The Mughals | History for UPSC 2024 (Pre & Mains) PDF Download

 Page 1


The Mughals
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The Mughals
Babur (1526 – 1530 C.E.)
Babur was the founder of the Mughal Empire in India.
He was related to Timur from his father’s side and to Chengiz Khan through his mother. Babur 
succeeded his father Umar Shaikh Mirza as the ruler of Farghana
He was soon defeated by his distant relative and as a result lost his kingdom. He became a 
wanderer for sometime till he captured Kabul from one of his uncles. 
Babur took interest in conquering India and launched four expeditions between 1519 and 1523.
Five prominent Muslim rulers – the Sultans of Delhi, Gujarat, Malwa, Bengal and the Deccan –
and two prominent Hindu rulers – Rana Sangha of Mewar and the Vijayanagar Empire.
By the end of 1525, Babur started from Kabul to conquer India. He occupied Lahore easily by 
defeating its governor, Daulat Khan Lodi. 
Then he proceeded against Delhi where Ibrahim Lodi was the Sultan. On 21st April 1526 the first 
Battle of Panipat took place between Babur and Ibrahim Lodi, who was killed in the battle. 
Page 3


The Mughals
Babur (1526 – 1530 C.E.)
Babur was the founder of the Mughal Empire in India.
He was related to Timur from his father’s side and to Chengiz Khan through his mother. Babur 
succeeded his father Umar Shaikh Mirza as the ruler of Farghana
He was soon defeated by his distant relative and as a result lost his kingdom. He became a 
wanderer for sometime till he captured Kabul from one of his uncles. 
Babur took interest in conquering India and launched four expeditions between 1519 and 1523.
Five prominent Muslim rulers – the Sultans of Delhi, Gujarat, Malwa, Bengal and the Deccan –
and two prominent Hindu rulers – Rana Sangha of Mewar and the Vijayanagar Empire.
By the end of 1525, Babur started from Kabul to conquer India. He occupied Lahore easily by 
defeating its governor, Daulat Khan Lodi. 
Then he proceeded against Delhi where Ibrahim Lodi was the Sultan. On 21st April 1526 the first 
Battle of Panipat took place between Babur and Ibrahim Lodi, who was killed in the battle. 
Babur (1526 – 1530 C.E.)
Babur’s success was due his cavalry and artillery. His artillery was led by Ustad Ali and Mustafa.
Babur used the Rumi (Ottoman) device of lashing a large number of carts to form a defending wall with 
breastwork in between to rest guns (Tulghama system of warfare). 
Babur occupied Delhi and sent his son Humayun to seize Agra. Babur proclaimed himself as “Emperor of 
Hindustan”. 
Rana Sangha of Mewar was a great Rajput warrior. He marched against Babur and in the Battle of Khanua (near 
Agra) held in 1527 Babur won a decisive victory over him. Babur assumed the title Ghazi. 
His subsequent victories over Rana Sangha and the Afghans secured his position as the ruler of India. 
? Rana Sangha of Mewar marched against Babur and in the Battle of Khanwa (near Agra) in 1527 Babur won a decisive victory 
over him. Babur assumed the title ‘Ghazi’.
? In 1528, Babur captured Chanderi from another Rajput ruler Medini Rai. 
? In 1529, Babur defeated the Afghans under Mahmud Lodi (brother of Ibrahim Lodi) in the Battle of Ghagra in Bihar. 
Babur died at Agra in 1530 at the age of forty seven. Buried at Aram Bagh in Agra; later his body was taken to 
Aram Bagh, Kabul.
Babur wrote his memoirs, Tuzuk-i-Baburi in Turki language. It provides a vivid account of India. 
Babur was a devoted follower of the famous Naqshbandiya Sufi Khwaja Ubaidullah Ahrar.
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The Mughals
Babur (1526 – 1530 C.E.)
Babur was the founder of the Mughal Empire in India.
He was related to Timur from his father’s side and to Chengiz Khan through his mother. Babur 
succeeded his father Umar Shaikh Mirza as the ruler of Farghana
He was soon defeated by his distant relative and as a result lost his kingdom. He became a 
wanderer for sometime till he captured Kabul from one of his uncles. 
