The Mughal Empire, established in 1526 by Babur, was a dominant force in the Indian subcontinent, with Aurangzeb as its last powerful ruler. However, the decline began during his reign, ultimately leading to a significant reduction in the empire's size and influence by the 18th century. After Aurangzeb's death in 1707, the subsequent rulers, known as the later Mughals, struggled to maintain control. Bahadur Shah I attempted to stabilize the empire through conciliatory policies with other factions but failed, leading to civil wars. His successor, Jahandar Shah, implemented revenue farming to bolster finances but was soon defeated. The cycle of weak leadership continued with Rafi ud-Darajat and even shorter-term rulers, who were largely manipulated by the influential Syed Brothers. Muhammad Shah ascended with their backing and sought to regain independence by eliminating them, thereby briefly restoring some semblance of authority. Nevertheless, his reign, characterized by extravagance, did little to reverse the continuing decline. Each leader faced immense challenges, including internal strife and external pressures, exacerbating the empire's fragmentation and paving the way for its eventual dissolution.