Founder of Mughal Empire: Zahir ud-Din Babur dies

 

On this day, 26^th December 1530, the founder of the Mughal Empire in Indian subcontinent, Zahir-ud-din Muhammad Babur died in Agra, Mughal Empire. His successors, the Mughal emperors, established a powerful empire that dominated much of the Indian subcontinent until 1868 and continues to influence Indian culture today. Babur was of noble descent; he was a Timurid, a Persianized Turk descended from Timur the Lame, on his father's side, and a Genghis Khan descendent on his mother's side.

By the time Babur was born, Mongol ancestors in western Central Asia had intermarried with Turkic and Persian peoples and assimilated. They had adopted Islam and been profoundly impacted by Persia, even adopting Farsi as the language of court. Most people liked the style of Sunni Islam that was influenced by Sufism.

The Ascension to the Throne

In 1494, the Emir of Ferghana died unexpectedly, and his 11-year-old son, Babur, succeeded to the throne. But there were many uncles and relatives trying to take his place, so his position was anything but secure.

The youthful emir decided to increase his holdings since he obviously understood that a strong offence is the best defence. He had taken the famous Silk Road oasis city of Samarkand by 1497. His uncles and other nobles rebelled in Andijan while he was away. Babur lost Samarkand after defending his base. Babur recovered both towns by 1501, but Shaibani Khan defeated him in Samarkand, therefore Babur's rule in Uzbekistan ended.

Exile in Afghanistan

For three years, the homeless prince travelled Central Asia, seeking followers to assist him in retaking his father's reign. Finally, in 1504, he and his tiny army marched southeast across the snow-covered Hindu Kush Mountains into Afghanistan. Babur, aged 21, invaded and conquered Kabul, forming the foundation of his new state.

Babur, ever optimistic, would join forces with the rulers of Herat and Persia to retake Fergana in 1510-1511. The Uzbeks, on the other hand, completely crushed the Mughal force and drove them back to Afghanistan. Babur, frustrated, turned south once more.

Invitation to Replace Lodi

Babur was given with an ideal opportunity for southern expansion in 1521. Ibrahim Lodi, the Sultan of Delhi, was reviled and despised by his subjects. He had upended the military and court levels by replacing the old guard with his own adherents, and he dominated the lower classes in an arbitrary and despotic manner. The Afghan nobility was so fed up with Lodi's rule after only four years that they encouraged Timurid Babur to come to the Delhi Sultanate and dethrone him.

Naturally, Babur was delighted to oblige. He assembled an army and laid siege to Kandahar. The Kandahar Citadel lasted far longer than Babur had expected. However, as the siege stretched on, prominent nobles and military leaders from the Delhi Sultanate, including Ibrahim Lodi's uncle, Alam Khan, and the ruler of Punjab, sided with Babur.

First Battle of Panipat 1526

In April 1526, five years after his initial invitation to the subcontinent, Babur launched an all-out assault against the Delhi Sultanate and Ibrahim Lodi. On the Punjab plains, Babur's army of 24,000 troops, mostly cavalry, faced Sultan Ibrahim, who had 100,000 warriors and 1,000 war elephants. Despite appearing to be greatly outmatched, Babur possessed weapons that Lodi lacked: cannons.

Following the battle, which is now known as the First Battle of Panipat, the Delhi Sultanate fell. Babur defeated Lodi's army with better strategy and artillery, killing the sultan and 20,000 of his soldiers. The collapse of Lodi signified the beginning of the Mughal Empire (also known as the Timurid Empire) in India.

Rajput Wars

Babur had defeated his fellow Muslims in the Delhi Sultanate (and, of course, the vast majority were pleased to recognise his rule), but the predominantly Hindu Rajput lords were not so easily subdued. Babur, unlike his ancestor Timur, was committed to constructing a permanent empire in India; he was no mere raider. He chose to construct his capital in Agra. 

As a result of the Mughal army's defeat at Panipat, the princes of Rajputana, led by Rana Sangam of Mewar, assembled a force greater than Lodi's and marched on Delhi. At the Battle of Khanwa in March 1527, Babur's forces dealt the Rajputs a crushing defeat. However, the Rajputs were not deterred, and for the next few years, fighting flared up all across the northern and eastern parts of Babur's dominion.

Death & Legacy

In 1530, Babur got sick. After Babur's death, his brother-in-law and a few Mughal court lords plotted to take the throne instead of Humayun, Babur's eldest son and designated heir. Humayun went quickly to Agra to defend his right to the throne, but he soon got very sick. Babur died on December 26, 1530, at the age of 47. 22-year-old Humayun inherited a shaky empire troubled by both internal and external enemies.

However, Babur laid the foundation for one of the biggest empires in history. Babur loved poetry and gardening, and his descendants elevated all arts during their lengthy reign. The Mughal Empire existed until 1868, when the colonial British Raj eventually managed to destabilise it.

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