Mughal Empire: The story of Akbar the Great

Jalaluddin Muhammad Akbar: The Great emperor

ARTICLE CONTENTS

Abū al-Fatḥ Jalāl al-Dīn Muḥammad Akbar (Akbar) was the third emperor of the Mughal Dynasty after Babur and Humayun. He was the successor of Humayun and took the throne at the age of 13. The reign of Akbar dates from the 16th century AD, from 1556 to 1605 AD.

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Birth and Early Life of Akbar

Akbar was the son of King Humayun and Begum Hamida Banu. He was born in the year 1542 when the couple was in exile. Akbar was a great learner of warfare techniques and had a great conscience and general awareness. He was called Shehanshah Akbar at a very young age of just 13 under the guidance of Bairam Khan. Bairam Khan was the Military General of Humayun’s army and the chief advisor for Akbar.

Akbar and his Conquest

Under ​Mohammad Adil Shah and Bairam Khan’s mentorship, Akbar conquered Malwa and Rajasthan. They also fought Second Battle of Panipat 1556. The Second Battle of Panipat which actually marks the beginning of the great Mughal Empire. After the end of the second battle of Panipat, Akbar’s army conquered several Rajput and Non-Rajput state. Among the non-Rajput states, he had control over
Malwa, Gondwana, Gujrat, Bihar, Bengal, Orissa and he had almost all the Rajput states under his control except the Ranas of Mewar. In the battle of Haldighati in 1576, Rana Pratap Singh of Mewar was defeated by the Mughal Army.

Religion and Akbar

  1. Akbar was never an Extreme Muslim. He had a kind of tolerance and equality towards all religions. In order to strengthen the belief of oneness, he propounded “Din Ai Elahi” – (All religions are same).
  2. Akbar had several matrimonial alliances which tell a lot about his idea of unity and equality. His most
    beloved wife, Rajput Princess, Jodha was also a non-Muslim.
  3. He even got a temple constructed in his palace for Jodha which ultimately shows his secular nature.

Art and Culture under Akbar

Akbar was not just a man with wisdom but a patron of raw arts and culture. He was a great promoter of performing arts like poetry and music. His court was always a place welcoming new art forms. He had 9
gems in his court called Navratanas of Akbar who were excellent in their field.

The Navratanas of Akbar

  1. BIRBAL, the court Jester.
  2. MIYAN TANSEN, the court singer.
  3. ABUL FAZL, chronological who wrote An I Akbari.
  4. FAIZI, the court poet
  5. MAHARAJA MAN SINGH, army Consultant
  6. FAKIR AZIAO DIN, Sufi Singer
  7. MULLA DO-PIYAZA (depicted as Birbal’s Muslim counterpart)
  8. TODAR MAL, Finance Consultant
  9. ABDUL RAHIM KHAN, Writer of Hindi Couplets.

End of Akbar

The Shahanshah Akbar, in 1605 died at the age of 63 suffering from an incurable disease. He is the most significant leader of the Mughal Dynasty as he has conquered almost the whole of India under his Reign.

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