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How did Babur’s ancestry connect him to Timur and Genghis Khan?
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Mughal dynasty
Emperors (from left, seated) Jahangir, Akbar, and Shah Jahan are depicted with their ministers (foreground) and Prince Dara Shikoh in a watercolor from India, c. 1630–40.
Babur, the founder of the Mughal dynasty, traced his ancestry to two of history's most significant conquerors through different lines of descent.12
- Timur: Babur was a direct descendant in the male line, standing as the fifth generation in succession from Timur, the founder of the Timurid dynasty.3
- Genghis Khan: Babur was a descendant of the Mongol conqueror Genghis Khan through his mother’s side, specifically via the Chagatai line. He was the 13th generation in descent from Genghis Khan through this maternal lineage.423
Although Babur is often associated with the Mongol legacy—the term "Mughal" itself is a derivation of "Mongol"—his family belonged to the Barlas tribe, which had adopted Turkic language and customs over generations of residence in Central Asia. Consequently, while he claimed prestigious heritage from both conquerors, his empire was fundamentally Timurid in character and political ambition.32