Latest / Aurangzeb: The Emperor Who Expanded and Broke the Mughal Empire — Fexingo History
Aurangzeb's Fatwa on Music: The Emperor Who Silenced the Court
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore a lesser-known but revealing aspect of Aurangzeb's reign: his systematic suppression of music at the Mughal court. We trace how the emperor, guided by his orthodox Sunni Fatwa-i-Alamgiri, banned court musicians, expelled them from the palace, and even ordered the destruction of musical instruments. But was this policy absolute? We uncover evidence from the Maasir-i-Alamgiri and European traveler Niccolao Manucci that musicians found ways to survive—and even thrive—in private gatherings and regional courts. We also examine the impact on the Mughal…
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