Padshah Begum was a superlative title conferred upon the 'imperial' or 'First Lady' of the Mughal Empire and was considered to be the most important title in the Mughal harem or zenana. This title can be equivalent with "empress" in English, but in only approximate terms in the Mughal context.
Etymology
Padeshah, Padshah, Padishah, or Badishah is a superlative royal title, composed of the Persianpād "master" and the widespread shāh "king", which was adopted by several monarchs claiming the highest rank, roughly equivalent to the ancient Persian notion of "The Great" or "Great King", and later adopted by post-Achaemenid and Christian Emperors. Its Arabized pronunciation as Badshah was used by Mughal emperors, and Bashah or Pasha was used by Ottoman Sultans. Begum, begam, baigum or beygum is a female royal and aristocratic title from Central and South Asia. It is the feminine equivalent of the title baig or bey, which in Turkic languages means chief or commander. It usually refers to the wife or daughter of a beg.
The title of 'Padshah Begum' could only be bestowed upon the chief or principal wife, a sister, or a favored daughter of the Mughal emperor and could not be held by more than one lady simultaneously. This was evidenced by the fact that Emperor Jahangir's wife, Nur Jahan, could only be given the title after his chief wife, Saliha Banu Begum, had died in 1620. Where the consorts of the Mughal emperors were concerned, the title could only be bestowed upon the chief wife of the emperor. The title was first bestowed upon Maham Begum, who was the chief wife of Emperor Babur. It was held by Bega Begum during the reign of Humayun. Emperor Akbar bestowed this title on his chief wife, Ruqaiya Sultan Begum, who held the title for her whole life. Jahangir bestowed this title upon his chief wife, Saliha Banu Begum, and then to her successor, Nur Jahan Begum. Emperor Shah Jahan bestowed this title upon his chief wife, Mumtaz Mahal Begum but after she died, he bestowed it upon his daughter Jahanara Begum, and Emperor Muhammad Shah bestowed this title upon his chief wife, Badshah Begum. The title was also bestowed upon the daughter of the emperor, such as Emperor Shah Jahan's daughter, Princess Jahanara Begum and Emperor Aurangzeb's daughter, Princess Zinat-un-Nissa, both of whom bore the title throughout their lives.
In some cases the title was also bestowed upon the sister of the emperor. Such as in the case of Emperor Babur's older sister, Khanzada Begum. When the princesses held the title it literally meant "Empress amongst princesses".
