biography of babur in english

Biography of Babur, Founder of the Mughal Empire

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Babur (born Zahir-ud-din Muhammad; February 14, 1483–December 26, 1530) was the founder of the Mughal Empire in India. His descendants, the Mughal emperors, built a long-lasting empire that covered much of the subcontinent until 1868, and that continues to shape the culture of India to this day. Babur himself was of noble blood; on his father's side, he was a Timurid, a Persianized Turk descended from Timur the Lame , and on his mother's side he was a descendant of Genghis Khan .

Fast Facts: Babur

• Known For : Babur conquered the Indian subcontinent and founded the Mughal Empire.
• Also Known As : Zahir-ud-din Muhammad
• Born : February 14, 1483 in Andijan, Timurid Empire
• Parents : Umar Sheikh Mirza and Qutlaq Nigar Khanum
• Died : December 26, 1530 in Agra, Mughal Empire
• Spouse(s) : Aisha Sultan Begum, Zaynab Sultan Begum, Masuma Sultan Begum, Maham Begum, Dildar Begum, Gulnar Aghacha, Gulrukh Begum, Mubarika Yousefzai
• Children : 17

Zahir-ud-din Muhammad, nicknamed "Babur" or "Lion," was born into the Timurid royal family in Andijan, now in Uzbekistan , on February 14, 1483. His father Umar Sheikh Mirza was the Emir of Ferghana; his mother Qutlaq Nigar Khanum was the daughter of Moghuli King Yunus Khan.

By the time of Babur's birth, the remaining Mongol descendants in western Central Asia had intermarried with Turkic and Persian peoples and assimilated into the local culture. They were strongly influenced by Persia (using Farsi as their official court language), and they had converted to Islam. Most favored the mystic Sufism-infused style of Sunni Islam.

Taking the Throne

In 1494, the Emir of Ferghana died suddenly and 11-year-old Babur ascended his father's throne. His seat was anything but secure, however, with numerous uncles and cousins plotting to replace him.

Evidently aware that a good offense is the best defense, the young emir set out to expand his holdings. By 1497, he had conquered the famous Silk Road oasis city of Samarkand. While he was thus engaged, however, his uncles and other nobles rose in rebellion back in Andijan. When Babur turned to defend his base, he once again lost control of Samarkand.

The determined young emir had regained both cities by 1501, but the Uzbek ruler Shaibani Khan challenged him over Samarkand and dealt Babur's forces a crushing defeat. This marked the end of Babur's rule in what is now Uzbekistan.

Exile in Afghanistan

For three years, the homeless prince wandered Central Asia, trying to attract followers to help him retake his father's throne. Finally, in 1504, he and his small army turned to the southeast, marching over the snow-bound Hindu Kush mountains into Afghanistan. Babur, now 21 years old, besieged and conquered Kabul, establishing a base for his new kingdom.

Ever optimistic, Babur would ally himself with the rulers of Herat and Persia and try to take back Fergana in 1510 to 1511. Once more, however, the Uzbeks utterly defeated the Mughul army, driving them back to Afghanistan. Thwarted, Babur began to look south once more.

Invitation to Replace Lodi

In 1521, a perfect opportunity for southern expansion presented itself to Babur. The sultan of the Delhi Sultanate , Ibrahim Lodi, was hated and reviled by his citizens. He had shaken up the military and court ranks by installing his own followers in place of the old guard and ruled the lower classes with an arbitrary and tyrannical style. After just four years of Lodi's rule, the Afghan nobility was so fed up with him that they invited the Timurid Babur to come to the Delhi Sultanate and depose him.

Naturally, Babur was quite happy to comply. He gathered an army and launched a siege on Kandahar. The Kandahar Citadel held out for much longer than Babur had anticipated. As the siege dragged on, however, important nobles and military men from the Delhi Sultanate such as Ibrahim Lodi's uncle, Alam Khan, and the governor of Punjab allied themselves with Babur.

First Battle of Panipat

Five years after his initial invitation to the subcontinent, Babur finally launched an all-out assault on the Delhi Sultanate and Ibrahim Lodi in April 1526. On the plains of Punjab, Babur's army of 24,000—mostly cavalry—rode out against Sultan Ibrahim, who had 100,000 men and 1,000 war elephants. Although Babur appeared to be terribly outmatched, he had something that Lodi did not—guns.

The battle that followed, now known as the First Battle of Panipat , marked the fall of the Delhi Sultanate. With superior tactics and firepower, Babur crushed Lodi's army, killing the sultan and 20,000 of his men. Lodi's fall signaled the beginning of the Mughal Empire (also known as the Timurid Empire) in India.

Rajput Wars

Babur had overcome his fellow Muslims in the Delhi Sultanate (and of course, most were happy to acknowledge his rule), but the mainly-Hindu Rajput princes were not so easily conquered. Unlike his ancestor Timur, Babur was dedicated to the idea of building a permanent empire in India—he was no mere raider. He decided to build his capital at Agra. The Rajputs, however, put up a spirited defense against this new Muslim and would-be overlord from the north.

Knowing that the Mughal army had been weakened at the Battle of Panipat, the princes of Rajputana gathered an army even larger than Lodi's and went to war behind Rana Sangam of Mewar. In March 1527 at the Battle of Khanwa, Babur's army managed to deal the Rajputs a huge defeat. The Rajputs were undaunted, however, and battles and skirmishes continued all over the northern and eastern sections of Babur's empire for the next several years.

In the autumn of 1530, Babur fell ill. His brother-in-law conspired with some of the Mughal court nobles to seize the throne after Babur's death, bypassing Humayun, Babur's eldest son and appointed heir. Humayun hurried to Agra to defend his claim to the throne but soon fell gravely ill himself. According to legend, Babur cried out to God to spare Humayun's life, offering his own in return.

