Aurangzeb

Lore & Background

Aurangzeb (Muhi al-Din Muhammad; 3 November 1618 – 3 March 1707) was the sixth Mughal emperor, reigning from 1658 until his death in 1707. Under his reign, the Mughal Empire reached its greatest extent, with territory spanning nearly the entirety of the Indian subcontinent. He held administrative and military posts under his father Shah Jahan (r. 1628–1658) and gained recognition as an accomplished military commander. Aurangzeb served as the viceroy of the Deccan in 1636–1637 and the governor of Gujarat in 1645–1647. He jointly administered the provinces of Multan and Sindh in 1648–1652 and continued expeditions into the neighbouring Safavid territories. In September 1657, Shah Jahan nominated his eldest son Dara Shikoh as his successor, a move repudiated by Aurangzeb, who proclaimed himself emperor in February 1658. In April 1658, Aurangzeb defeated the allied army of Shikoh and the Kingdom of Marwar at the Battle of Dharmat. Aurangzeb's decisive victory at the Battle of Samugarh in May 1658 cemented his sovereignty. After Shah Jahan recovered from illness in July 1658, Aurangzeb declared him incompetent to rule and imprisoned his father in the Agra Fort. Following this, Aurangzeb had Dara Shikoh executed by beheading and his head was placed in a box and presented to their imprisoned father.

In Their Own Story

The sun beat down on the red sandstone ramparts of Delhi as the emperor reviewed his troops. Aurangzeb, now in his twilight years, watched the elephants hauling cannon toward the Deccan. He had spent a lifetime in the saddle, subduing rebels and annexing kingdoms. Yet as he turned to his vizier, he murmured, 'The empire is a garden, but its roots are parched.' The Marathas were a thorn that would not be pulled, and the treasury groaned under the weight of endless war. Still, he would not relent—for the sake of Allah and the Mughal crown, he would fight until his last breath.

Reader's Guide

His high administrative skill (often 5 or 6 in the game's 1-6 scale) makes him excellent for coring provinces and embracing institutions, but his rule comes with challenges. Players must manage increased unrest from religious intolerance events, as Aurangzeb's historical policies can trigger rebellions among Hindu and Sikh populations. To succeed, focus on military expansion into India and the Deccan, but invest in stability and missionary strength to counter unrest. The Mughal Empire's unique 'Mughal Diwan' government reforms and culture assimilation mechanics can offset some penalties. However, be prepared for the Maratha rebellion event, which can spawn powerful separatist stacks. A balanced approach—conquering strategically while using diplomatic vassalization—works best to emulate his historical expansion without collapsing the empire.

Did You Know?

• Aurangzeb was born in Dahod on 3 November 1618, the sixth child of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal.
• On 28 May 1633, he rode against a stampeding war elephant, threw his spear at its head, and was unhorsed but escaped death, earning the title 'Bahadur' (brave) from his father.
• He served as viceroy of the Deccan from 14 July 1636 to 28 May 1644, bringing the Nizam Shahi dynasty to an end in 1636.
• Aurangzeb married the Safavid princess Dilras Banu in 1637; she was his first wife and chief consort, posthumously known as Rabia-ud-Daurani.
• After Shah Jahan recovered from illness in July 1658, Aurangzeb declared him incompetent, imprisoned him in Agra Fort, and had Dara Shikoh executed by beheading, with his head presented to their father.