The Mughal Empire during 1526 – 1658

Babur – First Mughal Emperor

The first Mughals were a ruling family from Central Asia and the first Mughal Emperor in India was Zahir-ud-Din Muhammad, or Babur, as he is generally known. He was a Muslim who ruled in Turkestan and was keen to expand his territory. In 1526, he defeated the Emperor of Delhi in the first Battle of Panipat. He then defeated other Indian chiefs and established himself as the unchallenged ruler of Northern India. He ruled Northern India for just four years before he died.

Humayun – A Troubled Reign

Babur was succeeded in 1530 by his son, Humayun. The Afghan chief, Sher Shah Suri, defeated Humayun in battle and took control of many of his territories. Humayun also had to face opposition from his own brothers and it was not until 1555 that he restored hos control in the lands that Babur had won. However, his success was short-lived. Just one year later, he tripped his own robes on the steps of his library and fell to his death.

Akbar – Empire Extended

Although he was only 13 years old when he succeeded his father, the next Emperor, Akbar, extended the Mughal Empire further. He was greatly influenced by Sufi beliefs and, in 1581, announced his ‘Din-e-Ilahi)’, a new religion, containing elements of both Islam and Hinduism. This religion did not take root and died out after Akbar’s death. Akbar ruled for almost fifty years and, at his death in 1605, the Mughal Empire was strong and the foundations had been laid for other Emperors to continue to expand the lands under Mughal control.

Jehangir

This expansion continued under Akbar’s son, Jehangir, though it was Jehangir who signed a commercial treaty with the British in 1615. He did not realise that the British would eventually overthrow the Mughals!

Shah Jehan

Jehangir’s son, Khurram, took the throne under the name Shah Jehan. He was responsible for building the famous Taj Mahal in memory of his wife, Mumtaz Mahal. He also tried to extend the Empire in campaigns against the Persians and in modern day Uzbekistan; but, his wars were costly and ineffective. However, he did defeat the Portuguese after they tried to forcibly convert Muslim girls to Christianity.

Aurangzeb Seizes Control

In 1657, Shah Jehan fell seriously ill. This presented a serious problem for the Emperor as he had four sons, all of whom were of mature age and were all Governors of important parts of the Empire and had large armies available. They all wanted to be the Emperor! When it appeared that Shah Jehan was dying, they began to jostle for power. Two of them, Shah Shuja and Murad, actually had coins struck in their name showing them as the new Emperor.

However, the eldest son, Dara Shikoh, was thought to be the Emperor’s preferred successor. Yet, it seemed that he could not establish himself in power because, in 1658, two of his brothers, Murad and Alamgir (Aurangzeb), joined forces and defeated Dara Shikoh’s army. However then, Shah Jehan recovered and ordered his sons not to march on Agra. Aurangzeb replied that his father had lost control and it was important that he, Aurangzeb, take over and re-establish order.

In May 1658, he defeated the Imperial Army, led by Dara Shikoh, and took his father prisoner. Shah Jehan was allowed to remain in Agra until his death in 1666, where he was buried in the Taj Mahal. Aurangzeb decided the fate of his brothers. Murad was imprisoned and later executed. Shah Shuja was killed whilst trying to raise an army to oppose his brother. Dara Shikoh proved more troublesome. Aurangzeb had to pursue him and take him prisoner before executing him in 1659.