The Mughal Empire Comprised 20 Emperors from the rise of  Zahir ud-Din Muhammad Babur in 1526 CE to the fall of the Bahadur Shah Zafar in 1857 CE in the War of Independence. Here is the complete list of Mughal Emperors in order, along with their reigns and names:

List of Mughal Emperors in Order: Their Reigns and Names

1. Babur (1526-1530 CE) – بابر
2. Humayun (1530-1540, 1555-1556 CE) – ہمایوں
3. Akbar (1556-1605 CE) – اکبر اعظم
4. Jahangir (1605-1627 CE) – جہانگیر
5. Shah Jahan (1628-1658 CE) – شاہجہان
6. Aurangzeb (1658-1707 CE) – اورنگزیب عالمگیر
7. Azam Shah (1707 CE) – اعظم شاه
8. Bahadur Shah I (1707-1712 CE) – بہادر شاہ اول
9. Jahandar Shah (1712-1713 CE) – جہاںدار شاہ
10. Farrukh Siyar (1713-1719 CE) – فرخ سیر
11. Rafi ud-Darajat (1719 CE) – رفیع الدرجات
12. Shah Jahan II (1719 CE) – شاہجہان دوم
13. Muhammad Ibrahim (1720 CE) – محمد ابراہیم
14. Muhammad Shah (1719-1720, 1720-1748 CE) – محمد شاہ
15. Ahmad Shah Bahadur (1748-1754 CE) – احمد شاہ بہادر
16. Alamgir II (1754-1759 CE) – عالمگیر دوم
17. Shah Jahan III (1759-1760 CE) – شاہجہان سوم
18. Shah Alam II (1760-1806 CE) – شاہ عالم دوم
19. Akbar Shah II (1806-1837 CE) – اکبر شاہ دوم
20. Bahadur Shah Zafar (1837-1857 CE) – بہادر شاہ ظفر

List of Mughal Emperors: Key Achievements and Notable Events

The Mughal Empire ruled much of the Indian subcontinent for more than three centuries, from 1526 to 1857 CE. Its emperors left an enduring impression on Indian politics, culture, architecture, and religion. In this section, we will explore some of the key achievements and notable events during the reigns of the Mughal Emperors. 

Early Mughal Emperors (1526–1707 CE)

The early Sirx Mughal emperors were formidable rulers. They are usually called the Great Mughals. These six visionary emperors laid the foundations of a powerful empire, expanded its territory, and fostered a rich cultural environment that influenced art, architecture, and administration.

Let’s take a look at the first six rulers.

Zahir ud-Din Muhammad Babur (1526–1530 CE)

Zahir ud-Din Muhammad Babur was Born in 1483 in Fergana, modern-day Uzbekistan. Babur was a descendant of both Timur on his father’s side and Genghis Khan on his mother’s side. From a young age, Babur displayed formidable leadership skills. His father, Umar Shaikh Mirza, was the ruler of the small state of Fergana.

Babur inherited his ancestral kingdom in 1494, When he was 12 years old, after his father’s death. As a child, he faced repeated defeats in Central Asia, including losing his ancestral kingdom.  After losing the kingdom of Fergana, Babur turned his ambitions toward India. In 1526, at the First Battle of Panipat, he defeated the much larger army of Ibrahim Lodi, Sultan of Delhi Sultanate, and laid the foundations of Mughal rule in northern India. Babur became the first king of the Mughal Empire.

Following this victory, Babur established control over Northern India, securing key cities like Delhi, Agra, and Lahore. He also faced numerous challenges in consolidating power in a land with diverse cultures and established kingdoms. He relied on his ability to win the loyalty of local chiefs and noblemen.

Babur wrote his autobiography Baburnama, also known as Tuzk-e Babri (Memories of Babur), in the Chaghatai Turkish language. In Baburnama, Babur provides a detailed account of his campaigns and his deep appreciation for India’s geography, culture, and resources. His writings show a man of intellect, poetic sensibilities, and keen observation of the world around him.

