Key Question 2:

Decline Of the Mughal

Empire

Sir Mian Saad Ahmed

Mughal Empire before Aurangzeb

1. Babur

Real name (Zahir Ud Din Muhammad)

Defeated the Emperor of Delhi in 1526
(Battle of Panipat)
Ruled for 4 years (death)
Mughal Empire before Aurangzeb

2. Humayun
Took over in 1530
Lost many parts of empire to the Afghan Ruler,
Sher Shah Suri
Faced opposition from his brothers as well
1555 took over all lost regions
1556, tripped in his library and lost his life
Mughal Empire before Aurangzeb

3. Akbar
Was only 13 years old
In 1581, started a new religion, Din-e-Illahi
(mix of Islam and Hinduism)
Ruled for 50 years
Empire was very strong
Death in 1605
Mughal Empire before Aurangzeb

4. Jahangir

Akbar’s son Jahangir signed a treaty with

British in 1615
Mughal Empire before Aurangzeb

5. Shah Jehan
Real name, Khurram
Famous for the construction of Taj Mahal
(for his wife Mumtaz)
Lost battles against Persians (costly wars)
Defeated the Portuguese
Fell ill in 1657
Dispute amongst his four sons (all had
strong armies)
 Mughal Empire before Aurangzeb

5. Shah Jehan
Shah Shuja and Murad, even got coins made
showing them as emperors
Dara Shikoh was the preferred choice of Shah
Jehan as emperor
Murad and Aurangzeb joined forces and
defeated Dara Shikoh
When Shah Jehan recovered he ordered all
armies not to march towards Agra, Aurangzeb
refused and defeated his father’s army led by
Dara Shikoh (May 1658)
 Mughal Empire before Aurangzeb

5. Shah Jehan
 Shah Jehan was taken prisoner and lived the
rest of his life in Agra (passed away in 1666,
buried in Taj Mehal)
Mughal Empire before Aurangzeb

Taj Mehal
Aurangzeb - Muhi-ud-Din Muhammad
Killed all 3 of his brothers
Spent a lot of time and money fighting
War against Rajputs 1679 – 1681
Rebellions with Sikhs and Jats
Tough campaign with Pathan tribes in
North
Longest fight against Shiva Ji (Maratha
leader in Deccan), originally brought
prisoner after defeat in 1665 but he
escaped
Aurangzeb - Muhi-ud-Din Muhammad

Fought for 25 years with the Marathas

(big impact on Mughal treasury)
Died in 1707 (age: 89, rule : 50 years)
(Largest Mughal Empire)
Aurangzeb’s Reforms

Reduced local taxes (over all taxation

rate was very high)
Almost emptied Mughal treasury fighting
different rebellions
Spent a luxurious life style (Example:
Pearl Mosque in Delhi)
Put a Ban on Suttee
Reintroduced Jizya Tax
Aurangzeb’s Reforms

Ban on dancing and use of Alcohol in

his court
Destroyed some Hindu Temples
Forced people to live an Islamic lifestyle
Fixed the length of Beard
 Some Historians also say he was fair to
Hindus in his court and appointed Hindu
advisors. Also gave donations to some
Hindu temples.
After Aurangzeb:

 To avoid wars, divided whole empire into his 3 sons

 Fighting broke out and Prince Moazzum took
control
 His four sons started fighting after his death
 His successor, Jalandar Shah was murdered within
a year
 Within 10 years, 12 different people claimed to be
the ruler of Mughal Empire
 Mohammad Shah – ruler in 1719 (last leader to
claim to be the emperor)
Major Rivals of The Mughals:
1. The Persians
1738, Nadir Shah Invaded the empire
Defeated Muhammad Shah’s forces in 1739
Took over Delhi
Wanted as much booty as possible (Peacock
Throne)
Was not interested in ruling the empire
Took away all wealth and prestige of
Mughals
PEACOCK THRONE
The Peacock Throne was a famous
jeweled throne that was the seat of
the Mughal emperors of India. It was
commissioned in the early 17th century
by emperor Shah Jahan and was
located in the Diwan-i-Khas (Hall of
Private Audiences, or Ministers' Room)
in the Red Fort of Delhi. The original
throne was subsequently captured and
taken as a war trophy in 1739 by the
Persian emperor Nadir Shah, and has
been lost since. A replacement throne
based on the original was
commissioned afterwards and existed
until the Indian Rebellion of 1857.
Major Rivals of The Mughals:
2. The Marathas:
Constant trouble for Mughals
Aurangzeb had fought with them for 25 years
 Shivaji was originally defeated in 1665 ,
escaped later from Agra.
1737, defeated the Mughals and plundered
Delhi
Became the most powerful force in
subcontinent
Major Rivals of The Mughals:
3. The Afghans:
 1747, Ahmed Shah Durrani attacked
Kabul, Peshawar and Lahore
1749, gained control of Punjab
1756, captured Kashmir and Multan
He defeated Marathas in 1761 (battle of
Panipat)
Durrani placed Mohammad Shah’s son
Ahmed Shah on throne
End of the Empire
Ahmed Shah was imprisoned and he died in jail
Alamgir II was assassinated in his own court
Shah Alam II remained in Bihar for 12 years
(Instead of Delhi) and was defeated in the
Battle of Buxar by the British
British took over Bengal, Orisa and Bihar
1803, they took Delhi under their Protection
Akbar II ruled parts of Delhi
Bahadur Shah Zafar II, lost the empire to British in
the war of Independence 1857.