>Monkbot: Task 18 (cosmetic): eval 4 templates: del empty params (5×);

2021-01-09T00:37:16Z

Task 18 (cosmetic): eval 4 templates: del empty params (5×);

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{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
During the [[Mughal Dynasty]], '''urdubegis''' were the class of women assigned to protect the emperor and inhabitants of the [[zenana]].

Because the women of the Mughal court lived sequestered under [[purdah]], the administration of their living quarters was run entirely by women.<ref name=":0">{{cite book|last1=Lal|first1=K.S.|title=The Mughal Harem|date=1988|publisher=Aditya Prakashan|location=New Delhi|isbn=8185179034|pages=14, 52–55}}</ref> The division of the administrative tasks was dictated largely by the vision of [[Akbar]], who organized his zenana of over 5,000 noble women and servants.<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Ain-i Akbari|last=Abu 'l-Fazl Allami|publisher=Munishram Manoharlal|others=Trans. H. Blochman|year=1977|isbn=9788186142240|editor-last=Phillot, Lieut. Colonel D.C.|location=Delhi|pages=45–47}}</ref> The women tasked with the protection of the zenana were commonly of [[Habshi]], [[Tatar]], Turk and [[Kashmiris|Kashmiri]] origin. Kashmiri women were selected because they did not observe purdah. Many of the women were purchased as slaves, and trained for their positions.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Women in the medieval Islamic world : Power, patronage, and piety|last=Hambly|first=Gavin|publisher=St. Martin's Press|year=1998|isbn=0312210574|location=New York|pages=431–433|chapter=Armed Women Retainers in the Zenanas of Indo-Muslim Rulers: The case of Bibi Fatima}}</ref>

They are mentioned as early as the reigns of [[Babur]] and [[Hamayun|Humayun]], and were proficient in weapons combat, specifically lance, and archery. Mughal emperors spent a great deal of their leisure time in the zenana, and slept there at night, therefore the women assigned to protect the women's quarters were also part of the larger system in place to protect the emperor.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Women in Mughal India (1526–1748)|last=Misra|first=Rekha|publisher=Munshiram Manoharlal|year=1967|location=Delhi|pages=79–80|oclc=568760006}}</ref> The urdubegis of the Mughal court were very skillful warriors. In 1719 [[Farrukhsiyar]] hid in his harem, fearing for his life, and the armed guard of the mahal readied themselves for battle.<ref name=":0" />

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Mughal Empire}}

[[Category:Mughal Harem]]

{{Mughal-stub}}

Urdubegis - Revision history

>Monkbot: Task 18 (cosmetic): eval 4 templates: del empty params (5×);