History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v3.c37.s5.5

v3.c37.s5.5

At Shah Jahan's accession the dowager Nur Jahan had to be relegated to obscurity as his deadliest enemy and the partisan of his defeated rival Shahriyar. The Empress Consort, Mumtaz Mahal, lived to share the throne for four years only. Thereafter, Jahanara, as the eldest Princess Royal, continued for 27 years to rule her imperial father's household. She was given the title of *Begam Sahib* or ‘Princess par excellence,’ and even *Padishah Begam* or ‘Sovereign Lady.’ Shah Jahan's captivity imposed on her, as his nurse and companion, the life of a recluse for eight years. But on his death she emerged, and Aurangzib restored her to her old place as the first lady in the Court, and she continued as such till her death on 6th September, 1681. Her age and position enabled her to give Aurangzib unpleasant but sound advice when none else durst give it. The Emperor mourned her death for three days and ordered her name to be entered in all official papers in future as *Sahibat-uz-zamani* or ‘the Mistress of the Age.’