Mumtaz Mahal

Mumtaz Mahal (Persian: ممتاز محل [mum%CB%88t%CC%AAa%CB%90z mɛˈɦɛl]; born Arjumand Banu; 27 April 1593 – 17 June 1631)[1] was the Empress consort of the Mughal Empire from 19 January 1628 to 17 June 1631 as the chief consort of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan.[2] The Taj Mahal in Agra, often cited as one of the Wonders of the World,[3] was commissioned by her husband to act as her final resting place.[4]

Mumtaz Mahal was born Arjumand Banu Begum in Agra to a family of Persian nobility. She was the daughter of Abu'l-Hasan Asaf Khan, a wealthy Persian noble who held high office in the Mughal Empire, and the niece of Empress Nur Jahan, the chief wife of Emperor Jahangir and the power behind the emperor.[5] She was married at the age of 19 on 30 April 1612 to Prince Khurram,[6] later known by his regnal name Shah Jahan, who conferred upon her the title "Mumtaz Mahal" (Persian: the exalted one of the palace).[7] Although betrothed to Shah Jahan since 1607,[8] she ultimately became his second wife in 1612.[9][10] Mumtaz and her husband had fourteen children, including Jahanara Begum (Shah Jahan's favourite daughter),[11] and the Crown prince Dara Shikoh, the heir-apparent,[12] anointed by his father, who temporarily succeeded him, until deposed by Mumtaz Mahal's sixth child, Aurangzeb, who ultimately succeeded his father as the sixth Mughal emperor in 1658.[13]

Mumtaz Mahal died in 1631 in Burhanpur, Deccan (present-day Madhya Pradesh), during the birth of her fourteenth child, a daughter named Gauhar Ara Begum.[14] Shah Jahan had the Taj Mahal built as a tomb for her, which is considered to be a monument of undying love.

ref: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mumtaz_Mahal

In 1607 AD (1016 AH), Prince Khurram, also known as Shah Jahan, was betrothed to Arjumand Banu Begum who was just 14 years old at the time. She would become the unquestioned love of his life. They would, however, have to wait five years before they were married in 1612 AD (1021 AH), on a date selected by the court astrologers as most conducive to ensuring a happy marriage.

After their wedding celebrations, Khurram "finding her in appearance and character elect among all the women of the time", gave her the title 'Mumtaz Mahal' Begum (Chosen One of the Palace).[3] 18 AH).

Mumtaz Mahal had a very deep and loving marriage with Shah Jahan. Even during her lifetime, poets would extol her beauty, grace and compassion. Mumtaz Mahal was Shah Jahan's trusted companion, travelling with him all over the Mughal Empire. His trust in her was so great that he even gave her his imperial seal, the Muhr Uzah. Mumtaz was portrayed as the perfect wife with no aspirations to political power in contrast to Nur Jehan, the wife of Jahangir who had wielded considerable influence in the previous reign.[6]

She was a great influence on him, apparently often intervening on behalf of the poor and destitute.

The Emperor of India Shah Jahan built the Taj Mahal in memory of his wife the Empress Consort Mumtaz Mahal