Mumtaz Mahal
Mumtaz Mahal and the Taj Mahal
Mumtaz Mahal, which means "the chosen one of
the palace," was born September 1, 1593 and died on June 17, 1631. Mahal
was the chief consort of the emperor Shah Jahan. She was also a Mughal Empress
herself. Mumtaz Mahal is very important to the Taj Mahal; the building was
constructed specifically as a tomb and final resting place for her by her
husband.
Family
Mumtaz Mahal, born Arjumand Banu Begum, was born
in Agra. However she was not an every day citizen; Mahal was born into
nobility. She was the daughter of Abdul Hasan Asaf Khan, making her the niece
of Empress Nur Jehan, who was married to Emperor Jahangir. Religiously, Mumtaz
was a Shia Muslim.
Marriage
Although Begum was betrothed to ShahJahan (also know as Prince Khurram) at the age of fourteen, she ultimately
became the love of his life. They did have to wait five years before they
became married. The date of their marriage, in 1612, was selected by astrologers
of the court to be most effective in ensuring a happy marriage. Khurram gave
Begum her new name, Mumtaz Mahal, shortly after their marriage. Khurram
acquired two other wives in the five years after meeting Mahal before their
marriage, but he became so smitten to Mahal that he showed little interest in
his two other wives, and in his polygamous right in general. Khurram
reluctantly sired a child each with his other two wives, as it was his duty.
His relationship with the two other wives can be described as "nothing
more than marriage," while he put a thousand times more effort into his
relationship with Mahal.
Khurram's affection towards Mahal was very much
reciprocated; she was deeply in love with her husband as well. Despite numerous
pregnancies, Mahal travelled with Khurram all over the Mughal Empire, as well
as throughout his military campaigns, which ultimately lead to rebellion
against her father. In the nineteen years Mahal was married to Khurram,
they had fourteen children, seven of which died at birth or during a very young
age.
Cause of Death
Mahal died in Burhanpur giving birth to her
fourteenth child. She had been accompanying her husband on a military campaign.
She was buried temporarily in Burhanpur, but this was never meant to be her
final resting place.
After Mahal's Death
It was reported that the emperor was inconsolable at
the time of her death, and disappeared into hiding for a year. It was
ultimately Jahanara Begum, their oldest daughter, who brought him out of
hiding. He was a different person now. It was reported that his hair had turned
white, his face was worn, and his back was bent. Jahanara went on to take her
mother's place in the court.
8 Facts about Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal
- As Emperor,Shah Jahan's full title was Shahanshah Al-Sultan al-‘Azam wal Khaqan al-Mukarram, Malik-ul-Sultanat, Ala Hazrat Abu’l-Muzaffar Shahab ud-din Muhammad Shah Jahan I, Sahib-i-Qiran-i-Sani, Padshah Ghazi Zillu’llah, Firdaus-Ashiyani, Shahanshah—E—Sultanant Ul Hindiya Wal Mughaliya.
- Mumtaz Mahal was married to another man before ShahJahan, and he killed her husband so he could marry her.
- Shah Jahan married Mahal's sister after her death.
- Shah Jahan's sons fought against each other for the crown in the Battle of Samugarh.
- Jahan's son, Aurangzeb, put Jahan on house arrest.
- Jahan ruled from 1628 to 1658. He had no state funeral.
- Shah Jahan was laid to rest right next to Mahal in the Taj Mahal.
- The Mahal was only designed to hold one person. However, instead of building a new tomb for Jahan, his son simply placed him next to Mumtaz Mahal.
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