Babur died in 1530, and his reign lasted only four years. His early death was a significant loss for the new empire. Still, his legacy continued through establishing a centralized administration and his vision for establishing a great empire in the Indian Subcontinent.

Nasir ud-Din Muhammad Humayun (1530–1540, 1555–1556 CE)

Nasir ud-Din Muhammad Humayun was the eldest son of Babur. Humayun ascended to the throne after his father died in 1530 under challenging circumstances. The empire he inherited was still in its early years, with several rivals wishing to exploit any weakness. Humayun’s reign faced both defeats and victories. He was defeated twice by Sher Shah Suri, a skilled Afghan leader, at the Battle of Chausa (1539) and the Battle of Kanauj (1540). Humayun was forced to flee, leading to a 15-year exile in Persia under the Safavid dynasty.

In exile, Humayun shaped an important alliance with the Safavid ruler Shah Tahmasp I. This alliance proved very helpful. Humayum reclaimed the Mughal throne in 1555 defeating the suri sultan Adil Shah Suri with Persian military support. 

Humayun died in 1556, falling from his library Staircase. Despite his short rule, his efforts in rebuilding and unifying the Mughal empire laid the foundation for future expansion and stability under his son, Akbar.

Jalal ud-Din Muhammad Akbar (1556–1605 CE)

Jalal ud-Din Muhammad Akbar succeeded to the throne at the age of 13 after his father, Hamayun, died in 1556. Akbar demonstrated his capability as a great ruler at a young age. His reign was known for  territorial expansion, administrative reforms, and a commitment to religious and cultural harmony. 

Akbar led successful military campaigns and strategic marriages and expanded the Mughal Empire to include most of northern, central, and western India. He Conquered Gujarat, Bangal, and Rajasthan, which increased the empire’s wealth and strengthened its strategic position. During his reign, the Mughal Empire stretched from Afghanistan to Bengal and from the Deccan Plateau to the southern tip of India.     

Akbar was a genius administrator and reformer. For effective administration, he implemented the Mansabdari system, a hierarchical organization that linked land revenue with military service, which ensured loyalty and efficiency. With the help of his finance minister, Todar Mal, Akbar standardized the taxation system and increased state revenue while reducing peasant exploitation.

Akbar is also widely known for his religious tolerance policy. He demolished the jizya (a tax on non-Muslims) and called scholars, artists, and religious thinkers of all faiths to his court. Akbar went to the extent that he even set up a new combined religion, the Din-i-Ilahi, which combined elements of Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity. The aim of Din-i-Ilahi was to promote unity among his subjects. His court became a center of cultural activity, attracting luminaries like the musician Tansen and the poet Faizi. Akbar also supported art and architecture like Buland Darwaza and Fatehpur Sikri, showcasing a blend of Indian and Persian styles.

Akbar died in 1605. He is considered one of the greatest Mughal emperors and is often called Akbar the Great. His reign established a standard for exclusive governance and cultural integration.

Nur ud-Din Muhammad Jahangir (1605–1627 CE)

Nur ud-Din Muhammad Jahangir was a son of Akbar the Great. In 1605, after Akbar’s death, Jahangir inherited a stable and prosperous empire. He sponsored the arts, paintings, and poetry, and his reign was known for cultural refinement and architectural achievements. Jahangir was deeply influenced by Persian culture, which flourished at his court. He commissioned beautiful paintings and developed the Mughal school of miniature art.

Emperor Jahangir also wrote his autobiography, Tuzuk-e-Jahangiri or Jahangirnama, in Persian language. Tuzuk-e-Jahangiri offers detailed information on Jahangir’s personal experiences, administrative measures, military campaigns, and reflections on art, culture, and nature.

Jahangir’s rule was also widely influenced by his wife, Nur Jahan. Nur Jahan became one of the most powerful women in his court and significantly affected his policies and decisions. She effectively ruled on his behalf during periods of his illness.

Jahangir consolidated the empire through military campaigns and diplomatic efforts. His reign also faced challenges, like rebellious nobles and his struggles with addiction to opium and alcohol, which sometimes disrupted his decision-making. Nevertheless, Jahangir managed to maintain the great empire’s stability. He fostered cultural flourishing that peaked in the reign of his successor, Shah Jahan.

