Why was the Mughal dynasty plagued by a civil war everytime a ruler di...
The correct option is B.
In the absence of a fixed rule for succession, the empire was always plagued after the death of a King by a civil war between the princes resulting in loss of life and property and of capable military commanders. After Bahadur Shah's reign came a long list of weak, worthless and luxury-loving Kings.
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Why was the Mughal dynasty plagued by a civil war everytime a ruler di...
The Mughal dynasty was plagued by civil wars every time a ruler died due to the lack of a fixed rule of succession.
1. The absence of a fixed rule of succession:
The Mughal dynasty did not have a predetermined rule of succession, which meant that there was no clear line of succession for the throne. This led to uncertainty and power struggles among the potential successors, as each prince believed he had a legitimate claim to the throne.
2. Rivalry among the princes:
The death of a ruler resulted in a power vacuum, and the princes would often compete against each other to claim the throne. Each prince had his own supporters and factions within the nobility, which further fueled the conflicts. This rivalry and competition for the throne created a conducive environment for civil wars to break out.
3. Weak central authority:
The Mughal dynasty saw a decline in central authority as it progressed. This weakened central authority made it difficult to enforce a single line of succession and maintain stability after the death of a ruler. The absence of a strong central authority allowed regional chiefs and nobles to assert their autonomy and challenge the legitimacy of the potential successors.
4. Influence of the nobility:
The nobility played a crucial role in the Mughal administration and had a significant influence on the succession process. Different factions within the nobility would align themselves with different princes, supporting their claims to the throne. This division within the nobility further exacerbated the conflicts and civil wars that ensued after the death of a ruler.
5. Lack of an established system:
Unlike some other dynasties, the Mughals did not have a clearly defined system of succession such as primogeniture (where the eldest son inherits the throne) or agnatic-cognatic (where male heirs take precedence over female heirs). This lack of an established system meant that succession disputes became more common, contributing to the recurring civil wars.
Conclusion:
The absence of a fixed rule of succession, rivalry among the princes, weak central authority, influence of the nobility, and the lack of an established system of succession all contributed to the recurring civil wars in the Mughal dynasty whenever a ruler died. These factors created a power vacuum, leading to conflicts and struggles for the throne among the potential successors.