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Apr 21, 1526
Battle of Panipat
Marks the beginning of the Mughal Empire. The forces of Babur defeat the Lodi Empire of Northern India. One of the earliest battles to involve gunpowder, firearms, and field artillery -
Jan 5, 1531
Babur's Death
Babur's death leads to difficulties with his son Humayun's succession. Nobles try to install his uncle Mahdi Khwaja instead, and though they are defeated, it signals Humayun's weakness. -
Jan 25, 1540
Sher Shah Suri seizes power
Sher Shah Suri, the leader of the rival Sur dynasty, drives Humayun out of India and seizes power in 1540. -
Jul 23, 1555
Humayun Restores the Mughals to Power
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. -
Jan 27, 1556
Humayun Death
Humayun trips and falls down some stars and he is fatally injured and dies three days later. -
Nov 5, 1556
Mughal army defeats the Surs
Under Bairam Khan, the Mughal army defeats the Surs and solidifies Akbar's control. -
Jan 31, 1561
Akbar is Now in full control of the empire
Akbar strips Bairam Khan of the regency, and Khan is assassinated on a journey to Mecca.
Akbar known for developing trade with Europe, developing a strong system of administration, and growing the economy. -
Jahangir
Though Jahangir, Akbar's oldest son, is the declared successor, he impatiently leads a revolt against his father while Akbar is occupied in a foreign military campaign. He has enough political support to retain his role as successor. -
Jahangir succeeds as emperor
Jahangir succeeds as emperor, thanks to the immense support of the harem women. Khusrau Mirza, his eldest son unsuccessfully rebels against him. Jahangir kills all his son's supporters and blinds his son. Jahangir is addicted to opium and alcohol and so neglects his role as ruler. -
Jahangir Death
He dies on his way back from a visit to Kashmir and is succeeded by his third son, Shah Jahan. -
Taj Mahal
Shah Jahan begins construction on the Taj Mahal in memory of his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal. -
Shah Jahan illness
Shah Jahan falls ill, and his eldest son, Dara Shikoh, becomes regent for him. However, due to his liberal politics, his younger brother, Aurangzeb, allies with conservative Islamic factions to oppose him. -
Aurangzeb Rules
Aurangzeb defeats Dara Shikoh and has him executed. Though Shah Jahan has recovered by this point, Aurangzeb declares him unfit for rule and has him imprisoned.This marks the beginning of the decline of the Mughal's power. -
Shah Alam
Aurangzeb's son, Shah Alam, succeeds him and tries to undo the disastrous policies of his father, but its too late. The empire descends into chaos and violent feuds after his death and starts to break up. -
End of Mughal Empire
The 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. The revolt is defeated and the Mughals deposed by the East India Company, which assumes formal control over the country and ends the Mughal Empire.
