As with case with many ancient and
medieval cultures, in addition to their legal wives, the rulers have also kept
concubines as well. And Mughal rulers were no exceptions. In most cases, these
concubines’ served the same purposes as wives. However, they could not legally
the men that they served.
These concubines also became the mothers
of children of the Mughal monarchs. The children born of these concubines were
treated on par with those born of the legal wives. Akbar was a famous keeper of
many concubines some of whom bore children to him. Two of Akbar’s three sons,
Murad and Daniyal were born of concubines. According to English traveller
William Finch, Anarkali who have been portrayed in films and books as the
valentine of Saleem (Later Jahangir the fourth Mughal Emperor) was the mother
of Daniyal.
The concubines lived in an area which is
known in Muslim culture as harem. The harem was not accessible for the male
members.