Aurangzeb's Succession — War Setup
Aurangzeb died — March 1707 CE
- 3 sons in dispute:
-
Mauzzam — Governor of Kabul
-
Muhammad Azam — Governor of Gujarat
-
Muhammad Kam Bakhsh — Governor of Bijapur
- Battle of Jajau (1707 CE) → Mauzzam victorious → became Bahadur Shah I
Later Mughal Emperors — Complete Timeline
| Emperor |
Reign |
Nickname / Key Tag |
| Bahadur Shah I |
1707–1712 CE |
Shah-e-Bekhbar (The Unaware King) |
| Jahandar Shah |
1712–1713 CE |
Lampat Moorkh, Laparwah |
| Farrukhsiyar |
1713–1719 CE |
Ghranit Kayar (Coward) |
| Muhammad Shah |
1719–1748 CE |
Rangila Badshah |
| Ahmad Shah Bahadur |
1748–1754 CE |
— |
| Alamgir II |
1754–1759 CE |
— |
| Shah Alam II |
1759–1806 CE |
Battle of Buxar; Treaty of Allahabad |
| Akbar II |
1806–1837 CE |
— |
| Bahadur Shah II (Zafar) |
1837–1857 CE |
Last Mughal Emperor; poet |
Jizya Tax — On/Off Tracker
Jahandar Shah — Jizya?
Abolished Jizya
Farrukhsiyar — Jizya?
Restored Jizya
Muhammad Shah — Jizya?
Abolished Jizya FINALLY (1720 CE)
Key Rulers — Detailed
Bahadur Shah I1707–1712
CE
- Became emperor at age 65
- Followed conciliatory policy with Marathas and Rajputs
- Dutch representative: Joshua Ketelaar arrived in Mughal court
- Title: Shah-e-Bekhbar (The Unaware King)
- Won Battle of Jajau (1707) to ascend throne
Jahandar Shah1712–1713
CE
- Came to power with help of Zulfiqar Khan
- Gave title Mirza to Raja Jai Singh I (Amer)
- Gave title Maharaja to Raja Ajit Singh (Marwar)
-
Abolished Jizya tax on Hindus
- Nicknames: Lampat Moorkh, Laparwah
Farrukhsiyar1713–1719
CE
- Came to power with help of Sayyid Brothers
- Issued royal Farman in 1717 CE in favour of East India Company
- Restored Jizya tax
- Nickname: Ghranit Kayar (Notorious Coward)
Sayyid Brothers
- Controlled administration: 1713–1720 CE
- Known as Kingmakers (Khargonebar)
- Followed tolerance and reconciliation with Rajputs, Marathas, Jats
Muhammad Shah1719–1748
CE
- Nickname: Rangila Badshah
- Abolished Jizya tax FINALLY in 1720 CE
-
Greatest development of Urdu language and music during his reign
-
Nadir Shah's invasion (1739 CE):
→ Battle of Karnal
→ Muhammad Shah defeated
→ Nadir Shah took Peacock Throne (Takht-e-Taus) + Kohinoor diamond
Shah Alam II1759–1806
CE
-
Battle of Buxar (1764 CE):
→ British Commander: Hector Munro
→ Defeated Alliance: Mughal Army + Nawab of Awadh (Shuja-ud-Daula) + Bengal Nawab
(Mir Qasim)
-
Treaty of Allahabad (1765 CE):
→ EIC represented by Robert Clive
→ EIC granted Diwani rights of Bengal, Bihar & Orissa
→ Shah Alam II received pension from the English
⭐ Bahadur Shah II (Zafar)1837–1857 CE · LAST MUGHAL
- Nickname: Zafar
- Wrote Shayari (Urdu poetry)
- Leader of soldiers during Revolt of 1857
- Arrested by British soldiers
- Died 1862 CE in Rangoon (present-day Myanmar)
Most Important Events
⚔️ Nadir Shah's Invasion1739
CE
- Nadir Shah = Persian ruler
- Battle of Karnal — Muhammad Shah defeated
- Nadir Shah looted Delhi
- Took away: Peacock Throne (Takht-e-Taus)
- Took away: Kohinoor diamond
⚔️ Battle of Buxar1764
CE
- British Commander: Hector Munro
- British won against 3-party alliance:
| Alliance Member |
Who |
| Mughal Emperor |
Shah Alam II |
| Nawab of Awadh |
Shuja-ud-Daula |
| Bengal Nawab |
Mir Qasim |
📜 Treaty of Allahabad1765
CE
- EIC represented by Robert Clive
- EIC got Diwani rights of Bengal, Bihar & Orissa
- Shah Alam II received pension from English
- Key significance: Beginning of British territorial control in India
🔥 Revolt of 1857Last
Act
- Bahadur Shah II (Zafar) became symbolic leader of soldiers
- Arrested by British
- Exiled to Rangoon (Myanmar)
- Died there in 1862 CE
- End of Mughal dynasty
📜 Farman of 1717 CEFarrukhsiyar
- Issued by Farrukhsiyar
- Favoured East India Company
- Gave EIC major trading privileges — key step toward British dominance
Reasons for Decline of Mughal Empire
⚠️ Aurangzeb's orthodox policies
👑 Incompetent & weak successors
⚔️ Foreign invasions (Nadir Shah, etc.)
