Mughal empire in India keeps its important place in Indian History. It ran from the early sixteenth century up to the early eighteenth century. During Mughal empire in India, sense of art and architecture was at its zenith. Many beautiful monuments were constructed during the empire. Mughal emperors were the great warrior as well as the devotee of arts.
List of all Mughal emperors
Babur (1526-1530)
Humayun (1530-1540 & 1555-1556)
Akbar (1556-1605)
Jahangir(1605-1627)
Sahjahan (1628-1658)
Aurangzeb
BABUR(1526-1530)
Babur was the founder of Mughal empire in India and descended from Timur on his father’s side and Chengiz Khan from his mother’s side. His family belonged to the chagtai section of Turkish race and were commonly known as Mughals. His father was the ruler of Fargana (Afganistan). Babar became ruler at the age of 12 when his father Umer Sheikh Mirza died.
He was proposed to attack in India by Daulat Khan Lodi (subedar of Punjab), Alam Khan (uncle of Ibrahim Lodi) and Rana Sanga. He defeated Ibrahim Lodi in the first battle of Panipat 1526.
He adopted the Tughlama system of warfare. His artillery was led by Ustad Isha and Mustafa.
Defeated Sangram Singh in the battle of Khanwa in 1927. Babur took the title of Ghazi after that victory.
Defeated Rajput ruler Medini rai in Battle of Chanderi in 1528.
Defeated afgaan chiefs under Mahmud Lodi in the battle of Ghaghra in 1529.
His back to back victories popularized the use of gunpowder and artillery in India.
He died in 1530 and was buried in Agra, later his body was taken to Aram Bagh, Kabul as he wished when he was alive.
His memoir Tuzuk-i-baburi was written by himself in the Turkish language. He also wrote mansaf.
Humayun (1530-1540 and 1555-1556)
Humayun was born to Mahim Begum and Babur.
The four sons of Babur Humayun, Kamran, Askari and Hindal had the conflict on dividing the empire among themselves.
Humayun built Dinpanah as his second capital.
Defeated Afgan forces at Daurah in 1532.
He was attacked by Shershah at chausha (Battle of chausa) in 1539 but escaped. Here Humayun was saved by Nizam.
After that in Battle of Bilgram in 1540, he was defeated by Shershah and had to decamp.
Died in 1556, due to fall from his library building stairs.
Gulbadan Begum his half-sister, wrote Humayunnama.
SHER SHAH SURI
His real name was Farid. He was given Title by Babur Khan Lohani (Governer of Bihar).
Became the master of Delhi after exiting of Humayun.
Died in 1545 while campaigning Kalinjar fort.
SHER SHAH ADMINISTRATION
Shershah divided his whole empire into 47 divisions called Sarkar, and Sarkars into smaller Parganas.
His land revenue system was noteworthy as he classified his reigns land into 3 heads-good, middle and bad land and he claimed 1/3rd of total production from the land. The land was measured by Sikandari-gaz. Todalmal as an important person in his administration contributed greatly to the development of his revenue policy. Later Akbar also adopted same revenue policy.
He revived alahuddin system of branding of horses (daag) and keeping account of the soldiers (chehra).
Shershah introduced regular postal services. He also attempted to fix standard weights and measures.
Introduced the silver ‘Rupiya’ and the copper ‘Dam’ and abolished all old and mixed metal currency.
Shershah did public welfare works like building roads. The roads build by Shershah are called the arteries of his empire. Sarai is were built beside the roads. He built the famous ‘Grand Trunk Road’.
Built his Tomb at Sasaram.
Malik Muhammad composed ‘Padmavat’ during his reign.
Abbas khan sherwani wrote his memoir ‘Tarik-i-shershahi’
AKBAR (1556-1605)
The real name of Akbar was Jalaluddin Muhammad Akbar, he was the son of Humayun and Hamida Banu Begum and considered as one of the greatest and ablest emperor during Mughal era. He was born at Amarkot in 1542.
Bairam Khan coronated him at the age of 14 at Kalanaur.
He was represented by Bairam Khan in the Second battle of Panipat in 1556 against Hemu. Hemu was defeated by Akbar and considered as the last Hindu king of Delhi.
Between 1556-1560 till Akbar was minor, he ruled under Bairam Khan regency.
Akbar conquered Malwa in 1561 defeating Baz Bahadur.
Akbar followed reconciliation policy with Rajputs and had the matrimonial alliance with them.
Akbar married to Jodha Bai, daughter of Raja Bharmal of Jaipur.
