History · Medieval history

Mughal Emperors

The Mughal emperors from Babur to Bahadur Shah Zafar, with reign and key facts.

Exam facts

• FounderBabur (1526)
• Longest reignAkbar and Aurangzeb, about 49 years each
• Last emperorBahadur Shah Zafar (exiled to Rangoon, 1858)
• Battles of Panipat1526 (Babur), 1556 (Akbar), 1761 (Marathas vs Ahmad Shah Abdali)

Emperors

1. 1
   Babur1526–1530Founder; First Battle of Panipat (1526); Battle of Khanwa (1527); memoir Tuzuk-i-Baburi (Baburnama)
2. 2
   Humayun1530–1540, 1555–1556Lost to Sher Shah Suri at Chausa (1539) and Kannauj (1540); regained throne in 1555
3. –
   Sher Shah Suri (Sur dynasty)1540–1545Introduced the rupiya; rebuilt the Grand Trunk Road; land revenue reforms
4. 3
   Akbar1556–1605Second Battle of Panipat (1556); Din-i-Ilahi; Mansabdari; Fatehpur Sikri; Navratnas
5. 4
   Jahangir1605–1627Chain of justice; Sir Thomas Roe visited; autobiography Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri
6. 5
   Shah Jahan1628–1658Built the Taj Mahal, Red Fort and Jama Masjid; Peacock Throne
7. 6
   Aurangzeb1658–1707Reimposed jizya (1679); largest Mughal empire; last great Mughal
8. 7
   Bahadur Shah I1707–1712First of the later Mughals
9. –
   Bahadur Shah Zafar1837–1857Last Mughal emperor; led the 1857 revolt; exiled to Rangoon