Mumtaz Mahal Dies in Childbirth
Mumtaz Mahal, born Arjumand Banu Begum around 1593, married Prince Khurram (later Shah Jahan) in 1612 and became his constant companion during campaigns and court life in the Mughal Empire. She bore him fourteen children and wielded significant influence as empress after his accession in 1628. In 1631, while accompanying the emperor on a military expedition in the Deccan, she went into labor in Burhanpur and suffered fatal postpartum hemorrhage after delivering their fourteenth child. Shah Jahan was devastated by the loss; he ordered her body temporarily buried in Burhanpur before its later transfer to Agra, where construction of her mausoleum, the Taj Mahal, began the following year.
Why it matters: Mumtaz Mahal's death prompted the creation of the Taj Mahal, one of the most enduring symbols of Mughal architectural achievement and imperial devotion, completed over two decades and now a UNESCO World Heritage site visited by millions annually. Her story underscores the personal dimensions behind grand historical monuments and the role of royal women in shaping Mughal cultural legacy.