Aurangzeb

3 November 1618 – 3 March 1707

Aurangzeb (1618-1707) was the sixth Mughal emperor, ruling from 1658 until his death in 1707, during which the empire reached its greatest territorial extent. He seized the throne after a war of succession against his brothers and the deposition of his father Shah Jahan. His long reign was marked by near-constant military campaigns, particularly in the Deccan, and by religious policies that remain the subject of historical debate.

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Lived at the same time

Well-documented people whose lives overlapped with Aurangzeb.

Life events

Born in Dahod, Gujarat
3 November 1618

He was born the third son of Emperor Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal while his father was campaigning in the region.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Appointed Viceroy of the Deccan
1636

As a young prince he was given his first major administrative post as viceroy of the Mughal Deccan provinces.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Defeated his brother Dara Shikoh at the Battle of Samugarh
29 May 1658

His victory over the imperial army led by heir apparent Dara Shikoh decided the war of succession in his favor.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Deposed his father Shah Jahan and crowned himself emperor
31 July 1658

He confined Shah Jahan in Agra Fort and took the throne with the regnal title Alamgir.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Executed his rival brother Dara Shikoh
30 August 1659

After Dara Shikoh's capture, Aurangzeb had him tried for apostasy and executed in Delhi.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Reimposed the jizya tax on non-Muslims
2 April 1679

He reinstated the poll tax on non-Muslim subjects that Akbar had abolished a century earlier, one of his most debated policies.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Spent his final decades campaigning against the Marathas in the Deccan
1681 – 1707

From 1681 he directed a prolonged and costly war against the Maratha state that strained the empire's resources.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Conquered the Sultanate of Bijapur
12 September 1686

His forces captured Bijapur after a prolonged siege, annexing the Deccan sultanate to the Mughal Empire.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Conquered the Sultanate of Golconda
September 1687

The fall of Golconda after an eight-month siege brought the Mughal Empire close to its maximum territorial extent.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Died at Ahmednagar in the Deccan
3 March 1707

He died at the age of 88 while still on campaign and was buried in a simple grave at Khuldabad.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Death ✓