Mughal Empire and Shiva Ji

Mughal Empire

• Founder - Babur

Lineage of Babur - 

• Paternal side - Turkish (Amir Timur)
• Maternal side - Mongol (Changez Khan)

Battles fought by Babur 

• 1504 - Babur conquered Kabul
• 1526 - Battle of Panipath (defeated Ibrahim Lodi)
• 1527 - Battle of Khanwa (defeated Rana Sanga)
• 1528 - Battle of Chanderi (defeated Medini Roy, where men performed Sak and women performed Johar)

1.   Zahir-ud-din Muhammad Babur (1526-30) 

• Babur after coming to power fought Battle of Khanwa in 1527 with Rana Sanga of Mewar.  He declared the war against Rana Sanga to be a Jihad and assumed the title of Ghazi.
• Next year in 1528, Babur attacked on Chanderi fort which was ruled by the closest colleague of Rana Sanga, Medini roy. Babur mentione/encountered with women performing Jauhar when during the battle with Medini Rai.
• Babur also pushed Afghans to Bihar and Bengal.
• Babur died in 1530 and after which his son Humayun became the next ruler.
• As per the wishes of Babur, he was initially buried on the banks of Yamuna but later the buried body was transferred to Kabul and buried again.
• Other sons of Babur - Ashkari, Hindal and Kamran
• Babur wrote his auto-biography, 'Baburnama' or 'Tuzuk-e-Babri' in Turkish.

(Babur did not like the climatic conditions of India. He again and again went to Kabul then to Delhi. Meanwhile, Humayun fell seriously ill. Babur got very anxious. On the advice of some men, Babur invited a sufi saint from Delhi, who asked Babur, "What would you give for the life of your son?". Babur replied that he will give all his kingdom but saint said that it was not enough. Then, Babur said that he would give his own life for his son. Then, the saint stood up and said that was enough and from the very next day Babur fell ill and Humayun started to recover. The day when Humayun got full consciousness, the day Babur died. Because of this event Mughals always have a great faith in Sufi Saints and always respected them.)

2.   Humayun (1530-40)

Challenges before Humayun

Internal challenge - Brothers of Humayun started to demand separate territories for themselves. So, as such areas like Kabul, Qandhar and Sindh were given to his brothers.

External challenge - 

(a) Bahadur Shah of Gujarat - Humayun defeated Bahadur Shah and later he was killed by the Portuguese

(b) Sher Shah - Sher Shah defeated Humayun and established Sur Dynasty. Humayun barely escaped from the hands of Sher Shah. He took refugee to a Rajput Kingdom of Amarkot (Umarkot), where Akbar was born. After some time he had to leave India and take asylum in Iran where he had to accept Siya Islam to secure the help from the Shah (ruler) of Iran in regaining his lost empire.

• Humayun ascended the throne at Agra.
• He created a new city in Delhi known as Dinpanah.
• He had to face many challenges, internally as well as externally.
• To solve the internal problem, he gave the areas of Afghanistan (Kabul, Kandhar) and Sindh to his brothers Kamram, Askari and Hindal.
• In 1534, he had to face challenge from the ruler of Gujarat Bahadur Shah, but after the death of Bahadur Shah the challenge was over.
• But Himayun was not able to defeat the Afghan ruler of Bihar and Bengal Sher Shah who defeated Himayun in two successive battles, i.e., in 1539 and 1540 in the Battle of Kannauj and Battle of Chausa.
• Himayun fled from India, he received refugee in Iran. 
• In Delhi Sher Shah established Sur empire and ascended the throne with the title of Sher Shah Suri.

Sur Empire (1540-55)

Sher Shah Suri was the founder of Sur Empire and also the most important ruler. His real name is Farid Khan. He died in 1545 due to an unfortunate event at Kalinjar.

