Mughal Dynasty - Short Notes

MUGHAL EMPIRE 1526-1857

BABUR
1526-1530

• Founder of Mughal Dynasty
• Born in Farghana Valley (Uzbekistan).
• Defeat Ibrahim Lodhi in Battle of 1st battle Pani Path
• important battles (Panipat an Kanauj with Rana Sanga)
• Died in 1530
• Succeeded by his elder son Humayun

HUMAYUN
1530-1540

• The period from 1540-1555 is known as Sur Dynasty.
• 1555-1556
• Elder Son of Babur
• Had 4 brothers
• His life is often remembered as a tail of his failures
• 1540 he lost is empire to Sher Shah Suri
• Sheh Shah Suri rule India from 1540-1545 then his son Islam Shah followed
• Bahram Khan was his able Army commander who helphim regain his throne from Sur's
• Lover of Books, had his own library in Palace
• Died due to the fall from stairs of his library

AKBAR THE GREAT
1556-1607

• Became king at the age of 13 years
• initially look after by Bahram Khan till the age of 21
• fought 2nd battleof Pani pat with Hemu
• Almost ruled entire India
• HAd 5000 wives As per his historian Abul Hazal (300+ wives and 4700 concubines)
• Introduced Din e Elahi in 1580's
• Had team of 9 important Ministers Known as Nauratna (means 9 Jems)
• His wife muslim name was Mehar uz Zamani (known as Jodha in movies)
• Had a son Shehzada Saleem (Jehangir)
• removed jizya from hindus
• 1st to bring hindus in his ministries
• burried in Skinderia/Sikanderabad.

JEHANGIR
1607-1627

• Also known as Shahzada Saleem
• Famous for his Bell of Justice
• and Love affair with Anarkali
• got married to Nur Jehan later (A widow of SHer Afghan Khan)
• 1st to permit British East India Company to trade with India
• Close friend of James Todd Who asked for BEIC permission to work in India
• died in Kashmir due to excessive alcoholism

SHAH JEHAN
1627-1658

• His period is known as golden period of Mughal Empire
• Built Taj Mahal for his wife
• his wife name was Mumtaz Mahal (Arjumand Banu Begam)
• had 14 children
• He wanted his son Dara Sikoh to be the next king of India
• was captured by his son Aurangzeb and kept house arrested for last 8 years of his life in Taj Mahal
• Died in 1660's

AURANGZAIB ALAMGIR
1658-1707

• Known as Alagmir (One who conquers the world)
• Also known as Idol Breaker
• Staunch Practicing Muslim
• Imposed many embargoes on Hindus
• Ruled India for Almost 50 years
• use to sell caps/hat made by himself to afford his own expenditure
• his total saving of life at the time of his death was 2 rupees and a few paisa.... I guess
• died in 1707

BAHADUR SHAH ZAFAR
1837-1857

• last Mughal ruler of India
• His rule was limited to Delhi only
• A poet
• Student of Mirza Ghalib in poetry
• captured by BIEC in 1857 revolt
• exiled to Rangoon, Burma
• Spend his remaining life in exile.