What table games would two people play during medieval India? I spent quite a bit of time researching a supposed “small” thing like what would people during this time do for fun. I was delighted when I found out they played board games!
Playing Nardshir is Backgammon Read More »
On the 30th the privy chamber of wisdom was illuminated by a ray from the Shahinshah’s [Emperor Akbar’s] glory, and some special intimates received joy. Suddenly there arose the noise of a marriage and His Majesty ordered that the music should be stopped, as a foreign sound did not suit the banquet of enlightenment. The
Collyrium is an Eye Wash Read More »
Writing The Mumtaz Chronicles has always been about telling a story that seems to be missing from the history books. Since most of what women said and did during the Mughal Era was not documented, there seems to be a treasure trove of undocumented stories to tell. Since nothing was documented, the stories have to
The Power in the Breast Milk Read More »
Who can write about the most powerful women of the Mughal Empire and leave out the Dowager Queens? Emperor Akbar’s mother Dowager Queen Hamida Born around 1527. Died 8/29/1604. Emperor Akbar’s aunt Princess Gulbadan (Rosebody) Born around 1523. Died 2/7/1603.
The Dowager Queens Read More »
What secrets do you think the men and women of the Mughal Empire held? I can’t say too much about the main plot of the book without spoiling it, but WOW, what a dysfunctional family! I wonder why the emperor clearly loved some of his grandson’s over others? I wonder why all his sons had
I saw this on the Dr. Phil show… Read More »
What would a castle where thousands of women lived, be like? How would meals work? Who would handle the laundry? How would you keep the queens underwear from getting mixed up with her Lady-in-Waiting’s? What if there were 50 queens, each with 5-10 maids? The Akbarnama details the existence of this place, but nothing has
How to do laundry for 1,000 women Read More »
In the beginning, this was going to be the title of the novel – The Badass Women of the Mughal Empire. But then I thought more of it, and it became a series of novellas called The Mumtaz Chronicles. I call her Queen Salimeh. Born in 1539. Died in 1613. She is, by far, the
The Badass Women of the Mughal Empire Read More »
History tells us Mehr al-Nesa met Muhammad Salim when she was a middle-aged widower with a pre-teen daughter. He was the fourth emperor of the Mughal Empire with 19 wives (more, some say). Apparently, at the age of 42, he saw her, fell in love with her, and married this 34 year old woman. By
How did Mehr meet Prince Salim? Read More »
When I heard there were women working as guards in the Royal Harem, I reacted much like the main character, Mehr al-Nesa in Book 1. Completely surprised. I fell for the stereotypical belief that all the women in the harems were meek, protected things that had to be guarded by men (or in this case
16th Century Female Guards? How cool is that?! Read More »
I love how Downton Abbey told stories from the view of the domestics. Since very little is documented about medieval India, I love creating the world of the Royal Harem. Most of the women that lived there served in a domestic role. One of the reasons I was interested in writing this series was the
Game of Thrones meets Downton Abbey Read More »
