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

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Later Mughals 
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Later Mughals 
Emergence of New States
Through the 18th century, the Mughal Empire gradually fragmented into a number of 
independent, regional states.
It can be divided into three overlapping groups:
1. States that were old Mughal provinces like Awadh, Bengal, and Hyderabad. Although 
extremely powerful and quite independent, the rulers of these states did not break their 
formal ties with the Mughal emperor.
2. States that had enjoyed considerable independence under the Mughals as watan jagirs. 
These included several Rajput principalities.
3. States under the control of Marathas, Sikhs and others like the Jats. They all had seized their 
independence from the Mughals after a long-drawn armed struggle.
Page 3


Later Mughals 
Emergence of New States
Through the 18th century, the Mughal Empire gradually fragmented into a number of 
independent, regional states.
It can be divided into three overlapping groups:
1. States that were old Mughal provinces like Awadh, Bengal, and Hyderabad. Although 
extremely powerful and quite independent, the rulers of these states did not break their 
formal ties with the Mughal emperor.
2. States that had enjoyed considerable independence under the Mughals as watan jagirs. 
These included several Rajput principalities.
3. States under the control of Marathas, Sikhs and others like the Jats. They all had seized their 
independence from the Mughals after a long-drawn armed struggle.
Later Mughals
1707 – Death of Aurangzeb – War of succession began amongst his three surviving sons –
Muazzam, Azam and Kam Baksh
? Muazzam emerged victorious and ascended the Mughal throne with the title of Bahadur Shah I. 
? He was also known as Shah Alam I.
Page 4


Later Mughals 
Emergence of New States
Through the 18th century, the Mughal Empire gradually fragmented into a number of 
independent, regional states.
It can be divided into three overlapping groups:
1. States that were old Mughal provinces like Awadh, Bengal, and Hyderabad. Although 
extremely powerful and quite independent, the rulers of these states did not break their 
formal ties with the Mughal emperor.
2. States that had enjoyed considerable independence under the Mughals as watan jagirs. 
These included several Rajput principalities.
3. States under the control of Marathas, Sikhs and others like the Jats. They all had seized their 
independence from the Mughals after a long-drawn armed struggle.
Later Mughals
1707 – Death of Aurangzeb – War of succession began amongst his three surviving sons –
Muazzam, Azam and Kam Baksh
? Muazzam emerged victorious and ascended the Mughal throne with the title of Bahadur Shah I. 
? He was also known as Shah Alam I.
Bahadur Shah I (1707 – 12)
He was the first and the last of the later Mughal rulers to exercise real authority. 
He was learned, dignified and tried to reverse some of the narrow-minded policies and measures adopted by 
Aurangzeb. 
He followed a conciliatory policy towards the Rajputs and Marathas but a strict policy towards the Sikhs.
Marathas:
? Shahu, son of Shambhaji who was in Mughal captivity was released in 1707. He granted them the sardeshmukhi of the 
Deccan but not the chauth. 
? He also did not recognize Shahu as the rightful Maratha king thus keeping the fight for supremacy going between Tara Bai 
and Shahu.
Sikhs:
? Bahadur Shah made reconciliation with Guru Gobind Singh and granted him high mansab. 
? But after the death of the Guru, the Sikhs once again raised a revolt under the leadership of Banda Bahadur. The Mughal 
authority defeated Banda Bahadur at Lohgarh
Others:
? Bahadur Shah made peace with Chhatrasal, the Bundela chief and the Jat chief Churaman who joined him in the campaign 
against Banda Bahadur.
He died in 1712. 
Page 5


Later Mughals 
Emergence of New States
Through the 18th century, the Mughal Empire gradually fragmented into a number of 
independent, regional states.
It can be divided into three overlapping groups:
1. States that were old Mughal provinces like Awadh, Bengal, and Hyderabad. Although 
extremely powerful and quite independent, the rulers of these states did not break their 
formal ties with the Mughal emperor.
2. States that had enjoyed considerable independence under the Mughals as watan jagirs. 
These included several Rajput principalities.
3. States under the control of Marathas, Sikhs and others like the Jats. They all had seized their 
independence from the Mughals after a long-drawn armed struggle.
Later Mughals
1707 – Death of Aurangzeb – War of succession began amongst his three surviving sons –
Muazzam, Azam and Kam Baksh
? Muazzam emerged victorious and ascended the Mughal throne with the title of Bahadur Shah I. 
? He was also known as Shah Alam I.
Bahadur Shah I (1707 – 12)
He was the first and the last of the later Mughal rulers to exercise real authority. 
He was learned, dignified and tried to reverse some of the narrow-minded policies and measures adopted by 
Aurangzeb. 
He followed a conciliatory policy towards the Rajputs and Marathas but a strict policy towards the Sikhs.
Marathas:
? Shahu, son of Shambhaji who was in Mughal captivity was released in 1707. He granted them the sardeshmukhi of the 
Deccan but not the chauth. 
? He also did not recognize Shahu as the rightful Maratha king thus keeping the fight for supremacy going between Tara Bai 
and Shahu.
Sikhs:
? Bahadur Shah made reconciliation with Guru Gobind Singh and granted him high mansab. 
? But after the death of the Guru, the Sikhs once again raised a revolt under the leadership of Banda Bahadur. The Mughal 
authority defeated Banda Bahadur at Lohgarh
Others:
? Bahadur Shah made peace with Chhatrasal, the Bundela chief and the Jat chief Churaman who joined him in the campaign 
against Banda Bahadur.
He died in 1712. 
A New Turn
Previously, the contest for power was between the royal princes; the nobles had merely backed 
and sided with them. 
Now they became direct aspirants to the throne and began using the princes as pawns to 
capture authoritarian positions.