Osprey Men-at-Arms 263 : Mughul India 1504-1761

Babur, the founder of the Mughul [Arabic -Persian name for a Mongol] dynasty, was of Turco-Mongol origin - he was descended from Timur-i-Lenk [Tamerlane] on his father's side and Genghis Khan on his mother's. Though Babur disliked being called a Mongol and much preferred to be known as a Turk, the name 'Mughul' stuck; and succeeding rulers of the dynasty became known in Europe as the Great Moguls. His first raid into India in 1516 was followed by several others, and by the time of his death in 1530 Babur's troops had reached Bengal on the far side of the sub-continent. To modern eyes, he seems an aggressive figure waging war on all and sundry, but he had much in common with the condottieri military leaders of Renaissance Italy. With no particular national loyalties, he fought mainly for the benefit of his family. During his own lifetime, though, this founder of the Mughul dynasty was seen as an attractive figure: resilient, brave, cheerful, a skilled poet and a successful if cautious general. David Nicolle examines the organisation, tactics and uniforms of Mughul armies from Babur's time onwards [1504-1761] accompanied by eight full page colour plates by Angus McBride, along with many other illustrations.

Contents

• Introduction
• Chronology
• The First Mughuls
• Akbar's Reforms
• Cavalry
• Infantry
• Elephants
• Artillery
• Logistics
• The Later Moghuls
• The Successor States
• Mughul Warfare
• Siege Warfare
• The Plates