When was Aurangzeb born and where?
Aurangzeb was born in the town of Dahod on the 3rd of November 1618. He was the son of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal.
Questions about Aurangzeb
Short answers, pulled from the story.
How did Aurangzeb become emperor in 1658?
Aurangzeb declared himself emperor in February 1658 after his father Shah Jahan nominated Dara Shikoh as successor. He defeated the allied army at the Battle of Dharmat in April 1658 and secured sovereignty through victory at the Battle of Samugarh in May 1658.
What happened to Aurangzeb's brother Dara Shikoh?
Dara Shikoh fled across the northwestern bounds of the empire but was betrayed by a general. Aurangzeb arranged his formal coronation in Delhi in 1658 and executed him on the 10th of August 1659 on grounds of apostasy.
Why did Aurangzeb reimpose jizya tax in 1679?
In 1679 he chose to reimpose jizya a military tax on non-Muslim subjects in lieu of military service after abatement for a hundred years. This policy led to higher tax burdens on Hindu merchants and encouraged Hindus to flee to areas under East India Company jurisdiction.
How long did Aurangzeb fight wars in the Deccan region?
Aurangzeb waged continuous war in Deccan for more than two decades with no resolution. He lost about a fifth of his army fighting rebellions led by Marathas in Deccan India before dying at age 88 still fighting them.