Shahab ud-Din Muhammad Shah Jahan (1628–1658 CE)

Shahab ud-Din Muhammad Shah Jahan was the son of Jahangir.  Shah Jahan ascended to the throne in 1628. His reign is often called the golden age of Mughal architecture.

The Taj Mahal, built in memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal as a tomb in Agra (1631 – 1648), remains one of the most famous buildings in the world, celebrated for its beautiful white marble and complex craftsmanship. He also constructed the Red Fort in Delhi, the Jama Masjid in Delhi, and other masterworks that exemplified the grandeur of Mughal design.

Shah Jahan promoted the empire’s wealth through trade and commerce at its zenith. He expanded the empire’s territories through successful military campaigns, unified control over the Deccan Plateau, and strengthened trade routes. 

Anyhow, the later years of Shah Jahan’s reign were marked by internal conflicts. When his health weakened, a succession struggle broke out among his sons for the throne. Subsequently, his son Aurangzeb emerged victorious, and Shah Jahan was imprisoned in the Agra Fort. He spent the later years of his life under house arrest until his death in 1666.

Muhi ud-Din Muhammad Aurangzeb Alamgir (r. 1658–1707 CE)

Muhi ud-Din Muhammad Aurangzeb Alamgir was the son of Emperor Shah Jahan. Aurangzeb became the sixth Mughal emperor after defeating his brother Dara Shikoh in the Battle of Samugarh in 1658. He expanded the empire to its greatest territorial extent. His military campaigns stretched the empire from Kashmir in the north to Tamil Nadu in the south. Nevertheless, this expansionist policy came at a great cost. The empire became increasingly strained by constant warfare, particularly against the formidable Marathas in the Deccan.

Aurangzeb is known for his strict devotion to Islamic principles and the imposition of Sharia law. He reintroduced the jizya tax on non-Muslims and banned certain non-Islamic cultural practices. These steps frown on many of his subjects, especially in regions where Hindus are in the majority. Some critique his policies as a factor that sowed the seeds of the empire’s decline.

Aurangzeb was also a patron of architecture. He made significant contributions, such as the Badshahi Mosque in Lahore and the Bibi Ka Maqbara in Aurangabad. However, his emphasis on military campaigns left the empire financially weak.

Aurangzeb died in 1707; he was the last of the great Mughal emperors. He ruled the Mughal Empire for nearly 50 years, from 1658 to 1707.

These early Mughal emperors laid the foundation for a powerful and prosperous empire. Their military victories, administrative reforms, and patronage of the arts, architecture, and culture shaped Indian history. However, it is said that the seeds of decline were sown during Aurangzeb’s reign.

Later Mughal Emperors (1707–1857 CE): Decline and Fall

The death of Aurangzeb in 1707 signaled the beginning of the Mughal Empire’s gradual decline. The later Mughal Emperors were unable to rule such a large empire. At the same time, European colonial powers, particularly the Portuguese, French, and British, sought to exploit the empire’s weakness and establish their control over the Indian subcontinent. Eventually, Internal instability, regional revolts, and growing European influence led to the fall of the Mughal empire in 1857.

Qutb ud-Din Muhammad Azam Shah (1707 CE)

Qutb ud-Din Muhammad Azam Shah was the eldest son of Aurangzeb. Azam Shah ascended the throne after his father’s death in 1707. His reign was short and lasted only a few months. Azam Shah contested the throne with his brother Bahadur Shah I. Azam Shah was defeated and killed at the Battle of Jajau in 1707. 

Qutb ud-Din Muhammad Bahadur Shah I (1707–1712 CE)

Qutb ud-Din Muhammad Bahadur Shah I was the son of Aurangzeb and succeeded to the Mughal throne in 1707 after defeating his brother, Emperor Azam Shah. Bahadur Shah I, also known as Shah Alam I, attempted to stabilize the empire during his reign, but there were continuous conflicts. He faced revolts from native leaders. These included the Marathas, the Rajputs, and the Sikhs, who sought greater independence. European influence was also increasing, particularly the British East India Company. Bahadur Shah tried for conciliation by adopting a policy of give and take, but his efforts were ineffective in curbing the growing disintegration of central authority.