On December 26, 1530, Babur died at the age of 47. Humayun, 22 years old, inherited a rickety empire, beset by internal and external enemies. Like his father, Humayun would lose power and be forced into exile, only to return and stake his claim to India. By the end of his life, he had consolidated and expanded the empire, which would reach its height under his son Akbar the Great .

Babur lived a difficult life, always battling to make a place for himself. In the end, however, he planted the seed for one of the world's great empires . Babur was a devotee of poetry and gardens, and his descendants would raise all kinds of arts to their apogee during their long reign. The Mughal Empire lasted until 1868 , at which point it finally fell to the colonial British Raj .

• Moon, Farzana. "Babur: the First Moghul in India." Atlantic Publishers and Distributors, 1997.
• Richards, John F. "The Mughal Empire." Cambridge University Press, 2012.
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Biography Online

Babur Biography, Quotes and Achievements

Early life Babur

Babur was born in Farghana, in Turkestan, the region of Central Asia, on 20 April 1526. He considered himself to be a Timurid. At the age of 12, he became ruler, following the death of his father. However, he was soon usurped by his uncles who sought to wrestle control. But helped by his maternal grandmother, Aisan Daulat, he was able to secure the throne of Fergana. It was one of his many internal struggles against rival factions within his people and even extended family.

Early conflict

To regain Samarkand, he spent three years building a stronger army. Babur’s personality, generosity and demeanour meant he was successful in encouraging many Tajiks to join his cause. However, when he went back to try and retake Samarkand, he was attacked by a rival – Muhammad Shaybani, Khan of the Uzbeks. Babur was forced into a humiliating peace treaty and he returned to try and re-take Fergana. But, failing to take Fergana, he was left bereft with only a few followers. For a few years, he lived in great poverty and it appeared his hopes of gaining a strong empire were over.

His fortunes started to turn in 1504 when he was able to cross the Hindu Kush Mountains and take Kabul, in modern-day Afghanistan. He ruled this kingdom until 1526. And over time, more Muslim princes sought refuge in Kabul to escape the invasions of Shaybani in the west. However, despite this success, Babur was not satisfied, the area was poor and far from major trading routes. Even in Kabul, life was rarely peaceful and Babur had to quell domestic rebellions. But as he strengthened his domestic position, he began building and training his army into a formidable fighting force with the best modern equipment. Seeking more lands and, to escape the threat of the Uzbeks, Babur turned to Hindustan (the lands of Pakistan and India). The area had been on Babur’s mind for a long time as it had once marked the furthest part of Timur’s empire.

Foundation of the Moghul Empire

Babur moved into the Punjab and, helped by division amongst the Indian rulers, he took Lahore in 1524.  In 1526, he marched on to Panipat, where he met the large army of Ibrahim Lodi. Despite being heavily outnumbered, Babur’s superior tactics enabled him to comprehensively beat the opposition army of 100,000 men and 100 elephants. Babur encircled Lodi’s army and fired artillery from all sides. Babur’s superior tactics and discipline of his army was a landmark victory in his move into India. He remarked in his journal.

“By the grace of the Almighty God, this difficult task was made easy to me and that mighty army, in the space of a half a day was laid in dust.”

After hearing of the death of Ibrahim Lodi, Babur asked to be taken to his body. Lodi was an opponent who Babur admired for his bravery and honour. Babur took it upon himself to ensure Lodi was given a respectful burial for a king.

Babur continued to be successful – fighting off rebellions and battles from challengers such as the Hindu king, Rana Sanga. In 1527, with the effective use of cannons and superior tactics, he beat Rana Sanga’s army and the following year he completed his triumph with another comprehensive victory over Rana Sanga at the Battle of Chanderi.

Babur was the key figure in establishing the Mughul Empire in India. He was helped by weak and divided Hindu forces, but his conquest changed India forever, leading to a growth of Muslim inhabitants amongst a largely Hindu population. The early years of the Moghul empire were marked by vicious violence. Babur often wrote how he felt he was doing God’s work in defeating the ‘pagan’ Hindu The Sikh prophet Guru Nanak records seeing the great violence of the Moghul Emperors.

“[Thanks to Babur’s destruction mania,] temples as strong as a thunderbolt were set on fire.” -Guru Nanak,

Babur could also be ruthless in his killing of defeated soldiers on the battlefield.

However, although Babur’s army brought great violence, he also helped to unite his kingdom and he did display acts of charity, tolerance and forbearance. For its time he was relatively enlightened, Babur, sought to make peace with his former enemies. He allowed people to continue with their Hindu religion and customs. Babur promoted the arts and was instrumental in bringing Persian culture into India.

Personal qualities

Babur was a mix of conflict qualities. Ruthless in battle and ambitious to extend his empire, he could also exhibit forgiveness to his enemies. On one occasion his grandmother instigated one of his cousins to fight against Babur. After defeating the rebellion, did not kill his grandmother or cousin, but directly forgave them.

“The cream of my testimony is this, do nothing against your brothers even though they may deserve it.” – Babur

Babur was an exceptional leader, who could command the loyalty of his army through his own example. Once when Babur was leading his army to India, they were caught in torrential rain with nowhere to shelter. Then some soldiers found a small cave and begged Babur to take shelter. But, out of oneness with his army, he replied:

“How can I do that? You are my intimate friends and companions. This protection is not enough for all of us. Since it is not adequate for all, I do not need it. I cannot sleep in comfort while you remain in misery. Whatever hardship has to be faced, I will face it with you. I am more than happy to pass the night outside with you.” ( link )

Unlike many of his predecessors, Babur had a great interest in literature, art, music and gardening. He felt it important to live a joyful and happy life.

“The new year, the spring, the wine and the beloved are joyful. Babur make merry, for the world will not be there for you a second time.” – Babur’s diary.

He wrote an extensive diary, which was unusual for the time, but gives a wealth of insight into his life and the times of the people. His writings display a considerable degree of self-awareness.

