Princesses,Queens and Empresses

2.Empress Ruqaiya Sultan begam sahiba

Empress Ruqaiya sultan begam sahiba was the first and the chief wife and the only main consort of emperor Akbar.

She was given the prestigious title of Padshah begam and was also called malika-e-Azam.She also held the title of turkish sultana.

Although she herself was childless , prince khurram aka emperor shahjahan was given to her for upbringing and she loved him alot as mentioned by emperor jahangir in jahangirnama as"she had loved him a thousand times more than if he had been her own son".

Prince khurram(emperor shahjahan) also had a great love and respect for Ruqaiya sultan and he gave his first born child princess parhez bano begam from his first wife to empress Ruqaiya sultan begam so that she could be brought up with mughal traditions and high morals.

Emperor Akbat had commisioned many palaces for her,of them was a two-storied seraglio at fatehpur sikri,which was built for her and salima sultan,one floor belonging to each queen.She also had palaces outside agra near jamuna river.A pleasure pavellion at fatehpur sikri is also named after her which is known as the turkish sultan house,it is said to be used by this favourite empress of Akbar.

She was highly active in court politics alongwith empress salima sultan begam sahiba.

Titles given to her by emperor Akbar.

1.The Turkish Sultana
2.Padahah begam
3.Malika-e-Azam.

●Children:
•Princess Fatima(died as an infant).

●Foster-Children.
•1.Prince Khurram aka Emperor ShahJahan.

•2.Princess parhez bano begam (also called Purhunar begam ) who was the first born child of emperor ShahJahan from his first wife.

■Some facts of empress Ruqaiya sultan.

☆Before marrying nur jahan,jahangir appointed her as a lady-in-waiting to the empress Ruqaiya sultan because onl she was able to give her the  protection that she needed and ruqaiya considered her as her own daughter.

☆She is known as the favourite wife of emperor Akbar.

☆She was the only one amongst akbar's wives to match his status as she herself was the granddaughter of 1st mughal eperor babur and a timirud princess.

☆She is the longest serving mughal empress ever with a tenure of almost 49 years!

☆She is the grand-daughter of the first mughal emperor,niece of the second mughal emperor,wife of the third mughal emperor,step-mother of the fourth mughal emperor and foster-mother of the fifth mughal emperor!