Bahadur Shah’s reign also faced tensions within the royal court. The weakening control of the empire allowed powerful regional governors and nobles to exert undue influence on the court, further destabilizing the administration. In spite of these challenges, Bahadur Shah attempted to maintain the empire’s dignity during immense political and social unrest.

Jahandar Shah (1712–1713 CE)

Muiz-ud-Din Muhammad Jahandar Shah, the son of Bahadur Shah I, ascended to the throne in 1712. His reign was short, less than a year, from 1712 to 1713. It was marked by instability, chaos, and mismanagement, and his policies failed to address these issues of the empire.

Eventually, Jahandar Shah was overthrown by his nephew Farrukh Siyar in 1713 with the support of the powerful Sayyid Brothers, powerful nobles who controlled most of the empire’s administration during this period. His topple exemplifies the increasing power struggles within the Mughal court for thrown, as ambitious nobles and rival factions strive for control.

Farrukh Siyar (1713–1719 CE)

Farrukh Siyar acceded to throne in 1713. He is best known for issuing the firman (royal decree) that granted trading rights to the British East India Company. This decree allowed the British to trade freely in Bengal, Gujarat, and Hyderabad without interference from the Mughal government. Although Farrukh Siyar aimed to secure financial benefits for the empire, it adversely strengthened the British foot in India.

Farrukh Siyar’s reign was dominated by the Sayyid Brothers, two powerful nobles, Syed Hassan Ali and Syed Hussain Ali Khan, who acted as kingmakers. These Syed brothers deposed him and assassinated him in 1719. These were brothers who had initially supported him in acquiring the throne.

Rafi ud-Darajat (1719 CE)

Rafi ud-Darajat ascended the throne by the Sayyid Brothers in 1719. His reign was one of the shortest in Mughal history, lasting only a few months in 1719. He was a puppet ruler under the Sayyid Brothers, with no real authority.

Rafi ud-Darajat poor health led to his early death in 1719, shortly after ascending the throne. His inability to rule effectively illustrated the continuing weakness of the Mughal Empire during this era.

Shah Jahan II (1719 CE)

Shah Jahan II, also known as Rafi-ud-Daulah, was installed as emperor in 1719 by the Sayyid Brothers in the same year that Rafi ud-Darajat died. Like his predecessor, Shah Jahan II operated with no real power. He Was Seen as a tool for the Sayyid Brothers, who used him as a figurehead to control the empire’s administration.

Muhammad Ibrahim (1720 CE)

Muhammad Ibrahim was declared emperor in 1719. His reign, which lasted only a few months, was equally ineffective as those of his predecessors. The Sayyid Brothers continued to control the empire behind the scenes.

Muhammad Shah Rangeela (1719–1748 CE)

Muhammad Shah Rangeela ascended the throne in 1719. Muhammad Shah ruled for nearly three decades, from 1719 to 1748, and he was one of the longest-serving emperors among the later Mughal emperors. Although He initially tried to introduce reforms to stabilize the administration and restore Mughal power, these efforts were ineffective due to a lack of strong leadership and the growing influence of regional powers.

Muhammad Shah’s failure to defend Delhi from foreign invaders further diminished his reputation and the empire’s strength. In 1739, Nader Shah of Persia invaded the Mughal empire and looted Delhi, which caused a huge loss of wealth, including the famous Peacock Throne, and prestige.

Ahmad Shah Bahadur (1748–1754 CE)

Ahmad Shah Bahadur ascended to the throne in 1748 following his father’s death, Muhammad Shah. He was an incapable emperor and unable to assert control over the growing number of challenges facing the empire. His reign saw the rise of powerful regional forces, including the Marathas and the Afghans, who significantly threatened the Mughal empire.

