How did Aurangzeb come to power?

Aurangzeb, the sixth emperor of the Mughal Empire, ascended to power through a complex series of events. Born in 1618 as the third son of Emperor Shah Jahan, Aurangzeb saw his opportunity to seize power during a power struggle within the imperial family. In 1658, Shah Jahan fell ill, sparking a war of succession between his four sons. Aurangzeb, skilled in military strategy and supported by a faction within the court, orchestrated a well-executed plan that allowed him to imprison his father and eliminate his brothers as rivals. After securing the support of key nobles, Aurangzeb declared himself emperor and assumed the throne in 1659. His reign marked a shift towards a more orthodox and conservative strain of Islam, as he sought to reimpose strict Islamic law throughout the empire. However, his reign was also marked by constant warfare and conflicts, ultimately leading to the decline of the Mughal Empire.

This mind map was published on 16 August 2023 and has been viewed 118 times.