- He assumed the title Alamgir, World Conqueror.
- His military campaigns in his first ten years of reign were a great success. He suppressed the minor revolts. But he faced serious difficulties in the latter part of his reign
- The Jats and Satnamis and also the Sikhs revolted against him. These revolts were induced by his harsh religious policy.
- Aurangazeb was basicallu puritan (religious) in nature. He imposed jijiya on Hindus.
- He was influenced by Nakshabandi sufi order.
- Prince Akbar rebelled against his father Aurangazeb, in this connection ninth Guru of Sikhs Guru Tegbahadur was executed by Aurangazeb.
- Deccan policy: Te Deccan policy of Aurangzeb was motivated by the policy of containing the growing influence of the Marathas, the rebellious attitude of the Shia kingdoms of Deccan like Golkonda and Bijapur and to curtail the rebellious activities of his son Akbar who had taken refuge in the Deccan. Aurangzeb came to the Deccan in 1682 and remained in the Deccan till his death in 1707.
- Aurangazeb annexed Golconda and Bijapur.
- In fact, the destruction of the Deccan kingdoms
was a political blunder on the part of Aurangazeb. The barrier between the Mughals and the Marathas was removed and there ensued a direct confrontation between them. Also, his Deccan campaigns exhausted the Mughal treasury. According to J.N. Sarkar, the Deccan ulcer ruined Aurangazeb. - The Marathas under Shivaji were a threat to Aurangzeb.
- Aurangzeb sent two of his great generals Shaista Khan and Jai Singh
one after the other to capture Shivaji. Jai Singh captured Shivaji and took him to
Delhi but Shivaji managed to escape to the Deccan. - Shivaji, employing guerrilla tactics, defied the Mughal forces till his death at the age of 53 in 1680.
- Aurangazeb was severely tested by the Marathas till his death in 1707 as the sons of Shivaji continued the rebellion.
- The death of Aurangzeb in 1707 marked a watershed in Indian history as the Mughal empire virtually came to end even though the weak successors of Aurangzeb held the throne the next 150 years.
