Aurangzeb

Reign: 1658 – 1707
Life: 1618–1707

Under his reign, the Mughal Empire reached its greatest extent, with territory spanning nearly the entirety of the Indian subcontinent. Aurangzeb and the Mughals belonged to a branch of the Timurid dynasty. He held administrative and military posts under his father Shah Jahan (r. 1628 to 1658) and gained recognition as an accomplished military commander. 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 and his suzerainty was acknowledged throughout the Empire.

During Aurangzeb's reign, Louis XIV of France ruled France, Kangxi Emperor ruled China, and Charles II of Spain ruled Spain.

Want to learn more? Further reading

Aurangzeb: The Life and Legacy of India's Most Controversial King by Audrey Truschke

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The World During Their Reign

The most notable rulers who held power elsewhere at the same time, from European courts to Ottoman, Mughal, and Chinese thrones.

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From the library

Go deeper on Aurangzeb

Hand-picked histories and biographies for readers who want more than the timeline: the same era, told in full.

Aurangzeb: The Life and Legacy of India's Most Controversial King

Audrey Truschke

Truschke's revisionist life challenges clichés about the emperor who ruled the Mughals at their peak extent.

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The Last Mughal
William Dalrymple
Dalrymple on the dynasty's end, essential reading for what followed Aurangzeb's long reign.
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