A history of the major Mughal Emperors who built one of the most exquisite empires of the world.
BABUR - THE FOUNDER (1483-1530)
Zahir-ud-din Muhammad, better known as Babur, was born into the Timurid royal family of Uzbekistan in 1483. By 1494, Babur at the age of 11, ascended his father’s throne with a feeling of uncertainty as his uncles and brothers were trying to seize the opportunity to overthrow him. In 1521, after being brutally defeated by the Uzbeks, he found the golden opportunity to expand to the south. The afghans invited Babur to invade the empire and that led to the First battle of Panipat. With the superior tactics and firepower, Babur was able to crush the Delhi Sultanate as he laid the foundation of the Mughal empire. Babur, unlike his predecessors, was not just a mere invader but aimed to control a permanent empire.
However, the Hindu Rajput princes were not among those who could be easily conquered. But the Mughal army managed to defeat the Rajputana and the Rajputs were beaten. Babur’s empire ranged from Kandahar to the border of Bengal and forts of Ranthambore and ChanderiHe was an excellent poet and a nature lover as well and had written his own biography, the Babur-nama. . So, when Humayun fell ill Babur offered his life to God in exchange for his sons’ recovery. Babur’s reign came to an end in 1530 and an uncertain heritage was passed on to his son Humayun.
HUMAYUN - THE SUCCESSOR (1508-1556)
Nasir Ud-Din Muhammad better known as Humayun succeeded his father Babur and became the second Mughal ruler of India. He ruled from 1530-1540 and 1555-1556. Like his father, he lost his kingdom early to Sher Shah Suri, and was forced into exile for 15 years. When he returned in 1555, he defeated Sher Shah to claim back the throne. While growing up, Humayun learned Pashto, Dari, Arabic, Persian and Turki but was interested in Philosophy, Mathematics and Astrology. To train Humayun further, Babur appointed him as the governor of 'Badhakhashan' at the age of 20. The young governor fought two major wars: Panipat and Khanua and was declared jagir (landlord) of Sambhal. Even though he was trained well as a warrior and ruler, he could not keep up with the rapidly changing political environment in the Indian subcontinent.
. Babur successfully had control and reigned over the empire because of his reputation with the people and loyalty of his subjects and followers. Unfortunately, Humayun did not have any of this. The young king was keener and more interested in opium and philosophy and did not care much about ruling the kingdom and many of his enemies and rivals were his brothers and army generals who served under his father, Babur.
In the year 1533, Humayun laid the foundation for a new city in Delhi, it was called Din-Panah. Some of its remains can still be seen in New Delhi. In 1556, Humayun died in Delhi after falling from the stairs of the Sher mandal library. His body was initially laid to rest in Purana Quila but was later moved to Kalanaur in Punjab because of the attack by Hemu and capturing of Purana Quila. Humayun's tomb in Delhi is the first grand tomb in Mughal architecture followed by the Taj Mahal. The erection of the tomb was commissioned by his devoted and chief wife, Hamida Banu Begum.
AZIM-O-SHAN-SHEHENSHAH; JALAL-UD-DIN MUHAMMAD AKBAR (1542-1605)
Jalal-ud-din Mohammad Akbar was the son of Humayun and Hamida Banu Begum, born in Amarjot in 1542CE and became the emperor in 1556CE. Akbar was deprived of education and political training but still acceded at the age of 14. Akbar’s military triumphs were the most phenomenal. Some of which are-
The conquest of Gondwana
Annexations of Kabul and Kashmir
The battle of Haldighati (1576CE)
Akbar won the Rajputs by engaging in matrimonial alliances.
Akbar's Administration
Badshah or the Shadow of god as he was known, he ruled in accordance with Islamic principles. Some of his important ministers were-
Vakil – chief minister
Diwan-i-ali – finance minister
Mir Bakshi – distribution of the salaries
Sardar-us-sardar – in charge of charities
Khan-i-saman – home minister
Dewan – Revenue minister
MEME CORNER
NUR-UD-DIN MUHAMMAD SALIM; JAHANGIR (1605 – 1627)
Nur-ud-din Muhammad Salim, known by his imperial name Jahangir (31 August 1569 – 28 October 1627), was the fourth Mughal Emperor, son of Akbar and Mariam-uz-Zamani, daughter of Raja Bharmal of Amber. Jahangir ruled from 1605 until his death in 1627. His imperial name (in Persian), means 'conqueror of the world'. Salim rose to the seat with the title of Nur-ud-clamor Muhammad Jahangir Badshah Ghazi and consequently started his 22-year rule at 36 years old.
He chose to re-visit Lahore in view of an extreme virus. Jahangir passed on the excursion from Kashmir to Lahore, close Sarai Saadabad in Bhimber in 1627. To treat and safeguard his body, the guts were eliminated; these were covered inside Baghsar Fort close Bhimber in Kashmir. The body was then passed on by cart to Lahore and was covered in Shahdara Bagh, a suburb of that city. The exquisite sepulcher is today a famous vacation spot site. Jahangir was prevailing by his third child, Prince Khurram, who took the regnal name Shah Jahan.
KING OF THE WORLD; SHAH JAHAN (1592-1666)
On 5 January 1592, Shahab-ud-din Muhammad Khurram, later known as Shah Jahan was born in Lahore, Pakistan to Prince Salim (who later became the Mughal Emperor Jahangir) and his Rajput wife from Marwar, Princess Jagat Gosaini, also known as Empress Bilqis Makani. A grandson to Mughal Emperor Akbar and third son to Emperor Jahangir, he was brought up chiefly by Akbar’s first wife, the childless Empress Ruqaiya Sultan Begum..
Before becoming king, he had been the governor of Deccan, Bihar, Bengal, Gujarat and Delhi. As king, Shah Jahan expanded the military and promoted the production of arms.Shah Jahan married multiple times as was the custom. His favourite was said to be Arjumand Banu Begum who is better known as Mumtaz Mahal who died during childbirth in 1631.
MUHI-UD-DIN MUHAMMAD; AURANGZEB (1618-1707)
Muhi-ud-Din-Muhammad also known as Aurangzeb was born on 3 November, 1618. He was the sixth Mughal Ruler who ruled over almost the entire Indian subcontinent.
Aurangzeb’s reign fell into two almost equal parts. The first, which lasted until 1680, he was a capable Muslim monarch of a mixed Hindu-Muslim empire, generally disliked for his ruthlessness but feared and respected for his vigour and skill.Aurangzeb applied his great-grandfather Akbar’s recipe for conquest: defeat one’s enemies, reconcile them, and place them in imperial service. Thus, Shivaji was defeated, called to Agra for reconciliation (1666), and given an imperial rank. The Deccan kingdoms of Bijapur and Golconda were conquered in 1686–87, but the insecurity that followed precipitated a long-incipient economic crisis, which in turn was deepened by warfare with the Marathas. The Marathas, however, then adopted guerrilla tactics, spreading all over southern India amid a sympathetic population. The rest of Aurangzeb’s life was then spent in laborious and fruitless sieges of forts in the Maratha hill country.
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