1.

Zahiruddin Muhammad Babar (1526 – 1530)

a. Ferghana (Uzebkistan)
b. Entered India through Khyber Pass
c. Claiming descent from Changaiz Khan and Taimur
d. Courage, leadership and love of beauty
e. Defeated Ibrahim Lodhi in 1526 at first battle of Panipat
f. Main opponents were Rajputs and Afghans
g. Invaded India 5 times
h. His army used Gunpowder first time ever in SA hence tactical advantage in battle
i. Battle of Kanwaha near Agra on 1527 with Rana Sanga (Raja of Mewar) – won by Babar
hence made King of Central India
j. Buried in Kabul
2. Nasiruddin Muhammad Humayun (1530-1540 and 1555-1556)
a. inherited a fragile and nascent empire with foreign tensions
b. Afghans, Rajput and three treacherous brothers
c. Biggest Problem was Sher Shah Suri who was Afghan General of Babur
d. Sher shah suri (1540-1545) took over Mughal Empire after defeating Humayun in 1540
in battle of Kanauj and Chaunsa
e. Humayun went into exile in Iran for 15 years
f. While in Sindh he married Persian Girl (Hamida Bano) that gave birth to Akbar in 1542
g. Re-ascent throne of Delhi and Agra after defeating Sikandar Suri in 1555
h. Died by slipping from Din Panah (Old Fort, Delhi) that he built in 1533
i. Red sandstone Tomb at Purana Qila by her first wife Bega Begum (Haji Begum)
j. Sher Shah Suri (1540 – 1545)
i. Real name was Farid Khan
ii. Afghan Leader who started career in Private Service of Babur then raised to
Commander in Mughal Army
iii. Governor of Bihar
iv. Overthrew Mughal Rule after defeating Humayun in 1540 in battle of Kanauj and
Chaunsa
v. Pragmatic and farsighted ruler who Brought important reforms
vi. Greatest ruler that sat upon the throne of Delhi
vii. Paved way upon which akbar built his empire
viii. Revenue administration, issued rupee, scrutiny of soldiers by himself, transparency,
merit, imperial administration, revenue collection system based on measurement of
land, jusitice, civil works, tree plantation, wells, inns, roads, GT road from Bengal to
Kabul
ix. After death from gunpowder, his son Islam Shah became ruler
x. Islam Shah relied upon Hem Chandra (CM) called Hemu
xi. After dead of Islam Shah in 1554, Hemu took charge of throne of Delhi on Oct 7,
1556 assuming title of Vikramaditya and established hindu rule
xii. Defeated by Akbar in second battle of Panipat on Nov 6, 1556
3. Jalal-ud-din Muhammad Akbar (1556-1605)
a. His conquest allowed him to subdue most of India
b. Known as Akbar the Great
c. Liberal policies towards non-muslims
d. Land revenue system and mansabdari system
e. Din-e-Elahi: step towards Hindu-Muslim Unity
f. Amari: non-killing of animals in hody days of Jainism, rolled back Jizya tax,
g. Appointments without religious discrimination
h. Great work in literary works and scholars
i. His court had numerous scholars of the day known as Nauratan
j. 3 Sons: Prince Saleem, Murad and Daniyal
k. Prince Saleem rebellion against Akbar
l. Prince Saleem ascended the throne after his death in 1605
4. Jahangir / Nuruddin Saleem (1605-1628)
 a. Jahangir mean Conqueror of the world
b. Expanded to kangra and kistwar and Mughal rule in Bengal
c. Famous for justice for all
d. European Trade started
e. Eng. Find favours with Jehangir in exchange for gifts
f. First Ambassador to Mughal Court was Sir Thomas Roe
g. Jahangir Tomb in Shahdra
5. Shahabuddin Muhammad Khurram / Shah Jahan (1628 – 1658)
a. Third Son of Jahangir
b. Expanded Empire to Kandahar and Southern India
c. Fav. Of Akbar
d. Mughal Empire was at Zenith: Called Golden age of Mughals
e. In 1611, Jahangir married Noor Jahan (widowed daughter of Afghan Noble)
f. Shah Jahan married the Arjumand Bano (daughter of Asef Khan who was brother of Noor
Jahan)
g. Waxing influence of Noor Jahan and Asef Khan in Mughal Court
h. Noor Jahan wish that her first daughter to marry Shah Jahan’s youngest brother Shahzada
Shehryar and his claim to throne
i. Revolt against Shah Jahan against Jahangir in 1626
j. Suppressed but after death of his father succeeded in full power
k. Executed rivals and imprisoned Noor Jehan
l. Use of white marble: Diwan-i-Aam, Diwan-i-Khas, Shish Mahal, Delhi’s Red Fort and Moti
Masjid in Lahore Fort
m. Fond of Laying Gardens: 99 Gardens in Kashmir
n. Taj Mahal (Mumtaz Mahal) at Agra for Arjumand Bano Begum
o. Shalimar Bagh in Lahore
p. Fell ill and was confined by his son Emperor Aurangzeb in Agra Fort until his death in 1666.
He is buried in Taj Mahal next to his wife Mumtaz Mahal.
6. Muhyuddin Muzaffar Aurangzeb Alamgir (1658 – 1707)
a. 50 years rules like akbar
b. Kept his five sons away from royal court
c. No sons entered govt. hence proved detrimental to Mughal rule
d. Brothers (Dara Shikoh, Shah Shuja and Murad)
e. Aurangzeb Vs. Dara Shikoh
f. Placed Shah Jehan under polite restraint in his own palace
g. Pious and staunch Muslim
h. Badshahi Mosque, Lahore
i. Mughal Empire at Peak (3.2 Million Sq. km and population of 100-150 Million)
j. 17 claimants after his death
7. Prince Muazzam / Bahadur Shah I or Shah Alam I
a. 1707 to 1712 (5 years)
b. Weak leadership qualities
c. Maratha Empire by Shivaji called himself Chatrapati
d. Sikh power in Punjab
e. 17 kings from 1707 to 1857 (main reason of decline)
8. Bahadur Shah Zafar (1837-1858)