During his tenure, he took many initiatives which are as follows -

• He created the base of provincial administration which was later elaborated by Akbar.
• He started codification of Shariyat law for adjudication purpose.
• He created many grand highways in India which included the most important 'Badshah road' or 'Grand Trunk road' running from Kolkata to Peshawar. On both the sides of the road he created resting places for the travellers known as Sarai.
• He is also considered as initiator of postal system whereby he created Dak Khanas in far-flung areas.
• He released the official currency of Sur empire, i.e., Rupia (Silver currency) and Dam (Copper currency).

Islam Shah, son of Sher Shah codified the laws, thus doing away with the necessity of depending on a special set of people who could interpret the Islamic law.

In 1555, Humayun came back from Iran and with the support from Iranian ruler Shah Tamashp, he eliminated Suris from Delhi and re-established Mughal rule in India.

Note - Padmavat written by Jaisi was completed during the reign of Sher Shah.

Humayun (1555-40) 

• Humayun after defeating the last Suri ruler Adil Shah Suri, re-established Mughal empire in India.
• But in an umfortunate incident, Humayun died when he fell from his observatory cum library, Sher Mandal.
• After the death of Humayun, Delhi was captured by an associate of Afghans Hemu. On this question, Mughal general Bairam Khan fought with Hemu in the Second Battle of Panipath (1556). At that time Akbar was in Kabul.
• Bairam Khan thoroughly defeated Hemu and beheaded him, which led to the elevation of Akbar, the minor son of Himayun as the next Mughal emperor.

3.   Jalal-ud-din Muhammad Akbar (1556-1605) 

• Akbar was crowned as the Mughal emperor in 1556 at a place called Kalanaur in Punjab.
• Bairam Khan was appointed to the post of Khan-i-Khanan.
• Initially, he was working under the regency of Bairam Khan.
• In 1560-62, there was influence of a lady Maham Anga in Mughal administration. 
• From 1562, Akbar started his campaign of territorial expansion. He annexed Bengal, Bihar, Kabul, Kashmir, Malwa, Gujarat, Khandesh and parts of Ahmednagar.
• With Rajput rulers, he followed the policy of negotiation whereby he declared that if Rajputs accept the supremacy of Akbar, then they would be given full autonomy and independent status in their own territory.
• Uday Singh married his daughter Jagat Gosain (Jodha Bai) with Akbar.
• As such majority of the Rajput rulers accepted the Akbar's supremacy except Maharana Pratap of Mewar. On the question of Mewar, Akbar's close associate Man Singh fought with Maharan Pratap in the Battle of Haldighati (1576). The war was inconclusive and the Mewar could not be annexed.
• After establishing a very large Mughal empire Akbar took his last breath in 1605. After which his son Jahangir became the next ruler.
• Other Rajput ruler who went against Akbar was the ruler of Marwar.
• Tulsidas was contemporary of Akbar.

Story of Maharana Pratap and Akbar 

One Rajput ruler did not accept Akbar's supremacy. As such Battle of Haldighati was fought on the question of Mewar. This battle was inconclusive as Akbar did not annexed Mewar rather he was impressed by Maharana Pratap's bravery and left him to rule Mewar.

Mulla-do-Pyaja (son of Bairam Khan, Adopted son of Akbar and one of the Gem of Akbar was given the area of Ajmer)

Maharana Pratap's son, Amar Singh started expansion campaign and captured Ajmer fort by defeating Mulla-do-Pyaja. He imprisoned them including women and children. When this news reached to Maharana Pratap, he got angry and immediately came to Ajmer and reprimanded his son and asked forgiveness to Mulla-do-Pyaja and returned Ajmer to him.

When Maharana Pratap died (natural death), Akbar uttered in praise of Maharana Pratap, "A great lion of the land has been laid down into the ashes".

Later, Amar Singh was defeated by prince Khurram and Mewar came under Mughal empire during the reign of Jhangir

Initiatives of Akbar

Administration - For ease of administration, Akbar divided Mughal empire into 12 Subas (provinces). It was further sub-divided which is as follows -

Empire 🠊 Suba (Province) 🠊 Sarkar (Zone) 🠊 Pargana (District) 🠊 Mahal (Block/Group of villages) 🠊 Gram (Village)

Mansabdari System - This system in India was initiated by Akbar. It derived from the word Mansab which means Official. All the officers in the Mughal court were known as Mansabdars. 

