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@Realpen All i can say to u..Please Stay Busy, don't invent your own history coz you have got bad luck when it comes to thinking 🤪don't read too much and don't believe on random sites for Historical Info...
This a continuation of Part 1.
RUQAIYA'S MARRIAGE WITH PRINCE AKBAR:
Ruqaiya sultan begum and Akbar's was a child marriage, and it took place within the Harem in Kabul.It was the only wedding which Emperor Humayun arranged for his son Akbar.Emperor Humayun and Hamida Banu who always loved and cherished Ruqaiya arranged the marriage between Akbar and Ruqaiya.All the family members of the imperial household agreed.It was within the family members and not a rich one for it was done in the sad moments after Hindals death.Ruqaiya's father had also indirectly given approval for the wedding, few days before his death.Once when Humayun,Hindal and young Akbar were riding together,the turban of Akbar came off in a crowd.Hindal removed his turban and placed it in Akbar's head.This also shows the liking Hindal had for Akbar.Once when Humayun proposed a wedding between Kamran's daughter and Akbar,Kamaran refused.Kamaran wanted his son Abul Qasim to be the next Mughal emperor.At the same time he could have also felt that Akbar was uneducated and a lazy idle boy.It was only Ruqaiya's father who liked Akbar.Also we should recollect the blessing given by Khanzada begum.RuqaiyaAkbar's wedding was purely a sentimental event blessed by all the elderly people of the Mughal dynasty, unlike the political weddings which Akbar did later in his life.The fief of Hindal, Gazini along with his property and servants were given to Prince Akbar.The young couple was send to Gazini.Akbar and Ruqaiya were only 9 years at the time of their wedding.Itwas a child marriage.At that time Akbar and Ruqaiya could have been good friends rather than husband and wife for they were young to understand this relation.Gradually they became a perfect husband and wife.
RUQAIYA'S RELATION WITH HER IN LAW'S(HUMAYUN AND HAMIDA BANU)
Ruqaiya was always favored and loved by Humayun and Hamida Banu.They had marked respect for Ruqaya's grandmother Dildar begum.Ruqaiya'sgrandmother was mainly responsible for Hamida Banu becoming the empress of Hindusthan and later becoming queen mother.Hamida Banu had the same love for Ruqaiya as she had for Didar begum.She considered Ruqaiya to be her own daughter than a daughter in law.Hamida banu knew Ruqaiya from her childhood since she had spend many happy moments in Hindal's household after her marriage with Humayun.Hamida banu always liked the company of Didar begum, Gulbadan begum and Sultanam begum.Since she was close to Ruqaiya from her birth, she could have well known about her nature.Ruqaiya was definetly a good natured person, for this was the reason that Humayun and Hamida banu arranged her wedding with their own son Akbar.Hamida banu always favored and loved Ruqaiya till the end of her life since she was fatherless and her only hope was Akbar.
RUQAIYA BECOMING MUGHAL EMPRESS:
Humayun invaded Hindustan in 1554 and Akbar accompained him.All the Mughal ladies were left behind in Kabul.Humayun suddenly died and Akbar ascended the throne in 1556.Ruqaiya became theMughall empress at the age of 14.After 6 months Ruqaiya traveled with other Mughal ladies to India from Kabul.She entered Hindustan.Her happy days in Kabul was over.
RUQAIYA'S MARRIAGE LIFE:
Ruqaiya marriage was a child marriage.Akbar was a different person compared to her father Hindal.Hindal was not an opium eater neither a womanizer.But Akbar was totally a different person.He was a drinker as well as a womanizer.There are days when he was totally insane due to increased indullgence in opium.
Akbar was a great warrior and an ambitious person.Ruqaiya should have been proud to be his first wife.But was she happy, that is doubtful.Akbar wanted to rule the entire Hindutan.He adopted various means.One of them wasmatrimonial alliance.He married many Rajput princess.He also married princess of other territories.He married even the daughters of his commanders like the daughter of Qulij Khan, granddaughter of Munim khan and others.Being a emperor he was also gifted with many ladies.When Asaf Khan, Akbar's commander defeated Rani Durgavathy, Asaf khan sent the Rani's sister Kamala Devi and her daughter in law to Akbar's harem.
Akbar had increased lust for women.Infact he also took married women into his harem.One such incidence was hismarriage with Abul Wasi's wife.Akbar happened to look at that lady in a festival, fell in love with her and asked her husband to divorce her and took her into his harem.Another incidence was after Salim's birth when he was flirting with Salim Christi's daughter in law and took them into his harem.All his children were born through different wives and concubines.Akbar used to send enuch into the harem of nobles to select ladies for him for which the Delhi nobles tried to kill him but Akbar escaped.All this should have been difficult for Hindal's daughter Ruqaiya to digest though she was in a polygamy household.
Anyhow Akbar repented for his womanizing behavior in the later part of his life.
Contd as part III
This is a continuation of Part II.
NOTE: This article is mainly based on facts and events taken from historical books of the 15th and 16th century.Modern historian view and bazar gossip are not followed.
RUQAIYA-FIRST, CHIEF, RESPECTED WIFE:
Emperor Jahangir says in his memoir that Ruqaiya was the first, chief, respected wife of his father.This shows she has been a prominent person in Akbar' life.The word respected' indicates that individuals in the harem had marked respect for her.This could be due to two reason.One Akbar had kept her in such a prominent position that other's respected her.The other cause could be that she was a well-mannered person and gained respect on her own.So it is clearly indicated Akbar had liked and respected her throughout his life.
