[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Dark Ages](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages) › [Travellers (1500–1858)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel) › [Storia do Mogor](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci) › [Storia do Mogor (Irvine)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine) › 92 # Storia do Mogor 92: The Children of Aurangzeb \[41\]. Storia do Mogor (Irvine) 92 - **Language:** English ### The Children of Aurangzeb \[41\]. ### [92.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.92.1) Be it known to the reader that at this time Aurangzeb had four sons and four daughters. The sons were Sultan Muhammad, of whom I have already spoken (I. 237), at this time a prisoner, and Sultan Mu'azzam, the second. These were the sons of one mother, a Rajput by race, who offered sacrifice to idols that Sultan Mu'azzam, her son, might be king, seeing that the eldest was a captive. She had a daughter called Zebetnixa Begam (Zeb-un-nissa Begam) — that is to say, 'Light of Women' — and she died in the year one thousand six hundred and eighty-one, on September 1. The other sons were Sultan A'zam and Sultan Akbar, who were sons of another mother, a Persian by race, the daughter of Xanavascan (Shah Nawaz Khan), of whom I have already spoken (I. 225). This queen had two daughters called Zinethnexa Begom (Zinat-un-nissa Begam) — that is to say, 'Riches of Women'—and the other called Bederexa Begom (Badr-un-nissa Begam)—that is to say, 'Moon of Women.' These princesses forced their father to get them husbands, in opposition to the precedent handed down by King Akbar to the Mogul kings not to give their daughters in marriage. As Aurangzeb was unwilling to break this rule, they told him that the Mogul kings were not greater than the great Muhammad, who gave his daughter in marriage to 'Ali. ### [92.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.92.2) Thus Aurangzeb, overcome by their importunity, and worried by an old man named Miyan JanI, who passed as a saint, and every Friday when the king went to the mosque, said to him nothing beyond these words: 'Marry your daughters, and let them follow the example of Muhammad's daughter.' They were married in the year one thousand six hundred and seventy, one to the son of Dara, the other to the son of Murad Bakhsh, and up to this day they live with their husbands in the fortress of Salimgarh. The fourth daughter's name was Facronexa Begom (Fakhr-un-nissa Begam)—that is to say, 'Grandeur of Women,' who was \[42\] the child of another particular wife. She did not wish to marry, and she will give us occasion to speak of her farther on. When the news of Aurangzeb's severe illness reached Agrah, the eunuch I'tibar Khan was thrown into great perplexity, chiefly because he heard that Rajah Jaswant Singh and Mahabat Khan were coming to deliver Shahjahan. The eunuch called to mind the harshness he had used to Shahjahan, and looked upon himself as lost, and saw facing him a sad and dishonoured death. He therefore provided poison to kill himself when any change happened. It was for this reason that he sent off daily many couriers to find out news as to the life or death of Aurangzeb. At this time the common people spoke bitterly against I'tibar Khan, and said that now had come the time for him to be paid out for his barbarities. ### [92.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.92.3) Aurangzeb, although still ill, knew the importance of proving he was alive and in his senses ; therefore he never abandoned the passing and issuing of orders intended to take effect throughout the kingdom. Above all, he sent to I'tibar Khan injunctions to take good care of the king, his prisoner. Needing to seal his letters, he called for the great seal, which was kept in a bag sealed with the small seal worn by the king on his finger. After a search for the seal, it could not be found ; he asked Roshan Ara Begam where his signet ring was. The princess replied that one day when he swooned it fell off his finger, when she had taken charge of it, keeping it beneath her pillow. He sealed the letter and gave it back to her, concealing his suspicion and waiting till he was thoroughly restored to make inquiries into the affair, and find out how they had removed the ring. Aurangzeb did not content himself with the mere recording and issuing of orders, but to prove to the populace that he lived, he caused himself to be carried into a hall full of many nobles and great men, where he showed himself in person. But in withdrawing he hurt himself, the result lasting a long time, and greater trouble than before was caused, for everybody supposed that now he must die. ### [92.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.92.4) \[Note. — Here are interpolated thirty-nine pages of a French version of the preceding Portuguese text and then three blank pages. I have compared this French version, and it is nothing more than a translation of the Portuguese text.\] ### [92.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.92.5) \[40 bis\]. Having rested for some days, and finding himself a little better, Aurangzeb sent for Ja'far Khan, Multafat Khan, Muhammad Amin Khan, and Rajah Jai Singh, to disabuse them of the then prevailing fear that he was dead. By degrees he recovered his strength, but with great difficulty, it taking him a long time to get well. Even after he was sound again he remained a little defective in speech, and up to this day he speaks deliberately. Having now been restored to perfect health, he obtained from the eunuchs accounts of all that Roshan Ara Begam had done during his illness. He was much annoyed at her having written letters to the viceroys, governors, and generals, in order to gain them over to serve Sultan A'zam, and at her having sealed them with the royal seal. Above all, he was much affected by her unmannerliness to the mother of Sultan Mu'azzam, and by the patience with which that queen endured the insolence of the princess. For these reasons he thenceforth thought more of the queen, increased her rank, and conferred on her the title of Nabab Balgi (Nawab Bal Ji)—that is to say, 'Greatest among Women'—and felt more affection for Sultan Mu'azzam, to whom he gave the title of Xaalam (Shah 'Alam)—that is to say, 'King of the World.' Roshan Ara Begam lost much of the love that Aurangzeb had borne her, he being now angered at her behaviour. --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.92](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.92) · Pramāṇa