The successors of the Mughal Emperor Akbar were: Jahangir (1605–1627), Shah Jahan (1627–1658), and Aurangzeb (1658–1707). The great Mughal Emperor, Akbar died aged 63 in Fatehpur Sikri, Agra on 27th October 1605 leaving behind the Empire to his successors/sons. Candidates can read other NCERT Notes on History of Medieval India to prepare for UPSC IAS Prelims and Mains exam.

Akbar had three sons named – Jahangir, Shah Murad, and Danyal. Out of the three sons, two of them, Shah Murad and Danyal had been habituated to drinking which created a very simple path for Jahangir to be the successor to the throne of his father – Akbar. It was because of Shah Murad and Danyal’s drinking habit that they could not be of any competition to their brother Jahangir for the succession of the throne.

Jahangir (1605–1627)

• After the death of the Mughal emperor Akbar, prince Salim succeeded the throne with the title, ‘Jahangir’ which means ‘Conqueror of the World.’
• Jahangir, just two years after the succession of the throne, had assassinated his father’s all-time adviser and closest friend, Abu-al-Fazl.
• Jahangir was the most preferred choice for the succession of the throne because the rest two of his brothers were habituated to drinking and had almost killed themselves, so there arose no competition for the succession of the throne.
• Jahangir had defeated his own son, Khushrau Mirza, and also imprisoned him as he was the supporter of the Sikh guru.
• Jahangir also beheaded the 5th Sikh Guru, Guru Arjun as he was one of the supporters of his son, Khushrau Mirza.
• In the year 1611, Jahangir married Mehrunnisa, who was also called Nur Jahan which means ‘Light of the World.’
• After their marriage, Nur Jahan’s brother was appointed at a post that is reserved for the nobles i.e. ‘ Khan-i-Saman’
• Asaf Khan’s daughter, Arjumand Banu Begum who was later called Mumtaj had married Jahangir’s 3rd son Prince Khurram who was later called Shah Jahan.

Nur Jahan

• Nur Jahan, originally Mehrunnisa, was the 20th wife of the great Mughal Emperor, Jahangir.
• Nur Jahan was the daughter of Grand Vizier who formerly had worked under the kingdom of Emperor Akbar.
• Nur Jahan was the most powerful and most influential woman in the court during the Mughal Period.
• Nur Jahan’s brother was appointed to a noble post – Khan I Saman.

Shah Jahan (1628–1658)

• Under the rule of Shah Jahan, the Mughal campaigns were at an all-time high in the Deccan.
• The noble king of Afghan, Khan Lodi tried rebellion against Shah Jahan but was defeated.
• Shah Jahan defeated and seized the forces of Ahmadnagar.
• There was a treaty signed by the cities of Bijapur and Golconda with the Emperor.
• Shah Jahan had carved four provinces under the Mughals in the Deccan regions which were– Berar, Telangana, Daulatabad, and Khandesh.
• Shah Jahan’s last years were bitter as his four sons had an ugly war for the succession of the throne.
• Shah Jahan is remembered as a builder of his decade as he had carved many of the famous constructions of all time. Out of all the constructions, the Taj Mahal stands even today which he built in the memory of his 3rd wife who died while giving birth to the couple’s 14th child.

The War of Succession

• Shah Jahan’s 4 sons were – Dara Shikoh, Shah Shuja, Aurangazeb, and Murad Baksh.
• Shah Jahan fell ill in the year 1657, which led to the rage of war amongst his sons for the succession of the throne. Aurangazeb, who proved to be the strongest, defeated all his brothers and had then taken the position of his father.
• Aurangazeb, after defeating Dara Shikoh, entered the Agra Fort and forced his father, Shah Jahan to surrender. Shah Jahan was then imprisoned by Aurangazeb and kept in female apartments under constant watch.

