Hazrat Begum
Hazrat Begum | |
---|---|
Shahzadi of the Mughal Empire | |
Empress consort of the Durrani Empire | |
Tenure | 5 April 1757 – 16 October 1772 |
Born |
4 November 1741 Delhi, India |
Died |
c. 1774 Afghanistan |
Burial | Mausoleum of Muhammad Shah, Nizamuddin Awliya, Delhi |
Spouse | Ahmad Shah Durrani |
House |
Timurid (by birth) Durrani (by marriage) |
Father | Muhammad Shah |
Mother | Sahiba Mahal |
Religion | Islam |
Hazrat Begum (4 November 1741 – c. 1774) (Pashto: حضرت بېګم) was Empress consort of the Durrani Empire from 5 April 1757 to 16 October 1772 as the wife of Ahmad Shah Durrani, the first emperor of the Durrani Empire. By birth, she was a Mughal princess and was the daughter of Mughal emperor Muhammad Shah.
Family and lineage
Hazrat Begum was born a Mughal princess and was the daughter of Mughal emperor Muhammad Shah and his wife Sahiba Mahal.[1] At the age of sixteen in February 1756, Hazrat Begum became so famous for her matchless beauty that the Mughal emperor Alamgir II, who was then about sixty, used undue pressures and threats to force Sahiba Mahal and the princess' guardian and step-mother, Badshah Begum, to give him Hazrat Begum's hand in marriage.[2] The princess preferred death over marrying an old wreck of sixty and Alamgir II did not succeed in marrying her.[2]
Marriage
In April 1757, the Durrani king Ahmed Shah Abdali after sacking the imperial capital of Delhi, desired to marry the deceased Emperor Muhammad Shah's 16-year-old daughter, Hazrat Begum.[3] As she was only 16 years old, Badshah Begum again resisted handing over her tender charge to an Afghan king 35 years old, but Ahmad Shah forcibly wedded Hazrat Begum on 5 April 1757 in Delhi.[4] After the wedding celerbrations, Ahmad Shah took his young wife back to his native place of Afghanistan. The weeping bride was accompanied by Badshah Begum, Sahiba Mahal and a few ladies of note from the imperial Mughal harem.[4]
See also
References
- ↑ Sarkar, Jadunath (1999). Fall of the Mughal Empire (4th ed.). Hyderabad: Orient Longman. p. 268. ISBN 9788125017615.
- 1 2 Aḥmad, ʻAzīz; Israel, Milton (1983). Islamic society and culture: essays in honour of Professor Aziz Ahmad. Manohar. p. 146.
- ↑ A Comprehensive History of India: 1712-1772. Orient Longmans. 1978.
- 1 2 Sarkar, Sir Jadunath (1971). 1754-1771 (Panipat). 3d ed. 1966, 1971 printing. Orient Longman. p. 89.