The accession of Aurangzeb to the throne and the first ten years of his reign, through the eyes of François Bernier

During his time as a prince, Aurangzeb was sent on various expeditions by his father Shah Jahan and gained important experience in the military field thanks to these duties. The experiences he gained played a decisive role in his gaining the upper hand over his brothers in the struggle for the throne that began with his father's illness in the following years and eventually in seizing power. On the other hand, the French traveler François Bernier, who reached Mughal lands in 1658, had the opportunity to witness firsthand the ascension of Aurangzeb to the throne, one of the important political developments of the period. Indeed, François Bernier, who served in the Mughal court, had the opportunity to directly witness the political, military and social developments of the period. In this way, he recorded in detail the events that took place between 1656 and 1668, based both on his own observations and what he had heard. Aurangzeb gained the upper hand in the politics he carried out against his brothers Dara Shukuh, Shah Shuja and Murat Bakhsh, and eliminated them, then took control of his father Shah Jahan and seized the central authority. During this period, he was described by some as a cruel ruler and by others as a successful leader. On the other hand, after ascending to the throne, he received ambassadors from various countries in order to demonstrate his political legitimacy and subsequently took effective measures against rebellions and piracy activities. Aurangzeb intervened decisively and effectively against the threats he faced, and successfully eliminated these dangers and consolidated his power. The strong leadership and military successes he displayed during this process played an important role in consolidating his central authority. Although Aurangzeb's determined and disciplined management approach during this period enabled the Baburs to maintain political stability and to carry out a strong administration, the negative course of events such as revolts and uprisings in recent years was coming to an end.