Aurangazeb (1658–1707)

• Aurangazeb was considered to be one of the most capable Emperors of the Mughal Empire.
• Aurangazeb had gained the title – Alamgir, which meant ‘World Conqueror.’
• In the initial years of his rule, for about 10 years, his campaigns for the Military had proven to be a great benefit and success. After which his legacies proved to have failed and faced serious difficulties.
• Due to his harsh religious and sentimental policies, many groups such as the– Jats and Satnamis began revolting against him.
• As the Governor of Deccan, Aurangazeb had formulated various aggressive policies.
• Aurangazeb had pushed the territories of the Mughal Empire to the southern border of his Deccan region and all the way to Tanjore.
• In the first 25 years of his rule, Aurangazeb concentrated in the northwest fronts, and it was during this time, the Maratha Ruler Shivaji started carving a separate independent kingdom known as Marathas.
• Aurangazeb had successfully seized various territories of the Maratha kingdom by defeating Shah Sikandar of Bijapur and also imprisoned the Maratha ruler Shivaji.
• However, Shivaji had successfully escaped from the prison and after his escape, Shivaji declared himself as an independent leader and King and began his fight against the Mughals.

• Aurangazeb had faced rebellions from his son Akbar II, who had his support with the help of Marathas and the Sikhs.
• Aurangazeb also had to face various rebellions in the north from the Sikhs, Jats, and Satnamis because of his strict Islamic policies of destructing Hindu temples and various taxes on non-Islamic crowds.
• Aurangazeb had faced rebellions as he was a serious leader with aggressive policies, some of the most strict policies he implemented were heavy taxes on agricultural products, and religious tensions amongst his provinces.
• Aurangazeb is assumed to be held responsible for the decline of the Mughal Empire in the nation due to various rebellions against him and his harsh policies.
• Aurangazeb died in 1707 leaving behind the Empire fully intact, but the policies that he had implemented gradually started to see a steep downfall of the Mughals and the breakup of the Empire.

Religious Policies Followed by Aurangazeb

• Aurangazeb wanted to transform the whole nation into an Islamic state.
• Drinking alcohol was prohibited under the rule of Aurangazeb.
• Music was forbidden in the courts of the Mughals.
• The practice of Jharokha Darshan was discontinued under Aurangazeb’s rule. Jharokha Darshan was a daily practice of addressing the general public from the balconies or galleries of the palaces and the forts during the medieval period.
• He started the policies of destroying Hindu temples in various territories.
• Muharram celebration in the states of the Mughal rule was barred.
• Aurangazeb was also against the Sikhs in the nation and had also killed the 9th Sikh Guru, Teg Bahadur.
• Due to his harsh policies against various communities in the nation, the Marathas, the Sikhs, and the Rajputs turned out enemies of the Mughals in the nation. The Jats of the Mathura and the Satnamis of the Mewar had also turned rebellions against the Mughals.

Character and Personality of Aurangazeb

• Aurangazeb led a simple life with high moral values, he had kept himself from the vices, and the pleasures.
• Aurangazeb was dutiful towards his religion and was a God-fearing man.
• He had dismissed the musicians and the dancers from the court of the rule due to his simple and low standards of living.
• Aurangazeb is considered to be a disciplined and strict ruler who wouldn’t even spare his sons in the case of wrongdoings.
• Even in between the war, Aurangazeb would set aside and kneel to offer the prayers when it was the time.
• Aurangazeb had always offered prayers 5 times a day without missing a single day.
• Aurangazeb also followed the fasting period during the Ramzan month and fasted for the whole month.
• Aurangazeb earned his earnings by selling copies of the Holy book– Quran that he wrote himself.

Causes for the Downfall of the Mughal Empire

• After the death of Aurangazeb, the Mughal Empire saw a rapid downfall. Exploiting the situation in 1739, Nadir Shah captured the Mughal Emperor and plundered Delhi. The prime cause for the decline of the Mughals was the policies that were established by Aurangazeb.
• After Aurangazeb, the Mughals saw the rule of weak emperors which led to the downfall further.
• After Aurangazeb, the Mughals had faced the challenge of corruption in the nobility, which means, even if the Emperor had proved himself to be capable for the throne of the Empire, he was corrupt and had no loyalty towards the Empire.
• The later Mughals had carved out separate territories for their rule and had divided.
• There were continuous wars which then led to the financial crisis among the Mughals leading to a weaker army which led to the downfall of the Empire.
• After the death of the Emperor, a war of succession led to the division and further difficulties amongst themselves, resulting in loss of financial ability, property, and army.
• There had been constant attacks from the Marathas which weakened the Mughals and eventually led to the downfall of the empire.

