AHC and Questions: Mughal and Sur Failure

Recently, I've become interested in the possibilities of an India that is more like Europe-a region with common cultural traits and history, but consisting of different native nation-states. It's a concept I'd like to incorporate into my current timeline, and I'd definitely like the opinion of board experts on how to accomplish this.

What I'm particularly interested in is keeping the Mughals from conquering most of India. I don't want to replace them with a different empire (like the Sur temporarily did), but rather to have the North, if not balkanize, at least become split into smaller kingdoms rather than merging into a single large empire that dominates the whole subcontinent.

So, what is the best way to do this? The impression I've gotten from my cursory reading is to have Babur's sons fail to reconquer their empire, and leave the Sur empire to fall apart under the multiple contenders for Sher Shah Suri's throne. Does anyone else have any other ideas?
 

Razgriz 2K9

Banned
Well it's a long shot, but did the pre-Mughal Sultan of Delhi have any heir apparents? If so, we might see a return of the Lodi Sultanate of Delhi...

...other than that, I got nothing.
 
Recently, I've become interested in the possibilities of an India that is more like Europe-a region with common cultural traits and history, but consisting of different native nation-states. It's a concept I'd like to incorporate into my current timeline, and I'd definitely like the opinion of board experts on how to accomplish this.

What I'm particularly interested in is keeping the Mughals from conquering most of India. I don't want to replace them with a different empire (like the Sur temporarily did), but rather to have the North, if not balkanize, at least become split into smaller kingdoms rather than merging into a single large empire that dominates the whole subcontinent.

So, what is the best way to do this? The impression I've gotten from my cursory reading is to have Babur's sons fail to reconquer their empire, and leave the Sur empire to fall apart under the multiple contenders for Sher Shah Suri's throne. Does anyone else have any other ideas?

The simplest way is to get Babur killed in the battle of Khanwa against Rana Sangrama Singh and let the Rajputs win. It is not even a stretch - all Rana had to do was to attack before Babur's troops had a chance to dig in and enhance their fortifications. The Rana led a union of forces (remaining Lodhi nobles, Mewatis outraged by Babur's troops' behaviour, Rajput states, and even a smattering of Afghans who resented the Mughals). If the Rana wins, it is a sure bet that in the aftermath of the victory, the erstwhile confederates will turn on each other. Voila tout! You have your balkanised north India.
 
The simplest way is to get Babur killed in the battle of Khanwa

This is really good advice. I may follow it, but I think I would rather use direct butterflies. ITTL, the quickest butterflies that reach India is a typhus-like disease in 1540, and a measles-like disease in 1548.
 
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