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26 domestic peace in a polygamous household. The Princess Royal is said, however, like some other grandes et honnêtes dames de par le monde, to have consoled herself. In politics, she was a warm ally of Dárá, and exerted all her influence with the King on his behalf. Her younger sister, Raushan-Árá, or 'Brilliant Ornament,' on the other hand, was a staunch supporter of Aurangzíb, and cordially hated the Princess Royal and her oldest brother. So long as Dárá lived, she had little power, but she watched zealously over Aurangzíb's interests, and kept him constantly informed of all that went on at Court. She was not so handsome as her sister; but this did not prevent her having her little affairs, without which a spinster's life in the zenána had few distractions.

Aurangzíb, the third son of Sháh-Jahán, was born on the night of the 4th of November, 1618, at Dhúd, on the borders of Málwa, nearly half-way between Baroda and Ujjain. His father was at that time Viceroy of the Deccan province, but the future emperor was only two years old when Sháh-Jahán fell into disgrace with the Court, and was forced to fly, fighting the while, through Telingána and Bengal, and three or four years passed before he could again resume his place in the Deccan. At last he offered his submission and apologies to Jahángír, and was allowed to remain undisturbed, on condition that he sent two of his sons, Dárá and Aurangíb, as hostages to the Court at Agra (1625). Nothing is known of the life of the child during the years of civil war, or