Mughal Empire Akbar

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Akbar (1556 - 1605)

  • According to Abul Fazl and Badauni - the news of Humayun՚s death was concealed by Bairam Khan in order to prepare for the unopposed succession of Akbar; ­­
  • On 14th February 1556, Akbar ascended the throne, at the age 13 years;
  • Then Bairam Khan resumed his activity against Sikandar Soor; ­
  • Akbar then moved to Sirhind and Bairam Khan executed Tardi Begh Khan for his failure at Delhi; ­
  • From Sirhind Akbar and Bairam Khan advanced to Delhi and faced Hemu (Hemu Shah) - adopted title Vikramaditya;
Illustration: Akbar (1556 - 1605)
  • On 5th November 1556,2nd Battle of Panipat took place and Hemu captured by Shah Quli Khan Mahram;
  • After the victory of Panipat, Akbar entered Delhi;
  • In the meantime Sikander Soor defeated Khizr Khwaja Khan, and Sikander retreated;
  • Finally on 25th July 1557, Sikander Soor surrendered;
  • For 4 years (1556 - 59) Bairam Khan had bravely piloted the ship of Mughals against all odds; ­
  • As early as May, 1557, Bairam Khan suspected that Akbar had begum to dislike him;
  • Akbar was gradually coming under the influence of Atga Khail (foster relations) and Maham Anaga;
  • Akbar hatched a conspiracy with Maham Anaga, to kill Bairam Khan;
  • On 19th March, 1560, Akbar left Agra on the pretext of hunting and the conspiracy was drawn; ­­
  • Bairam Khan՚s family resided at Tabarhind (Modern Bhatinda) ;
  • In 1560, Bairam Khan was killed;
  • In 1561, Akbar undertook the conquest of Malwa;
  • The Mughal army led by Adham Khan defeated the musician king Baz Bahur on 29th March 1561;
  • Baz Bahadur fled and made an alliance with Mubarak Khan of Khandesh and Tufar Khan of Berar and they defeated the Mughal army;
  • In 1562, Akbar sent his 2nd army under Abdullah Khan - an Uzbek, who compelled Baz Bahadur to flee to Chittor; ­
  • Abdullah Khan took Mandu and Mughal rule was established in Malwa;
  • From 1560 - 62, Akbar remained under the influence of Maham Anaga - foster mother of Akbar, Adham Singh and Shahibuddin; Akbar՚s Personality:-­
  • Akbar adopted Persian festival - NUROZ;
  • He also adopted Persian Solar calendar;
  • He conferred title to different people:-­
    1. JAGAT GURU:- Jaina Saint, Hari Vijay Suri;
    2. JUG PRADHAN:- Jin Chandra Suri, Kawtar Sampradaya;
  • Tony Monserreta, a Jesuits, came to his court;
  • Nagada beating started during his reign;
  • Jharonkha Darshan was started by him;
  • Taslim-i-Chauth was also started by him;
  • Famine relief started for the first time during 1594 - 98 famine;
  • Tulsi Das, Birbal (Kavi Priya) , Soor Das, Rahim, Raskhan, all flourished during his reign; ­
  • He built important forts -Attock, Fatehpur Sikri and Allahabad fort;
  • He made Fatehpur Sikri his capital after the victory of Gujarat;
  • He abolished Sati and permitted widow remarriage. Fixed marriage age:-14 years for girls and 16 for boys;
  • He also abolished slavery;
  • Started Taccavi (Sondhar) ;
  • Lots of Books were translated into Persian during his period:-­
    1. Ibrahim Sirhindi - translated the Atharva Veda into Persian; ­
    2. Naqib Khan, Abdur Kadir Badauni and Sheikh Sultan - Mahabharat;
    3. Faizi-Lilawati, Nal Damyanti;
    4. Mullah Shah Md. -Rajtarangini;
    5. Maulana Shorre -Harivansh Parv;
    6. Abul Fazal -Panchtantara;
    7. Badauni - Ramayana;
    8. Makhmal Khan - Tajak;
    9. Maulana Shah -History of Kashmir;
    10. Zia Naqshbandi -Tutinama and Kok Shastra;
  • He was tolerant. Purushottam Das and Devi explained about Hinduism;
  • Maharaj ji Rana discussed about Zoroastrianism;
  • Hari Vijay Rai Suri discussed about Jainism; ­
  • Antonio Cabral was sent to Akbar as envoy;
  • Akbar sent Hazi Abdullah as envoy to the Portuguese. Father Rudolph was also sent as envoy;
  • In 1583, Leo Gremont was sent as an ambassador;
  • In 1594, IIrd mission arrived under Jerome Zavier and Father Emmanuel Pinhiro; ­
  • Benedict Degoes arrived at lahore on 5th May, 1595;