Trick- BHAJ SAB
Explanation- Jaise à¤ाई साब hota h waise hi BHAJ SAB.
- B : Babar
- H : Humayun
- A : Akbar
- J : Jahangir
- S : Shah Jahan
- A : Aurangzeb
- B : Bahadur Shah
The Complete Chronological Order of Mughal Kings (6 Major Rulers)
For SSC exams, the six great Mughal emperors are the most important. Here is the correct order:
| S.No. | Mughal Emperor | Reign Period |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Babur | 1526–1530 |
| 2 | Humayun | 1530–1540 & 1555–1556 |
| 3 | Akbar | 1556–1605 |
| 4 | Jahangir | 1605–1627 |
| 5 | Shah Jahan | 1628–1658 |
| 6 | Aurangzeb | 1658–1707 |
After Aurangzeb, later Mughals (Bahadur Shah I to Bahadur Shah Zafar) are less frequently asked in SSC, but we will cover them too.
Quick Facts About Each Mughal Ruler (Exam Focused)
Now let's go ruler by ruler with exam-relevant facts. Do not skip this section – this is where 90% of questions come from.
1. Babur (1526–1530) – The Founder
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Real name | Zahir-ud-din Muhammad Babur |
| Came from | Fergana (Uzbekistan) |
| Important battle | First Battle of Panipat (1526) vs Ibrahim Lodi |
| Another battle | Battle of Khanwa (1527) vs Rana Sanga |
| Autobiography | Tuzuk-i-Baburi (Baburnama) – written in Turkish |
| Died in | 1530, buried in Kabul (later body moved to Bagh-e-Babur) |
SSC Question: Who founded the Mughal Empire in India? → Babur
2. Humayun (1530–1540 & 1555–1556) – The Comeback King
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Meaning of Humayun | "Fortunate" (ironically, he was unlucky) |
| Lost empire to | Sher Shah Suri (Battle of Chausa 1539 & Kannauj 1540) |
| Exile period | 15 years in Persia (Iran) |
| Regained empire | 1555 with Persian help |
| Died in | 1556 – fell from library stairs (Puri Qila, Delhi) |
| Built | Dinpanah (old fort of Delhi) |
SSC Question: Who built the Old Fort (Puri Qila) in Delhi? → Humayun
3. Akbar (1556–1605) – The Great
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Became king at | 13 years old (under Bairam Khan) |
| Second Battle of Panipat | 1556 – defeated Hemu |
| Navratnas (9 gems) | Tansen, Birbal, Todarmal, etc. |
| Religious policy | Din-i-Ilahi (Divine Faith), Sulh-i-Kul (peace with all) |
| Abolished | Jizya tax on non-Muslims |
| Administration | Mansabdari system, Zabti system |
| Famous buildings | Fatehpur Sikri, Buland Darwaza, Panch Mahal |
SSC Question: Which Mughal ruler abolished Jizya? → Akbar
SSC Question: Who started the Din-i-Ilahi? → Akbar
4. Jahangir (1605–1627) – The Art Lover
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Original name | Nur-ud-din Muhammad Salim |
| Chain of Justice | Installed outside Agra Fort – anyone could ring it |
| Famous wife | Nur Jahan (real power behind the throne) |
| Captain Hawkins & Sir Thomas Roe | English ambassadors visited his court |
| Famous painter | Ustad Mansur (specialized in nature and animals) |
| Autobiography | Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri (in Persian) |
| Famous death | He favored his wife's nephew Shahryar over Khurram (Shah Jahan) |
SSC Question: Who installed the Chain of Justice? → Jahangir
5. Shah Jahan (1628–1658) – The Architect King
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Original name | Prince Khurram |
| Meaning | King of the World |
| Most famous building | Taj Mahal (built for Mumtaz Mahal) |
| Other buildings | Red Fort (Delhi), Jama Masjid (Delhi), Moti Masjid (Agra) |
| Peacock Throne | Built to celebrate his reign – worth millions |
| Succession war | Fought with his sons – Aurangzeb won |
| Imprisoned by | Aurangzeb in Agra Fort – saw Taj from his window |
| Died in | 1666 (imprisoned for last 8 years) |
SSC Question: Who built the Taj Mahal? → Shah Jahan
SSC Question: Who built the Red Fort? → Shah Jahan
6. Aurangzeb (1658–1707) – The Last Great Mughal
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Meaning of Aurangzeb | "Ornament of the Throne" |
| Title | Alamgir (World Seizer) |
| Largest empire | Mughal Empire reached its maximum territorial extent under him |
| Strict policies | Reimposed Jizya, destroyed temples, banned music/dance in court |
| Longest reign | 49 years |
| Deccan campaign | 25 years wasted in the Deccan wars |
| Enemy | Marathas under Shivaji |
| His death | 1707 – empire started declining immediately after |
SSC Question: Who re-imposed Jizya tax? → Aurangzeb
SSC Question: Under whom did the Mughal Empire reach its largest extent? → Aurangzeb
Later Mughals (Briefly for SSC)
After Aurangzeb, Mughal power declined rapidly. But occasionally SSC asks one question:
| Ruler | Time | Key fact |
|---|---|---|
| Bahadur Shah I | 1707–1712 | First later Mughal |
| Jahandar Shah | 1712–1713 | Puppet ruler |
| Farrukhsiyar | 1713–1719 | Granted British East India Company trading rights |
| Muhammad Shah | 1719–1748 | "Rangeela" – Nadir Shah attacked (1739) |
| Shah Alam II | 1759–1806 | Fought Battle of Buxar (1764) |
| Bahadur Shah Zafar | 1837–1857 | Last Mughal – exiled to Yangon after 1857 revolt |
Comparison Table – Mughal vs Contemporary Rulers
| Mughal Emperor | Contemporary ruler/event | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Babur | Rana Sanga (Mewar) | 1527 |
| Humayun | Sher Shah Suri (Sur Empire) | 1540 |
| Akbar | Maharana Pratap (Battle of Haldighati) | 1576 |
| Jahangir | Sir Thomas Roe (British arrival) | 1615 |
| Shah Jahan | Mumtaz Mahal (Taj completion ~1653) | 1631–1653 |
| Aurangzeb | Shivaji Maharaj (Maratha Empire) | 1674 |
Most Repeated SSC Questions on Mughal Chronology (PYQs)
Here are real exam-style questions. Practice these after learning the trick.
Q1. Arrange the following Mughal emperors in chronological order:
(i) Akbar (ii) Babur (iii) Shah Jahan (iv) Aurangzeb
Answer: Babur → Akbar → Shah Jahan → Aurangzeb
Q2. Who was the founder of the Mughal Empire in India?
Answer: Babur
Q3. Which Mughal ruler built the Taj Mahal?
Answer: Shah Jahan
Q4. Name the Mughal emperor who reimposed the Jizya tax.
Answer: Aurangzeb
Q5. Who introduced the policy of religious tolerance known as "Sulh-i-Kul"?
Answer: Akbar
Q6. Which Mughal king fought the Battle of Khanwa against Rana Sanga?
Answer: Babur
Q7. Who wrote the autobiography "Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri"?
Answer: Jahangir
Q8. Who was the last Mughal emperor?
Answer: Bahadur Shah Zafar
Q9. Under who did the Mughal Empire reach its maximum territorial extent?
Answer: Aurangzeb
Q10. Who installed the famous "Chain of Justice"?
Answer: Jahangir
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