Bahadur Shah I (1707-1712) – GK

1. Bahadur Shah I’s real name is Muhammad Mu’azzam.
2. He was also known as Shah Alam.
3. He was the second son of Aurangzeb.
4. His mother was Nawab Bai (Rahmat-un-Nissa) who was a Kashmiri Muslim.
5. He was the 8th ruler of the Mughal Empire.
6. Prince Mu’azzam killed his two brothers and ascended the Mughal throne.
7. His reign was from 1707 to 1712.
8. He took the title “Shah-i-bekhabar” (headless king).
9. Bahadur Shah I adopted a more liberal religious policy like Akbar and Jahangir towards Hindus.
10. He ended the destruction of Hindu temples ordered by his father Aurangzeb.
11. However, he did not remove the jizya tax from Hindus.
12. 1663: At the age of 20, he was appointed as the governor of the Deccan replacing Shaista Khan.
13. 1696-1707: He was the governor of Kabul and Lahore from 1696 to 1707.
14. 1653-1659: was appointed vizier of Lahore during Shah Jahan’s reign.
15. 1695: He was sent to Punjab to fight against “Guru Gobind Singh”.
16. 1696: He was appointed as the governor of Agra.
17. 1699: Shah was sent to Lahore and appointed governor of Kabul.
18. 1683-1684: He was the commander-in-chief of Aurangzeb’s army against the Marathas at Goa.
19. 1707: Battle of Jajau: Muhammad Mu’azzam defeated his brother Azam Shah in Agra and ascended the throne at age 64.
20. 1708: Bahadur Shah I met Guru Gobind Singh. But Guru Gobind Singh was killed by Wazir Khan. Wazir Khan was the governor of Sirhind at that time. This event triggers unrest among the Sikhs.
21. 1708: Bahadur Shah I recognized Ajit Singh as a ruler of Marwar (Rajput states). He signed peace treaties with Ajit Singh (Jodhpur) and Man Singh (Amber).
22. Marwar and Mewar gained independence during his reign.
23. 1709: After the death of Guru Gobind Singh, Banda Singh Bahadur rebelled against the Mughals in Punjab. Banda Singh captures many important towns and fortresses.
24. 1710: Banda Singh Bahadur captured Sirhind and established Sikh rule in a few parts of Punjab.
25. 1710: Bahadur Shah I started a new campaign to suppress Marathas, but it was not completely successful.
26. 1711: Bahadur Shah I started a campaign to recapture the parts of Punjab captured by Banda Singh Bahadur, but failed.
27. 1711: Bahadur Shah I attempted Peace with Rajputs. During this time Banda Bahadur established the first Sikh capital at Lohgarh.
28. Later in the Deccan, the Marathas were given the right to levy Sardeshmukhi, but not Chauth.
29. 1712: At the age of 68, Bahadur Shah I died on February 27, 1712.
30. Bahadur Shah I introduced Gold Coins (Mohurs), Silver Coins (Rupees) and Copper Coins (Dam).
31. He re-minted the Copper coins of Aurangzeb.

Info: Additionally, he established peace with Chhatrasal, the head of the Bundela, and Churaman, the chief of the Jat.

Info: Several efforts were attempted by Bahadur Shah to depose his father, Aurangzeb. But he failed every time. As a result, he received punishment and remained under close surveillance.