“I have not written all this to complain: I have simply written the truth. I do not intend by what I have written to compliment myself: I have simply set down exactly what happened.”  ~ Babur

His support for culture was an important development in the Moghul Empire. His initial interests were later expanded by his grandson Akbar. He was religious and a fairly devout Muslim. However, aged 30 in Kabul, he took up drinking alcohol and wine which he did with great abandonment. He later forsook alcohol for health reasons and encouraged his court to do likewise. As was common for the time, he took several wives and had many children. His closest as his son. Humayan.

“Allah, take my life instead of my son’s. Let me die in his place, and let him live on earth. This is my only prayer and my most willing sacrifice.” Babur-nama

After completing this prayer, his son recovered, but Babur fell ill and within three months had died. At the time of Babur’s death, he was living in Agra, India, but his body was later moved to be buried in Kabul.

Citation: Pettinger, Tejvan . “Biography of Babur”, Oxford, UK – www.biographyonline.net . Published 13 March 2020.

Zahir-ud-din Mohammad Babur (February 14, 1483 - December 26, 1530) (also spelled Baber or Babar ), emperor (1526–30) and founder of the Mughal (or Moghul) dynasty of India , a descendant of the Mongol conqueror Timur (Tamerlane). In 1526 he founded the Mughal Empire and dynasty, although it was Akbar the Great who turned what was really a kingdom into an empire. Babur allegedly built the Babri Mosque in Ayodhya, on the site of a Hindu temple that marked Ram 's birthplace, in 1528. In 1992 Hindu fundamentalists destroyed the mosque, setting off riots throughout the sub-continent. Although there are many examples of harmony between India's Muslims and the majority Hindu community, and later Mughal Emperors especially Akbar the Great did much to promote this, Babur's legacy has impacted negatively on community relations in India. He was without doubt a sincere Muslim but his actions were not always based on the best interpretation of the teachings of Islam. Babur’s memoirs represent a significant contribution to literature, a pioneer work of autobiography.

• 1 Background
• 2 Military career
• 3 Retirement and death
• 4 Babri Mosque
• 6 References

Zahir-ud-din Mohammad was known as Babur , derived from the common Indo-European word for "Beaver" (The notion that it comes from the Persian word Babr meaning “tiger” is erroneous; see Thackston 2002, 463).

Babur was born February 14, 1483, in the Uzbekistan city of Andijan. Babur's native tongue was a Turkic language. Babur was a follower of Islam and believed very strongly in his religion.

Babur was known to be incredibly strong and physically fit. As one of his exercises, Babur would carry two men, one on each of his shoulders, then run around and climb slopes. It is also believed that Babur swam through every major river in India , sometimes even against the current.

Babur was a descendant of the famed Mongol warrior Timur . His grandfather was Timurid Empire Sultan Ulugh Beg. Babur's father, Omar Sheikh, was king of Ferghana, a district of modern Uzbekistan. Although Babur came from the Barlas tribe of Mongol origin, isolated members of the tribe had become Turks in language and manners through long residence in Turkish regions. Hence Babur, though called a Mughal (Mongol in Persian), drew most of his support from Turks, and the empire he founded was Turkish in character.

Babur, though only 12 years of age, succeeded to the throne that Omar Sheikh had once held. Babur’s uncles attempted to dislodge him from this position, but they were unsuccessful.

Military career

In 1497 Babur attacked and gained possession of the Uzbek city of Samarkand . A rebellion among Uzbek nobles robbed him of Fergana Valley, and while marching to recover it, his troops deserted him and he lost Samarkand. After some reverses, Babur regained both places. However, in 1501, his most formidable enemy, Muhammad Shaybani, Khan of the Uzbeks, defeated him in a great engagement and again he lost Samarkand.

For three years, Babur built up an army so that he could recapture his lost territories. He managed to gather sufficient troops in 1504. After crossing the snowy Hindu Kush, Babur besieged and captured the strong city of Kabul . With this dexterous move, he gained a wealthy new kingdom and re-established his fortunes.

In the following year, Babur united with Husayn Bayqarah of Herat against Muhammad Shaybani. The death of Husayn Bayqarah in 1506 put a stop to this expedition, but Babur spent a year at Herat, enjoying the pleasures of that capital.

Babur returned to Kabul from Herat just in time to quell a formidable rebellion, but two years later a revolt among some of the leading Mughals drove him from his city. Babur was compelled to escape with his very few companions. Babur soon returned to Kabul and struck the army of his opponents with such power that they returned to their allegiance to Babur and gave up the kingdom.

Muhammad Shaybani died in 1510. Babur used this opportunity to regain his ancestral Timurid Empire territories. He received considerable aid from the Persian Safavid Empire 's shah Ismail I, and in 1511 made a triumphant entry into Samarkand. However, he was defeated by the Uzbeks in 1514 and returned to Kabul with great difficulty.

Babur now resigned all hopes of recovering Ferghana. Although he dreaded an invasion from the Uzbeks to the West, his attention increasingly turned to India . He had made several preliminary incursions when an opportunity presented itself for a more extended expedition in 1521. Ibrahim Lodi, sultan of the Indian Delhi Lodhi Sultanate , was detested and several of his Afghani nobles asked Babur for assistance.

Babur immediately assembled a 12,000-man army, complete with limited artillery, and marched into India. Ibrahim advanced against Babur with 100,000 soldiers and one hundred elephants. Their great battle, the First Battle of Panipat, was fought on April 21, 1526. Ibrahim Lodi was slain and had his army routed, and Babur quickly took possession of Agra.

A more formidable enemy awaited Babur. Rana Sanga of Mewar collected an enormous force of 210,000 men and attacked the invaders. Babur’s army was surrounded, tired, hot, and homesick. Babur managed to restore their courage but secretly did not believe he had a good chance of defeating Rana Sanga. Surprisingly, in the Battle of Khanua on March 16, 1527, Babur won a great victory and made himself absolute master of North India.

