ABSTRACT
As we commence our considerations of the Mughal empire, let us note that when Aurangzeb, the last important Mughal emperor, died the Mughal empire was confronted by many challenges. Among the most pressing was the question of succession. Unlike the Ottomans or the Safavids in the late sixteenth century, the Mughals never had mechanisms that gave clarity and order to succession rituals. Mughal princes therefore not only rebelled against the emperor but fought among themselves as well. Up to Aurangzeb’s time, contending sons spent their lives making friends to undertake and sustain connections across the empire. In the fight for succession a contender either won or was killed, thus helping prepare a prince for the Mughal throne. Activities of contending royal sons connected these widely separated groups to the empire. Princes consequently moved around with the intention not only of reducing potential opposition but also of recruiting groups that might otherwise become state enemies. Those who associated with Mughal princes also enabled their socialization into Mughal styles of behavior. Therefore, these seemingly contentious activities by princes not only did not undermine the empire, but in fact helped to lengthen the empire’s life until the time of Aurangzeb’s reign. It is clear, however, that, during the reign of Aurangzeb, the position of the
princes in the empire deteriorated considerably, especially during the last two decades of the seventeenth century. During this time Aurangzeb deliberately prevented his sons from connecting with other political elements, an activity that Aurangzeb considered threatening.1