Babur took interest in conquering India and launched four expeditions between 1519 and 1523.
Five prominent Muslim rulers – the Sultans of Delhi, Gujarat, Malwa, Bengal and the Deccan –
and two prominent Hindu rulers – Rana Sangha of Mewar and the Vijayanagar Empire.
By the end of 1525, Babur started from Kabul to conquer India. He occupied Lahore easily by 
defeating its governor, Daulat Khan Lodi. 
Then he proceeded against Delhi where Ibrahim Lodi was the Sultan. On 21st April 1526 the first 
Battle of Panipat took place between Babur and Ibrahim Lodi, who was killed in the battle. 
Babur (1526 – 1530 C.E.)
Babur’s success was due his cavalry and artillery. His artillery was led by Ustad Ali and Mustafa.
Babur used the Rumi (Ottoman) device of lashing a large number of carts to form a defending wall with 
breastwork in between to rest guns (Tulghama system of warfare). 
Babur occupied Delhi and sent his son Humayun to seize Agra. Babur proclaimed himself as “Emperor of 
Hindustan”. 
Rana Sangha of Mewar was a great Rajput warrior. He marched against Babur and in the Battle of Khanua (near 
Agra) held in 1527 Babur won a decisive victory over him. Babur assumed the title Ghazi. 
His subsequent victories over Rana Sangha and the Afghans secured his position as the ruler of India. 
? Rana Sangha of Mewar marched against Babur and in the Battle of Khanwa (near Agra) in 1527 Babur won a decisive victory 
over him. Babur assumed the title ‘Ghazi’.
? In 1528, Babur captured Chanderi from another Rajput ruler Medini Rai. 
? In 1529, Babur defeated the Afghans under Mahmud Lodi (brother of Ibrahim Lodi) in the Battle of Ghagra in Bihar. 
Babur died at Agra in 1530 at the age of forty seven. Buried at Aram Bagh in Agra; later his body was taken to 
Aram Bagh, Kabul.
Babur wrote his memoirs, Tuzuk-i-Baburi in Turki language. It provides a vivid account of India. 
Babur was a devoted follower of the famous Naqshbandiya Sufi Khwaja Ubaidullah Ahrar.
Humayun (1530 – 1540 C.E.)
Humayun was the eldest son of Babur. Humayun had three brothers, Kamran, Askari and Hindal. 
Humayun divided the empire among his brothers but this proved to be a great blunder on his part. 
When Humayun was busy with fighting the Afghans in the east, he got the news that Bahadur Shah of 
Gujarat was advancing towards Delhi. 
Therefore, he hastily concluded a treaty with the Afghan leader Sher Khan (later Sher Shah) and 
proceeded towards Gujarat.
Humayun captured Gujarat from Bahadur Shah and appointed Askari as its governor. But soon 
Bahadur Shah recovered Gujarat from Askari who fled from there. 
In the meantime Sher Khan became powerful in the east. Humayun marched against him but in the 
Battle of Chausa, held in 1539, Sher Khan destroyed the Mughal army and Humayun escaped from 
there.
Humayun reached Agra to negotiate with his brothers. But as they were not cooperative, Humayun 
was forced to fight with Sher Khan alone in the Battle of Bilgram (also known as Battle of Kanauj) in 
1540. Humayun was thoroughly defeated by Sher Khan.
After losing his kingdom, Humayun became an exile for the next fifteen years.
Page 5


The Mughals
Babur (1526 – 1530 C.E.)
Babur was the founder of the Mughal Empire in India.
He was related to Timur from his father’s side and to Chengiz Khan through his mother. Babur 
succeeded his father Umar Shaikh Mirza as the ruler of Farghana
He was soon defeated by his distant relative and as a result lost his kingdom. He became a 
wanderer for sometime till he captured Kabul from one of his uncles. 
Babur took interest in conquering India and launched four expeditions between 1519 and 1523.
Five prominent Muslim rulers – the Sultans of Delhi, Gujarat, Malwa, Bengal and the Deccan –
and two prominent Hindu rulers – Rana Sangha of Mewar and the Vijayanagar Empire.
