AKBAR THE GREAT

Jalaluddin Muhammad Akbar (‫ جلل الدین محمککد اکککبر‬Jalāl ud-Dīn Muhammad Akbar),
also known as Akbar the Great (Akbar-e-Azam), (October 15th, 1542 – October 17 or
October 27, 1605)[1][2] was the son of Nasiruddin Humayun whom he succeeded as ruler
of the Mughal Empire from 1556 to 1605. He was the grandson of Babur who founded
the Mughal dynasty. On the eve of his death in 1605, the Mughal empire spanned almost
500 million acres (doubling during Akbar's reign).

Akbar, widely considered the greatest of the Mughal emperors, was only 14 when he
ascended the throne in Delhi, following the death of his father Humayun. It took him the
better part of two decades to consolidate his power and bring parts of northern and central
India into his realm. During his reign, he reduced external military threats from the
Afghan descendants of Sher Shah by waging wars against Afghan tribes, and at the
Second Battle of Panipat he defeated the Hindu king Samrat Hemu Chandra
Vikramaditya, also called Hemu. The emperor solidified his rule by pursuing diplomacy
with the powerful Rajput caste, and by admitting Rajput princesses in his harem.

Akbar was an artisan, artist, armorer, blacksmith, carpenter, emperor, general, inventor,
animal trainer (reputedly keeping thousands of hunting cheetahs during his reign and
training many himself), lacemaker, technologist and theologian. His most lasting
contributions were to the arts. He initiated a large collection of literature, including the
Akbar-nama and the Ain-i-Akbari, and incorporated art from around the world into the
Mughal collections. He also commissioned the building of widely admired buildings, and
invented the first prefabricated homes and movable structures. Akbar began a series of
religious debates where Muslim scholars would debate religious matters with Sikhs,
Hindus, Cārvāka atheists and even Jesuits from Portugal. He founded his own religious
cult, the Din-i-Ilahi or the "Divine Faith"; however, it amounted only to a form of
personality cult for Akbar, and quickly dissolved after his death leaving his wife behind.

THE NAME AKBAR

At birth Akbar was named Badruddin Mohammed Akbar. Badruddin means full moon
because he was born on the night of a full moon. He was named after his maternal grand
father Shaikh Ali Akbar Jami. After the capture of Kabul by Humayun his date of birth
and name were changed to throw off evil sorcerers. Popular myth records that Akbar,
meaning "Great", was a title given to Akbar by people of India. This is not true because
he was given the name Akbar at birth after his maternal grandfather.

EARLY YEARS

Akbar was born on October 15th,1542, at the Rajput Fortress of Amarkot in Sind where
the Mughal Emperor Humayun and his recently wedded wife, Hamida Banu Begum were
taking refuge. Humayun had been driven into exile, following decisive battles, by the
Afghan leader Sher Shah Suri. Akbar did not go to Persia with his parents and soon they
were transferred to Princely State of Rewa (in present day Madhya Pradesh) where Akbar
grew up in village of Mukundpur. Akbar and prince Ram Singh who later became
Maharaja of Rewa grew up together and stayed close friends through life.

Humayun was the eldest son of Babur. For a time Akbar was raised by his uncle Askari
and his wife in the rugged country of Afghanistan rather than in the splendour of the
Persian court. He spent his youth learning to hunt, run and fight, but he never learned to
read or write, the sole exception in Babur's line.[11] Nonetheless, Akbar matured into a
well-informed ruler, with refined tastes in the arts, architecture and music, a love for
literature, and a breadth of vision that tolerated other opinions.

Following the chaos over the succession of Islam Shah (Sher Khan Suri's son), Humayun
reconquered Delhi in 1555, leading an army partly provided by his Persian ally Shah
Tahmasp. Months later, Humayun died. Bairam Khan cleverly concealed the report of
Humayun's death in order to prepare for Akbar's accession to the throne. Akbar
succeeded his father on February 14, 1556 Gregorian February 24, while in the midst of a
war against Sikandar Shah for the reclamation of the Mughal throne. In Kalanaur
(Gurdaspur, Punjab) the 13 year old Akbar donned a golden robe and Dark Tiara and sat
on a newly constructed platform, which still stands,[12] and was proclaimed Shahanshah
(Persian for "King of Kings"). The mosque built at the time of Akbar can still be seen and
the place where he prayed can be visited.

