The Decline of

Mughals
Timeline( The laterMughals)
1707-
1712 1713 1719 1719
1712
Bahadur Jahandar Rafi-ul- Shahjahan
Shah I Shah Farrukhsiyar Darajat II
Timeline (The later Mughals)
1719-
1719 1719 1748 1754
1748
Ahmed
Mohammad Muhammad
Neku Siyar Shah Alamgir II
Ibrahim Shah
Bahadur
Timeline(The Later Mughals)
1837-
1759 1759 1806
1857
Shahjahan Shah Alam Akbar Shah Bahadur
III II II Shah II
Local and Foreign invasions
Invasions of Nadir Shah
In 1738 the Persian king nadir shah attacked on Delhi and
defeated Mughal king Muhammad shah.
He sacked Delhi slaughtering thousands of people and looting
all the wealth of Mughals
In which the famous peacock, throne and the Kohinoor diamond
included.
Invasions of Ahmad Shah abdali
An Afghan general, Ahmed Shah
abdali attacked Kabul, Peshawar and
Lahore in 1747.
By 1749, he gained control of Punjab
and by 1756, he added Kashmir and
Multan to his possessions.
Mughals were unable to stop Afghan
expansion.
Marathas

Shahji Shivaji Sambhaji Shahu

Marathas rose
He established He was the son He was released
under the
1 of
leadership
Maratha empire of Shivaji. from the prison
in 1674 in by leading
Shahji Bhonsle
southern India. courtiers,
during
thinking a
Shahjahan’s
friendly Maratha
rule.
leader would be
a useful ally.
Marathas

Played an important role in the downfall of the Mughals

They were fierce and clever warriors from south of India
During the reign of Shahjahan, they rose under their leader Shahji Bhonsle
After his death, his son Shivaji, continued his father’s Anti-Mughal strategies.
He was a troublemaker throughout Aurangzeb’s reign. Aurangzeb spent over
25 years (Mughal-Maratha Wars) trying to defeat Maratha forces. After his
death, they defeated Mughals in Delhi and extended their empire up to
Peshawar by 1758.
By the middle of the eighteenth century, the replaced Mughals as the most
powerful force in India.
Absence of definite law of succession
was another important factor. The war of successions not only led to
bitterness, bloodshed, and loss of money and prestige of the empire over a
period of time, but to its eventual fall. Wars of succession were also an
important reason. After the death of a ruler, the princess fought for the
throne. This eroded the strength and led to the instability of the Mughal
Empire. Aurangzeb fought against his brothers Dara Shiko and Shuja,
and later got Kamran killed. Infighting continued even after Aurangzeb
like Moazzam who succeeded the throne under the name of Bahadur
Shah after Aurangzeb, defeated his brothers Azam and Kam Baksh and
killed them. Bahadur Shah ruled for 5 years and died in 1712. His sons
also fought for the throne. The infighting for the throne greatly weakened
the Mughal Empire.
 Moral degeneration of the nobility

The degeneration of the rulers had also led to the moral degeneration
of the nobility. Under the early Mughals, the nobles performed useful
functions and distinguished themselves both in war and peace. But the
elite under the later Mughals was more interested in worldly pursuit
and self-enhancement. The nobles who had once been talented men
with integrity, honesty, and loyalty, turned selfish and deceitful.
Growth of hostile and rival clique in the court also undermined the
strength of the government. Widespread corruption in the
administration started and taking bribes became common.
Who were Syed Brothers ?
They were influential generals in the Mughal army
The main reason of Mughal decline was the rule of
Sayyid brothers.
They are known as virtual kingmakers and used
the emperors for their personal achievements
Both controlled the Mughal empire at the back
foot after 1707.
Hussain Ali Khan was murdered at Fatehpur
Sikri in 1722
Syed Hassan Ali Khan Barha was fatally
poisoned in 1724.