In the Battle of Ghaghara River, on May 6, 1529, Babur defeated Mahmud Lodi, brother of Ibrahim Lodi, crushing all remaining North Indian resistance.

Retirement and death

Babur spent the later years of his life arranging affairs and revenues of his new empire, and improving his capital, Agra.

Babur wrote his memoirs, the Baburnama , in the Turkish common language, Chagatai.

During the end of Babur’s life, his son, Humayun , became deathly ill with little chance of survival. Babur was devastated and began to constantly pray for his son. In these prayers, which he recited while circumambulating his son, Babur said that he wanted to take the disease away from Humayun, and die in his place. Strangely enough, Babur’s prayers were "answered." Babur died at the age of 48 from this disease. Humayun inherited the throne.

Babur is buried in Kabul, Afghanistan.

Babri Mosque

The controversy surrounding the building of the Babri Mosque in Ayodhia dates from 1528, when Babur allegedly destroyed the Temple marking Ram's birthplace (avatar of Vishnu, see Hinduism ) in order to construct a new mosque, although the exact location of Ram's birthplace is disputed. Nonetheless, on December 6, 1992, supporters of Hindu nationalism stormed and destroyed the Babri Mosque, causing riots and throughout the subcontinent with Muslims in Bangladesh attacking Hindus. Ironically, throughout much of its existence, Hindus and Muslims had both worshipped in the Mosque, although the British constructed a partition in the 1850's to prevent clashes between the two groups. P. Carnegy wrote in 1870:

It is said that up to that time [viz. the Hindu-Muslim clashes in the 1850s] the Hindus and Mohamedans alike used to worship in the mosque-temple. Since the British rule a railing has been put up to prevent dispute, within which, in the mosque the Mohamedans pray, while outside the fence the Hindus have raised a platform on which they make their offerings. (Quoted in Narain 1993, 8-9)

Thackston (2002) takes the view that there is no real evidence that “the mythological Lord Ram, an incarnation of the great god Vishnu, was a historical personage at all,” and states that “archeologists disagree about the site” (viii). Nonetheless, religious conviction is not always derived from historical verifiable facts but may carry an authority of its own. Babur's account does relate how he ordered the destruction of idols at Urwahi in Gwalior, which were “twenty yards tall [and] stark naked, with their private parts exposed” (Thackston 2002, 415-6). Apart from the idols, which were rock-sculptures, “it was not a bad place.”

The kingdom that Babur founded developed into the largest empire in India prior to the arrival of the European powers. The Mughal Empire was to contribute much to art and learning. Among the skills that were developed was that of book engraving, “incorporating techniques from as afield as China and Byzantium” (Thackston 2002, 1). Had Babur not established the empire, the Taj Mahal may never have been built. The empire's legacy today is seen in the world's second largest Muslim community, the Muslims of India, who chose (or whose ancestors chose) to remain in India instead of migrating to Pakistan in 1947. This community has largely opted for life in a secular democracy and in a religiously pluralist society, rather than in an Islamic state. The Sufi (mystical/devotional) tradition of Islam remains popular. The bhakti (devotion) tradition, especially Vaishnavism (also developed during the Mughal period), indeed began during Babur's reign and it has been suggested that without this, “Hinduism as a living practice would not be what it is [today]” (Thackston, ix). In fact, the mosque at Ayodhia became a place of accommodation between Muslims and Hindus, making its destruction ironic, when perhaps the beliefs of the Hindus who attacked it owe something to the type of Hinduism that was made possible by Hinduism's encounter with Islam (Thackston).

Muslims living as minorities elsewhere in the world, especially in Western Diaspora, can benefit much from a careful study of how Indian Muslims understand their faith. Babur himself, unfortunately, contributed to communitarian conflict in India but his dynasty's record was often more positive. He also left us an autobiography (see Thackston 2002) in which he describes much of what he saw on his many journeys, including the beauty of the natural environment, the buildings, villages and people. Thackston calls this the first autobiography in Islamic literature: “Babur’s honest and intimate chronicle is the first autobiography in Islamic literature, written at a time when there was no historical precedent for a personal narrative.”

The text says very little about what Babur did in or near Ayodhia and makes no mention of demolishing a Temple or building a mosque (viii). This does not mean that he did not, only that he left it out of his narrative. He is reported, however, to have shown Guru Nanak , whom his army briefly held in captivity, respect, falling “at his feet with the cry…on the face of this faqir, one sees God himself” (ix). Indian historian N. S. Rajaram, however, says that any attempt to whitewash his legacy “is an exercise in juvenile fantasy.” He took jihad to the extreme, as “a total war for the annihilation of his adversaries,” and this is “how we should see him”, as “more than ordinarily ruthless” even for his time.

Thackston decribes Rajaram as a “deconstructionist of Indian ‘secular myths’ and an apologist for their destruction of the Babri Mosque.” Babur prided himself on being a ghazi , a holy warrior for Islam. For his part, Nanak denounced Babur's brutality and vandalism. Nanak was eyewitness to much other destruction: “temples as strong as thunderbolt were set on fire.” Nanak's message was one of harmony and brotherhood-sisterhood before the One God.

References ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

• Narain, Harsh. The Ayodhya Temple Mosque Dispute: Focus on Muslim Sources . Delhi: Penman Publishers, 1993. ISBN 8185504164
• Thackston, Wheeler M. (ed. and trans.). The Babur-nama. Memoirs of Babur, Prince and Emperor. New York: Oxford University Press, 2002. ISBN 0195096711
• This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition , a publication now in the public domain .

