Aurangzeb

Abu Muzaffar Muhiuddin Muhammad Aurangzeb Alamgir (3 November 1618 - 3 March 1707), also known as Alamgir I, was the ruler of the Mughal Empire from 1658 until 1707. He is commonly considered the last of the great Mughal emperors.

Aurangzeb (from Persian, اورنگ‌زیب meaning "suitable for the throne") was the third son of the previous emperor Shah Jahan. His eldest brother, Dara Shikoh, was favored for succession.

Beginning in 1657, upon the severe illness of his father, Aurangzeb challenged his father and the succession. He claimed that Dara Shikoh was a habitual gambler and had drinking problems. Aurangzeb was supported by his youngest brother. Despite strong support from Shah Jahan, who had recovered enough from his illness to remain a strong factor in the struggle for supremacy, Dara was defeated. He attempted to rally support after this defeat, but was betrayed and turned over to his brother. Aurangzeb beheaded Dara Shikoh and had his severed head taken to their father. He also killed another of his brothers who had supported Dara.

In July 1658 he put his father under house arrest in Agra Fort. The major reason for putting his father under house arrest was that Shah Jehan wanted to build another Taj Mahal, a black one this time. Aurangzeb did not approve of this at all, as this was an attrocious waste of money to him.

Aurangzeb became fascinated with conservative interpretations of the Qur'an, which he set about codifying. According to Aurangzeb's interpretation, Islam did not allow music, so he banished court musicians, dancers and singers. Further, based on Muslim precepts forbidding images, he stopped the production of representational artwork, including the Persianate Mughal miniature painting that had reached its zenith before his rule.

Under Aurangzeb, Indian Islam had been informed by mystical Sufi precepts. But based on his conservative interpretation of Islamic principles, Aurangzeb propagated a less mystical, more didactic form of Islam. People have often said that he forcefully converted people to Islam.

In 1675, Aurangzeb publicly executed the ninth Sikh Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji. Sikh history states that Guru Tegh Bahadur sacrificed himself to save Hindus who the Emperor had condemned for failure to convert to Islam. This marked a turning point for Sikhism. His successor, Guru Gobind Singh further militarised his followers (see Khalsa). After Aurangzeb killed four of Gobind Singh's sons, Gobind Singh sent Aurangzeb the Zafarnama (Notification of Victory). Sikhs believe this document caused Aurangzeb to realize his mistakes and lose the will to live, finally ending in his death in 1707.