THE REIGN OF AKBAR

• Early Conquests

Akbar decided early in his reign that he should eliminate the threat of Sher Shah's
dynasty, and decided to lead an army against the strongest of the three, Sikandar Shah
Suri, in the Punjab. He left Delhi under the regency of Tardi Baig Khan.

Sikandar Shah Suri presented no major concern for Akbar, and often withdrew from
territory as Akbar approached. However, back in Delhi Hemu, a Hindu King, also known
as Hemu Vikramaditya, captured Agra and then Delhi on 6 October 1556 and declared
himself as Emperor of India. Tardi Beg Khan promptly fled the city. Hemu
Vikramaditya, who during three years from October 1553 to October 1556, had won 22
successive battles not only appointed himself the ruler, or Raja Vikramaditya, but also re-
established Hindu Kingdom in Delhi.

News of the capitulation of Delhi spread quickly to Akbar, and he was advised to
withdraw to Kabul, which was relatively secure. But urged by Bairam Khan, Akbar
marched on Delhi to reclaim it. To bolster troop morale, he ordered that someone should
"prepare fireworks as a treat for the soldiers" and "make an image of Hemu, fill it with
gunpowder, and set it on fire". Tardi Beg and his retreating troops joined the march, and
also urged Akbar to retreat to Kabul, but he refused again. Later, Bairam Khan had the
former regent executed for cowardice, though Abul Fazl and Jahangir both record that
they believed that Bairam Khan was merely using the retreat from Delhi as an excuse to
eliminate a rival.

Akbar's army defeated the more numerous forces of Hemu Vikramaditya at the Second
Battle of Panipat, 50 miles (80 km) north of Delhi, thanks to a chance arrow into Hemu's
eye. Hemu was brought to Akbar unconscious, and was beheaded. Some sources say that
it was Bairam Khan who killed Hemu, but Akbar certainly used the term Ghazi, warrior
for the faith, a term used by both Babur, his grandfather, and Timur when fighting
Hindus in India. Hemu's body was cut into pieces, his head was hung outside Delhi
Darwaza, while his torso was hung outside Purana Qila, opposite present day Pragati
Maidan in Delhi. Acting out as a Ghazi ("victor") Akbar constructed a victory pillar made
from the heads of the captured/surrendered army of Raja Hemchandra Vikramaditiya and
rebellious soldiers, just like Babur did. Pictures of such towers are displayed in the
National Museum, New Delhi, and Panipat Museum in Haryana.

The victory also left Akbar with over 1,500 war elephants which he used to re-engage
Sikandar Shah at the siege of Mankot. Sikandar surrendered and so was spared death, and
lived the last remaining two years of his life on a large estate granted to him by Akbar. In
1557, Adil Shah, brother of Sikandar, died during a battle in Bengal.

• Bairam Khan

Akbar was only 14 years old when he became emperor, and so his general ruled on his
behalf until he came of age. The regency belonged to Bairam Khan, a Shia (Afghan)
noble born in Badakhshan who successfully dealt with pretenders to the throne and
improved the discipline of the Mughal armies. He ensured power was centralised and was
able to expand the empires boundaries with orders from the capital. These moves helped
to consolidate Mughal power in the newly recovered empire.

Respect for Bairam's regency was not, however, universal. There were many people
plotting his demise in order to assume the apparent absolute rule they saw in him. Much
was written, critically, of his religion. The majority of the early court were Sunni
Muslims, and Bairam's Shia'ism was disliked. Bairam knew about this, and perhaps even
to spite that, appointed a Shia Sheikh, Shaikh Gadai Kamboh to become the
Administrator General, one of the more important roles in the empire. Further Bairam
lived a rather opulent lifestyle, which appeared to be even more excessive than that of
Akbar.