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Bābur summary

Bābur , orig. Ẓahīr al-Dīn Muḥammad , (born Feb. 15, 1483, principality of Fergana—died Dec. 26, 1530, Agra, India), Emperor (1526–30) and founder of the Mughal dynasty of India. A descendant of Genghis Khan and Timur , he came from a tribe of Mongol origin but was Turkish in language and upbringing. In his youth he tried for 10 years (1494–1504) to gain control of Samarkand, Timur’s old capital. Those efforts ended in his losing his own principality in Fergana (modern Uzbekistan), but he consoled himself by seizing and holding Kabul (1504). After four failed attempts, he successfully occupied Delhi (1525). Surrounded by enemy states, Bābur (the name means “Tiger”) persuaded his homesick troops to stand their ground, and over the next four years he defeated his foes. His grandson Akbar consolidated the new empire. Bābur was also a gifted poet and a lover of nature who constructed gardens wherever he went. The Bābur-nāmeh , his prose memoirs, has become a world classic of autobiography.

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Location: Agra, India

GPS : 27° 10'30.05" North / 78° 2'31.76" West

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Portrait of Babur, the first Mughal emperor

Babur is the first Mughal emperor, founder of the dynasty that will reign from the sixteenth century to the nineteenth century on the north of India. It is his great-great-great grandson who will build the Taj Mahal. His birth name is Zahir ud-din Muhammad, BaBur being a nickname later granted and meaning "panther". He was born on February 14, 1483.

He is a direct descendant of Tamerlane by his father. Tamerlane was a 15th century conqueror who acquired a large territory over western and eastern Asia. He was known for his ability to slaughter the inhabitants of the lands they occupied, making him one of the biggest killers the planet has ever known. Babur's father was Omar Sheikh Mirza, king of Ferghana, a region presently in Uzbekistan.

His mother was Kutlug Nigar Khanim, a descendant of Genghis Khan. As a result, Babur had an ancestry filled with warriors, yet he was rather fine literate. He received a thorough education, developing the arts as literature. His language was Chagatai, an orientated version of Turkish, which he will use to write his memoirs. He was also an accomplished rider, and a good swimmer.

His rise to the throne

His father Omar died on June 8, 1494. At that time, in these regions, the rules of succession were not established in a clear way, it is besides the wars of succession which weakened the future moghul empire. After Omar's death his uncles tried to ascend the throne of Ferghana but they failed, his son Zahir having managed to grant it. He is only 12 years old. He then thinks of expanding his kingdom and targets Samarkand, a prosperous city former capital of the Timurid kingdom which he believes has legitimacy. It will be his first conquest, in 1497, but during this battle the nobles of his kingdom dismiss him. Babur then returns to retrieve Ferghana but along the way his troops abandon him, automatically freeing Samarkand, lost.

Having formed a small army he recovers his territory of Ferghana but in 1501 he is again hunted by the Uzbeks and their warlords Muhammad Shaybani. Only surrounded by a few dozen loyal warriors Babur will wander into his lost kingdom until 1504, when he reaches Kabul and seizes the city. But Kabul was a rich city, it is found at the head of a kingdom certe small, but prosperous.

In 1510 his enemy Muhammad Shaybani died. Babur will then claim Ferghana. He will ally himself with the Turkmen to obtain an army and eventually take Samarkand again in 1511, but as the previous time he is driven out the following year, defeated by the Uzbeks. He returned to Kabul in 1514 without having achieved his ends.

The formation of the Mughal Empire

Fearing the Uzbeks, on the western facade of his kingdom, he turned to the East and its region of Punjab, a region formerly a member of the Timurid Empire. Region rather rich, its annexation would be a good source of income for him and it would open to him the doors of India. So he sent several troops into the Punjab to try to take Lahore, which he managed to do in 1523. Then, the next city, even more interesting, is Delhi, but it is directed by Lôdi, 3rd Sultanate Sultanate from Delhi, a hateful and hated character of all, including the local nobility, mostly Afghans. Burb therefore seized this opportunity and allied himself with a Punjab rebel leader, Alam Khan, who provided him with an army of 12,000 men.

At the head of such an army Babur walks on Delhi. Lôdi sends an army of 100,000 men and combat elephants. The two forces meet at Pânipat on April 21, 1526, the date of the great founding battle of the Mughal Empire. Lôdi's troops are defeated and Babur takes Delhi in the wake with the help of his son Humâyûn . He then proclaims himself Emperor of India and continues his journey on Agra , which they conquer together.

BABB then founds the foundations of a new empire and begins to structure his new territory, but the first enemy arrives quickly. It is Rana Sangha, from the city of Chittorgarh, in Rajasthan (west of India), which is based on Delhi in 1527. A new battle took place on March 10 this year in Kanwaha and, despite the unbalanced balance of power in favor of Sangha, he lost the battle. Rajasthan falls into the purse of Babur. His thread Humâyûn pursues the conquest of the Ganges valley and pacifies the region.

At this moment Babur is the master of North India, the height of his reign. He then spends most of his time structuring his kingdom, abandoning new hypothetical conquests. He founded his capital at Agra and designated Humayyun as his successor. He died December 26, 1530 and will be buried in Kabul.

Map of Conquests of Babur

The conquests of Babur 1497 to 1527

Bâbur and the religion

Babur came from a highly Persian Turkish family. His religion was Islam, a 900-year-old religion that spread throughout the Arab-Persian Peninsula (to the East) and North Africa (to the West). However, in Ferghana, Babbur's home region, religion was not that important compared to what was practiced in other kingdoms. Babur was a tolerant emperor, and he accepted without problem that the people living in his territories were not Muslims. He was in this a precursor to the wide vision. His descendants will follow his example and this was one of the reasons for the success of this Empire compared to others. It is interesting to note that it was precisely when one of the emperors applied a rigorous vision of Islam that the Empire began to fall.

During the reign of Babur, the Sikhs, for example, were able to preserve their temples, which had been destroyed a century earlier by his ancestor Tamerlane.

