victory allowed Aurangzeb to proclaim himself emperor.

He then moved quickly to consolidate power, imprisoning his father in Agra Fort and eliminating his brothers, including executing Dara Shikoh.

How aurangzeb died

Image: A drawing of Aurangzeb with a hawk. Under his leadership, the empire reached its greatest extent, covering nearly all of the Indian subcontinent. However, his reign was also marked by religious conservatism, military campaigns, and growing internal dissent, which ultimately contributed to the weakening of Mughal authority after his death.