Babur, the India's founder of the Muhgal Empire
Babur (born Zahiriddin Muhammad; February 14, 1483–December 26, 1530) was India’s founder of the Mughal Empire. His descendants, the Mughal emperors, built a long-lasting empire that covered much of the subcontinent until 1868 and continues to shape India’s culture today. Babur was of noble blood; on his father's side, he was a Timurid, a Persianized Turk descended from Timur the Lame, and on his mother's side, he was a descendant of Genghis Khan.
Fast Facts: Babur
Known For: Babur conquered the Indian subcontinent and founded the Mughal Empire.
Also Known As Zahiriddin Muhammad
Born: February 14, 1483 in Andijan, Timurid Empire
Parents: Umar Sheikh Mirza and Qutlaq Nigar Khanum
Died: December 26, 1530, in Agra, Mughal Empire
Spouse(s): Aisha Sultan Begum, Zaynab Sultan Begum, Masuma Sultan Begum, Maham Begum, Dildar Begum, Gulnar Aghacha, Gulrukh Begum, Mubarika Yousefzai
Children: 17
Early Life
Zahiriddin Muhammad, nicknamed "Babur" or "Lion," was born into the Timurid royal family in Andijan, now in Uzbekistan, on February 14, 1483. His father, Umar Sheikh Mirza was the Emir of Ferghana; his mother, Qutlaq Nigar Khanum, was the daughter of Moghuli King Yunus Khan.
By Babur's birth, the remaining Mongol descendants in western Central Asia had intermarried with Turkic and Persian peoples and assimilated into the local culture.
Taking the Throne
In 1494, the Emir of Ferghana died suddenly, and 11-year-old Babur ascended his father's throne. His seat was anything but secure, however, with numerous uncles and cousins plotting to replace him.
Aware that a good offence is the best defence, the young emir set out to expand his holdings. By 1497, he had conquered the famous Silk Road oasis city of Samarkand. While he was thus engaged, his uncles and other nobles rose in rebellion back in Andijan.
Exile in Afghanistan
For three years, the homeless prince wandered Central Asia, trying to attract followers to help him retake his father's throne. Finally, in 1504, he and his small army turned southeast, marching over the snow-bound Hindu Kush mountains into Afghanistan. Babur, now 21 years old, besieged and conquered Kabul, establishing a base for his new kingdom.
Ever optimistic, Babur would ally himself with the rulers of Herat and Persia and try to take back Fergana from 1510 to 1511.
Invitation to Replace Lodi
In 1521, a perfect opportunity for southern expansion presented itself to Babur. The Sultan of the Delhi Sultanate, Ibrahim Lodi, was hated and reviled by his citizens. He had shaken up the military and court ranks by installing his followers in place of the old guard and ruled the lower classes with an arbitrary and tyrannical style. After just four years of Lodi's rule, the Afghan nobility was so fed up with him that they invited the Timurid Babur to come to the Delhi Sultanate and depose him.
First Battle of Panipat
Five years after his initial invitation to the subcontinent, Babur finally launched an all-out assault on the Delhi Sultanate and Ibrahim Lodi in April 1526. On the plains of Punjab, Babur's army of 24,000—mostly cavalry—rode out against Sultan Ibrahim, who had 100,000 men and 1,000 war elephants. Although Babur appeared to be outmatched, he had something that Lodi did not—guns.
The ensuing battle, now known as the First Battle of Panipat, marked the fall of the Delhi Sultanate. Babur crushed Lodi's army with superior tactics and firepower, killing the sultan and 20,000 men. Lodi's fall signalled the beginning of India's Mughal Empire (also known as the Timurid Empire).
Rajput Wars
Babur had overcome his fellow Muslims in the Delhi Sultanate (and, of course, most were happy to acknowledge his rule). Still, the mainly Hindu Rajput princes were not so easily conquered. Unlike his ancestor Timur, Babur was dedicated to building a permanent empire in India—he was no mere raider. He decided to make his capital at Agra. The Rajputs, however, put up a spirited defence against this new Muslim and would-be overlord from the north.
Knowing that the Mughal army had been weakened at the Battle of Panipat, the princes of Rajputana gathered an army even more significant than Lodi's.
Death
In the autumn of 1530, Babur fell ill. His brother-in-law conspired with some Mughal court nobles to seize the throne after Babur's death, bypassing Humayun, Babur's eldest son and appointed heir. Humayun hurried to Agra to defend his claim to the throne but soon fell gravely ill. According to legend, Babur cried out to God to spare Humayun's life, offering his own in return.