The influences

The reign of Babur was rather short, only four years (1627-1630). During this period he respected local traditions and introduced various influences into the Indian subcontinent. For example, in architecture, the Timurid tradition dictates that the grounds for imperial constructions should be divided by canals and basins of great symmetrical rigor, which can be found in all the constructions of the dynasty. Such gardens , which are called here Charbagh, are generally in 4 parts, separated by 4 cross channels. They are a representation of Paradise on Earth, as is the Muslim tradition.

Tomb of Bâbur

The tomb of Babur, the first Mughal emperor, in Kabul

However, among the Mughals of the sixteenth century this spiritual dimension, if important, is also considered as a visual metaphor for the ability of the Mughals to govern their territories, the perfect ordering of the gardens to prove to the conquered their ability to regulate the problems of the populations. According to this aspect of things, no one can pretend to lead if he does not know how to manage his own garden.

In addition to Muslim influences Babur integrated into the art craft methods of work from the Persian Empire, but it was especially the Hindu influence that was most important in the adminsitration of the territory. It must be said that this territory was essentially Hindu, even if it was small enough, so it is normal that the beginnings of the Mughal Empire is, artistically, architecturally, a mixture of several cultures.

The legavy of Bâbur

The heritage of Babur is therefore twofold.

First of all, we find a new, standardized territory. This is the beginning of the Mughal Empire that spans all of Northern India. This territory will be taken over and enlarged by his son, Humâyûn . But beyond a simple territory, it is above all a new culture that has been put in place by Babur, a culture made of a mixture of Islamic and Hindu influences. It is undoubtedly this heritage that is the most important since it is he who will structure the lineage of the Mughal emperors.

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(1483–1530). The first Mughal, or Mongol, emperor of India (1526–30) and founder of the Mughal dynasty was Babur. He also won distinction as a military commander, a gifted poet and diarist, a statesman, and an adventurer.

Babur was born Zahir al-Din Muhammad on February 15, 1483, in Fergana (now in Uzbekistan). He was a descendant of the first Mongol conqueror, Genghis Khan . As ruler of the small principality of Fergana, Babur first tried to recover Samarkand , the former capital of the empire founded by his Mongol ancestor Timur . He occupied the city briefly in 1497 and in 1501 but could not hold it. Babur lost his own kingdom in 1503, seized Kabul, Afghanistan, the next year, and made a final unsuccessful attempt to capture Samarkand in 1511–12. After raiding India repeatedly, he defeated the sultan of Delhi , Ibrahim Lodi, at the Battle of Panipat in 1526. Babur extended his domain in 1527 when, fighting with an outnumbered army, he defeated Rana Sanga, who led an army formed by a confederacy of Indian kingdoms. In 1529 Babur subdued the last major resistance in northern India. His grandson Akbar consolidated the empire.

Babur’s prose memoirs, the Babur-nameh , were translated from Turki into Persian (1589) during Akbar’s reign and later into English as Memoirs of Babur (1921–22). His poems and diaries show him to be a man of wit, generosity, and culture. Babur died in Agra, India, on December 26, 1530.

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Biography of Babur | Founder of Mughal Empire, Achievements & Death

Table of Content

• 1 Babur Summary
• 2 Babur Facts
• 3.1 Taking the Throne
• 5 Download this Article in Pdf format
• 6 Ruler of Fargana
• 8 Invitation to Replace Lodi
• 9.1 First Battle of Panipat
• 9.2 Battle of Khanwa
• 9.3 Battle of Chanderi
• 9.4 Battle of Ghaghara
• 10 Death of Babur
• 11 Tomb of Babur
• 12 Baburnama
• 13 Babri Masjid
• 14.1 What was Babur known for?
• 14.2 Who invited the Mughals to India?
• 14.3 Why Babur was not buried in India?
• 14.4 Related

Babur Summary

Babur was a Chaghatai Turkic-Mongol prince who founded the Mughal Empire in India. He was born in Andijan, Uzbekistan in 1483, and he was a direct descendant of both Genghis Khan and Timur on his father’s side. He conquered Afghanistan and established the Timurid dynasty there before invading the Indian subcontinent and defeating the Sultan of Delhi, Ibrahim Lodi, at the Battle of Panipat in 1526. Babur’s rule marked the beginning of the Mughal Empire in India, which lasted for over three centuries and saw the reigns of emperors such as Akbar , Jahangir , and Shah Jahan. Babur wrote his memoirs, known as the Baburnama , which provide a valuable account of life in Central Asia and India during the 16th century.

Babur Facts

Babur Early life

Babur was born on 14 February 1483 in Uzbekistan. Babur’s full name was Zahiruddin Mohammad Babur . The most important thing about him is that he was a descendant of Amir Timur and Genghis Khan. Zahiruddin Babur inherited the bravery of Amir Timur and Genghis Khan. The Sultanate of Amir Timur was divided into pieces. One of those sultanates was in the area of ​​Uzbekistan. After that, this sultanate came under Babur’s part.

Taking the Throne

When Babur sat on the throne of the Sultanate, he was only 13 years old, but then suddenly Babur’s uncle revolted against him, despite not wanting to, Babur had to fight with his uncle and then the Sultanate walked with Babur’s hand. After that, he wandered in the jungles for many years, Babur had spent his 30 years wandering in the forests, for him, many days were so difficult that Babar had to spend two times bread in the forests.

There was no luck but Babur never gave up. When Babur realized that he would not be able to take back the Sultanate of his father, he intended to conquer Afghanistan instead of taking back his Sultanate. Conquered some areas and after conquering the areas left for India.

Babur married several times throughout his life, primarily for political and strategic reasons. Some of his marriages were arranged by his parents or other family members, while others were contracted for the purpose of forming alliances with other rulers and powers.

Babur had several children from his marriages, including his son and successor, Humayun . He was a loving and devoted father and took a keen interest in the upbringing and education of his children.

Despite the political nature of many of his marriages, Babur was known to be a romantic and passionate person, and he wrote extensively about his love for his wives and his affection for his children in the Baburnama.

