The Mughal emperors were a branch of the Timurid dynasty who built and ruled the Mughal

Empire in Indian subcontinent, mainly corresponding to the modern countries of India, Pakistan,
and Bangladesh, from the early 16th century to the early 18th century. During the 18th century their power
rapidly dwindled and, with the establishment of the British Raj, the last of the emperors was deposed in
1857.[1] The dynasty was of central Asian Turco-Mongol origin from the area now part of modernday Uzbekistanand the emperors claimed direct descent from both Genghis Khan (through his
son Chagatai Khan) and Timur. At their empire's greatest extent in the late 17th and early 18th centuries,
they controlled much of the Indian subcontinent, extending from Bengal in the east to Kabul and Sindh in
the west, Kashmir in the north to the Kaveri basin in the south.[2] Its population at that time has been
estimated as between 110 and 150 million (a quarter of the world's population), over a territory of more
than 3.2 million square kilometres (1.2 million square miles). [3]

Mughal Empire[edit]

Genealogy of the Mughal Dynasty. Only principal offsprings of each emperor are provided in the chart to the right.

The Mughal Empire was founded by Babur, a Central Asian ruler who was descended from the Turko-Mongol
conqueror Timur on his father's side and from Chagatai, the second son of the Mongol ruler Genghis Khan, on his
mothers side.[4] Ousted from his ancestral domains in Central Asia, Babur turned to India to satisfy his ambitions. He
established himself in Kabul and then pushed steadily southward into India from Afghanistan through the Khyber
Pass.[4] Babur's forces occupied much of northern India after his victory at Panipat in 1526.[4] The preoccupation with
wars and military campaigns, however, did not allow the new emperor to consolidate the gains he had made in India.
[4]
The instability of the empire became evident under his son, Humayun, who was driven out of India and into Persia
by rebels.[4] Humayun's exile in Persia established diplomatic ties between the Safavid and Mughal Courts, and led to
increasing West Asian cultural influence in the Mughal court. The restoration of Mughal rule began after Humayuns
triumphant return from Persia in 1555, but he died from a fatal accident shortly afterwards. [4] Humayun's son, Akbar,
succeeded to the throne under a regent, Bairam Khan, who helped consolidate the Mughal Empire in India.[4]
Through warfare, and diplomacy, Akbar was able to extend the empire in all directions, and controlled almost the
entire Indian subcontinent north of the Godavari river. He created a new class of nobility loyal to him from the military
aristocracy of India's social groups, implemented a modern government and supported cultural developments. [4] At
the same time Akbar intensified trade with European trading companies. India developed a strong and stable
economy, leading to commercial expansion and economic development. Akbar allowed free expression of religion
and attempted to resolve socio-political and cultural differences in his empire by establishing a new religion, Din-iIlahi, with strong characteristics of a ruler cult. [4] He left his successors an internally stable state, which was in the
midst of its golden age, but before long signs of political weakness would emerge. [4] Akbar's son, Jahangir, ruled the
empire at its peak, but he was addicted to opium, neglected the affairs of the state, and came under the influence of
rival court cliques.[4] During the reign of Jahangir's son, Shah Jahan, the culture and splendour of the luxurious
Mughal court reached its zenith as exemplified by the Taj Mahal.[4] The maintenance of the court, at this time, began
to cost more than the revenue.[4]
Shah Jahan's eldest son, the liberal Dara Shikoh, became regent in 1658, as a result of his father's illness. However,
a younger son, Aurangzeb, allied with the Islamic orthodoxy against his brother, who championed a syncretistic
Hindu-Muslim culture, and ascended to the throne. Aurangzeb defeated Dara in 1659 and had him executed.
[4]
Although Shah Jahan fully recovered from his illness, Aurangzeb declared him incompetent to rule and had him
imprisoned. During Aurangzeb reign, the empire gained political strength once more, but his religious conservatism
and intolerance undermined the stability of Mughal society.[4]Aurangzeb expanded the empire to include almost the

whole of South Asia, but at his death in 1707, many parts of the empire were in open revolt. [4] Aurangzeb's son, Shah
Alam, repealed the religious policies of his father, and attempted to reform the administration. However, after his
death in 1712, the Mughal dynasty sank into chaos and violent feuds. In the year 1719 alone, four emperors
successively ascended the throne.[4]
During the reign of Muhammad Shah, the empire began to break up, and vast tracts of central India passed from
Mughal to Maratha hands. The Indian campaign of Nadir Shah culminated with the Sack of Delhi and shattered the
remnants of Mughal power and prestige,[4] as well as drastically accelerating its decline and alarming other far-off
invaders, including the later British. Many of the empire's elites now sought to control their own affairs, and broke
away to form independent kingdoms.[4] The Mughal Emperor, however, continued to be the highest manifestation of
sovereignty. Not only the Muslim gentry, but the Maratha, Hindu, and Sikh leaders took part in ceremonial
acknowledgements of the emperor as the sovereign of India.[5]

