331 years of Mughal history… Who were the Mughals, what was their history and how did they fall? Read the full story here

During the Middle Ages, it was very difficult for any single ruler to rule over a large area like the Indian subcontinent, where there was a diversity of people and cultures. Unlike their predecessors, the Mughals established an empire and accomplished what was previously thought to be only for a short period of time. From the late 16th century, they expanded their empire from Delhi and Agra and by the 17th century gained control over almost the entire continent. The administrative structure and governance concepts he implemented persisted even after the fall of his kingdom. It was a political tradition that even successive regimes in the subcontinent could not remain untouched by its influence. Today, Independence Day, the Prime Minister of India addresses the nation from the bastion of Delhi's Red Fort, the residence of the Mughal rulers. Who were the Mughals? The Mughals were descendants of two rulers. On her mother's side, she is related to Genghis Khan, the Mongol ruler who ruled China and parts of Central Asia. On his father's side, he was a descendant of Timur, ruler of Iran, Iraq and present-day Turkey, who died in 1404. But the Mughals did not want to call themselves Mughals or Mongols. Because memories of Genghis Khan are associated with the massacre of hundreds of people. These memories are also associated with the Mughals' rivals, the Uzbeks. On the other hand, the Mughals were proud to be descendants of Timur. Since his ancestor captured Delhi in 1398. Mughal Military Campaign: Babur, the first Mughal ruler, was only 12 years old when he acquired the state of Farghana in 1494. He had to leave his ancestral throne due to the invasion of the Uzbeks, another branch of the Mongols. After many years of wandering, he captured Kabul in 1504. He defeated Sultan Ibrahim Lodi of Delhi at Panipat in 1526. Later captured Delhi and Agra. Let's learn more about Mughal emperors and events related to them… Babur, 1526- 1530 After defeating Ibrahim Lodi, Babur defeated Rana Sangha, Rajput kings and their supporters at Khanua in 1527. After this Babur defeated the Rajputs at Chanderi in 1528. He established control over Delhi and Agra before his death. Babur died in 1930. Humayun, 1530-1540 Then 1555-1556 Humayun divided the property according to his father's will. Each brother got a province. Due to the ambitions of his brother Mirza Kamran, Humayun was defeated by his Afghan rivals. Sher Khan defeated him twice. Defeated at Sousa in 1539 and Kannauj in 1540. These defeats forced him to flee to Iran. In Iran, Humayun assisted Shah Tahmasp of the Safavid dynasty. Delhi was recaptured in 1555. But he died in an accident the next year. Akbar, 1556-1605 Akbar became emperor at the age of 13. His reign can be divided into three periods. Between 1556 and 1570, Akbar became independent of his patron Bairam Khan and his household. He conducted several military campaigns to suppress the rebellions of the Suris and other Afghans, the neighboring states of Malwa and Gondwana, and his own brother Mirza Hakim and the Uzbeks. He conquered Chittoor in 1568 and Ranthambore in 1569. Between 1570 and 1585 conduct military campaigns against Gujarat. These campaigns were followed by campaigns in Bihar, Bengal and Orissa in the east, which were further complicated by a rebellion in support of Mirza Hakim in 1579–1580. Akbar's empire expanded between 1585 and 1605. Campaigns were conducted in the northwest. Akbar defeated the Safavids and captured Kandahar. Kashmir was also added. After the death of Mirza Hakim, Kabul was also included in his empire. Beginning with Dukat's campaigns, he annexed Berar, Khan Desh and Ahmadnagar regions to his empire. In the last years of his reign, Akbar's power declined due to the rebellions of Prince Salim. This Salim later became known as Jahangir. Jahangir led Jahangir Akbar's military campaigns from 1605 to 1627. Amar Singh, the Sisodia ruler of Mewar, accepted the service of the Mughals. After this, campaigns were conducted against the Sikhs, Ahomo and Ahmednagar. But he was not entirely successful. During the last years of Jahangir's reign, Prince Khurram rebelled against him. This Prince Khurram later became known as Shah Jahan. Jahangir's wife Nur Jahan made unsuccessful attempts to sideline Shah Jahan. Shah Jahan, 1627-1658 Shah Jahan's campaigns continued in the Deccan. Khan Jahan Lodi, an Afghan noble, opposed Shah Jahan. But he failed. Campaigns were launched against Ahmednagar. In this the Bandelas were defeated. Campaigns were launched against the Uzbeks to conquer the northwest. But failed. Consequently, Kandahar went to the Safavids. Ahmednagar was finally annexed to the Mughal Empire in 1632 and Bijapur's forces demanded a compromise. In 1657-58, a succession battle began between Shah Jahan's sons. Aurangzeb was victorious. After this his three brothers were killed. Shah Jahan was also imprisoned for life in Agra Jail. Aurangzeb, 1627-1707 defeated the Ahomo in the northeast in 1663. But he rebelled again in 1680. Campaigns against Yusufzai and the Sikhs in the northwest met with temporary success. The Rathore Rajputs of Marwar rebelled against the Mughals. This was because of the interference in internal politics and succession issues of the Mughals. Aurangzeb launched several campaigns against the Maratha leader Shivaji, in which he was successful. But he humiliated Shivaji and Shivaji escaped from Agra jail. After declaring himself an independent ruler, he resumed campaigns against the Mughals. Later, Prince Akbar protested against Aurangzeb. In this he got the support of the Marathas and the Sultans of the Deccan. He eventually fled to Safavid Iran. After Akbar's revolt, Aurangzeb sent forces against the rulers of the Deccan. The Mughals annexed Bijapur in 1685 and Golconda in 1687. In 1698, Aurangzeb organized a campaign against the Marathas in the Deccan. Marathas then used guerilla methods. Aurangzeb had to face the Sikhs, Jats and Satnamis in North India, the Ahomos in the Northeast and the Marathas in the Deccan. How did Aurangzeb die? According to historians, after ruling for 50 years, Aurangzeb died on 3 March 1707 at Ahmednagar in the south. A brave Chhatrasal of Bundelkhand inflicted a gash on Aurangzeb's body in a battle due to which he was bedridden for 3 months and in this way he died in 1707 AD. After his death the battle for succession started. But Aurangzeb's eldest son, 63-year-old Prince Muwasam Bahadur Shah, was installed as emperor. How Aurangzeb took the empire to the pinnacle of development during his reign. At the same time, after his death, the decay and decline of that powerful and glorious empire took place rapidly. Bahadur Shah, the last ruler of the Mughals, ruled from 19 June 1707 to 27 February 1712. Jahandar Shah, 27 February 1712 to 11 February 1713. Farukshiar, 11 January 1713 to 28 February 1719. Muhammad Shah, 27 September 1719 to 26 April 1748. Ahmad Shah Bahadur, 26 April 1748 to 2 June 1754. Alamgir II, 2 June 1754 to 29 November 1759. Shah Alam II, 24 December 1760 to 19 November 1806. Akbar Shah II ruled from 19 November 1806 to 28 September 1837 and Bahadur Shah II ruled from 28 September 1837 to 14 September 1857. Then the Mughals collapsed completely.