All About Tricks to Remember Mughal Kings

Babur established the Mughal Empire in 1526. Babur, the first Mughal King, originated from Uzbekistan. He won the first battle of Panipat after defeating Ibrahim Lodi, the Sultan of Delhi, to set up the Mughal Empire in India. 

After Babur came his son Humayun, who had to restore the Mughal Empire after being exiled. He was followed by Akbar, who is known as the greatest Mughal King. 

Akbar’s son Jahangir was next in line, and his son Shah Jahan came after him. Then followed the cruellest king in the Mughal Empire, Aurangzeb. After Aurangzeb, there was a decline in the Mughal Empire, and many kings followed, with the dynasty ending with Bahadur Shah Zafar.

Let us read about all about tricks to remember Mughal kings

The Mughal Empire ruled over most of northern India for almost two centuries. Babur founded it after winning the first battle of Panipat, defeating Ibrahim Lodi, the Sultan of Delhi, with help in the form of arms from the Ottoman Empire.

The time period of Mughal kings extended from 1526-to 1857. The empire covered the most significant area under Aurangzeb. After he died in 1707, the kingdom started diminishing, losing territory to the Marathas and was finally broken up by the East India Company in 1857.

Tricks to remember Mughal kings

Since there were a lot of Mughal kings, a few Mnemonics may come in handy to remember them. To remember the most notable Mughal Kings, an easy Mnemonic, BHAJI SABJI FOR MAAM-SAAB, can be used. Take a look at which Mughal kings the letters correspond to and a brief about them.

BHAJI

B- Babur (1526-1530)

He was the first Mughal King. He arrived from modern-day Uzbekistan and established the Mughal Empire in India with the help of the Ottomans in the form of arms by winning the first battle of Panipat against the Sultan of Delhi, Ibrahim Lodi. 

H- Humayun (1530-1556)

The empire set up by Babur was unstable, and his son Humayan was exiled after a rebellion led by Sher Shah Suri of the Sur Dynasty. He spent most of his reign in exile, with no Mughal Empire until a year before his death. He restored the Mughal Empire by gaining diplomatic favours with the Persian Empire, which helped him overthrow the Sur Dynasty.

A- Akbar (1556-1605) 

Under Akbar’s rule, the Mughal Empire underwent a Golden age. He was able to expand the empire in every direction. He developed a modern administration and encouraged cultural evolutions.

He allowed freedom of religion at his court and formed a new religion Din-i-Ilahi attempting to solve cultural and socio-political disputes. 

JI- Jahangir (1605-1627) 

As soon as he started his reign, Jahangir was tasked with contesting a rebellion by his oldest son, supported by the Sikh Guru Arjan. After suppressing the revolution, he executed the guru, causing a conflict between the Sikhs and the Mughals.

His marriage to Nur Jan in 1611 played a significant part in his reign, as she took over the court when he was away in battle. After he fell ill upon his return, she took over his duties and even issued firmans (decrees) in her name.

SABJI

S- Shah Jahan (1628-1658)

Shah Jahan rebelled against Nur Jahn to occupy the throne. He moved the capital of the  Shah Jahan and expanded the Mughal Empire from Agra to Delhi in 1948. Under his reign, the Mughal Empire saw itself growing through the Deccan for the first time. 

He was very fond of building marvels. His reign became known as the “The Golden Age of Mughal Architecture”. In Delhi, he built the Red Fort and the Jamia Masjid, but his most notable contribution to Mughal Architecture is the pristine Taj Mahal, which was built in memory of his wife, Mumtaz Mahal. 

A- Aurangzeb (1658-1707)

Aurangzeb, the cruellest king in the Mughal Empire, was the younger son of Shah Jahan. He came into power after seizing the throne from the oldest son, Dara Shikoh. He caused the Islamification of the Mughal Empire by encouraging conversions, levying the jizya tax against non-Muslims and creating a set of Islamic laws. 

He is known as the cruellest king in the Mughal Empire because he prevented Hindus from taking public office and demolished schools and temples. His execution of Sikh Guru Tegh Bahadur led to rebellion amongst the Sikhs. 

By the time Aurangzeb died in 1707, the Mughal Empire was fighting rebellions from the Marathas, Rajputs and the Sikhs. The Mughal Empire and its governance were collapsing.

B- Bahadur Shah (1707-1712)

Aurangzeb left the Mughal Empire in a sorry state. It was riddled with revolts and a poor economy. Bahadur Shah had to deal with this during his reign and expansionary pressure from outside.

Ji- Jahandar Shah (1712-13)

Jahandar Shah was a puppet prince. His rule was presided over by Zulfiqar Khan, the grand vizier who took over the daily happenings of the empire.

FOR

For- Farrukh-Siyār (1713–19) 

He ascended the throne after a war of succession, helped by two very important governors. The same governors who were now his vizier and chief military commander brought his reign to an end after they hatched a plot with the ruler of Jodhpur to assassinate him. 

MAAM

M – Muhammad Shah (1719–1748)

The empire began to fall apart under his reign. The following kings could not hold on to their positions and had very weak reigns.

A – Ahmad Shah (1748-1754)

AM – Alamgir (1754-59)

SAAB

SA – Shah Alam (1759-1806)

By the time of his reign, the Mughal Empire only comprised a small area circling Delhi, which was brought under Maratha control in 1785 and then British Control in 1803.

A – Akbar Shah (1806-1837)

B – Bahadur Shah Jafar (1837-1857) 

After being nominated as the leader of the revolt of 1857–1858. Bahadur Shah Zafar, the last Mughal, was dethroned by the British East India Company and exiled in 1858 after the revolt was crushed.

Conclusion

The Mughal Empire consisted of at least 15 notable rulers. Starting from the first ruler Babur who began the Mughal Empire in India, Humayun then consolidated the empire after an initial setback. Akbar expanded the empire in all directions. He was followed by Jahangir and Shah Jahan. Shah Jahan took the empire to an architectural high, constructing many monuments. 

The empire was expanded at its largest under the cruellest king of the time, Aurangzeb. However, it came at a cost. Following his reign, the Mughal Empire declined, losing territory and finally was dissolved by the British after the first war of Independence in 1857 as the last Mughal king Bahadur Shah Zafar was sent into exile.