The decline of the Mughal Empire began after the death of:

The decline of the Mughal Empire is widely considered to have begun after the death of Aurangzeb in 1707. His long reign, marked by religious intolerance, costly wars, and expansionist policies, severely strained the empire's resources and sowed seeds of discontent. While Akbar (A) presided over a period of great prosperity, Shah Jahan (B) saw the empire's cultural zenith, and Bahadur Shah Zafar (D) was the last Mughal emperor, Aurangzeb's death marked the beginning of its fragmentation and eventual downfall.