Aurangzeb

Aurangzeb was the sixth Mughal emperor, ruling from 1658 to 1707. His reign brought the empire to its greatest territorial extent and intensified conflicts over succession, regional power, and religious policy.

Shah Jahan: The fifth Mughal emperor, whose reign lasted from 1628 to 1658 and whose sons fought over succession. Aurangzeb’s father and the ruler whose illness triggered the succession struggle.
Deccan Wars: A series of Mughal campaigns in the Deccan, especially under Aurangzeb, that lasted for decades. Aurangzeb’s prolonged southern campaigns consumed resources and kept the emperor away from the north.
Shivaji: The Maratha ruler who established an independent kingdom and challenged Mughal power in western India. His rise and escape from Mughal custody became defining episodes in Aurangzeb’s Deccan policy.
Jizya: A tax historically imposed on certain non-Muslim subjects under some Islamic states. Aurangzeb reinstated it in 1679, making it a lasting focus of debate about his rule.
Akbar: The third Mughal emperor, whose reign from 1556 to 1605 is associated with imperial expansion and policies of religious accommodation. Akbar’s courtly accommodation is often contrasted with Aurangzeb’s restoration of jizya and stricter Islamic policies.
Dara Shikoh: The eldest son of Shah Jahan, defeated by Aurangzeb in the Mughal war of succession. His defeat removed Aurangzeb’s principal rival and marked a sharp political and intellectual contrast.
Bijapur Sultanate: A Deccan sultanate ruled by the Adil Shahi dynasty until its conquest by the Mughals in 1686. Its annexation extended Mughal authority into the Deccan during Aurangzeb’s reign.
Sambhaji: The second Chhatrapati of the Maratha state, captured and executed by Aurangzeb’s forces in 1689. His execution failed to end Maratha resistance and prolonged the Deccan conflict.
Mughal–Maratha Wars: A prolonged series of conflicts between the Mughal Empire and Maratha forces in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. The wars outlasted Aurangzeb’s campaigns and weakened Mughal control in the Deccan.
Din-i Ilahi: A small ethical and devotional fellowship associated with Akbar’s court, not a mass religion. Its association with Akbar highlights the different religious visions attributed to the two emperors.

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