On December 26, 1530, Babur died at the age of 47. Humayun, 22 years old, inherited a rickety empire beset by internal and external enemies. Like his father, Humayun would lose power and be forced into exile, only to return and stake his claim to India. By the end of his life, he had consolidated and expanded the empire, which would reach its height under his son Akbar the Great.
Fast Facts: Babur
Known For: Babur conquered the Indian subcontinent and founded the Mughal Empire.
Also Known As Zahiriddin Muhammad
Born: February 14, 1483 in Andijan, Timurid Empire
Parents: Umar Sheikh Mirza and Qutlaq Nigar Khanum
Died: December 26, 1530, in Agra, Mughal Empire
Spouse(s): Aisha Sultan Begum, Zaynab Sultan Begum, Masuma Sultan Begum, Maham Begum, Dildar Begum, Gulnar Aghacha, Gulrukh Begum, Mubarika Yousefzai
Children: 17
Early Life
Zahiriddin Muhammad, nicknamed "Babur" or "Lion," was born into the Timurid royal family in Andijan, now in Uzbekistan, on February 14, 1483. His father, Umar Sheikh Mirza was the Emir of Ferghana; his mother, Qutlaq Nigar Khanum, was the daughter of Moghuli King Yunus Khan.
By Babur's birth, the remaining Mongol descendants in western Central Asia had intermarried with Turkic and Persian peoples and assimilated into the local culture.
Taking the Throne
In 1494, the Emir of Ferghana died suddenly, and 11-year-old Babur ascended his father's throne. His seat was anything but secure, however, with numerous uncles and cousins plotting to replace him.
Aware that a good offence is the best defence, the young emir set out to expand his holdings. By 1497, he had conquered the famous Silk Road oasis city of Samarkand. While he was thus engaged, his uncles and other nobles rose in rebellion back in Andijan.
Exile in Afghanistan
For three years, the homeless prince wandered Central Asia, trying to attract followers to help him retake his father's throne. Finally, in 1504, he and his small army turned southeast, marching over the snow-bound Hindu Kush mountains into Afghanistan. Babur, now 21 years old, besieged and conquered Kabul, establishing a base for his new kingdom.
Ever optimistic, Babur would ally himself with the rulers of Herat and Persia and try to take back Fergana from 1510 to 1511.
Invitation to Replace Lodi
In 1521, a perfect opportunity for southern expansion presented itself to Babur. The Sultan of the Delhi Sultanate, Ibrahim Lodi, was hated and reviled by his citizens. He had shaken up the military and court ranks by installing his followers in place of the old guard and ruled the lower classes with an arbitrary and tyrannical style. After just four years of Lodi's rule, the Afghan nobility was so fed up with him that they invited the Timurid Babur to come to the Delhi Sultanate and depose him.
First Battle of Panipat
Five years after his initial invitation to the subcontinent, Babur finally launched an all-out assault on the Delhi Sultanate and Ibrahim Lodi in April 1526. On the plains of Punjab, Babur's army of 24,000—mostly cavalry—rode out against Sultan Ibrahim, who had 100,000 men and 1,000 war elephants. Although Babur appeared to be outmatched, he had something that Lodi did not—guns.
The ensuing battle, now known as the First Battle of Panipat, marked the fall of the Delhi Sultanate. Babur crushed Lodi's army with superior tactics and firepower, killing the sultan and 20,000 men. Lodi's fall signalled the beginning of India's Mughal Empire (also known as the Timurid Empire).
Rajput Wars
Babur had overcome his fellow Muslims in the Delhi Sultanate (and, of course, most were happy to acknowledge his rule). Still, the mainly Hindu Rajput princes were not so easily conquered. Unlike his ancestor Timur, Babur was dedicated to building a permanent empire in India—he was no mere raider. He decided to make his capital at Agra. The Rajputs, however, put up a spirited defence against this new Muslim and would-be overlord from the north.
Knowing that the Mughal army had been weakened at the Battle of Panipat, the princes of Rajputana gathered an army even more significant than Lodi's.
Death
In the autumn of 1530, Babur fell ill. His brother-in-law conspired with some Mughal court nobles to seize the throne after Babur's death, bypassing Humayun, Babur's eldest son and appointed heir. Humayun hurried to Agra to defend his claim to the throne but soon fell gravely ill. According to legend, Babur cried out to God to spare Humayun's life, offering his own in return.
On December 26, 1530, Babur died at the age of 47. Humayun, 22 years old, inherited a rickety empire beset by internal and external enemies. Like his father, Humayun would lose power and be forced into exile, only to return and stake his claim to India. By the end of his life, he had consolidated and expanded the empire, which would reach its height under his son Akbar the Great.