The Mansabdari System had two components -

1. Zat - It was the personal rank of a Mansabdar in the official hierarchy and according to his rank, he received payment. On the basis of their payment, there are two types of Mansabdars - Naqdi Mansabdar (who were paid in cash) and Jagirdari Mansabdar (who were paid in the form of Jagir, the jagirs were granted for temporary period. It was not hereditary and was transferrable)
2. Sawar - It indicates the number of horses and soldiers maintained by a Mansabdar according to his Zat rank.

Ahadis - These were the individual troops directly under the control of Mughal emperor.

Economy - Akbar when assumed full-fledge power, Mughal India became 2nd largest GDP of the contemporary world. By the death of Akbar, it became the largest GDP of the world.

Taxation - Raja Todar Mal came up with the system of progressive taxation whereby land was surveyed and classified into following categories according to the fertility of the land.

1. Polaj land - It was the most fertile land and attracted maximum amount of tax annually.
2. Parati land - Land which was left fallow for 1 year to regain fertility. Taxes imposed on this land in alternate year.
3. Cachar land - Land which was left fallow for 2 years to regain fertility. Taxes were imposed in every 3rd year.
4. Banjar land - It was the least fertile land which was left fallow for 5 or more than 5 years to regain fertility. Taxes were imposed only in the year of cultivation.

Dahsala System - Average price over 10 years was calculated to levy taxes.

Other land revenue systems -

1. Zabti system (Todar Mal Bandobast) - It involved measurement of land and the assessment based on it. Dahsala system was further development of Zabti system.
2. Batai/Ghalla-bhakhshi - Produce was divided between the peasant and the state in fixed proportion.
3. Nasaq/Kanhut - Rough calculation of amount payable was calculated based on past payings (estimation method).

Taccavi were the agricultural loans provided to the peasants.

Socio-religious initiatives - 

• Akbar abolished Jizya tax (1564) and Pilgrimage tax.
• Akbar stopped converting prisoners of war into Islamic faith.
• He opened Ibadat Khana (Hall of prayers) in Fatehpur Sikri in 1575 for discussion and deliberation with the representatives of different religions.
• Akbar propounded his new religious theology, Tauhid-i-Ilahi or Din-i-Ilahi (divine monotheism). With this theology, Akbar wanted to spread the message of Sulh-i-kul which is universal peace and brotherhood.
• Akbar released 'Document of Mazhar' or 'Decree of infallibility' whereby he declared that in case of any dispute the decision of Mughal emperor would be final. (Decree of Infallibility - By virtue of being a king, he was entitled to choose any one of the interpretation which would benefited the nation)
• Akbar also gave huge funds to the construction of Govind Dev Temple in Mathura, Vrindavan.
• Zawabit - Secular decree

4.   Jahangir (1605-27) 

• After the death of Akbar in 1605, Jahangir ascended the throne.
• During his tenure, the British envoy led by Sir Hawkins and later led by Sir Thomas Roe came in his court and received trading concessions and create trading centres and warehouses in India.
• In 1611, he got married to Nur Jahan who later acquired a very strong position in the Mughal polity. 
• Real name of Nur Jahan - Mehr-un-Nissa
• Coins were issued in her name and was given the title of Badshah Begum.
• Du-aspah Sih-aspah System - It was initiated by Jahangir whereby selected nobles could be allowed to maintian a large quota of troops without raising their zat rank.
• She was instrumental in the appointment of her father Mirza Ghiyas Baig as Mughal wazir and her brother Asaf Udaulab as Khan-i-Saman (head of royal family and treasury).
• Nur Jahan also ran a small kitchen cabinet known as Junta with her own favourite people.
• After the death of Jahangir in 1627, prince Khurram became the next ruler with the title of Shah Jahan.

