Malika-uz-Zamani

Badshah Begum
Shahzadi of the Mughal Empire Padshah Begum
Badshah Begum seated on her throne
Empress consort of the Mughal Empire
Tenure	9 December 1721 – 26 April 1748
Born	c. 1703 Bengal Subah
Died	14 December 1789 (aged 85–86) Delhi, India
Burial	Tis Hazari Bagh
Spouse	Muhammad Shah
Issue	Shahriyar Shah Bahadur
House	Timurid (by birth)
Father	Farrukhsiyar
Mother	Fakhr-un-Nissa Begum
Religion	Islam

Badshah Begum (c. 1703 – 14 December 1789) was Empress of the Mughal Empire from 9 December 1721 to 26 April 1748 as the first wife and chief consort of the Mughal emperor Muhammad Shah. It was through her efforts that her step-son, Ahmad Shah Bahadur, was able to ascend the Mughal throne.

Badshah Begum was born in 1703 as a Mughal princess and was the daughter of Mughal Emperor Farrukhsiyar and his first wife, Fakhr-un-nissa Begum also known as Gauhar-un-nissa. 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.

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.

Badshah Begum was greatly respected by the Court and the people as a Dowager Empress, even after the Emperor's death, until the dethronement of her step-son Ahmad Shah.

In 1788, Ghulam Qadir Rohilla took over the Red Fort and became estranged with the then-reigning emperor Shah Alam II. Seizing this opportunity to remove herself and her close family from poverty and neglect, she struck a deal with the Rohilla to enthrone her grand step-son Bidar Bakht (eldest son of Emperor Ahmad Shah Bahadur) on the throne, in return for 12 lakhs of rupees. The deed was done, and Shah Alam II was deposed on 31 July 1788, with Bidar Bakht being enthroned as Nasir-ud-Din Muhammad Jahan Shah.