List of Mughal Emperors, Rulers, Decline

10-03-2025

08:30 AM

The Mughal Emperors were known to be one of the most powerful emperors who ruled Indian history in between 1526 and 1857. Babur was the first Mughal ruler, who established the Mughal Dynasty after the First Battle of Panipat. This led to the introduction of efficient administration, Grand Architecture, Persian Art and its impact on India’s culture. In this article, we are going to cover the list of Mughal Emperors from 1526-1857.

History of Mughal Dynasty

The Mughal Dynasty was one of the most powerful dynasties in Indian History, founded in 1526 by Babur after winning the First Battle of Panipat against Ibrahim Lodi. Later, rulers like Akbar, Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb contributed in expanding the empire. Eventually after Aurangzab’s death in 1707, the mughal empire started getting weak due to succession struggles, regional revolts, and foreign invasions. This led to British dominance in 1857.

List of Mughal Emperors

The Mughal Empire lasted from 1526 to 1857. Below is a list of emperors of the Mughal Empire in chronological order:

Emperor	Reign	Death	Known For
Babur	1526-1530	1530, Agra	Founder of the Mughal Empire, known for his military skills and the use of gunpowder.
Humayun	1530-1540, 1555-1556	1556, Delhi	Lost and regained the throne.
Akbar	1556-1605	1605, Agra	Expanded the empire, introduced religious tolerance, and strengthened the administrative system.
Jahangir	1605-1627	1627, Bhimber	Encouraged Persian art and culture, established diplomatic ties with the British
Shah Jahan	1628-1658	1666, Agra	Patron of Mughal architecture; built the Taj Mahal, Red Fort, and Jama Masjid.
Aurangzeb	1658-1707	1707, Ahmednagar	The last major Mughal emperor, expanded the empire to its greatest size. Faced strong resistance from Marathas, Rajputs, and Sikhs.
Bahadur Shah I	1707-1712	1712, Lahore	Known for his weak rule, he was defeated by his brother Farrukhsiyar.
Jahandar Shah	1712-1713	1713, Delhi	Weak ruler, assassinated by the Sayyid Brothers.
Farrukh Siyar	1713-1719	1719, Delhi	Brief reign of 4 months before being overthrown.
Rafi ud-Darajat	1719	1719, Agra	Also a short reign, marked by turbulence.
Shah Jahan II	1719	1719, Agra	A puppet ruler, during the period of political chaos.
Muhammad Shah	1719-1748	1748, Delhi	Witnessed the invasion of Nadir Shah, who plundered Delhi.
Ahmad Shah Bahadur	1748-1754	1775, Delhi	Incompetent ruler, the empire fell under noble control.
Alamgir II	1754-1759	1759, India	Assassinated due to court intrigues.
Shah Jahan III	1759-1760	1772, India	Nominal ruler with no real power.
Shah Alam II	1760-1788, 1788-1806	1806, Delhi	Defeated at the Battle of Buxar, ruled under British influence.
Shah Jahan IV	1788	1790, Delhi	Real name, Bidar Bakht Mahmud Shah Bahadur, was deposed by Ghulam Kadir
Akbar II	1806-1837	1837, Delhi	Reduced to a ceremonial figurehead.
Bahadur Shah II	1837-1857	1862, Rangoon	Last Mughal emperor, exiled after the Revolt of 1857.

Famous Rulers of Mughal Empire

The Mughal emperors played a significant role in shaping India’s history, politics, and culture. Their reigns influenced governance, architecture, and societal structures, leaving a lasting impact on the subcontinent. Here are some of the most influential rulers of the Mughal Empire:

Babur (1526–1530)
A descendant of Timur and Genghis Khan, Babur defeated Ibrahim Lodi in the Battle of Panipat (1526), marking the beginning of Mughal rule in India.
His key contributions include the introduction of gunpowder warfare and the establishment of a centralized administration with Persian cultural influence.
Akbar (1556–1605)
Akbar ascended the throne at the age of 13 and significantly expanded the empire through military conquests and diplomacy.
He is known for advocating religious tolerance, implementing an efficient tax system (Zabt), and introducing important military reforms. His legacy includes the promotion of Hindu-Muslim unity through Din-i-Ilahi, which earned him the reputation of being the greatest Mughal emperor.
Shah Jahan (1628–1658)
Shah Jahan’s reign is often referred to as the golden age of Mughal architecture. He is best known for his contributions to architecture, including the construction of the Taj Mahal, Red Fort, and Jama Masjid.
Aurangzeb (1658–1707)
Aurangzeb expanded the Mughal Empire to its largest territorial extent but faced significant resistance.
He strengthened the military but imposed strict religious policies, which led to widespread discontent. His reign saw internal revolts that ultimately weakened the empire and contributed to its decline.

Each of these emperors played a crucial role in shaping India's history, leaving behind a legacy that continues to be studied and debated today.

Reason Behind Decline of the Mughal Empire

After Aurangzeb’s death, the Mughal Empire started declining due to various reasons, including external and internal factors:

After Aurangzeb, the mughal empire didn't see the emergence of any strong ruler leading to instability due to policies of later Mughals.
Corruption, lack of reforms and heavy taxation weakened the economy.
The rising power of rajputs, marathas and sikhs reduced the control of mughals over India. Ahmad Shah Abdali and Nadir Shah constantly invaded and plundered Delhi, further weakening the empire.
The Battle of Buxar (1764) and British diplomacy reduced the Mughal emperor to a mere figurehead. The Revolt of 1857 marked the final collapse of Mughal rule.

The Mughal Empire played a crucial role in shaping Indian history. From Babur to the Later Mughals, their rule saw great achievements and eventual decline. The empire’s influence on art, architecture, and governance remains significant.

List of Mughal Emperors FAQs

Q1. Who were the 7 Mughal emperors?
Ans. The first seven Mughal emperors were Babur, Humayun, Akbar, Jahangir, Shah Jahan, Aurangzeb, and Bahadur Shah I.

Q2. Who was the 19th Mughal emperor?
Ans. Akbar Shah II was the 19th Mughal emperor.

Q3. Who was the 17th Mughal emperor?
Ans. Shah Alam II was the 17th Mughal emperor.

Q4. What is the order of the Mughal emperors?
Ans. Babur → Humayun → Akbar → Jahangir → Shah Jahan → Aurangzeb → Bahadur Shah I → Jahandar Shah → Farrukhsiyar → Rafi ud-Darajat → Shah Jahan II → Muhammad Shah → Ahmad Shah Bahadur → Alamgir II → Shah Jahan III → Shah Alam II → Akbar Shah II → Bahadur Shah II.

Q5. Who is the real father of Akbar?
Ans. Humayun was the real father of Akbar.

Q6. Are Jahangir and Salim the same?
Ans. Yes, Jahangir’s birth name was Nur-ud-din Muhammad Salim.