CHILDLESS RUQAIYA BEGUM:
Ruqaiya was childless throughout her life, though one version of Jahangirnama which is in the British Library says, she gave birth to a daughter Fathima which passed away early in life.Also, there is a myth that she gave birth to Hasan and Husain definitely but died in one month.There is a possibility for Ruqaiya to have given birth to kids which could have passed early in life.She and Akbar were closely related first cousins, and there is a chance for the kids to have somegenetic problem which people were not aware in those days .But anyhow there is no proof for it.Akbar himself in the latter part of life had discouraged wedding between cousins for the sexual appetite is there but not much which could have also been the reason for her to be childless.
RUQAIYA AND SHAHJAHAN:
Akbar wanted to rear one of his grandsons.He selected his third grandson Shahjahan since he was born in the same month of Prophet Muhamud. He handed over the responsibility of his upbringing to Ruqaiya because in his 50's Akbar felt sad for the childless plight of his dear cousin.She readily agreed and took good care of Shahjahan.Ruqaiya loved Shahjahan thousand times more than if he was her son.
There was one more reason why Akbar gave Shahjahan to Ruqaiya.Akbar was very upset with his son Salim who was always in rebellion with him.Salim was always having bad relationship with his father right from his childhood
Moreover, all his three sons were drinkers and fit for nothing fellows.Akbar was very upset with the upbringing of all his three children.So he came to a decision to trust only his royal blood rather than his other wives.
Ruqaiya was very loyal to Akbar and she saw to that Shah Jahan was highly educated and had an excellent relation with his grandfather which was vital for Akbar in his 50's.She saw to that Shahjahan did not develop any bad qualities of Akbar but imbibed all the right qualities of his grandfather.He turned out to be a real warrior with an interest in art and architecture same as Akbar.At the same time, Shahjahan grew to be a pious Muslim.He did not take wine till his 20's,in fact, he made wine only under the compulsion of his father, Jahangir.
She also made him realise what is love which is evident in the Taj Mahal Shahjahan built for his wife.
Mumtaz was the third wife of Shahjahan, but she was the first lady Shahjahan was engaged.The wedding happened only after five years which was unusual in those days.In the middle, he took two wives, but they were just political alliances forced by his father, Jahangir.Shahjahan met Mumtaz in the nauroz festival and fell in love with her.She was the niece of Empress Nurjahan.Nurjahan became close to Shahjahan when she was a lady in waiting for Ruqaiya.It was Nurjahan who arranged this wedding and may be even Ruqaiya supported it.Mumtaz was Shahjahan's first love and last love.He was devoted to Mumtaz till the end of her life.He did not marry anybody after Mumtaz.It was only after her death; he turned to be a womanizer.Ruqaiya could have played a role in developing such a character in Shahjahan.This shows the dislike she had in Akbar's multiple marriages.
Last but not the least Ruqaiya saw to that Shahjahan loved Akbar till the end of his life.In fact, it was only Shahjahan who was with Akbar in his last moments.He refused to leave his grandfather in his dying bed even when his life was at risk due to heavy court politics.Though Ruqaiya could not bear her children for Akbar, she at least gave his grandson with a stamp of her love for him.Shahjahan was also loyal to his father Jahangir at the beginning of his reign.It was only after the court politics of Nurjahan Shahjahan rebelled against Jahangir.This also shows the love Ruqaiya had for her stepson Jahangir.
UNLUCKY AKBAR:
Akbar towards the end of his life started recommending monogamy, for he stated,"taking more than one wife is injurious to ones physical and mental health."This statement also show's how much Akbar has suffered because of multiple wives.The rebellion of his son in the later part of his life should have made him think in such a way.Most of the ladies should have been concentrating in pleasing him, some in court politics or business so naturally, all his three sons were spoilt.Akbar was so unlucky that Ruqaiya couldn't give birth to his child for she being confident about her position in Akbar life will not unnecessarily waste her time in pleasing him.At the same time she was not a power hunger person neither interested in business, and so she could have been a devoted mother, and Akbar successor should have been a mighty emperor like Shahjahan.
AKBAR'S DEATH:
Akbar died in 1605 at the age of 63.Ruqaiya outlived him by 18 years.
Shah Jahan sent back to his Biological mother
After Akbar's death, Ruqaiya allowed Shahjahan to join his biological mother who was a Rajput.This shows that Ruqaiya did not ask for Shahjahan, but it was Akbar's interest to take care of one of his grandsons.Akbar always had a habit of handing over infants to elderly people.For instance, his elder daughter was delivered to Hamida Banu, e grandson Rustam to Jiji Anga.Akbar felt elderly people could rear them better. Being a devoted wife she took good care of Shahjahan for the sake of her husband.
At the same time she well understood the feelings of Jagat Gosaini, the biological mother of Shahjahan.Shahjahan was close to Jagat Gosaini also, this shows the good nature of Ruqaiya.She had not poisoned him against his mother and also saw to that Shahjahan met his mother frequently even when Akbar was alive.
Shahjahan met Ruqaiya often after Akbar's death.This is confirmed by Shahjahan becoming close to Nurjahan, in the begining years of Jahangir's reign.Nurjahan was lady in waiting in Ruqaiya's harem.The problem betweenNurjahan and Shahjahan arised only after Nur married her daughter to Shariaya in 1620.
To be contd as part IV.
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