| Padshah Begum of theMughal Empire | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Style | Her Imperial Majesty |
| Residence | Agra Fort |
| Appointer | Mughal Emperors |
| Formation | 21 April 1526 |
| First holder | Maham Begum |
| Final holder | Zeenat Mahal |
| Abolished | 14 September 1857 |
Padshah Begum (Persian:پادشاه بیگم) was a superlativeimperialtitle conferred upon the empress consort of theMughal Empire and was considered to be the most important title in theMughal harem orzenana.[1] This title can be equivalent with "empress" in English, but in only approximate terms in the Mughal context.
| Padshah Begum | Tenure | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| From | Until | ||
| Maham Begum | 1526 | 1530 |
|
| Bega Begum | 1530 | 1540 |
|
| 1555 | 1556 | ||
| Hamida Banu Begum | 1556 | 1604 |
|
| Saliha Banu Begum | 1608 | 1620 |
|
| Nur Jahan | 1620 | 1627 |
|
| Mumtaz Mahal | 1628 | 1631 |
|
| Jahanara Begum | 1631 | 1658 |
|
| 1669 | 1681 | ||
| Roshanara Begum | 1658 | 1669 | |
| Zinat-un-Nissa Begum | 1681 | 1721 |
|
| Badshah Begum | 1721 | 1789 |
|
| Zeenat Mahal | 1840 | 1857 |
|
Padeshah,Padshah,Padishah, orBadishah is a superlative royal title, composed of the Persianpād (master) andshāh (king), which was adopted by several monarchs claiming the highest rank, equivalent to that of an ancient Persian notion of "The Great" or "Great King", and later adopted by post-Achaemenid and Christian Emperors. Its Arabized pronunciation as Badshah was used by Mughal emperors, and Bashah or Pasha was used by Ottoman Sultans.
Begum,begam,baigum orbeygum is a female royal and aristocratic title from Central and South Asia. It is the feminine equivalent of the titlebaig orbey, which in Turkic languages meanschief orcommander. It usually refers to the wife or daughter of abeg.
The title of 'Padshah Begum' could only be bestowed upon the chief or principal wife, a sister, mother, or a favored daughter of the Mughal emperor[2] and could not be held by more than one lady simultaneously.[3] This was evidenced by the fact that EmperorJahangir's wife,Nur Jahan, could only be given the title after his chief wife,Saliha Banu Begum (the Padshah Begum for most of his reign), had died in 1620.[1]
Where the consorts of the Mughal emperors were concerned, the title could only be bestowed upon the chief wife of the emperor. The title was first bestowed uponMaham Begum, who was the chief wife of EmperorBabur. It was held byBega Begum during the reign ofHumayun. Akbar, bestowed this title over his mother,Hamida Banu Begum who bore it until her death 1604.[4] Emperor Jahangir bestowed this title upon his chief wife, Saliha Banu Begum, and then to her successor (after her death), Nur Jahan. EmperorShah Jahan bestowed this title upon his chief wife,Mumtaz Mahal but after she died, he bestowed it upon his daughterJahanara Begum.Shahar Banu Begum was briefly called Padshah begum during the short reign of her husbandAzam Shah, but it is unknown if the title was actually given to her.[5] EmperorMuhammad Shah bestowed this title upon his chief wifeBadshah Begum.
The title was also bestowed upon the daughter of the emperor, such as Emperor Shah Jahan's daughter, Princess Jahanara Begum, and EmperorAurangzeb's daughter, PrincessZinat-un-Nissa, both of whom bore the title throughout their lives.[6]
In some cases, the title was also bestowed upon the sister of the emperor. Aurangzeb bestowed the title on his sistersRoshanara Begum and Jahanara Begum. When a Timurid Shahzadi held the title it meant "Empress amongst princesses".[7]
Begum Pädshāh, the mother of his Majesty, busied herself in the ladies' apartments of the palace in interceding for the Shaikh and said to the Emperor. My son, he has an aged and decrepit mother in Ajmer.