1. The Basics: Titles & Personality
👑 Titles
- Alamgir: "World Conqueror"
- Zinda Pir: "Living Saint" PYQ
- Shahi Darvesh: Royal Ascetic
- Bahadur: Given by Shah Jahan
👤 Personality
- Orthodox Sunni: Followed Naqshbandi order
- Veena Player: Expert (despite banning music!) PYQ
- No Harem: Monogamous in spirit
- Sewed Caps/Copied Quran: To earn living
Coronation: ONLY Mughal Emperor coronated TWICE PYQ
1. July 1658: After Battle of Samugarh (Agra)
2. June 1659: After Battle of Deorai (Delhi)
2. War of Succession (1658-59)
"Succession by Sword, not Age." Fought against Dara Shukoh (Eldest), Shuja, and Murad.
| Battle |
Year |
Opponent |
Result & Key Fact |
| Bahadurpur |
Feb 1658 |
Shuja |
Sulaiman Shukoh (Dara's son) defeated Shuja |
| Dharmat |
Apr 1658 |
Dara's Army |
Aurangzeb + Murad won. Loc: MP (Ujjain) PYQ
|
| Samugarh |
May 1658 |
Dara Shukoh |
Decisive Battle. Dara defeated. Aurangzeb captured Agra |
| Khajwa |
Jan 1659 |
Shuja |
Aurangzeb won. Shuja fled to Arakan (died there) |
| Deorai |
Apr 1659 |
Dara Shukoh |
Final blow. Dara captured & executed |
Fate of Dara: Buried in Humayun's Tomb. Described as "Prince of High
Fortune" (Shah-i-Buland Iqbal) by Shah Jahan.
3. Major Rebellions (The Cracks Begin)
🚜 Jats (Mathura/Agra)
- 1669: First organized revolt under Gokula (Zamindar of Tilpat)
- 1685: Under Rajaram
TRAP Rajaram plundered Akbar's Tomb at
Sikandra and burnt his bones!
- Later: Under Churaman (Founder of Bharatpur state)
🕉️ Satnamis (1672)
- Peasant-religious revolt in Narnaul (Haryana)
- Called "Mundiyas" (Shaved heads)
⚔️ Sikhs
- 9th Guru Tegh Bahadur: Executed in 1675 at Chandni Chowk (Delhi) for refusing to
convert PYQ
- 10th Guru Gobind Singh: Founded Khalsa (1699). Constant wars
(Battle of Chamkaur etc.)
🛡️ Rajputs (1679-1707)
- Trigger: Death of Jaswant Singh (Marwar). Aurangzeb interfered in succession
- Durgadas Rathore: "Ulysses of Rathores". Protected Ajit Singh (Jaswant's son)
- Prince Akbar's Revolt (1681): Aurangzeb's son rebelled, joined Rajputs/Marathas
PYQ
4. Religious Policy (Reversal of Akbar)
🚫 The Bans
- 1663: Sati System banned
- 1668: Hindu Festivals (Holi/Diwali) in court
- 1669: Music in court (buried music)
- Other Bans: Jharokha Darshan, Tuladan, Kalma on Coins
🕌 The Impositions
- 1679: Re-imposed Jizya Super PYQ
- Pilgrim Tax: Re-imposed
- Temple Destruction:
• Kashi Vishwanath (Varanasi)
• Keshavdev (Mathura)
• Somnath (Gujarat)
Muhtasibs: Officers appointed to enforce moral code (Sharia) and check weights/measures
PYQ
5. The Deccan Policy (1682-1707)
"The Deccan was the grave of his reputation and his body."
- Goal: Crush Marathas + Annex Shia Sultanates
- Shift: Moved capital/base to Deccan in 1682 (never returned to North)
🏰 Annexations
- 1686: Bijapur (Sikandar Adil Shah surrendered) PYQ
- 1687: Golconda (Abul Hasan Qutb Shah defeated via treachery) PYQ
🚩 Maratha Conflict
- 1665: Treaty of Purandar (Jai Singh vs Shivaji) PYQ
- 1689: Captured & executed Sambhaji (Shivaji's son)
- Result: Maratha war became a "People's War". Never fully subdued
6. Administration & Culture
- Hindu Mansabdars: 31.6% (Highest % in Mughal history!) Mostly
Marathas PYQ
- Largest Empire: Stretched from Kabul to Chittagong, Kashmir to Kaveri
- Architecture:
• Bibi Ka Maqbara (Aurangabad): "Taj of Deccan"
• Moti Masjid (Red Fort, Delhi) PYQ
• Badshahi Mosque (Lahore)
- Literature:
• Fatawa-i-Alamgiri: Digest of Muslim laws
• Muntakhab-ul-Lubab: By Khafi Khan (History of reign, written secretly)
🎯 PYQ Sniper Shots
Q: Which Mughal emperor was coronated twice?
A: Aurangzeb (1658 & 1659)
Q: When was Jizya re-imposed?
A: 1679
Q: Which Sikh Guru was executed by Aurangzeb?
A: Guru Tegh Bahadur (9th Guru, 1675)
Q: When were Bijapur and Golconda annexed?
A: Bijapur: 1686, Golconda: 1687
Q: What was Aurangzeb's title meaning "Living Saint"?
A: Zinda Pir
Q: Highest percentage of Hindu Mansabdars under which Mughal?
A: Aurangzeb (31.6%)
Q: Who plundered Akbar's tomb?
A: Rajaram (Jat leader, 1685)