Ahmad Shah Bahadur was unable to effectively counter the Maratha invasions into Mughal territories, which further weakened the Mughal control in central and northern India. In 1761, the Afghan king Ahmad Shah Durrani, also known as Ahmad Shah Abdali, attacked India and fought the third battle of Panipat with the Maratha. This caused further territorial loss and contributed to the Mughal decline. 

Eventually, Ahmad Shah Bahadur was dethroned by the powerful court factions in 1754, who sought a more competent leader to manage the empire’s affairs.

Alamgir II (1754–1759 CE)

Aziz ud-Din Muhammad Alamgir II was placed on the throne in 1754 by the powerful vizier Imad-ul-Mulk, who sought to control the empire through a puppet ruler. He was an ineffective ruler and lacked the political strength to assert control over the empire. The Mughal empire was further fragmented by the increasing dominance of the British East India Company and regional powers like the Marathas and the Sikhs.

In 1759, Alamgir II was assassinated by his vizier Imad-ul-Mulk, who sought to install a more capable ruler on the throne.

Shah Jahan III (1759–1760 CE)

Shah Jahan III ascended to the throne through court factions in 1759. Like many of his predecessors, he was unable to maintain control over the empire. His reign was marked by Continuous power struggles between nobles and regional governors.

Shah Jahan III was eventually overthrown by a coup led by Mirza Najaf Khan. His short reign, from 1759 to 1760, exemplified the continuing decline of the Mughal Empire.

Shah Alam II (1760–1806 CE)

Shah Alam II ascended the throne in 1760. He attempted to regain control and restore the empire’s fortunes but was unsuccessful. Shah Alam II faced numerous challenges, including the growing power of the British East India Company.

He fought the Battle of Buxar in 1764 against the British under Major Hector Munro, with the help of allied local rulers and Aghan. The British forces decisively defeated them. This defeat strengthened British dominance in India and severely weakened Mughal power. The British gained more control over India’s political and economic affairs, effectively relegating Shah Alam II to a symbolic role.

Akbar Shah II (1806–1837 CE)

Akbar Shah II, the son of Shah Alam II, became emperor in 1806. The British East India Company continued to expand its power and control over military and financial affairs in India.

Akbar Shah II eventually decided to formally acknowledge British control over India, marking the final submission of the Mughal dynasty. By his reign’s end, the Mughal Empire had been reduced to a symbolic institution.

Bahadur Shah Zafar (1837–1857 CE)

Bahadur Shah Zafar, also known as Bahadur Shah II, was the last emperor of the Mughal Empire. He ascended the throne in 1837. The most significant event of his reign was the War of Independence in 1857, also known as the Indian Rebellion of 1857 or Sepoy Mutiny. During the revolt, he was made the figurehead of the rebels, who sought to restore Mughal rule.

The rebels spread nationwide uprisings against British rule, which were ultimately crushed by British forces. The British won the war, and Bahadur Shah Zafar was captured, tried, and exiled to Rangoon, modern-day Yangon, Myanmar, in 1858, where he spent the remaining years of his life. The British officially ended the Mughal Empire and marked the end of Mughal rule in India, which spread over three centuries.

Conclusion

The Mughal Empire began with the formidable leadership of Babur in 1526 and grew to dominate much of the Indian subcontinent. It left behind a rich legacy of culture, architecture, and governance. The early Mughal emperors, particularly Akbar, achieved significant territorial expansion, administrative innovations, and cultural flourishment. However, the later Mughal rulers faced numerous challenges, including internal power struggles, invasions, and growing European influence, particularly from the British.

Some Frequently Asked Questions

References

Books:

1. John F. Richards. The Mughal Empire 
2. Abraham Eraly. The Mughal World: Life in India’s Last Golden Age
3. William Dalrymple. The Last Mughal: The Fall of a Dynasty, Delhi, 1857
4. Ashirbadi Lal Srivastava. Akbar: The Great Mughal

Websites:

1. The British Library. Mughal India
2. Encyclopaedia Britannica. Mughal Empire
3. Wikipedia. List of emperors of the Mughal Empire
4. BBC History.  Mughal Empire