Nur-un-nissa Begum | |
---|---|
Born |
c. 1645 Khurasan |
Died | February 1701 (aged 55–56) Kabul, Mughal Empire |
Spouse | Bahadur Shah I |
Issue | Rafi-ush-Shan |
House | Timurid (by marriage) |
Father | Mirza Sanjar Khan |
Religion | Islam |
Nur-un-Nissa Begum (Persian: نورالنساء بیگم; meaning "Light among women"; c. 1645 – February 1701) was the first wife and chief consort of Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah I.
She was the mother of his third son, Prince Rafi-ush-Shan, and exercised great influence over her husband. She was the grand mother of future Emperors, Rafi ud-Darajat, Shah Jahan II, and Muhammad Ibrahim. She died in 1701, six years before Bahadur Shah's accession to the throne.
Born at Khurasan, Nur-un-Nissa Begum was the daughter of Mirza Sanjar Khan, who was said to be a descendent of Najm-e Sani. She had a brother named Shakir Khan. She married Prince Muhammad Muazzam (future Bahadur Shah I) on 30 December 1659, after his return from Deccan to Delhi with Wazir Khan. The costumary royal gifts were given to the bride and the bridegroom. In 1671, she gave birth to a son. Mirza Muahammad, an agent of Muazzam escorted the mother and son to Aurangzeb, who gave the baby the name of Rafi-ush-Shan.
She was adorned with many commandable qualities. She had monopolized Muazzam's heart by her accomplishments. She composed Hindi verses, and was famous for her charites and helpfulness to the needy. She won her husband's heart by her excellent behavior, obedience, and attractiveness, and because of this his other wives were jealous of her. They had accused her of immorality and of being the cause of message between Abul Hasan Qutb Shah, the ruler of Golconda, and Muazzam, and other bad acts. And they filled Aurangzeb's years with their complaints.
Muhammad Azam Shah's partisans, and Muazzam's enemies began to say that Nur-un-Nissa had gone to Golconda, and settled with Abul Hasan that if the emperor didnot accept his appeal for peace with him, Muazzam would also join him. As a result, Muazzam was placed in confinement for seven years in the Deccan. Muazzam's sons, and Nur-un-Nissa were also imprisoned in separate jails. She was often insulted and rebuked by Aurangzeb's eunuchs. She was deprived of her liberty, her property was escheated, and her chief officer was tortured to make him reveal the suspected disloyal acts of Muazzam and Nur-un-Nissa. During this time Juliana Dias da Costa remained with her, and served as her maid.