The Indian subcontinent’s vast and diverse terrain made it challenging for rulers to achieve sustained control. The Mughal Empire, however, managed to create and maintain a vast kingdom from the late 16th century until the 17th century. Their influence was so significant that the administrative structures and governance ideas they implemented outlasted their rule, becoming an integral part of India’s political heritage. This enduring legacy is symbolised by the current Indian Prime Minister’s address from the Red Fort, a Mughal architectural masterpiece.

Mughal Lineage

The Mughals had a unique lineage, drawing from two great ancestral lines. On the maternal side, they descended from Genghis Khan, the famous Mongol conqueror. On the paternal side, they were successors of Timur, a powerful ruler of West Asia. Although their Mongol heritage was linked with large-scale massacres and rivalries, the Mughals took pride in their Timurid roots, especially given Timur’s capture of Delhi in 1398. This pride was often illustrated through paintings depicting the rulers alongside Timur.

Babur’s Rise to Power

The Mughal dynasty began with Babur. After losing his ancestral throne in Ferghana to the Uzbegs, a rival Mongol group, he wandered for years before taking over Kabul in 1504. His major breakthrough came in 1526 when he defeated Delhi’s Sultan, Ibrahim Lodi, at Panipat, subsequently seizing Delhi and Agra.