To get more information and study materials on History for UPSC IAS Prelims and Mains exam, candidates can check NCERT Medieval History Notes right here.

FAQs

MCQs

1. Who ascended the Mughal throne after Akbar?

A) Shah Jahan
B) Aurangzeb
C) Jahangir
D) Nur Jahan

2. Which Mughal emperor commissioned the Taj Mahal?

A) Jahangir
B) Akbar
C) Shah Jahan
D) Aurangzeb

3. Which Mughal empress had coins minted in her name?

A) Jahanara Begum
B) Mumtaz Mahal
C) Nur Jahan
D) Roshanara Begum

4. What was one of the key factors leading to the decline of the Mughal Empire during Aurangzeb's reign?

A) Religious tolerance
B) Strong economic policies
C) Prolonged military campaigns
D) Alliance with Rajputs

5. During whose reign did the war of succession among Mughal princes occur?

A) Akbar
B) Jahangir
C) Shah Jahan
D) Aurangzeb

GS Mains Questions and Model Answers

Q1: Analyze the impact of Nur Jahan's influence during Jahangir's reign on the Mughal Empire.

Answer: Nur Jahan, the wife of Emperor Jahangir, wielded significant influence during his reign. She played a central role in state affairs, issuing royal decrees and managing the empire's administration. Her active participation in governance reflected her political acumen and brought stability to the court. However, her influence also led to court factions, as rival nobles resented her authority. Despite this, Nur Jahan's contributions, such as promoting trade and cultural patronage, left a lasting impact on the Mughal Empire.

Q2: Discuss the architectural contributions of Shah Jahan and their significance.

Answer: Shah Jahan is renowned for his architectural contributions, which marked the zenith of Mughal architecture. His most famous creation, the Taj Mahal, symbolizes love and artistic excellence. He also built the Red Fort, Jama Masjid, and numerous other structures, blending Persian, Indian, and Islamic architectural elements. These monuments reflect the grandeur of the Mughal Empire and have become symbols of India's cultural heritage, attracting admiration worldwide.

Q3: Evaluate the causes of the decline of the Mughal Empire during Aurangzeb's reign.

Answer: The decline of the Mughal Empire during Aurangzeb's reign can be attributed to multiple factors. His prolonged military campaigns, especially in the Deccan, drained the empire's resources and weakened its administration. Aurangzeb's religious policies, including the re-imposition of the jizya tax and strict adherence to Islamic laws, alienated non-Muslim communities, leading to internal unrest. The empire's vast territorial expansion became difficult to manage, resulting in the rise of regional powers and rebellions. These factors collectively contributed to the weakening of Mughal authority and the eventual decline of the empire.

Previous Year Questions on Mughal History

1. UPSC CSE Prelims 2019:

Question: Which Mughal emperor built the Taj Mahal?

A) Jahangir
B) Akbar
C) Aurangzeb
D) Shah Jahan

Answer: (D)

Explanation: Shah Jahan commissioned the Taj Mahal in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal.

2. UPSC CSE Mains 2018 (GS Paper 1):

Question: "Examine the role of Aurangzeb's policies in the decline of the Mughal Empire."

Answer: Aurangzeb's policies played a significant role in the decline of the Mughal Empire. His prolonged military campaigns overextended the empire's resources and weakened central control. Aurangzeb's strict religious policies, including the re-imposition of the jizya tax on non-Muslims and enforcement of Islamic laws, alienated large sections of society, leading to internal discontent and rebellions. The empire's vast expansion became difficult to manage, giving rise to regional powers and weakening Mughal authority.