💰 Decline in economic strength
📋 Flaws in Mansabdari system
🏹 Weak military administration
🚢 Neglect of the navy
Decline — Step by Step
| Era |
Key Event |
Impact |
| 1707 CE |
Aurangzeb's death |
Succession war begins; empire weakens |
| 1713–20 |
Sayyid Brothers as Kingmakers |
Emperor becomes puppet |
| 1717 CE |
Farman to EIC (Farrukhsiyar) |
British trading power grows |
| 1739 CE |
Nadir Shah's invasion |
Peacock Throne + Kohinoor looted; prestige shattered |
| 1764 CE |
Battle of Buxar |
Mughal emperor lost to British alliance |
| 1765 CE |
Treaty of Allahabad |
EIC gets Diwani of Bengal, Bihar, Orissa |
| 1857 CE |
Revolt of 1857 fails |
Last Mughal (Bahadur Shah II) arrested; dynasty ends |
| 1862 CE |
Bahadur Shah II dies in Rangoon |
Official end of Mughal era |
⚠️ Exam Traps
Trap #1 — Jizya: On-Off-On-Off
Jahandar Shah abolished the tax, Farrukhsiyar restored it, and Muhammad Shah finally abolished it in 1720. Therefore, “finally abolished” refers to Muhammad Shah.
Trap #2 — Kingmakers = Sayyid Brothers
The Sayyid Brothers, known as kingmakers, rose to power during Farrukhsiyar’s reign between 1713 and 1720. They followed a policy of tolerance, installed Farrukhsiyar, and later removed him.
Trap #3 — What Did Nadir Shah Seize?
Nadir Shah seized both the Peacock Throne or Takht-e-Taus and the Kohinoor diamond, not just one of them. This followed the Battle of Karnal in 1739 CE.
Trap #4 — Battle of Buxar vs Plassey
Battle of Buxar (1764) = Shah Alam II, Shuja-ud-Daula and Mir Qasim versus the British under Hector Munro. Battle of Plassey (1757) = Siraj-ud-Daula versus Clive. The battles and commanders were different.
Trap #5 — Treaty of Allahabad — Diwani Rights
Under the Treaty of Allahabad (1765 CE), the East India Company received the Diwani rights of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa. Robert Clive represented the Company, and Shah Alam II received a pension. Diwani meant the right to collect revenue, not direct political control.
Trap #6 — Bahadur Shah II — Died Where?
Bahadur Shah II (Zafar) was arrested after the Revolt of 1857 and exiled to Rangoon in Myanmar. He died there in 1862 CE, not in Delhi or Agra.
⚡ Quick Recall Cards
Rulers — Nicknames
Shah-e-Bekhbar (Unaware King)?
Bahadur Shah I
Lampat Moorkh + Laparwah?
Jahandar Shah
Ghranit Kayar (Notorious Coward)?
Farrukhsiyar
Rangila Badshah?
Muhammad Shah
Last Mughal Emperor + poet?
Bahadur Shah II (Zafar)
Key Events
Battle of Jajau (1707)?
Mauzzam won → became Bahadur Shah I
Farman 1717 — issued by?
Farrukhsiyar — in favour of EIC
Kingmakers = ?
Sayyid Brothers (Khargonebar)
Battle of Karnal (1739)?
Nadir Shah defeated Muhammad Shah → took Peacock Throne + Kohinoor
Battle of Buxar (1764) — British commander?
Hector Munro
3 members of defeated alliance (Buxar)?
Shah Alam II + Shuja-ud-Daula + Mir Qasim
Treaty of Allahabad (1765) — EIC rep?
Robert Clive
Diwani rights of which states?
Bengal, Bihar & Orissa → EIC
Jizya Timeline (Easy Order)
Jahandar Shah → ?
ABOLISHED Jizya
Farrukhsiyar → ?
RESTORED Jizya
Muhammad Shah (1720) → ?
FINALLY ABOLISHED Jizya permanently
Bahadur Shah II (Last Mughal)
Role in 1857?
Symbolic leader of soldiers in Revolt of 1857
Died when & where?
1862 CE — Rangoon (present-day Myanmar)
Achievement of Muhammad Shah?
Greatest development of Urdu language & music
Decline Reasons — 7 Points
7 reasons for Mughal decline?
1. Aurangzeb's policies 2. Weak successors 3. Foreign invasions 4. Economic decline 5.
Mansabdari flaws 6. Weak military admin 7. Neglect of navy