Mughal Empire (AD 1526 – AD 1857)

The Mughal dynasty, which lasted from Babur to Bahadur Shah Zafar, ruled India for about three hundred years. The Mughal emperors were brave and cunning. Some were great like Akbar!

Babur was a descendant of Timur and Genghis Khan, who shook the Asian countries. While he was the ruler of Fergana, Lodi's uncle Alam Khan sought Babur's help to fight Ibrahim Lodi, the then Sultan of Delhi. Thus, Babur came to India. The First Battle of Panipat took place. Babur won that battle. Delhi and Agra came under Babur's control. That was the beginning of Mughal rule. Soon he conquered many neighboring countries and became the main ruler of North India. Agra became the capital of Babur.

Babur died in 1530. Babur's eldest son Humayun became the emperor. Although he was a cultured man, he was not a strong ruler. He often lost power and had to wander around as some of his relatives cheated for power. He fell down the stairs of the library and died.

Akbar was the son of Humayun. Akbar, the pride of the Mughal dynasty, is one of the most talented rulers the world has ever seen. Akbar took over the rule at the age of thirteen. Akbar became notable after defeating Hemu in the Second Battle of Panipat. Many kings bowed down to Akbar's military campaigns. The kings of Amber and Chittor surrendered. He conquered the kingdoms one by one. He was not only skilled in war but also in administration. A just ruler, he encouraged artists and scholars. This great ruler, who loved all religions equally, established the religion “Din Ilahi”.

Akbar’s third son, Salim, was a great archer. After Akbar, Salim became the emperor. He took the name Jahangir. The name means conqueror of the world. He was a good ruler, painter and music lover. Jahangir breathed his last seeing his sons fighting for power. After Jahangir, Shah Jahan defeated his brother Shahryar in the struggle for the throne and became emperor. His real name was Khurram. Shah Jahan was a good ruler. But the death of his wife Mumtaz devastated Shah Jahan. The Taj Mahal is a monument built in Agra in memory of Mumtaz, and he breathed his last while imprisoned by his son Aurangzeb.

Shah Jahan's successor, Aurangzeb, was the last great Mughal emperor. Although he was a powerful ruler, he failed to win the love of his subjects. He expelled all the artists from the palace. None of the eleven emperors who succeeded Aurangzeb could strengthen the empire. Finally, the three and a half centuries of Mughal rule ended forever in the face of the unyielding British imperial power. After the Third Battle of Panipat, the Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II became a pensioner of the English. Bahadur Shah Zafar was exiled by the British for leading the Sepoy Mutiny in 1857.

Mughal Kings

The Mughals were the descendants of the Central Asian emperor Timur through their father and the Mongol ruler Genghis Khan through their mother. The Mughals, who made their presence known in the Indian subcontinent from the 15th century, were the longest-ruling and most powerful empires in India. They were far ahead in terms of administrative system and power.

Babur

Babur, who defeated the Lodi and founded a new dynasty called Mughal Empire, also conquered the Afghan lords and expanded his empire. Babur was the first to use artillery in India. This was in the Battle of Panipat in 1526. He defeated Sangrama Singha (Rana Singha) of Mewar in the Battle of Khanwa in 1527. Babur then expanded the Mughal Empire. 'Tusuki-i-Babri' is Babur's autobiography written in Turkish.

Humayun

Babur's eldest son Humayun was his successor. He was neither a statesman nor a warrior. Although intelligent and cultured, he was lazy and extravagant. Sher Shah, an Afghan chieftain of Chunar and a Sur clan, attacked and defeated him at Chausa near Buxar. Abandoned by his relatives and soldiers, Humayun wandered for a long time. Taking advantage of the disunity that grew among the Afghans after Sher Shah's death, Humayun recaptured Delhi with the help of the Persian king. He died in 1556.

Akbar

Akbar is the most famous Mughal emperor. He ruled from 1556 to 1605 and is the son of Humayun. This illiterate Mughal emperor implemented many popular administrative reforms and unified the Mughal Empire. He started the 'Ilahi Calendar' in 1583. Akbar was assisted in administrative matters by Bairam Khan. He defeated Maharana Pratap Singh of Mewar in the Battle of Khaltighat in 1576. Akbar then conquered areas such as Gujarat, Bihar, and Bengal. Akbar built the Agra Fort and the Panchmahal. Akbar died in 1605.

Jahangir

After Akbar's death, his eldest son Jahangir ascended the throne. Following his father's policies, he installed a 'chain of command' in the Agra Fort and on a granite pillar on the banks of the Yamuna. He killed the fifth Sikh Guru, Arjan Singh, for misleading his son (Khusrau). He established dominance in Mewar and the Deccan. During the reign of Jahangir, the ambassadors of King James I of England, Captain William Hawkins and Sir Thomas Roe, arrived in India. Jahangir was assisted in his administrative affairs by his wife Nur Jahan (Meharunnis). 'Tuzuki Jahangiri' is his memoirs, which he had a taste for literature. Mughal painting also flourished during this period. It was Jahangir who built the Shalimar and Nishant gardens in Kashmir.

Shah Jahan

Jahangir's son, Prince Khurram, is known as Shah Jahan. His reign was the golden age of the Mughal dynasty. He was also known as the 'King of Architects' after building the Taj Mahal, the Jama Masjid and the Red Fort. Other buildings built by Shah Jahan include the Diwan-e-Aam, Diwan-e-Khas, Moti Masjid, and Jahangir's Tomb. Shah Jahan was imprisoned by his son Aurangzeb. He spent eight years in the Agra Fort and was buried in the Taj Mahal, the tomb of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. The famous Peacock Throne was made by Shah Jahan.

Aurangzeb

After Shah Jahan, Aurangzeb became the emperor of Delhi. He mercilessly killed his brothers and expanded his empire with his administrative skills. He reintroduced the tax 'Jaziya', which had been abolished by Akbar. He was known as the 'living ascetic'. The Mughal dynasty disintegrated during the reign of Aurangzeb. He died in 1707. His tomb is located in Daulatabad.

The history of the Mughal dynasty ended when the last king of the Mughal dynasty, Bahadur Shah II, was exiled by the British after the 1857 revolt.