Badshah Begum

Badshah Begum

Malika-uz-Zamani seated on her throne
Empress and chief consort of Mughal
Tenure 9 December 1721 – 26 April 1748
Padshah Begum of Mughal
Tenure 9 December 1721 – 1749
Predecessor Zinat-un-Nissa
Born 1703
Died 1789 (aged 86)
Delhi, India
Burial Tis Hazari Bagh
Spouse Muhammad Shah
Issue Shahriyar Shah Bahadur
House Timurid (by birth)
Father Farrukhsiyar
Mother Gauhar-un-Nissa Begum
Religion Islam

Badshah Begum (1703 - before 21 September 1789) was Empress of the Mughal Empire as the first wife and chief consort of Mughal Emperor Muhammad Shah. It was through her efforts that her step-son, Ahmad Shah Bahadur, was able to ascend the Mughal throne.

Biography

Badshah Begum was born in 1703 as a Mughal princess and was the daughter of Mughal Emperor Farrukhsiyar and his first wife, Gauhar-un-Nissa Begum. Being a Mughal princess, Badshah Begum was well educated, intelligent and had been instructed in the nuances of ruling and diplomacy.

She married her cousin, Muhammad Shah in 1721 and was given the title of Malika-uz-Zamani ("Empress of the Age") and further, the exalted title of Padshah Begum. She bore her husband his first son, Shahriyar Shah Bahadur, who died in his childhood. After that she remained childless.[1]

She also took an interest in several aspects of the state and governance and an active part in matters of importance. Being the Emperor's chief wife, she was the most influential among all of her husband's wives and exercised her opinions on him.

Her husband later developed a passion for a dancing girl, Udham Bai, a woman of no refinement, and made her a wife of his. Though Badshah Begum remained his favourite. This marriage resulted in the birth of a son, Ahmad Shah Bahadur. This son was brought up by the Empress as though he were her own son. She loved him greatly, and he grew up to ascend the throne due to her efforts.[2]

Badshah Begum was greatly respected by the Court and the people as a Dowager Empress, even after the Emperor's death.[2] She died in 1789 at Delhi and was buried in Tis Hazari Bagh,

See also

References

  1. Sarkar, Jadunath (1997). Fall of the Mughal Empire. (4th ed.). Orient Longman. ISBN 9788125011491.
  2. 1 2 Latif, Bilkees I. (2010). Forgotten. Penguin Books. p. 49. ISBN 9780143064541.
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