By the end of 1525, Babur started from Kabul to conquer India. He occupied Lahore easily by 
defeating its governor, Daulat Khan Lodi. 
Then he proceeded against Delhi where Ibrahim Lodi was the Sultan. On 21st April 1526 the first 
Battle of Panipat took place between Babur and Ibrahim Lodi, who was killed in the battle. 
Babur (1526 – 1530 C.E.)
Babur’s success was due his cavalry and artillery. His artillery was led by Ustad Ali and Mustafa.
Babur used the Rumi (Ottoman) device of lashing a large number of carts to form a defending wall with 
breastwork in between to rest guns (Tulghama system of warfare). 
Babur occupied Delhi and sent his son Humayun to seize Agra. Babur proclaimed himself as “Emperor of 
Hindustan”. 
Rana Sangha of Mewar was a great Rajput warrior. He marched against Babur and in the Battle of Khanua (near 
Agra) held in 1527 Babur won a decisive victory over him. Babur assumed the title Ghazi. 
His subsequent victories over Rana Sangha and the Afghans secured his position as the ruler of India. 
? Rana Sangha of Mewar marched against Babur and in the Battle of Khanwa (near Agra) in 1527 Babur won a decisive victory 
over him. Babur assumed the title ‘Ghazi’.
? In 1528, Babur captured Chanderi from another Rajput ruler Medini Rai. 
? In 1529, Babur defeated the Afghans under Mahmud Lodi (brother of Ibrahim Lodi) in the Battle of Ghagra in Bihar. 
Babur died at Agra in 1530 at the age of forty seven. Buried at Aram Bagh in Agra; later his body was taken to 
Aram Bagh, Kabul.
Babur wrote his memoirs, Tuzuk-i-Baburi in Turki language. It provides a vivid account of India. 
Babur was a devoted follower of the famous Naqshbandiya Sufi Khwaja Ubaidullah Ahrar.
Humayun (1530 – 1540 C.E.)
Humayun was the eldest son of Babur. Humayun had three brothers, Kamran, Askari and Hindal. 
Humayun divided the empire among his brothers but this proved to be a great blunder on his part. 
When Humayun was busy with fighting the Afghans in the east, he got the news that Bahadur Shah of 
Gujarat was advancing towards Delhi. 
Therefore, he hastily concluded a treaty with the Afghan leader Sher Khan (later Sher Shah) and 
proceeded towards Gujarat.
Humayun captured Gujarat from Bahadur Shah and appointed Askari as its governor. But soon 
Bahadur Shah recovered Gujarat from Askari who fled from there. 
In the meantime Sher Khan became powerful in the east. Humayun marched against him but in the 
Battle of Chausa, held in 1539, Sher Khan destroyed the Mughal army and Humayun escaped from 
there.
Humayun reached Agra to negotiate with his brothers. But as they were not cooperative, Humayun 
was forced to fight with Sher Khan alone in the Battle of Bilgram (also known as Battle of Kanauj) in 
1540. Humayun was thoroughly defeated by Sher Khan.
After losing his kingdom, Humayun became an exile for the next fifteen years.
Sur Interregnum (1540 – 1555 C.E.)
The founder of the Sur dynasty was Sher Shah, whose original name was Farid. Farid served under the Afghan 
ruler of Bihar, Sultan Muhammad Nuhani, who gave him the title Sher Khan for his bravery. 
After defeating Humayun at the Battle of Chausa, he became the ruler of Delhi in 1540 with the title Sher Shah 
Sur. 
His conquests include Punjab, Malwa, Sind, Multan and Bundelkhand. His empire consisted of the whole of North 
India except Assam, Nepal, Kashmir and Gujarat. 
He died in 1545 while campaigning against Kalinjar Fort.
Sher Shah’s Administration
Although his rule lasted for five years, he organized a brilliant administrative system. 
The central government consisted of 4 main departments. 
1. Diwan –i- Wizarat – also called as Wazir - in charge of Revenue and Finance.
2. Diwan-i-Ariz – in charge of Army.
3. Diwan-i-Rasalat- Foreign Minister.
4. Diwan-i-Insha- Minister for Communications.