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The Mughal dynasty () or the House of Babur (), was a branch of the Timurid dynasty that ruled South Asia and other territories within modern day Iran, Iraq, and Afghanistan, that composed the Mughal Empire.
Founded in 1526 by Babur, the first Mughal Emperor, the House of Babur ruled over much of South Asia and parts of the Middle East until the early 18th century, thereafter continuing their roles as imperial suzerains until 1857. At the dynasty’s height under Akbar in the 16th and early 17th centuries, the Mughal Empire was one of the largest empires in history. Later commanding the world’s largest military under Aurangzeb, the family emerged as the foremost global power in the region.
The dynasty originated from the branches of the imperial Barlas and Borjigin clans which ruled the Mongol Empire and its successor states.B.F. Manz, "Tīmūr Lang", in Encyclopaedia of Islam, Online Edition, 2006 Encyclopædia Britannica, " Timurid Dynasty", Online Academic Edition, 2007. (Quotation: "Turkic-Mongol" dynasty descended from the conqueror Timur (Tamerlane), renowned for its brilliant revival of artistic and intellectual life in Iran and Central Asia. ... Trading and artistic communities were brought into the capital city of Herat, where a library was founded, and the capital became the centre of a renewed and artistically brilliant Persian culture.") Emperor Babur himself (b. 1483) was a direct descendant of the Turco-Mongol conqueror Timur (1336–1405) on his father's side, and of Mongol emperor Genghis Khan on his mother's side. Later descendants genealogically held Persian and Indian heritage as well, since Mughal Royals often pursued marriage alliances with noble houses throughout Persia and India.Jeroen Duindam (2015), Dynasties: A Global History of Power, 1300–1800, page 105 , Cambridge University Press
For most of the Mughal dynasty's history, the throne of the Mughal Empire was continuously occupied by a singular Emperor who functioned as the absolute head of state, government, and military. Largely secular, Mughal Court ceremonies saw not just Muslim elites but also prominent Maratha Empire, Rajput clans, and Sikh leaders acknowledging the Emperor as the region's sole ruler. (2025). 9780203712535, Routledge. ISBN 9780203712535 Later in the dynasty’s history, much of the power shifted to the office of the Grand vizier as the empire became divided into many regional kingdoms and Princely state. As a consequence, the dynasty also produced the Nawab (nobles) of Hyderabad, Delhi, Kashmir, Lahore, Lucknow, Aligarh, Dhaka, and Bengal. During this time, the family fragmented into several branches, most consequentially in the mid-18th century between its Indian and Persian-Pakistani branches following the exile of the last Mughal Emperor, Bahadur Shah II.
The Mughal imperial structure was founded by Akbar the Great around the 1580s which lasted until the 1740s, until shortly after the Battle of Karnal. During the reigns of Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb, the dynasty reached its zenith in terms of geographical extent, economy, military and cultural influence.
Around 1700, the dynasty was ruling the wealthiest empire in the world, with also the largest military on earth. Mughals had approximately 24 percent share of the world's economy and a military of one million soldiers.Art of Mughal Warfare." Art of Mughal Warfare. Indiannetzone, 25 August 2005. At that time the Mughals ruled almost the whole of South Asia with 160 million subjects, 23 percent of the world's population. The Dynasty's power rapidly dwindled during the 18th century with internal dynastic conflicts, incompatible monarchs, foreign invasions from Persians and Afghans, as well as revolts from Marathas, Sikh, Rajputs and regional Nawabs. The power of the last emperor was limited only to the Old Delhi. Many of the Mughals had significant Indian and Persian ancestry through marriage alliances as they were born to Persian princesses. Mughals played a great role in the flourishing of Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb (Indo-Islamic civilization). Mughals were also great patrons of art, culture, literature and architecture. Mughal painting, architecture, Mughal culture, Mughal clothing, Mughal cuisine and Urdu language; all were flourished during Mughal era. Mughals were not only guardians of art and culture but they also took interest in these fields personally. Emperor Babur, Aurangzeb and Shah Alam II were great calligraphers, Jahangir was a great painter, Shah Jahan was a great architect while Bahadur Shah II was a great poet of Urdu.
As the last Mughal Emperor, Bahadur Shah II () was tried and convicted by the British East India Company before sentenced to exile in Rangoon, situated in British-controlled Burma (present-day Myanmar).
A man in India named Habeebuddin Tucy claims to be a descendant of Bahadur Shah II, but his claim is not universally believed.
Another woman named Sultana Begum who lives in the slums of Kolkata has claimed that her late husband, Mirza Mohammad Bedar Bakht was the great-grandson of Bahadur Shah II.
Yaqoob Ziauddin Tucy is a sixth generation descendant of the last Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar. Living in Hyderabad, he still believes that the government will release properties of the erstwhile Mughals to the legal heirs. He also demands restoration of scholarships for Mughal descendants, that was discontinued by the government a while back. He wants that amount be raised to and that the government should grant the economically depressed Mughal descendants the money for their upliftment. Tucy has two sons.
Yaqoob Ziauddin Tucy also has a younger brother Yaqoob Shajeeuddin Tucy. Shajeeuddin Tucy has served the country as a part of the Indian Air Force. He has been the state guest to Tashkent, Uzbekistan along with his two elder brothers. He frequently travels to the Middle East and central Asia. He lives in Hyderabad along with his two sons Yaqoob Muzammiluddin Tucy and Yaqoob Mudassiruddin Tucy.
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