Early Life
Muhammad Akbar was born at Aurangabad in the Deccan to Dilras Banu Begum, Aurangzeb's first wife and chief consort. She was a member of the Safavid dynasty and was the daughter of Mirza Shahnawaz Khan, a minister at the mughal court. She died when Akbar was only one month old. For this reason, Akbar was brought up with special care and affection by his father. He was his father's favourite and most-loved son as Aurangzeb, himself, said in a letter to him, "God be my witness that I have loved you more than my other sons."
At the age of 15, Akbar was wed to a granddaughter of his paternal uncle, Dara Shikoh, who had been killed at Aurangzeb's behest. Salima begum was the daughter of Sulaiman Shikoh, eldest son of Dara Shikoh. Later, Akbar also married a daughter of an Assamese nobleman. He was the father of two sons and two daughters, including Nikusiyar, who briefly became mughal emperor in 1719.
Like other Mughal princes, Muhammad Akbar administered various provinces and fought minor campaigns under the guidance of experienced officers. His first independent command was during Aurangzeb’s war of the Jodhpur succession.
Read more about this topic: Sultan Muhammad Akbar
Famous quotes related to early life:
“... goodness is of a modest nature, easily discouraged, and when much elbowed in early life by unabashed vices, is apt to retire into extreme privacy, so that it is more easily believed in by those who construct a selfish old gentleman theoretically, than by those who form the narrower judgments based on his personal acquaintance.”
—George Eliot [Mary Ann (or Marian)