5.   Shah Jahan (1627-58) 

• Shah Jahan annexed the area of Ahmed Nagar completely.
• He was instrumental in the annexation of Mewar in 1650.
• Shah Jahan's tenure is remembered for his patronage to architecture.
• In the memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal (Arjumand Banu Begum), he constructed the landmark building Tajmahal.
• During his tenure, there was a war of succession between the sons of Shah Jahan in which Alamgir Aurangzeb defeated and killed Dara Shikoh in the Battle of Samugarh.
• He also imprisoned (house arrest) Shah Jahan in Red Fort, Agra and became the next ruler.

• Sons of Shah Jahan - Dara Shikoh, Shah Shuja, Aurangzeb and Murad Baksh
• Battle of Samugarh - Aurangzeb defeated Dara Shikoh (Murad supported Aurangzeb)
• Shah Shuja fled from India. Aurangzeb's eldest son Sultan helped Shah Shuja to escape. So, Aurangzeb imprisoned him also where he died
• Aurangzeb killed Murad and became the next emperor.

6.   Aurangzeb (1659-1707) 

• After coming to power, he started to patronize orthodox version of Islam. He re-imposed Jizya tax (1679) and banned many Hindu festivals including Diwali and Holi.
• He also destroyed many famous temples including Govind Dev Temple, Somnath Temple, Kehsav Rai Temple, Kashi Vishwanath Temple, etc
• The biggest challenge to Aurangzeb was the ruler of Marathwada, Chhatrapati Shivaji. 
• Aurangzeb led a simple life and is referred as Zinda Pir (a living saint).
• In 1675, Guru Teg Bahadur was brought to Delhi and beheaded by Aurangzeb at Lahore. This made Sikhs rebellious. 
• Guru Govind Singh founded Khalsa in 1699 (Headquarter - Makhowwal/Anandpur in the foothills of Punjab).

Shivaji - 

• Shiva Ji was the son of Konkan ruler Shah Ji Bhonsle.
• He was raised by his mother Jija Bai and his guru Dada Ji Kondadev.
• He learnt art of guerilla warfare from his guru Ram Das which he started to use very effictively.
• In 1605, he killed Bijapuri general Afzal Khan using guerilla warfare tactics.
• Alarmed by this situation, Aurangzeb sent his general Shaista Khan to fight with Shiva Ji. As such, Shiva Ji seriously injured Shaista Khan.
• In this situation, Aurangzeb persuaded Rajput ruler Jai Singh of Amber to fight with Shivaji. Jai Singh with careful preparation defeated Shivaji in the Battle of Purandhar in 1665.
• As per the treaty Shivaji submitted 23 out of 35 forts to Jai Singh. He also agreed to appear at Agra Court of Aurangzeb where he was treacherously imprisoned.
• After some point of time, Shivaji managed to escaped from the Agra Fort and again started his campaign.
• Shivaji attacked Surat and looted it in 1644 and again in 1670.
• In 1674, he celebrated his coronation ceremony.
• He assumed the title of Haindeva Dharmoddharak (protector of Hindu faith).
• He made Deccan impenetrable for anybody.
• Shivaji after establishing a large Maratha empire took his last breath in 1680 (last major expedition - Karnataka).
• With his death the formidable challenge to Mughal emperor Aurangzeb came to an end and he took a sigh of relief.

Note - Kunbis were groups of highly mobile peasants who formed the backbone of the Maratha army. Shiva Ji used these forces to challenge Mughal forces in Deccan.

Aurangzeb annexed Bijapur in 1686 and Golconda in 1687 (last military campaign of Aurangzeb). 

He executed Shambha Ji in 1689.

Finally, with the death of Aurangzeb in 1707 the era of 'Great Mughals' came to an end and the decline of Mughal empire started.

Previous Article - Lodi dynasty

Next Article - Bahmani Kingdom

Notes on other subjects

Ancient History

Medieval History

Modern History

Geography

Polity

Optional Notes

Public Administration

Note - This is my Vision IAS Notes (Vision IAS Class Notes) and Ashutosh Pandey Sir's Public Administration Class notes. I've also added some of the information on my own. 

Hope! It will help you to achieve your dream of getting selected in Civil Services Examination 👍