Shahzade_Aurangzeb
Aurangzeb, also known as Shahzade Aurangzeb, was the sixth Mughal Emperor of India, ruling from 1658 to 1707. Born on November 3, 1618, he was the third son of Emperor Shah Jahan and Empress Mumtaz Mahal. His full name was Muhi-ud-Din Muhammad Aurangzeb.
### Early Life and Rise to Power
Aurangzeb received a rigorous education, excelling in Islamic studies and military training. His early career was marked by administrative roles and military campaigns, including his governorship of the Deccan region. The struggle for succession among Shah Jahan's sons was intense, and Aurangzeb emerged victorious after defeating his brothers, including Dara Shikoh, whom he considered a major rival due to Dara's liberal religious views.
### Reign as Emperor
Aurangzeb ascended the throne in 1658 after imprisoning his father, Shah Jahan. His reign of nearly 50 years was characterized by significant expansion of the Mughal Empire, which reached its greatest territorial extent during his rule. He extended Mughal control over much of the Indian subcontinent, including significant parts of the Deccan and southern India.
### Policies and Administration
Aurangzeb is often noted for his strict adherence to Islamic principles and his attempts to enforce Sharia law throughout his empire. He reintroduced the jizya tax on non-Muslims, which had been abolished by his predecessors. His policies toward Hinduism were controversial; while he employed many Hindus in his administration, he also destroyed some Hindu temples and imposed restrictions on their practices.
### Military Campaigns
Aurangzeb's military campaigns were numerous and costly. He spent significant resources on extending Mughal rule into the Deccan, battling against the Marathas, led by Shivaji and later his successors. These campaigns drained the empire's finances and stretched its military resources thin.
### Legacy and Death
Aurangzeb's reign left a mixed legacy. While he expanded the Mughal Empire to its greatest extent, his policies also sowed seeds of discontent among various religious and ethnic groups. His strict policies and continuous warfare weakened the empire, setting the stage for its decline in the decades following his death.
Aurangzeb died on March 3, 1707, at the age of 88. His death led to a succession crisis and a period of instability, which further weakened the Mughal Empire. His legacy remains a subject of debate among historians, with some viewing him as a pious ruler and others as a tyrant whose policies led to the empire's downfall.
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