MUSLIM

RULERS OF
INDIA

(712-1857)
MUHAMMAD BIN
QASIM
• Regarded to have laid the foundation of
Islamic rule in sub-continent
• Umayyad General / sent by Hijaj Bin Yousaf
• Was sent to counter Raja Dahir's attack on
Muslim ships
• Became successful with superior military,
troop discipline, 'jihad' as morale booster,
population's support
• Got suspended after the death of Hijaj bin
Yousaf
• Imprisoned and killed in Iraq
SULTAN MEHMOOD
GHAZNAVI
• Son of Sabuktagin
• From 997-1030
• Dynasty (present day Afghanistan, Eastern
Iran, Pakistan, Northeast India)
• 17 expeditions on India and successful in all
of them
• 1st Muslim ruler to conquer North of Punjab
• Somnath – his last major campaign to crush
Hindu Belief
• Died in 1030 in Ghazni
SULTAN MUHAMMAD
SHAHABU-DDIN
GHOURI
• From the Ghori Dynasty
• Younger brother of Ghiyasuddin
• 1st Turkish to invade India
• Defeated Raja Prithviraj Chauhan; the most
powerful raja of India, in 1192
• Established Ghuri dynasty in Afghanistan after
brother's death
• Assassinated in Jhelum district of Punjab,
Empire was divided amongst his slaves
• In 1206 his most famous slave Qutb-ud-Din
Aibek established Sultanat of Delhi and became
Sultan
 THE GREAT
MUGHAL EMPIRE
(1526-1857)

'Descendents of Two Great rulers'

Successors of Timur from the father side
Successors of Genghis Khan from the mother side
India was the heart of Islamic empire
BABUR (1526-1530)
• Born in Uzbekistan
• Direct descendent & established the Mughal empire
• Defeated the Delhi Sultanate of Ibrahim Lodhi
• Made Agra the capital
• Reigned for 4 years & died at the age of 47
• Buried in Kabul
HUMAYUN (1530-
1556)
• 23 years old when succeeded the throne
• Got defeated by Sher Shah Suri at Chaunsa in 1539
• Later, Took advantage of civil wars among
the descendants of Sher Shah
• Recovered Delhi and Agra
• Died in 1556 after falling from his library stairs
• Tomb in Delhi

This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND.

 Sher Shah Suri (1540-45)

• One of the greatest administrator and rulers of the

medieval India, under Suri Dynasty
• Original name was Farid Khan
• Joined the Mughal services in 1527
• When Babur attacked Bihar, Sher khan rendered him
very valuable services, as a reward , jagir was given to
him.
• He had studied the weaknesses of Mughal politico
military machine and economic system with insight and
in depth.

This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY-SA.

AKBAR (1556-1605)
• Akbar the great – an ambitious and noble commander
• Inherited the throne at the age of 14
• Built the largest army ever in the empire
• Developed centralized government
• Tolerant towards minorities, increased Hindu paritcipation
• Created a new order commonly called the Dīn-e Ilāhī-Divine
Faith, which was modeled on the Muslim
mystical Sufi brotherhood
• Buried in Agra

This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY-SA.

JEHANGIR
(1605-1627)
• Paragon of Stability
• Continued both his father’s administrative system and
his tolerant policy toward Hinduism
• Allowed foreigners like Portuguese and British in India
for trade
• Married Nur Jahan, who became very influential,
especially after Jehangir fell ill
• Nur Jahan took charge of many of the ruler’s duties and
even issued farmans (sovereign mandates) in her name
SHAH JAHAN
(1627-1658)
• The Master Builder (Prince Khurram)
• better ruler than Jehangir
• Restored the efficiency of government
• Recovered territories and maintained peace
• Was a 'Patron of art' - built architecture masterpiece like
Taj Mahal, red fort and Jami masjid in India
• His collection of jewels was probably the most
magnificent in the world
• Burried next to his wife in Taj Mahal
AURANGZEB
(1658-1707)
• Assumed the title of Alamgir (world conqueror),
after a protracted war of succession
• Expanded the empire to its greatest extent
• But his political and religious intolerance also laid
the seeds of its decline
• Mughals faced several rebellions, and Aurangzeb’s
attitude and policy began to harden
• Large sums of money and manpower lost
• Lost support of Hindus
Decline of Mughals

• Successors were plagued by instability and

financial woes
• Rebellions and external challenges continued
under Bahadur Shah I
• The court was increasingly dependent on revenue
and support from its governors
• Dynastic warfare, factional rivalries, and the
Iranian conqueror Nādir Shah’s brief but
disruptive invasion of northern India in 1739
• The Marathas overran almost all of northern India
• The last Mughal, Bahadur Shah II (1837–57),
was exiled to Myanmar by the British after his
involvement with the Indian Mutiny of 1857–58