Why Mughal princesses did not marry Rajput Kings? - Page 4

Originally posted by: Bindu_nhbr

From the views/information shared by Donjas,Prem and Shyamal aunty,I feel its difficult to state who opposed whose proposals.

If Mughals didn't want their daughters to face problems with an entirely different culture and traditions(including Sati),that's absolutely fine.In fact it shows they valued their daughters freedom and individuality more than political benefits.

As far as Rajputs' funda regarding not marrying Mughals is considered,given the orthodox values followed in that era,their fear of deviation from the religious beliefs and customs is justified to an extent.

They were okay in giving their daughters bcoz Mughals were relatively liberal in these issues and the most important thing was the political benefits.

Like Shyamala aunty said,both the parties had some reservations which ruled out the idea of Rajput kings marrying Mughal princesses.

I didn't get why Akbar decided to leave Aram unmarried!!If not to the Rajputs,she could have been married to Mughals right?

Thanks to all the three of you😃

Originally posted by: sashashyam

That, my dear Bindu, was because all of Akbar's sons in law and brothers in law were, at one time or another, plotting to seize his throne. So I think - Prem correct me if I am wrong - that after Akbar, the Mughal emperors did not get their daughters married at all, to avoid such problems!

Shyamala Aunty

Originally posted by: myviewprem

Akbar did not want one more contender to bay for throne apart from Salim, Daniyal, Murad and Khusrau. That is why he did not marry aram, could be aram was too lovingly brought up and a father's heart did not accept her to be caught up in politics

I had read that Akbar's daughter(cannot remember khannum or shakurinssa or whoever) was not allowed to go to parents house for any ocassion or festival by husband as he wanted Akbar to make him next heir. Akbar was very sad and apparently she was illtreated by husband(and in laws) so Akbar and Salim too may not want their ladli aram bano to go through that same pain may be??? So the decision was not to add to already existing brother in law, son in laws problems and not put aram thru same pain as other daughters and sisters may be facing. I think this was reason.

THAT is why Akbar decided that daughters and sisters in future shall be married to immediate family members only.

Originally posted by: myviewprem

Hi Shyamala

No this is untrue

Mughals married their sisters and daughters in all generations

Akbar never told to not marry daughters ever again. He only wanted them to marry within close relatives so that they will not be troubled like a Bakshi Bano or his daughters

Salim's both daughters were married but to his own brothers sons Daniyal and Murad. Daniyal and Murad's sons would not trouble their own first cousin sisters now their wives for throne.

Shah Jahan's daughters could not be married as Shah Jahan killed almost all immediate male members of family just before he became emperor immediate after Jehangirs death. So there was no boy in immediate relative to marry Jahanara and Roshanara.

Auragnzeb married his daughters to his brothers sons. Again the cousin brothers treated auragngzeb daughters nicely although their fathers and siblings were killed by Aurangzeb as they are their cousin sisters first then only wives.

The same thing continued in all generations.

So Akbar never banned marriage of daughters.

Originally posted by: sashashyam

That, my dear Bindu, was because all of Akbar's sons in law and brothers in law were, at one time or another, plotting to seize his throne. So I think - Prem correct me if I am wrong - that after Akbar, the Mughal emperors did not get their daughters married at all, to avoid such problems!

Shyamala Aunty

Originally posted by: Bindu_nhbr

Thanks a lot Aunty🤗,now I got it.But I feel bad for the princesses who remained unmarried just bcoz their father/brother was an Emperor.

The royal life and power has its own disadvantages too The best example is Jodha herself who was married to Jalal,for the political reasons.She being fortunate to get married to Akbar,who loves her and whom she loved later is a different issue.

When Akbar had a power hungry son like Salim😡😡,he actually shouldn't have bothered abt sons-in-law and brothers-in-law.

Pls correct me if I'm wrong.

Originally posted by: myviewprem

A very interesting tidbit of information.

Originally posted by: Bindu_nhbr

No Bindu its a bit diff

Salim's reason for revolt was not only the throne, he was angry about not allowing to marry Nur Jahan(Meherunissa) and Daniyal being given more preference by Akbar(like emperors red tent only daniyal could put etc)

His advisors also had impt role to play in his revolt. They told him to prove himself to Akbar as a capable next heir by doing something substantial by capturing the agra khazana

Also Salim wanted the throne fast as he himself was unwell by drink addiction and wanted to be emperor as he may not live long and Akbar was living too long(58 years when Salim started his revolt)

And Salim or Khusrau or Daniyal etc would not kill other family members to get to throne like Shah Jahan or Aurangzeb It was only a fight bet contenders. The family was safe irrespective of who won.

But the brother in laws or son in laws would trouble the sister/daughter their wives both physically and mentally etc and the father or brother cannot do anything as any action will break the marriage etc. So in laws is a much more tricky situation to handle than a son revolt for Akbar.

Originally posted by: devkidmd

A very interesting tidbit of information.

I think the refusal was mainly due to the pure blood issue.

We have this discrimination within our own religion regarding different castes and gothras and what not even today. I can only imagine how things were back then.

Mughal princesses if married to any Rajput Raja would have to be given an exalted position as a top tier wife. That would've been unacceptable to their religious and cultural sensibilities

(The Rajput wives and especially HK might've also faced a lot of antagonism in the Mughal Harem since this kind of insularity is not restricted to any one religion. But Akbar gave them importance so the others did not have a choice).

I did read that having a Muslim secondary wife was not unheard of.

However, the fact that marrying their own girls into Mughal families for peace, prosperity, jagirs and all the other perks that came with it was acceptable to many Rajputs tells us a lot about the status of a girl child. She is Paraya Dhan anyways. I don't think they gave much thought to what happened to the poor girl once she was gone. Sad...

Just my thoughts.

One thing I am very curious about is the method of refusal. What reason and explanation was given? And I wonder how Akbar felt about it.

Devki