Babur (1526-1530 A.D.

):
Zahir-ud-din Muhammad Babur after defeating Ibrahim Lodi at Panipat in 1526 founded
the Mughal Empire in India. He was a descendent of Timur on his fathers side and to
Chengiz Khan through his mother. His fifth expedition to India was the Battle of Panipat,
the first being the expedition in 1519 when he captured Bhera.
Nasir-ud-din Muhammad surnamed Humayun, the fortunate succeeded Babur in
December 1530 at the young age of 23. Following the Timurid legacy, he divided the
empire among his three half- brothers, Kamran, Hindal and Askari. Humayun defeated
Mahmud Lodhi at Daurah in 1532 A.D. He laid siege to Chunar in 1532 but could not
conquer it.
Akbar:
Akbar was born to Humayun and Hamida Banu Begum on 23rd November, 1542 A.D. at
the palace of Rana Virasal of Amarkot. Humayun reconquered India by defeating the
Afghans and entered Delhi on July 23, 1555. After his death on January 26, 1556, at
Delhi, Akbar was formally proclaimed as the successor of Humayun on 14th February,
1556 at Kalanaur.
Administrative measures:
Babur brought with him the Timurid traditions that the ruler had the divine right to rule,
which was also followed by Humayun. Akbars concept of suzerainty have been put
forward by his biographer, Abul Fazl. According to him Royalty is a light emanating
from god, and a ray from the sun called Farr- i-izidi (the divine light).
Akbar, next turned his attention to the task of reorganisation of government. He
reorganised the central machinery of administration on the basis of the division of power
between various departments, and of checks and balances.
His important contribution was the development of a provincial administration patterned
on the central system of government. Dastur-ul-Amals or Rule books containing detailed
rules and regulations for controlling both the provincial and district administration were
devised.
In 1580, the Mughal Empire was divided into 12 Subah or provinces. Later, after the
expansion of the empire into the Deccan, three more SubahsKhandesh, Berar and

Ahmadnagar were formed. During Jahangirs reign, the number of Subahs rose to 17,
under Shahjahan it rose to 22 and under Aurangzebto21.
Jahangir (1605-27):
After the death of Akbar in 1605, Salim, his eldest son, succeeded to the throne in Agra
fort on November 3, 1605 and assumed the title of Jahangir. Two of his younger brothers
Murad and Daniyal had died earlier on account of drunkenness.
The greatest failure of Jahangirs reign was the loss of Kandahar to Shah Abbas of Persia
in 1622. The revolt of Prince Shahjahan (1623-25) was suppressed by Prince Parvez and
Mahabat Khan.
Shahjahan (1628-58 A.D.):
Born to Jagat Gosain, daughter of Raja Udai Singh of Jodhpur in 1592, Shahjahan was
coronated at Agra in February 1628. Asaf Khan was awarded the official title of uncle
and Mahabat Khan was given the title of Khan-i-Khana. Mumtaz Mahal was the wife of
Shahjahan. She was the daughter of Asaf Khan and her real name was Arjumand Banu
Begum.
The first three years of his reign were disturbed by a rebellion in Bundelkhand by Jujhar
Singh, son of Bir Singh Bundela and another rebellion by Khan-i-Jahan Lodi, governor of
the Deccan who joined the Nizam Shahis. The rebellion in Bundelkhand was suppressed
by the Mughal army under Aurangzeb, which was his first assignment.
Here, Aurangzeb gave the first proof of his religious intolerance by destroying the Hindlu
temple of Orcha. After suppressing the rebellion of Deccan governor, Shahjahan ousted
the Portuguese from Hugli and occupied it in 1632.
In 1636, Aurangzeb was appointed the Mughal viceroy in the Deccan. This was the first
viceroyalty of Aurangzeb (1636-1644) Khandesh, Berar Daulatabad and Telingana were
the four Mughal provinces in south. In 1644, he was appointed as Governor of Gujarat.
His second viceroyalty of the Deccan was during the period (1652-57 A.D.).
His second term occupies a permanent place in the history of land settlement of Deccan
on account of a competent revenue administrator, Murshid Quli Khan, whom he
appointed as his diwan. In 1665, the Prime minister of Golcunda joined Aurangzeb and
Golcunda was besieged.