Overall, Babur’s marriage life was an important aspect of his personal and political life and played a significant role in shaping the Mughal Empire and its future. Despite the challenges he faced, Babur’s marriages and family relationships were marked by love, devotion, and affection, and remain an important part of his legacy today.

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Ruler of Fargana

In 1494, after the death of Umar Shaikh Mirza , the eleven-year-old Babur became the ruler of Fargana , which is in present-day Uzbekistan, but Babur’s uncle wanted to dethrone him. was able to secure the throne, although there was some luck involved. At the time, rival princes were fighting over the city of Samarkand in the west, which was ruled by his paternal cousin. He besieged Samarkand for seven months before finally gaining control of it. He was fifteen and for him, the expedition was a great achievement. Babur was able to capture the city despite the desertion in his army, but he later fell seriously ill.

In 1500–1501, he again laid siege to Samarkand , and in fact, briefly held the city, but was in turn besieged by his most formidable rival, Muhammad Shaybani , Khan of the Uzbeks . Tidvandvi was besieged by Muhammad Shaybani, Khan of the Uzbeks. The situation became such that Babur was forced to marry his sister Khanzada to Shaybani as part of the peace settlement. They took refuge with hill tribes wandering the mountains of Central Asia. He went to his mother in Tashkand for help but she also did not help him and then Babur started preparing an army. And then attacked Samarkand so fast that in a short time, he defeated Muhammad Shaybani.

In 1504, Babur was invited to replace the Lodi dynasty in Kabul, Afghanistan. He established himself as the ruler of Kabul and its surrounding regions, and he ruled there until 1519. During this time, Babur faced numerous challenges and threats, both from within his own territory and from neighboring states. Despite these challenges, he was able to maintain his rule in Kabul and expand his territories.

Invitation to Replace Lodi

The invitation to replace the Lodi dynasty in Kabul, Afghanistan, was extended to Babur in the early 16th century. The Lodi dynasty was in a state of decline, and various regional powers were vying for control of the territory. Babur, who was a Chaghatai Turkic-Mongol prince and a descendant of Timur, was invited by the cousin of Ibrahim Lodi who was the governor of Punjab to replace the Lodi dynasty and establish his rule in Kabul.

Babur accepted the invitation and established himself as the ruler of Kabul and its surrounding regions. He ruled there until 1519 when Babur was invited to invade India and establish the Mughal Empire.

The invitation to replace the Lodi dynasty marked the beginning of Babur’s reign in Kabul and the establishment of his rule in the region. It was a significant event in the history of Afghanistan and the broader region, as it set the stage for the formation of the Mughal Empire in India and the eventual spread of the Mughal influence throughout the region.

Babur Victory of India

First battle of panipat.

At the time when Babur had entered India to conquer India , Babur had an army of only 13 thousand. And his competition was with the Sardar of the Pathan Sultanate i.e.  Ibrahim Lodhi . Ibrahim Lodi had about one lakh army, Ibrahim Lodi also felt that he could easily defeat Babur because Ibrahim Lodhi had one lakh soldiers, as well as thousands of elephants, who were present in everything Ibrahim Babur had less in comparison to Lodi.

The soldiers were also less and less armed and there were no elephants. But even after that, Babur had full confidence that he would easily defeat Ibrahim Lodhi because Babur had such a weapon that no one had seen in India before today, nor in any war of India before today, such a weapon. Was used and that weapon was Babur’s dangerous cannons.

Then on April 21, 1526, the first Battle of Panipat took place between Zahiruddin Muhammad Babur and Ibrahim Lodi in the field of Panipat. In the battle of Panipat, when Ibrahim Lodi saw that my army was more powerful than Babur, he issued an order to attack his entire army together in the open field, but perhaps this was the biggest mistake of Ibrahim Lodi, Babur When I saw that the entire army of Ibrahim Lodhi was attacking openly,

Babar ordered all his artillerymen to fire guns. All the elephants of Ibrahim Lodhi went mad after hearing the dangerous sound of the cannons, all elephants of Ibrahim Lodhi started running backward and the running elephants went on crushing the thousands of Ibrahim Lodhi’s soldiers, due to which there was a stampede in the entire army of Lodhi.

When Babur saw such conditions of his enemy, he ordered his small army of 13 thousand to attack together. This attack of Babur was so fast that even after wanting Lodhi could not stop that attack and Ibrahim Lodhi was also killed in this battle. In this way, Babur had got his first fate in India and with the victory of this war, Babur laid the foundation of the Mughal Sultanate in India .

After defeating Lodhi, Zahiruddin Babur entered Delhi with Puri, at that time all the forts of Delhi were occupied by Lodhi’s family, but Babar got Ibrahim Lodi’s mother to vacate the fort with the condition that I am Lodhi. I will not say anything to any member of the family, nor will anyone be harmed or harmed.

Babar himself has also written in Babarnama that he used to give mother status to Lodi’s mother and used to call her mother only. But after a few years, Ibrahim Lodi’s mother crossed the limit to avenge the defeat of her son Ibrahim Lodi and even mixed poison in the food, but when Babur came to know about this, Babur imprisoned her. And after that it is said that after a few days, Ibrahim Lodi’s mother had died in the prison itself.

Battle of Khanwa

The first trouble that Babur faced after sitting on the Delhi Sultanate was Rana Sanga , the king of Mewar because Rana Sanga was not ready to accept Babur’s sultanate. And you will be surprised to know that it was Rana Sanga who had called Babur to India. (Jade Amjad) i.e. Amir will go back like Timur only after conquering India and plundering it and when the Lodhi sultanate is plundered then all of us Rajputs together will establish a big sultanate but that he has even the slightest doubt about it. It was not that after defeating Ibrahim Lodi,

Babur would start a sultanate in India. Along with this, he had also promised that he would support Babur in the war against Ibrahim Lodi, but when Babur was fighting against Ibrahim Lodi in India, Rana Sanga was watching all this while sitting in his own area and Babar was not helping Babur because of this also Babar was angrier with Rana Sanga and after 1 year of becoming Sultan After this,

on 17 March 1527, the battle of Khanwa took place between Rana Sanga and Babur. And even in this war, Babur had defeated Rana Sanga’s army in a few moments with his tremendous intelligence and cannons. He started running but Babur did not pursue Rana Sanga. And the battle of ( Battle of Khanwa ) was won by Babur. It is said that Rana Sanga died exactly one year after he was defeated by Babur.

