From Maham Begum of Babur to Dilras Banu of Aurangzeb: Check full list of wives of Mughal Emperors

New Delhi: We have read a lot about the Mughal emperors and their bravery in history books during school days. But there’s very little mention about the wives of those emperors. Some of those who have been mentioned are Mughal Emperor Akbar’s wife Mariam-uz-Zamani, commonly known by the misnomer Jodha Bai. Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan’s second wife Mumtaz Mahal. The seventh wonder, Taj Mahal (a white marble mausoleum in Agra), was built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his third wife Mumtaz Mahal (also called Arjumand Banu Begum). It is interesting to note that throughout the 331-year history of the Mughal Empire, the emperors were all members of the same house, the house of Timurid.

In this article, we will share the list of wives of the Mughal Emperors.

Mughal Emperor Babur

Babur was the founder of the Mughal Empire. His real name was Zahiruddin Muhammad. He was a descendant of Timur.

He married Maham Begum, Masuma Sultan Begum, Gulrukh Begum and Dildar Begum.

Mughal Emperor Humayun

Humayun, born as Nasir-ud-Din Muhammad, was the second emperor of the Mughal Empire. He ruled in the Indian Subcontinent from 1530 to 1540 and again from 1555 to 1556.

He had eight wives – Bega Begum, Hamida Banu Begum, Mah Chuchak Begum, Bibi Gunwar, Khanish Agha, Maywa Jan, Shad Bibi and Chand Bibi.

Mughal Emperor Akbar

Akbar, the third Mughal Emperor who reigned from 1556 to 1605, is popularly known as Akbar the Great. His real name was Abu’l-Fath Jalal-ud-din Muhammad Akbar.

According to historians, Mughal Emperor Akbar had 300 wives. It is interesting to note that he married 12 Rajput princess.

Mariam-uz-Zamani

Mariam-uz-Zamani, also known by the misnomer Jodha Bai, was the principal Rajput wife of Mughal Emperor Akbar.

Ruqaiya Sultan Begum

Ruqaiya Sultan Begum was the first wife of the third Mughal Emperor Akbar. She was the only daughter of Mughal prince Hindal Mirza (the youngest son of the first Mughal emperor Babur from his wife Dildar Begum). Her mother was Sultanam Begum ( the daughter of Muhammad Musa Khwaja ).

Salima Sultan Begum

Salima Sultan Begum was the third wife of the Mughal Emperor Akbar. She was the granddaughter of Mughal Empire founder Babur.

List of other wives of Mughal Emperor Akbar

• Princess Hira Kunwari
• Princess Shri Nathi Bai
• Bibi Daulat Shad
• Princess of Kandesh
• Princess Sindh Begum Sahiba
• Princess Raj Kunwari
• Princess Baiji Lal Bhanumati Kanwari
• Princess Karishma Banu Begum Sahiba
• Princess Shri Rukmavathi Baiji Lal Sahiba
• Princess Gauhar Khanum
• Tara Begum Sahiba
• Tauti Begum Sahiba
• Princess Manbhaoti Sahiba
• Abdar Begum
• Achanka Begum
• Bibi Pungrai
• Bibi Aram Baksh
• Bibi Salima
• Bibi Kheira
• Bibi Mariyam
• Bibi Naun

Mughal Emperor Jahangir

Jahangir was the fourth Mughal Emperor. He ruled in India from 1605 until his death in 1627. His real name was Nur al-Din Muhammad Salim.

According historians, he had more than 20 wives. Names of few of them are mentioned below.

• Rajkumari Man Bai
• Rajkumari Ratan Bai
• Rajkumari Jodha Bai (she was later named Jagat Gosain )
• Malika Shikar Begum
• Sahib Jamal
• Malika e Jahan
• Zora Begum
• Rajkumari Karmasi
• Rajkumari Kanwal Rani
• Nur Unnisa Begum
• Khas Mahal
• Sahila Banu
• Koka Kumari Sahiba
• Meherunissa aka Nur Jahan

Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan

Shah Jahan was the fifth emperor of the Mughal Empire and was born on January 5, 1592. He ruled in India from January 1628 to July 1658. Mughal art and architecture reached their zenith during his reign. He built the Taj Mahal, Jama Masjid, Red Fort, Jahangir mausoleum and Shalimar Gardens in Lahore.

List of wives

Kandahari Begum

Kandahari Begum was the first wife of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. She was the mother of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan’s first child Princess Parhez Banu Begum.

Mumtaz Mahal

Mumtaz Mahal, the second wife of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, remained as the chief queen consort of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan from January 1628 to June 1631. Her real name was Arjumand Banu Begum.

Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan built Taj Mahal (regarded as one of the world’s most iconic monuments and seven of wonders of the world) in memory of Mumtaz Mahal.

Izz-un-Nissa Begum

Izz-un-Nissa Begum, the third wife of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, is popularly known as Akbarabadi Mahal. She is also referred to as Sirhindi Begum.

Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb

Aurangzeb was the sixth Emperor of the Mughal Empire.

He ruled in India from July 1658 until his death in March 1707.

Dilras Banu was the favourite wife of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb.

List of wives

• Aurangabadi Mahal
• Dilras Banu
• Nawab Bai
• Udaipuri Mahal
• Zainabadi Mahal