Mughal dynasty facts for kids

The Imperial Seal of the Mughal Empire

The Mughal dynasty was a group of powerful Muslim rulers. They came from a region called Central Asia and built a huge empire in India during medieval times. The word 'Mughal' actually comes from 'Mongol', showing their connection to the famous Mongol warriors. This dynasty was also a part of the Timurid dynasty, which was started by a famous leader named Tamerlane.

Important Mughal Rulers

The Mughal dynasty had many rulers. Historians often divide them into two main groups: the early, powerful rulers and the later rulers.

Early or Great Mughals

These rulers were very strong and helped the Mughal Empire grow and become famous.

• Babur (reigned 1526-1530): He was the one who started the Mughal dynasty in India.
• Humayun (reigned 1530-1540, then again 1555-1556): He faced challenges but managed to get his empire back.
• Akbar the Great (reigned 1556-1605): Known as one of the greatest Mughal emperors, he expanded the empire and was famous for his fair rule.
• Jahangir (reigned 1606-1627): He continued his father Akbar's policies and was known for his love of art.
• Shah Jahan (reigned 1628-1658): He built many beautiful buildings, including the famous Taj Mahal.
• Aurangzeb Alamgir (reigned 1658-1707): He was the last of the powerful Mughal emperors and expanded the empire to its largest size.

Later or Lesser Mughals

After Aurangzeb, the Mughal Empire slowly started to become weaker. These rulers had less power.

• Shah Alam Bahadur Shah I (reigned 1707-1712)
• Jahandar Shah (reigned 1712-1713)
• Farrukhsiyar (reigned 1713-1719)
• Muhammad Shah Rangeela (reigned 1719-1748)
• Ahmad Shah (reigned 1748-1754)
• Alamgir II (reigned 1754-1759)
• Shah Alam II (reigned 1759-1806)
• Akbar (Shah) II (reigned 1806-1837)
• Bahadur Shah Zaffar II (reigned 1837-1858): He was the last Mughal emperor.

Images for kids

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  A group portrait showing several Mughal rulers, from Babur to Aurangzeb. Their ancestor Timur is seated in the middle.