The Mughals were a Muslim dynasty of Turkic-Mongol origin that ruled most of the Indian subcontinent from the early 16th to the mid-18th century. The word "Mughal" is the Indo-Persian form of "Mongol". The dynasty was founded in 1526 by Babur, a Chagatai Turkic prince and a descendant of both Timur (Tamerlane) and Genghis Khan. Babur, after initially establishing himself in Kabul, ventured into the Indian subcontinent and defeated Ibrahim Lodi, the Sultan of Delhi, marking the beginning of the Mughal Empire.
The Mughal Empire was known for its centralized administration, military strength, architectural achievements, and cultural synthesis. At its peak, the empire stretched across most of the Indian subcontinent, encompassing regions from the Indus River Basin to present-day Assam and Bangladesh. Mughal rulers like Akbar were known for their inclusive governance and religious tolerance, although this later shifted under rulers like Aurangzeb. The empire's legacy includes iconic monuments such as the Taj Mahal, Red Fort, and Fatehpur Sikri. The Mughal dynasty declined in the early 18th century due to dynastic warfare, factional rivalries, and invasions. The last Mughal emperor, Bahadur Shah II, was deposed by the British in 1857, marking the end of the empire.
Today, descendants of the Mughals can be found in Northern India, Eastern Pakistan, and Bangladesh. Some claim descent from the last emperor, Bahadur Shah II, though these claims are not universally accepted. Some descendants are reportedly living in poverty, despite their imperial lineage.
