Recommended read
India: A History
John Keay
Keay's one-volume history of the subcontinent, ideal background for any Mughal emperor.
The World During Their Reign
The most notable rulers who held power elsewhere at the same time, from European courts to Ottoman, Mughal, and Chinese thrones.
Francis I of Austria
Austria
1804–1835
Frederick William III of Prussia
Prussia
1797–1840
Alexander I of Russia
Russia
1801–1825
Louis XVIII of France
France
1814–1815; 1815–1824
William I of the Netherlands
Netherlands
1815–1840
Nicholas I of Russia
Russia
1825–1855
Mahmud II
Ottoman Empire
1808–1839
Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor
Austria
1804–1835
Tokugawa Ienari
Japan (Shogunate)
1787–1837
Isabella II of Spain
Spain
1833–1868
Ferdinand VII of Spain
Spain
1808–1808; 1814–1833
Ferdinand I of Austria
Austria
1835–1848
Maria II of Portugal
Portugal
1826–1828; 1834–1853
Daoguang Emperor
China
1820–1850
Emperor Ninkō
Japan
1817–1846
Charles XIV John of Sweden
Sweden
1818–1844
Jiaqing Emperor
China
1796–1820
Pope Pius VII
Papacy
1800–1823
George IV of the United Kingdom
Great Britain
1820–1830
Napoleon I
France
1799–1804; 1804–1814; 1815–1815
William IV of the United Kingdom
Great Britain
1830–1837
Emperor Kōkaku
Japan
1779–1817
Charles X of France
France
1824–1830
John VI of Portugal
Portugal
1816–1826
Joseph Bonaparte
Spain
1808–1813
Maria I of Portugal
Portugal
1777–1816
Charles XIII of Sweden
Sweden
1809–1818
Pope Gregory XVI
Papacy
1831–1846
Miguel I of Portugal
Portugal
1828–1834
Mustafa IV
Ottoman Empire
1807–1808
Pope Leo XII
Papacy
1823–1829
Pope Pius VIII
Papacy
1829–1830
Gustav IV Adolf of Sweden
Sweden
1792–1809
Meanwhile in history
One “meanwhile in history” story each week: who ruled where, and what was happening on thrones across the world.
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From the library
Go deeper on Akbar Shah II
Hand-picked histories and biographies for readers who want more than the timeline: the same era, told in full.
The Mughal Empire
John F. Richards
A concise Cambridge survey of the dynasty, its administration, and its place in world history.
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The Anarchy: The Relentless Rise of the East India Company
William Dalrymple
Dalrymple on the collapse of Mughal power and the company's takeover, readable and dramatic.
Find on Amazon
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