Won Gujarat in 1572. It was in order to commemorate his victory of Gujarat, he constructed Buland Darwaza at Fatehpur Sikri.
Won the battle of Haldighati on 18 jun, 1576 fought against Maharana Pratap. Akbar was represented by Maan Singh in that Battle.
In 1586, he conquered Kashmir and in 1593, he conquered Sindh. His last conquest was Ashirgarh in Deccan.
Akbar died in 1605.
MAHARANA PRATAP
Maharana Pratap was the Rajput ruler of Mewar. He belonged to Sisodia clan of Suryavanshi Rajputs. He was the son of Udai Singh. Mewar was conquered by Akbar in the reign of Udai Singh. After defeat by Akbar maharana, Pratap had to decamp away on his trusted horse Chetak.
JAHANGIR (1605-1627)
Jahangir, Akbar’s eldest son assumed the title of Nuruddin Muhammad Jahangir and ascended the throne.
He mostly lived in Lahore which he adorned with gardens and building.
The fifth Sikh guru, Arjun Dev, had helped Khusro, So he was also executed after 5 days of torture.
Rana Amar Singh of Mewar submitted before Jahangir in 1615. Rana’s son Karan Singh was made Manasbdar in Mughal court.
Faced a formidable opponent in Malik Amber in the expedition to Ahmednagar.
Jahangir married Mehr-u-Nisha, the widow of Sher Afghani in 1611. The title of Nur Jahan was conferred on her.
Nur-Jahan was given the title of Padshah Begum, coins were stuck in her name and all royal farmans bore her name.
Jahangir has the chain of justice outside his palace in Agra (called Zanzir-i-Adil). He also laid a number of Garden, notably Shalimar Bagh and Nishat Bagh in Kashmir.
Captain Hawkins (1608-11) and Sir Thomas Roe (1615-1619) visited his court. Due to the effect of, Sir Thomas Roe English factories were established in Surat and Some other places.
Pietra Valle, famous Italian traveler came during his Reign.
Tobacco cultivation was started during his reign. It was brought up by Portuguese.
SHAHJAHAN (1628-1658)
Shahjahan was the son of Jahangir. In his initial days, he had to face the revolt in Bundelkhand (Jujjhar Singh Bundela Of Orchcha) and in Deccan (Khan-shahi-Jahan Lodi).
Shahjahan’s policy annexing Deccan was quite successful. Ahmednagar was annexed while Bijapur and Golconda accepted his overlordship.
Shahjahan also expelled Portuguese from Hugli, as they were abusing their trade privileges.
In 1639, he secured Kandahar and fortified it. But Persia wrested Kandahar from Mughals in 1649. Shahjahan sent three expeditions, but all failed.
Last eight years of his life were painful, as there was a brutal war between his four sons ‘ Dara, Shuja, Aurangzeb, and Murad. Dara was his favorite and Aurangzeb was ablest.
Ultimately, Aurangzeb took the throne and made Shahjahan prisoner in Agra Fort, being looked after his daughter, Jahan Ara, till his death in 1666.
His reign was considered as the golden age of Mughal Empire.
Two Frenchmen, Bernier and Tavernier, and an Italian adventurer Manucci visited during his reign.
HISTORY OF TAJMAHAL
Taj Mahal is the monument of love and one of the seven wonders of the world, located in Agra. Shah Jahan commissioned its construction as the mausoleum in the memory of his favorite wife Mumtaz Mahal, originally named as Arjumand Bano Begum, in 1931 just after a year of her death. It is said that it was constructed by 20000 workers and it took 22 years to be constructed. Its chief architecture was Ustad Ahmed Lahori. Taj Mahal is situated at the bank of River Yamuna. It is one of the seven wonders of the world.
AURANGZEB (1658-1707)
Aurangzeb is considered as the ablest son of Shah Jahan who acquired the throne.
Aurangzeb first defeated the imperial army in the battle of Dharmat and then defeated a force led by Dra, one of his brothers in battle of Samugarh.
He took the title of ‘Alamgir’ (Conqueror of the world).
Mughal empire reached the greatest extent in his reign and British power started rising in his period.
He causes a serious conflict between Rajputs and Mughal as he annexed Mewar in 1639 after the death of Raja Jaswant Singh.
In 1675, he ordered the arrest and execution of ninth Sikh Guru Tegh Bahadur.
He reimposed jaziya tax that was abolished by Akbar. He also banned the Nauroz festival and practice of Jharokha Darshan in his Palace.
He was called Zinda Pir or Darvesh.
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