Mumtaz Mahal

Arjumand Banu Begum(also calledMumtaz Mahal) was the thirdwifeofShah Jahan. Mumtaz Mahal (meaning Jewelof thepalace) was thenicknameher husband gave to her. Mumtaz Mahal was born inApril1593inAgra, India. Her sky pilot was thePersiannobleAbdul Hasan Asaf Khan, the brother ofNur Jahan.Mumtaz was aMuslimand fell in love with and married her cousin,Shah Jahan, later to be the Mughal emperor onMay 10,1612at the age of 19. She was his third wife, and became his favorite.Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal were married for 19 years. They had thirteen children together. Seven of the children died at birth or at a very young age. Mumtaz travelled with Shah Jahan and his army as he carried outmilitary campaigns. Mumtaz Mahal supported Shah Jahan and they respected each other very much. Mumtaz Mahal died onJune 17,1631in Burhanpur in the Deccan (now inMadhya Pradesh) during the birth of their ordinal child, a daughter named Gauhara Begum.She had been with her husband as he was fighting a campaign i n the Deccan Plateau. Her body was kept at Burhanpur in a walled pastime garden known as Zainabad. A popular story says that on her deathbed, her last wish to the emperor was for asymbolor a depositto their love. She also asked her husband not to marry anyone else. The emperor promised immediately. Her body was buried in theTaj Mahalin Agra.After she died, Shah Jahan went intomourningfor a year. When he appeared again, his hair had dark white, his back was bent, and his face worn. Jahans eldest daughter, Jahanara Begum, slowly brought him out of mourning and took the place of Mumtaz at court.