Mughal dynasty, Muslim dynasty of Turkic-Mongol origin that ruled most of northern India from the early 16th to the mid-18th century. The administrative organization of the Mughal Empire allowed it to prosper for more than two centuries before being overrun by the Marathas.

The Mughal Empire was founded by Babur (reigned 1526–1530), a Central Asian ruler who was descended from the Turco-Mongol conqueror Timur (the founder of the Timurid Empire) on his father's side, and from Genghis Khan on his mother's side. Paternally, Babur belonged to the Turkicized Barlas tribe of Mongol origin.

The Mughal Empire, founded in 1526 by Babur, a chieftain from present-day Uzbekistan, marked a significant era in South Asia. Babur, with aid from the Safavid and Ottoman Empires, defeated the Sultan of Delhi, Ibrahim Lodi, at the First Battle of Panipat, establishing his rule in North India.

The Mughals originated as a Central Asian branch of the Timurid dynasty, supplemented with extra Borjigin (the clan which ruled the Mongol Empire and its successor states) bloodlines.

The Mughal dynasty lasted from the 16th century to the mid of the 18th century. Babur was the first ruler of the Mughal dynasty. He ruled from 1526 to 1530. The last king of the Mughal dynasty was Bahadur Shah II. His reign started in 1837 and ended in 1857. The decline in the Mughal empire was due to the rise of Marathas, and Sikh emperors.