Latest / Aurangzeb: The Emperor Who Expanded and Broke the Mughal Empire — Fexingo History
Aurangzeb's Jizya: The Tax That Defined His Reign
In 1679, Aurangzeb reimposed the jizya tax on non-Muslims, a decision that would shape his legacy and fuel rebellion across the Mughal Empire. This episode explores the origins of jizya in Islamic law, how it was collected under Aurangzeb, and the violent protests it sparked in Delhi, led by Hindu merchants and even his own courtiers. We examine contemporary accounts from the Maasir-i-Alamgiri and European travelers like Niccolao Manucci, who described the tax as a tool of both revenue and religious control. The episode also unpacks the exemptions, the humiliating payment rituals, and how the…
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