Mughal Empire and Maratha Power

Mughal succession (memory aid 'BHASJAB'): Babur (1526, founder, won First Panipat) → Humayun (lost to Sher Shah Suri, regained throne) → Akbar (1556-1605, greatest; Din-i-Ilahi, Mansabdari system, abolished Jizya, Navaratnas) → Jahangir (Nur Jahan; art patron) → Shah Jahan (Taj Mahal, Red Fort, Jama Masjid — 'Golden Age of Architecture') → Aurangzeb (last great ruler; reimposed Jizya, expanded to maximum but caused decline). Akbar's key battle: Second Battle of Panipat (1556) vs Hemu. Tansen and Birbal were among Akbar's Navaratnas. The empire effectively declined after Aurangzeb's death (1707).

Key medieval battles to memorize: First Panipat (1526) — Babur vs Ibrahim Lodi (Mughal Empire begins). Khanwa (1527) — Babur vs Rana Sanga. Second Panipat (1556) — Akbar/Bairam Khan vs Hemu. Haldighati (1576) — Akbar (Man Singh) vs Maharana Pratap (indecisive, Pratap retreated). Third Panipat (1761) — Ahmad Shah Abdali vs Marathas (Maratha defeat). Plassey (1757) — Robert Clive vs Siraj-ud-Daulah (British foothold in Bengal). Buxar (1764) — British vs combined forces of Mir Qasim, Shuja-ud-Daula, Shah Alam II. Memory aid: All three Panipat battles changed the ruling power of Delhi.

Shivaji (1630-1680) founded the Maratha Empire; coronated at Raigad (1674) with title 'Chhatrapati'. He developed guerrilla warfare ('Ganimi Kava') and a council of eight ministers called 'Ashtapradhan' (PM = Peshwa). After Shivaji, the Peshwas became de facto rulers — Balaji Vishwanath, Baji Rao I (greatest Peshwa, never lost a battle), Balaji Baji Rao (defeated at Third Panipat 1761). The Marathas expanded across India but their power broke after three Anglo-Maratha Wars (1775-1818), ending with the Peshwa's defeat. Memory tip: Shivaji = guerrilla + Ashtapradhan; Peshwa Baji Rao I = expansion north.

Cover the answer, recall, then check. 12 durable facts on the Mughals and the Marathas for RPF SI GA.

Q1. Who founded the Mughal Empire and in which battle?
A1. Babur, by defeating Ibrahim Lodi at the First Battle of Panipat (1526).

Q2. Which battle in 1556 secured the throne for Akbar against Hemu?
A2. The Second Battle of Panipat (1556).

Q3. Name the religious order Akbar founded in 1582.
A3. Din-i-Ilahi. Akbar also abolished the jaziya (poll tax on non-Muslims).

Q4. Who built the Taj Mahal and for whom?
A4. Shah Jahan built it at Agra in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal; it stands on the Yamuna.

Q5. Which 1576 battle was fought between Akbar's forces and Maharana Pratap?
A5. The Battle of Haldighati (1576).

Q6. Who founded the Maratha Empire and what was his title?
A6. Shivaji, crowned Chhatrapati in 1674 at Raigad fort.

Q7. What was the title of the Maratha prime minister, and name the greatest one.
A7. Peshwa. Baji Rao I was among the greatest, expanding Maratha power hugely.

Q8. Who won the Third Battle of Panipat (1761) and who lost?
A8. Ahmad Shah Abdali (Durrani) of Afghanistan defeated the Marathas — a major setback to Maratha expansion.

Q9. Which Mughal emperor re-imposed the jaziya that Akbar had abolished?
A9. Aurangzeb, the last of the great Mughals.

Q10. Name the Afghan ruler who briefly ousted the Mughals and built the Grand Trunk Road.
A10. Sher Shah Suri; he also introduced the silver "rupiya" and an efficient dak (postal) system.

Q11. Who were Akbar's "Navaratnas"? Name two.
A11. His nine gems (courtiers) — e.g. Birbal, Tansen, Abul Fazl, Todar Mal, Raja Man Singh.

Q12. Which Mughal emperor is credited with the peak of Mughal architecture?
A12. Shah Jahan — Taj Mahal, Red Fort (Delhi) and Jama Masjid were built in his reign.

Worked Example

Problem: A candidate is asked: which Maratha leader was formally crowned (coronation) at Raigad Fort in 1674, and which Mughal emperor was his chief rival? Answer with a brief justification.

Solution:
Step 1 — Recall the coronation. In 1674, the founder of the Maratha kingdom was crowned Chhatrapati at Raigad Fort. This leader is Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
Step 2 — Identify the rival Mughal emperor. Shivaji's long struggle was chiefly against the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, who ruled from 1658 to 1707.
Step 3 — Justify. Shivaji built the Maratha state through guerrilla warfare (Ganimi Kava) and a strong navy, directly challenging Mughal expansion in the Deccan under Aurangzeb.

Answer: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was crowned at Raigad in 1674; his chief rival was the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb.