Nur-un-Nissa Begum

Nur-un-Nissa Begum (Persian: نورالنسا بیگم‎; meaning "Light among women"; died February 1701) was the first wife and chief consort of Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah I.[1]

See also: Nur-un-Nissa Begum (wife of Jahangir)
Nur-un-nissa Begum
BornKhurasan
DiedFebruary 1701
Kabul, Mughal Empire
SpouseBahadur Shah I
IssueRafi-ush-Shan
HouseTimurid (by marriage)
FatherMirza Sanjar Khan
MotherZinat-i-Alam Begum
ReligionIslam

She was the mother of his third son, Prince Rafi-ush-Shan, and exercised great influence over her husband.[2] She was the grand mother of future Emperors, Rafi ud-Darajat, Shah Jahan II, and Muhammad Ibrahim. She died in 1701, six years before Bahadur Shah's accession to the throne.

Family

Born at Khurasan, Nur-un-Nissa Begum was the daughter of Mirza Sanjar Khan,[2] who was said to be a descendant of Najm-e Sani. Her mother, Zinat-i-Alam was a greatniece of Mumtaz Mahal, wife of Shah Jahan.[3] She had a brother named Shakir Khan.[4]

Marriage

She married Prince Muhammad Muazzam (future Bahadur Shah I) on 30 December 1659, after his return from Deccan to Delhi with Wazir Khan. The customary royal gifts were given to the bride and the bridegroom.[5][6] In 1671, she gave birth to a son. Mirza Muahammad, an agent of Muazzam escorted the mother and son to Aurangzeb, who gave the baby the name of Rafi-ush-Shan.[7]

She was adorned with many commandable qualities. She had monopolized Muazzam's heart by her accomplishments. She composed Hindi verses,[8] and was famous for her charites and helpfulness to the needy. She won her husband's heart by her excellent behavior, obedience, and attractiveness, and because of this his other wives were jealous of her. They had accused her of immorality and of being the cause of message between Abul Hasan Qutb Shah, the ruler of Golconda, and Muazzam, and other bad acts. And they filled Aurangzeb's years with their complaints.[1][9]

Muhammad Azam Shah's partisans,[9] and Muazzam's enemies began to say that Nur-un-Nissa had gone to Golconda, and settled with Abul Hasan that if the emperor did not accept his appeal for peace with him, Muazzam would also join him.[10][1] As a result, Muazzam was placed in confinement for seven years in the Deccan.[11] Muazzam's sons,[12] and Nur-un-Nissa were also imprisoned in separate jails.[13] She was often insulted and rebuked by Aurangzeb's eunuchs.[14] She was deprived of her liberty, her property was escheated, and her chief officer was tortured to make him reveal the suspected disloyal acts of Muazzam and Nur-un-Nissa.[15] During this time Juliana Dias da Costa remained with her, and served as her maid.[16]

In 1693, both Nur-un-Nissa and Muazzam were released from imprison.[17] In 1699, Muazzam was appointed the governor of Kabul, where Nur-un-Nissa accompanied him. During their stay at Kabul, Aurangzeb presented Muazzam, Amat-ul-Habib in order to spite Nur-un-Nissa. Amat-ul-Habib was mother of a son born in 1700 at Khairabad.[4]

Death

Nur-un-Nissa Begum died at Kabul in February 1701.[4] According to Niccolao Manucci, "she was in every way a most accomplished princess". Her death was a great affliction to both Muazzam and Rafi-ush-Shan. Aurangzeb, and all the courtiers came to them, and offered their condolences.[18]

References
  1. Syed 1977, p. 343.
  2. Irvine, p. 141.
  3. Muni Lal, Mini Mughals (1989), p. 26
  4. Irvine, p. 142.
  5. Syed 1977, p. 151.
  6. Sarkar 1947, p. 17.
  7. Sarkar 1947, p. 66.
  8. Sharma, Sudha (March 21, 2016). The Status of Muslim Women in Medieval India. SAGE Publications India. p. 212. ISBN 978-9-351-50567-9.
  9. Sarkar 1972, p. 431.
  10. Sarkar 1972, pp. 431-2.
  11. Faruqui, Munis D. (August 27, 2012). The Princes of the Mughal Empire, 1504–1719. Cambridge University Press. p. 111. ISBN 978-1-139-53675-2.
  12. Shashi, Shyam Singh (1999). Encyclopaedia Indica: Aurangzeb and his administrative measures. Anmol Publications. p. 270. ISBN 978-8-170-41859-7.
  13. Srivastava, M. P. (1995). The Mughal administration. Chugh Publications. p. 247. ISBN 978-8-185-61397-0.
  14. Latif 2010, p. 27.
  15. Sarkar, Sir Jadunath (1928). History of Aurangzib: Mainly based on Persian sources. S. C. Sarkar & Sons ltd. pp. 46–7.
  16. Latif 2010, p. 28.
  17. Latif 2010, p. 29.
  18. Manucci, Niccolao (1907). Storia Do Mogor: Or, Mogul India, 1653-1708 - Volume 3. J. Murray. pp. 254.

Bibliography
  • Syed, Anees Jahan (1977). Aurangzeb in Muntakhab-al Lubab. Somaiya Publications.
  • Sarkar, Jadunath (1947). Maasir-i-Alamgiri: A History of Emperor Aurangzib-Alamgir (reign 1658-1707 AD) of Saqi Mustad Khan. Royal Asiatic Society of Bengal, Calcutta.
  • Irvine, William. The Later Mughals. Low Price Publications. ISBN 8175364068.
  • Latif, Bilkees I. (2010). Forgotten. Penguin Books India. p. 31. ISBN 978-0-143-06454-1.
  • Sarkar, Sir Jadunath (1972). History of Aurangzib based on original sources - Volume 4. S. C. Sarkar & Sons ltd.
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