FATEHPUR SIKRI

Starting in 1571, Akbar built a walled capital called Fatehpur Sikri (Fatehpur means
"town of victory") near Agra. Palaces for each of Akbar's senior queens, a huge artificial
lake, and sumptuous water-filled courtyards were built there. However, the city was soon
abandoned and the capital was moved to Lahore in 1585. The reason may have been that
the water supply in Fatehpur Sikri was insufficient or of poor quality. Or, as some
historians believe, Akbar had to attend to the northwest areas of his empire and therefore
moved his capital northwest. In 1599, Akbar shifted his capital back to Agra from where
he reigned until his death.

NAVRATNAS, THE NINE JEWELS IN AKBAR'S COURT

• Abul-Fazel - Akbar's chief advisor and author of Akbarnama

AKBAR'S TOMB

Akbar's Tomb is situated at Sikandra, Agra, about 8 km from the city of Agra. The site
was chosen by Akbar himself, and construction commenced in 1600, following the
Tartary tradition of constructing one's tomb during one's lifetime, after his death in 1605,
his son Jahangir completed the construction in 1613.

PERSONALITY

Akbar is said to be a wise ruler and a sound judge of character. His son and heir,
Jahangir, in his memoirs, wrote effusive praise of Akbar's character, and dozens of
anecdotes to illustrate his virtues.

According to Jahangir, Akbar's complexion was like the yellow of wheat. Portuguese
who visited his court described him as plainly white. Akbar was tall, broad shouldered
and strongly built with long arms and hands. He was also noted for various acts of
courage. One such incident occurred on his way back from Malwa to Agra when Akbar
was 19 years of age. Akbar rode alone in advance of his escort and was confronted by a
tigress who, along with her cubs, came out from the shrubbery across his path. When the
tigress charged the emperor, he was alleged to have dispatched the animal with his sword
in a solitary blow. His approaching attendants found the emperor standing quietly by the
side of the dead animal.

A similar incident occurred when Bihari Mal (a prince of Rajput state Amber), his son,
grandson and few retainers were paying Akbar a visit at an imperial camp near elephants.
Visiting Rajputs witnessed Akbar subdue an elephant by coaxing it to kneel after having
mounted the animal.
Abul Fazal, and even the hostile critic Badayuni, described him as having a commanding
personality. He was notable for his command in battle, and, "like Alexander of Macedon,
was always ready to risk his life, regardless of political consequences". He often plunged
on his horse into the flooded river during the rainy seasons and safely crossed it. He
rarely indulged in cruelty and is said to have been affectionate towards his relatives. He
pardoned his brother Hakim, who was a repented rebel. But on rare occasions, he dealt
cruelly with offenders, such as his maternal uncle Muazzam and his foster-brother
Adham Khan.

He is said to have been extremely moderate in his diet. Ain-e-Akbari mentions that during
his travels and also while at home, Akbar drank water from the Ganga river, which he
called ‘the water of immortality’. Special people were stationed at Sorun and later
Haridwar to dispatch water, in sealed jars, to wherever he was stationed. According to
Jahangir's memoirs, he was fond of fruits and had little liking for meat, which he stopped
eating in his later years. He was more religiously tolerant than many of the Muslim rulers
before and after him. Jahangir wrote: "As in the wide expanse of the Divine compassion
there is room for all classes and the followers of all creeds, so... in his dominions, ... there
was room for the professors of opposite religions, and for beliefs good and bad, and the
road to altercation was closed. Sunnis and Shias met in one mosque, and Franks and Jews
in one church, and observed their own forms of worship."

To defend his stance that speech arose from hearing, he carried out a Language
deprivation experiment, and had children raised in isolation, not allowed to be spoken to,
and pointed out that as they grew older, they remained mute.

Akbar, the third generation Mughal emperor who lived from 1542–1605 A.D, has been
extolled as the greatest of all Mughals, righteous in deed and noble in character.