Portrait

Titular Name

Bbur

Humayun

Akbar-e-Azam

Jahangir

Birth Name

Zahir-ud-din
Muhammad

Nasir-ud-din
Muhammad Humayun

Jalal-ud-din
Muhammad

Birth

Reign

23 February

30 April 1526 26

26 December

1483

December 1530

1530 (aged 47)

17 March
1508

26 December 1530 17
May 1540 and 22 February
1555 - 27 January 1556

Death

27 January
1556 (aged 47)

14 October

27 January 1556 27

27 October

1542

October 1605

1605 (aged 63)

Nur-ud-din Muhammad

20

Salim

September

1569

15 October 1605 8

8 November

November 1627

1627 (aged 58)

Notes

Hamayun was overthrown in 1540 bySher Shah

returned to the throne in 1555 after the death of

Suri's son and success

Shahryar

Salef-ud-din

16 January

23 January 1628 (Aged

Mohammed Shahryar

1605

23)

5 January

8 November 1627 2

22 January

1592

August 1658

1666 (aged 74)

Claimed the throne,but lost it w

Shah-Jahan-

Shahab-ud-din

e-Azam

Muhammad Khurram

Alamgir

Muhammad Aurangzeb

4 November

31 July 1658 3 March

3 March 1707

1618

1707

(aged 88)

Abu'l Faaiz Qutb-ud-

28 June

14 March 1707 8 June

8 June 1707

Din Muhammad Azam

1653

1707

(aged 53)

Built Taj Mahal

Muhy-ud-din

Azam Shah

19 June 1707 27
Bahadur Shah

Qutb ud-Din

14 October

Muhammad Mu'azzam

1643

February 1712

27 February
1712 (aged 68)

He made settlements with the Marathas, tranquili

friendly with the Sikhs in the

(4 years, 253 days)

27 February 1712 11
Jahandar

Ma'az-ud-Din Jahandar

Shah

Shah Bahadur

February 1713
9 May 1661

12 February
1713 (aged 51)

(0 years, 350 days)

Highly influenced by his Grand Vizi

11 January 1713 28
Farrukhsiyar

Farrukhsiyar

20 August

February 1719

1685

29 April 1719
(aged 33)

Granted a firman to the East India Company in 1

trading rights for Bengal, strengthening their

(6 years, 48 days)

Rafi udDarajat

30
Rafi ud-Darajat

28 February 6 June 1719

9 June 1719

November
1699

(0 years, 98 days)

(aged 19)

Rise of Syed Brothers as pow

6 June 1719 19
September 1719
Shah Jahan II

Rafi ud-Daulah

June 1696

19 September
1719 (aged 23)

----

(0 years, 105 days)

27 September 1719 26
Muhammad

Roshan Akhtar

17 August

Shah

Bahadur

1702

April 1748

Got rid of the Syed Brothers. Fought a long

26 April 1748

losingDeccan and Malwa in the process. Suffered

(aged 45)

Persia in 1739. He was the last emperor to poss

(28 years, 212 days)

Ahmad Shah
Bahadur

23
Ahmad Shah Bahadur

empire.

26 April 1748 2 June 17

1 January 1775

December

(aged 49)

1725

Mughal forces defeated by the Marathas at th

2 June 1754 29
November 1759
Alamgir II

Aziz-ud-din

6 June 1699

29 November
1759 (aged 60)

(5 years, 180 days)

Domination of Vizier Imad-

Shah Jahan III

Muhi-ul-millat

Shah Alam II

Ali Gauhar

Akbar Shah II

Bahadur Shah
II

Mirza Akbar

Abu Zafar Sirajuddin

Muhammad Bahadur
Shah Zafar

1711

25 June
1728

22 April 1760

24 October
1775

10 December 1759 10
October 1760

24 December 1759 19
November 1806 (46 years,
330 days)

1772

19 November
1806 (aged 78)

19 November 1806 28

28 September

September 1837

1837 (aged 77)

28 September 1837 14
September 1857 (19
years, 351 days)

7 November

Consolidation of the Nizam of Bengal, Bihar, and

Buxar. Hyder Ali becomes Sultan of

The execution of Tipu Sultan of M

Titular figurehead under British

Last Mughal Emperor. Deposed by the British

1862

In the next decades, the Afghans, Sikhs, and Marathas battled against each other and the Mughals, only to prove the fragmented state of the empire. The Mughal
Emperor Shah Alam II made futile attempts to reverse the Mughal decline, and ultimately had to seek the protection of outside powers. In 1784, the Maratha's
under Mahadji Scindia won acknowledgement as the protectors of the emperor in Delhi, a state of affairs that continued until after the Second Anglo-Maratha War.
Thereafter, the British East India Company became the protectors of the Mughal dynasty in Delhi.[5] After a crushed rebellion which he nominally led in 1857-58, the
last Mughal, Bahadur Shah Zafar, was deposed by the British government, who then assumed formal control of a large part of the former empire,[4] marking the
start of the British Raj.

List of Mughal Emperors[edit]

theIndian Rebellion of 1