Babur, who reigned until 1530, was a man of culture as well as a military genius. After defeating the last Lodi
king of the DELHI SULTANATE, Babur established a policy of tolerance toward his Hindu subjects, although he disliked
India. His son, HUMAYUN, spent most of his reign (1530-40; 1555-56) attempting to consolidate Mogul rule
over Babur's conquests. Humayun's son AKBAR (r. 1556-1605) laid a firm basis for the administration of the
vast Mogul domain, which he also extended further. Akbar and his successors, JAHANGIR (r. 1605-27), SHAH JAHAN
(r. 1627-58), and AURANGZEB (r. 1658-1707), are generally considered to be one of the finest groups of
kings that ever ruled in succession over such a long period.
Although the Moguls remained on the throne until 1858, their territory began to contract after 1707, and they
eventually became mere puppets of the British. Following the INDIAN MUTINY of 1857, the British exiled the last
Mogul emperor, Bahadur Shah II (1775-1862; r. 1837-58). The Moguls' main legacy to India consisted of an
administrative machine, land tenure patterns, and a system of revenue collection, all of which have proved remarkably
durable. In addition, the magnificent Mogul art and architecture have had a lasting impact on Indian styles.
Architecture & Art
Mughal Rulers