<P> The Mughals were perhaps the richest single dynasty to have ever existed . During the Mughal era, the dominant political forces consisted of the Mughal Empire and its tributaries and, later on, the rising successor states--including the Maratha Empire--which fought an increasingly weak Mughal dynasty . The Mughals had a policy of integration with Indian culture, which is what made them successful where the short - lived Sultanates of Delhi had failed . This period marked vast social change in the subcontinent as the Hindu majority were ruled by the Mughal emperors, most of whom showed religious tolerance, liberally patronising Hindu culture . </P> <P> The Mughal Empire reached the zenith of its territorial expanse during the reign of Aurangzeb and also started its terminal decline in his reign due to Maratha military resurgence under Shivaji . Historian Sir . J.N. Sarkar wrote, "All seemed to have been gained by Aurangzeb now, but in reality all was lost ." The same was echoed by Vincent Smith: "The Deccan proved to be the graveyard not only of Aurangzeb's body but also of his empire". Aurangazeb is considered India's most controversial king . He was less tolerant than his predecessors, reintroducing the jizya tax and destroying several historical temples, while at the same time building more Hindu temples than he destroyed, employing significantly more Hindus in his imperial bureaucracy than his predecessors, and opposing Sunni Muslim bigotry against Hindus and Shia Muslims . However, he is often blamed for the erosion of the tolerant syncretic tradition of his predecessors, as well as increasing brutality and centralisation, which may have played a large part in the dynasty's downfall after Aurangzeb, who unlike previous emperors, imposed relatively less pluralistic policies on the general population, which may have inflamed the majority Hindu population . </P> <P> The empire went into decline thereafter . The Mughals suffered several blows due to invasions from Marathas and Afghans . During the decline of the Mughal Empire, several smaller states rose to fill the power vacuum and themselves were contributing factors to the decline . In 1737, the Maratha general Bajirao of the Maratha Empire invaded and plundered Delhi . Under the general Amir Khan Umrao Al Udat, the Mughal Emperor sent 8,000 troops to drive away the 5,000 Maratha cavalry soldiers . Baji Rao, however, easily routed the novice Mughal general and the rest of the imperial Mughal army fled . In 1737, in the final defeat of Mughal Empire, the commander - in - chief of the Mughal Army, Nizam - ul - mulk, was routed at Bhopal by the Maratha army . This essentially brought an end to the Mughal Empire . In 1739, Nader Shah, emperor of Iran, defeated the Mughal army at the Battle of Karnal . After this victory, Nader captured and sacked Delhi, carrying away many treasures, including the Peacock Throne . The Mughal dynasty was reduced to puppet rulers by 1757 . The remnants of the Mughal dynasty were finally defeated during the Indian Rebellion of 1857, also called the 1857 War of Independence, and the remains of the empire were formally taken over by the British while the Government of India Act 1858 let the British Crown assume direct control of India in the form of the new British Raj . </P> <Table> <Tr> <Td> <Dl> <Dt> Maratha Empire </Dt> </Dl> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> <Ul> <Li> <P> Shaniwarwada palace fort in Pune, it was the seat of the Peshwa rulers of the Maratha Empire until 1818 . </P> </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> </Table>

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