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April 21, 1526, marks the beginning of the Mughal Empire. The forces of Babur, a Central Asian ruler who was descended from the Mongol conqueror Genghis Khan, defeat the Lodi Empire of Northern India. This is one of the earliest battles to involve gunpowder, firearms, and field artillery. Babur's rule is marked by ongoing wars of aggression, which prevent him from stabilizing his empire.
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April 21, 1526, marks the beginning of the Mughal Empire. The forces of Babur, a Central Asian ruler who was descended from the Mongol conqueror Genghis Khan, defeat the Lodi Empire of Northern India. This is one of the earliest battles to involve gunpowder, firearms, and field artillery. Babur's rule is marked by ongoing wars of aggression, which prevent him from stabilizing his empire.
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Babur's death in 1530 leads to difficulties with his son Humayun's succession. Some of the nobles instead try to install Humayun's uncle, Mahdi Khwaja, and, though they are defeated, it signals Humayun's weakness. Humayun gains the throne in 1531. Sher Shah Suri, the leader of the rival Sur dynasty, drives Humayun out of India and seizes power in 1540. Humayun takes refuge with the Safavid rulers in Persia, which serves to create a strong bond with the two dynasties
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Babur's death in 1530 leads to difficulties with his son Humayun's succession. Some of the nobles instead try to install Humayun's uncle, Mahdi Khwaja, and, though they are defeated, it signals Humayun's weakness. Humayun gains the throne in 1531. Sher Shah Suri, the leader of the rival Sur dynasty, drives Humayun out of India and seizes power in 1540. Humayun takes refuge with the Safavid rulers in Persia, which serves to create a strong bond with the two dynasties
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Mahdi Khwaja, and, though they are defeated, it signals Humayun's weakness. Humayun gains the throne in 1531.
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her Shah Suri, the leader of the rival Sur dynasty, drives Humayun out of India and seizes power in 1540. Humayun takes refuge with the Safavid rulers in Persia, which serves to create a strong bond with the two dynasties
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Humayun's succession. Some of the nobles instead try to install Humayun's uncle
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On July 23, 1555, Humayun takes advantage of the deaths of both Sher Shah Suri and his son and successor, Islam Shah, to march an army provided by his Persian allies back to India. He puts the army under the leadership of Bairam Khan.
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He retakes Delhi for Humayun and restores the Mughals to power. On January 27, 1556, shortly after retaking power, Humayun stops for daily prayer in the middle of carrying books down a flight of stairs and trips. He is fatally injured and dies three days late
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Humayun's son, Akbar, succeeds him under a regent, Bairam Khan, the general who had won victory for his father.
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the rival Sur Dynasty once again attempts to seize power. On November 5, 1556, under Bairam Khan, the Mughal army defeats the Surs and solidifies Akbar's control
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Jahangir, Akbar's oldest son, is the declared successor, he impatiently leads a revolt against his father in 1599 while Akbar is occupied in a foreign military campaign. While he is defeated, he still has enough political support from the women in Akbar's harem, including Akbar's mother, to retain his role as successor
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Shah Jahan. It is during this period that the court's opulence becomes more expensive than its value
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Taj Mahal in memory of his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal. The white marble mausoleum is recognized by many as the finest example of Mughal architecture. Shah Jahan falls ill in 1658, and his eldest son
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Dara Shikoh, becomes regent for him. However, due to his liberal politics, his younger brothe
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Aurangzeb, allies with conservative Islamic factions to oppose him
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British East India Company has become the protector of the Mughal Empire, using it to solidify their claim on trade with India. Bahadur Shah Zafar, the final Mughal ruler, leads a revolt against them, although he is in reality little more than a figurehead.
