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Apr 21, 1526
Battle of Panipat
Babur(a descendant of Mongol conqueror Genghis Khan) and his forces defeat the Lodi Empire of Northern India. -
Jan 25, 1531
Babur's death
Babur's death lead to difficulties with his son Humayun's succession. Some nobles tried to replace Humayun with his uncle, Mahdi Khwaja, and although they didn't succeed it showed Humayun was weak. -
Jun 26, 1540
Sher Shah Suri takes over
Sher Shah Suri(the leader of the rival Sur dynasty) removes Humayun out of India and seizes power. Humayun takes refuge with the Safavid rulers in Persia, which serves to create a strong bond with the dynasties. -
Jul 23, 1555
Humayun takes back India
Humayun took advantage of the deaths of Sher Shah Suri and his son and successor(Islam Shah) and marched an army provided by his Persian allies back to India. He puts the army under the leadership of Bairam Khan. He retakes Delhi for Humayun and restores the Mughals to power. -
Jan 27, 1556
Humayun's fall
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. -
Nov 5, 1556
Akbar's solidified control
Humayun's son(Akbar) 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. -
Jan 31, 1561
Akbar's control
Under the guidance of his mother and other supporters, Akbar strips Bairam Khan of the regency, in which 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's revolt
Jahangir(Akbar's oldest son) is the declared successor, but he then leads a revolt against his father and 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. -
Jahangir succeeds as emperor
Thanks to the immense support of the harem women, Jahangir succeeds as emperor. His eldest son(Khusrau Mirza) unsuccessfully rebels against him. Due to this, Jahangir kills all his son's supporters and blinds his son. During his rule, Jahangir is addicted to opium and alcohol and so neglects his title ruler, allowing him to be manipulated by rival factions. -
Taj Mahal
Shah Jahan begins construction on the 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. -
Jahangir's death/Shah Jahan's succession
Jahangir dies on his way back from a visit to Kashmir and is succeeded by his third son, Shah Jahan. During this period, the court's opulence becomes more expensive than its value. -
Shah falls ill/Beginning of Dara vs. Aurangzeb
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's rise/Decline of Mughal's power
Aurangzeb defeated Dara Shikoh and has him executed. Shah Jahan although recovered by this point, Aurangzeb declares him unfit for rule and has him imprisoned. Aurangzeb goes on to expand the empire, but harsh religious conservatism undermines the stability of the empire. This causes the beginning of the decline of the Mughal's power. -
Shah Alam's failure at restoring Mughal
Aurangzeb's son, Shah Alam, succeeds him and tries to undo the disastrous policies of his father, but it is too late. The empire descends into chaos and violent feuds after Shah's 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.
