The Mughal Emire

Sher Shah Suri

May 25, 1540

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.

Humayun

Jul 23, 1555

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, who proves himself a much more skilled tactician. He retakes Delhi for Humayun and restores the Mughals to power.

after retaking power

Jan 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.

The Battle of Panipat

Apr 21, 1556

the beginning of the Mughal Empire began. was conquered by Genghis Khan, and defeated by the Lodi Empire of Northern India. one of the Earliest battles to involve gunpowder, firearms, and field artillery.

Akbar

Nov 5, 1556

succeeds him under a regent, Bairam Khan, the general who had won victory for his father. 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.

Ships Regency

Jan 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. Akbar is now in full control of the empire. He is known for developing trade with Europe, developing a strong system of administration, and growing the economy. He is able to acquire flintlock guns from Europe, which give him a huge military advantage.

Jahangir

Jan 25, 1599

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. 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.

Shah Jahan

Jan 25, 1628

In 1632 Shah Jahan begins construction on the Taj Mahal in memory of his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal.. Shah Jahan falls ill in 1658, 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.

Taj Mahal

Jan 25, 1632

In 1628 Jahangir dies on his way back from a visit to Kashmir and is succeeded by his third son, Shah Jahan. It is during this period that the court's opulence becomes more expensive than its value.

Aurangzeb defeats

Jan 25, 1659

In 1659 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. Aurangzeb goes on to expand the empire, but his harsh religious conservatism undermines the stability of the empire. This marks the beginning of the decline of the Mughal's power.

East India Company

Jan 25, 1707

become the protector of the Mughal Empire, Bahadur Shah Zafar, the final Mughal ruler, leads a revolt against them, although he is in reality little more than a figurehead. 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.