Babur (1526–1530)

Babur (1526–1530)

Ancestry and His Early Career

Zahir-ud-din Muhammad Babur, popularly known as Babur, was the founder of the Mughal Empire in India. The term ‘Mughal’ can be traced to Babur’s ancestors. Babur was the great grandson of Timur (on his father’s side). On his mother’s side, his grandfather was Yunus Khan of Tashkent, who was known as the Great Khan of the Mongols and the thirteenth in the direct line of descent of Chengiz Khan. Babur was born on 14 February 1483. He was named Zahir-ud-din (Defender of Faith) Muhammad. He inherited Farghana, a small kingdom in Central Asia, when he was 12 years old. But he was soon driven out from there by Uzbeks. After 10 years of adversity, Babur established himself as the ruler of Kabul.

Foundation of the Mughal Empire

In Kabul, Babur set his sights eastward, reminded by the memory of Timur’s Indian invasion. In 1505, the very year after he took Kabul, Babur led his first expedition towards India. Yet he was preoccupied with the Central Asian affairs. He did not have any ambition beyond Punjab till 1524. Then a greater opportunity came knocking. Dilawar Khan, who was Daulat Khan Lodi’s son, and Alam Khan, who was the uncle of Sultan of Delhi, arrived in Kabul to seek Babur’s help in removing Ibrahim Lodi from power. Babur defeated Ibrahim Lodi in the famous Battle of Panipat in 1526 and occupied Delhi and Agra. Following Babur’s victory in this battle, Mughal dynasty came to be established in India with Agra as its capital.

Babur’s Military Conquests

Babur defeated Rana Sanga and his allies at Khanwa in 1527. He won the war against the chief of Chanderi in 1528 and prevailed over the Afghan chiefs of Bengal and Bihar in 1529. Babur died in 1530 before he could consolidate his victories. Babur was a scholar in Turkish and Persian languages. He recorded his impressions about Hindustan, its animals, plants and trees, flowers and fruits in his autobiography Tuzuk-i-Baburi.

Following the tradition set by Chengiz Khan, who nominated the most deserving among his sons as his heir, Babur chose his favourite and eldest son, Humayun, as his heir.