When was Aurangzeb born and what was his birth name?
Aurangzeb was born on the 3rd of November 1618 in Dahod under the name Muhi al-Din Muhammad. He became the sixth Mughal emperor and reigned from 1658 until his death in 1707.
Questions about Aurangzeb
Short answers, pulled from the story.
How did Aurangzeb seize the Mughal throne from his father Shah Jahan?
Aurangzeb launched a ruthless campaign to seize the throne after his father Shah Jahan fell ill in 1657. He defeated his brother Dara Shikoh at the Battle of Samugarh in May 1658 and subsequently imprisoned Shah Jahan in the Agra Fort.
What were the major religious policies implemented by Aurangzeb during his reign?
Aurangzeb reimposed the jizya tax on non-Muslims and ordered the destruction of several Hindu temples including the Vishvanath Temple at Varanasi. He also issued orders prohibiting the construction of new temples while employing significantly more Hindus in his imperial bureaucracy than his predecessors.
Why did Aurangzeb move the Mughal capital to Aurangabad and what was the outcome?
Aurangzeb moved his capital to Aurangabad to launch a relentless campaign against the Deccan Sultanates and the Maratha guerrilla force. This strategic decision consumed the last two decades of his life and drained the empire's resources while isolating him from the rest of the Mughal Empire.
When and where did Aurangzeb die and what was his age at death?
Aurangzeb died on the 3rd of March 1707 at the age of 88 while fighting the Marathas in the Deccan region. He never returned to Delhi and his death marked the end of the Mughal Empire's greatest extent and the beginning of its decline.