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The Battle of Panipat, on April 21, 1526, marks the beginning of the Mughal Empire.
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Due to instability within the empire, Babur's death in 1531 leads to difficulties with his son Humayun's succession.
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Sher Shah Suri, the leader of the rival Sur dynasty, drives Humayun out of India and seizes power in 1540.
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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.
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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 later.
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On January 31, 1561, under the guidance of his mother and other supporters, Akbar strips Bairam Khan of the regency, and Khan is assassinated on a journey to Mecca.
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Though 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
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1605 Jahangir succeeds as emperor.
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In 1628 Jahangir dies on his way back from a visit to Kashmir and is succeeded by his third son, Shah Jahan.
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In 1632 Shah Jahan begins construction on the Taj Mahal in memory of his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal.
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Shah Jahan falls ill in 1658, and his eldest son, Dara Shikoh, becomes regent for him.
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Aurangzeb's son, Shah Alam, succeeds him in 1707 and tries to undo the disastrous policies of his father, but it is too little, too late.
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By 1858 the British East India Company has become the protector of the Mughal Empire, using it to solidify their claim on trade with India.
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On November 5, 1556, under Bairam Khan, the Mughal army defeats the Surs and solidifies Akbar's control.