Mughal Princes and State Formation

Most scholars have either located or questioned the Mughal Empire's remarkable strength by examining its administrative and political institutions (such as the jagirdari, mansabdari, legal, and taxation systems). In contrast, networks were the real foundation upon which the Mughal Empire, like its Ottoman and Safavid contemporaries, was erected and maintained. Unlike the case of the Ottoman and Safavid Empires, however, Mughal princes were key factors in forging and working the networks that supported Mughal rule. The relationship between empire and networks through the institution of the Mughal Prince and against a backdrop of princely retinue construction, rebellion against the emperor, and wars of succession have played an important role. My article traces this process between 1569 and 1657, over three generations of imperial princes. Beyond a re-examination of the history of the Mughal Empire