Latest / Aurangzeb: The Emperor Who Expanded and Broke the Mughal Empire — Fexingo History
Aurangzeb's Secret Garden: The Tulip Trade That Funded an Empire
While history remembers Aurangzeb for his strict orthodoxy and endless Deccan wars, this episode uncovers a quieter, more profitable obsession: the tulip. Between 1685 and 1700, the Mughal Emperor secretly financed a massive horticultural enterprise, importing thousands of bulbs from the Dutch Republic and cultivating them in the hidden gardens of Shahjahanabad. We explore how Aurangzeb, known for his austerity, became a major player in the global tulip trade, using imperial funds to fuel a personal passion that baffled his courtiers. Through letters in the Ruqa'at-i-Alamgiri and…
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