Mumtaz Mahal-14 children in 19 years of marriage

Nurjahan- Her ‘Bua/Aunt’

Arjumand Banu Begum, later known as Mumtaz Mahal, was born into a noble Persian family in Agra. Her father, Abu’l-Hasan Asaf Khan, held a prominent position in the Mughal Empire, and her aunt, Empress Nur Jahan, was the influential wife of Emperor Jahangir. At the age of 19, Arjumand married Prince Khurram, who would later become Emperor Shah Jahan. As a symbol of his love and admiration, Shah Jahan bestowed upon her the title “Mumtaz Mahal,” meaning “the exalted one of the palace” in Persian.

Family lineage

Other Marriages Just for Political Alliance

Mumtaz Mahal became engaged to Shah Jahan on approximately 5 April 1607, when she was 14 years old and he was 15. Their marriage, however, took place five years later on either 10 May 1612 or 7 June 1612 in Agra. Following their wedding festivities, Shah Jahan, impressed by her appearance and character, bestowed upon her the title Mumtaz Mahal, meaning ‘the exalted one of the Palace’ in Persian. In the years between their engagement and marriage, Shah Jahan had wed his first wife, Princess Kandahari Begum in 1610, and later in 1617, after marrying Mumtaz, he took a third wife, Izz-un-Nissa Begum (known as Akbarabadi Mahal), who was the daughter of a prominent Mughal courtier. According to official court historians, both marriages were strategic political alliances.

Shah Jahan’s love for Mumtaz was so profound that he neglected his other wives, only fulfilling his marital duties with them. According to Motamid Khan, the official court chronicler, the relationships with his other wives were merely formalities compared to the deep affection and favor he showed Mumtaz. Inayat Khan, Shah Jahan’s historian, also noted that his devotion to Mumtaz far surpassed any feelings he had for his other wives.

 Imperial seal handed to her

 

Shah Jahan sought Mumtaz’s counsel on personal matters as well as state affairs, making her his trusted advisor and confidant. Similar to her aunt Nur Jahan, Mumtaz occupied a prominent position beside the emperor in the Hall of Private Audience and Hall of Public Audience (Dīwān-e-Khās and Dīwān-e-Ām). Concealed behind a curtain, she would discreetly place her hand on his back if she disagreed with something. Through her intervention, he would pardon enemies or commute death sentences. The emperor’s faith in her was so profound that he bestowed upon her the highest honor in the land – his imperial seal, known as the Mehr Uzaz. This seal validated imperial decrees, and no decision could be made without her consent. Unlike her influential aunt, Empress Nur Jahan, who held significant power during the previous reign, Mumtaz was depicted as having no ambitions for political authority.

Despite pregnancies Constant Companion at War

Mumtaz shared a loving union with Shah Jahan. Poets praised her beauty, grace, and compassion even while she was alive. Despite her numerous pregnancies, Mumtaz accompanied Shah Jahan’s entourage during his early military expeditions and the subsequent revolt against his father. She remained his steadfast companion and trusted confidant, prompting court historians to meticulously record the intimate and passionate bond the couple shared. Over the course of their 19-year marriage, they welcomed 14 children into the world – eight sons and six daughters – with seven of them passing away either at birth or in infancy.

Queen of Money

Mumtaz’s reign as empress was short-lived, lasting only three years before her untimely demise. Nevertheless, Shah Jahan showered her with extravagant luxuries. As the mother of the heir apparent, she held a unique position among Shah Jahan’s wives and was addressed as “Hazrat.” Mumtaz resided in the opulent Khas Mahal within Agra Fort, which surpassed all other empresses’ residences in its lavish adornments. The palace boasted pure gold embellishments, precious gemstones, and even had its own rose-water fountains. In addition to a regular monthly allowance for household and travel expenses, Mumtaz Mahal received the highest recorded amount of one million rupees per year from Shah Jahan. Furthermore, she was granted numerous lucrative lands and properties, further enhancing her wealth.

Mumtaz Mahal’s personal fortune, which was valued at 10 million rupees, was divided by Shah Jahan between Jahanara Begum and her surviving children. Jahanara Begum received half of the fortune, while the rest was distributed among the other children.

14 Children in 19 years of marriage

Despite being engaged to Shah Jahan from 1607, she later became his second wife in 1612. Mumtaz and her husband had a total of 14 children, among them were Jahanara Begum (Shah Jahan’s beloved daughter) and Crown Prince Dara Shikoh, who was designated as the heir-apparent by his father. Dara Shikoh briefly took over the throne until he was overthrown by Aurangzeb, the sixth child of Mumtaz Mahal, who eventually became the sixth Mughal emperor in 1658.

Before Taj Mahal Buried At Burhanpur

Mumtaz Mahal died due to postpartum hemorrhage in Burhanpur on 17 June 1631, while delivering her 14th child after a labor lasting around 30 hours. She had been accompanying her husband during a campaign in the Deccan Plateau. Her body was temporarily interred at Burhanpur in a walled pleasure garden called Zainabad, originally built by Shah Jahan’s uncle Daniyal on the banks of the Tapti River. The contemporary court chroniclers extensively documented Mumtaz Mahal’s death and Shah Jahan’s profound sorrow at her loss. Following her demise, the emperor was said to be inconsolable and secluded himself in mourning for a year. Upon reemerging, he displayed physical signs of his grief, with white hair, a bent back, and a worn face. Mumtaz’s eldest daughter, Jahanara Begum, played a crucial role in helping her father overcome his sorrow and assumed her mother’s position at court.

It is worth noting that Burhanpur was not intended to be the final resting place for Mumtaz Mahal. Therefore, in December 1631, her body was exhumed and transported in a golden casket to Agra. The journey was accompanied by her son Shah Shuja, her head lady-in-waiting, and the esteemed courtier Wazir Khan. In Agra, Mumtaz Mahal was laid to rest in a small building located on the banks of the Yamuna River. Meanwhile, Shah Jahan remained in Burhanpur to conclude his military campaign. During his stay, he initiated the planning and construction of a magnificent mausoleum and funerary garden in Agra, which would eventually become the iconic Taj Mahal. This ambitious project took a staggering 22 years to complete.

Did you know that Taj Mahal was covered with Bamboo and Cloth