After this, the battle of Chanderi took place between Babur and Medni Rai on 29 March 1528 and Babur won in this too. And after this Babur fought his last war which took place on 6 May 1529 AD between Mughal (Babur) and Sultanate-e-Bangal ( Battle of Ghagra ) which was known as the Battle of Ghagra and this war In this also the Mughal emperor Zehruddin Muhammad Babur won.

Battle of Chanderi

The Battle of Chanderi ( 20 January 1528 ) was fought between the Mughal emperor Babu r and the Rajput king Medini Rai of Chander i in present-day Madhya Pradesh, India, in the early 16th century.

The battle was a result of the Mughal expansion into central India and their attempts to capture the strategically important fortress of Chanderi. Medini Rai, the Rajput king of Chanderi, resisted the Mughal advance and defended his kingdom with a large army.

Despite being outnumbered, Babur was able to defeat Medini Rai and capture the fortress of Chanderi. The Mughal victory in this battle was a significant milestone in their expansion into India and helped to establish their control over central India.

Babur’s tactics and strategies in the Battle of Chanderi, such as his use of artillery and mobility, played a crucial role in his victory. The battle also demonstrated the strength and determination of the Mughal army, which would go on to conquer much of India and establish one of the largest and most powerful empires in the world.

Battle of Ghaghara

The Battle of Ghaghara was fought in 1529 between the Mughal emperor Babur and the Afghan king , Sultan Ibrahim Lodi of the Lodi dynasty. It was one of the major battles in Babur’s conquest of India and marked the end of the Lodi dynasty’s rule in northern India.

The battle took place near the Ghaghara River near Chhapra Bihar, India. Babur led his army against Sultan Ibrahim Lodi, who was determined to resist the Mughal invasion and protect his kingdom.

Babur’s army was well-equipped and better trained than the Afghan forces, and he was able to use his superior tactics and strategies to defeat the Afghan king. The Mughal victory in the Battle of Ghaghara marked the beginning of their rule over northern India and paved the way for the establishment of the Mughal Empire in India.

Today, the Battle of Ghaghra is remembered as a significant moment in the history of India and South Asia, and is considered a turning point in the Mughal conquest of India. It highlights the military prowess of the Mughal emperors and the determination of Babur to establish his rule over India.

Death of Babur

Babur saved Humayun’s life by giving his life  –

The story about Babur’s death is also famous for Babur’s son i.e. Humayun , whom Babur used to love very much, once became very ill, Babur was very upset after seeing Humayun sick.

Used to stay Even after millions of efforts, Humayun did not regain consciousness. He was treated in every way. If you want to cure my son, then take my life in return) and one day Humayun came to his senses. But as soon as Humayun came to his senses, Babar fainted and since then Babur started to be ill and Babar died as soon as his beloved son Humayun was completely cured.

Tomb of Babur

Talking about the tomb of Babur outside, Babur had advised that after his death, he should be buried with his parents in his old homeland i.e. Kabul, so Babur was buried by his son Humayun in Babur Garden, Kabul, He was buried in (Afghanistan) itself, even today the tomb of Babur is present in the city of Kabul.

The  Baburnama was written by   Zahir-ud-din Muhammad Babur , the founder of the Mughal Empire, in which Babur wrote about his entire life. Babur has also written about the political and economic situation of that period in Baburnama. Baburnama is written in the  Chagatai language ; Chagatai is the Turkish language.

Babri Masjid

If anything related to Babar is most famous in today’s era, then it is Babri Masjid . Babri Masjid was built by Mir Baqi , a great general of Babar and today many people live in the misconception that Babri Masjid was built by Babar and this is their big misconception because Babri Masjid was not built by Babar, but Babar was once in Ayodhya. Neither did he go nor there is any evidence of Babur coming to Ayodhya.

People Also Ask?

What was babur known for.

Babur was a Chaghatai Turkic-Mongol prince and Founder of the Great Mughal Empire in India.

Who invited the Mughals to India?

Daulat Khan Lodi

Why Babur was not buried in India?

Babur liked Afghanistan very much, due to which he was buried in Kabul, Afghanistan and his burial is called Bagh-e-Babur.

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Babur: The founder of the empire which ruled India for over 300 years

10 interesting facts you must know about the mughal dynasty founder, babur..

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We bring to you 10 facts about the Mughal emperor Babur:

1. His actual name was Zahir-ud-din Muhammad Babur. His name is derived from the Persian word 'Babr', which means Tiger.

2. He was the eldest son of Umar Sheikh Mirza, a direct descendant of Turk-Mongol conqueror Timur, also known as Tamurlane. His mother was a direct descendant of Asia's conqueror Genghis Khan.

3. He ascended the throne of Fergana (now in Uzbekistan) in 1495, at the age of 12. In 1504, he conquered Kabul, which was an important citadel in Central Asia.

4. Babur was invited by Daulat Khan Lodi, a rebel of the Lodi dynasty, in 1524, to invade North India and fight the dynasty and their enemies in Rajputana. Rajputana was ruled by a Hindu Rajput confederacy, led by Mewar king Rana Sanga.

5. In 1526, Babur won the Battle of Panipat against Ibrahim Lodi, the Lodi king. He captured Delhi and founded the greatest dynasty of North India -- the Mughal Empire.

6. He also defeated Rana Sanga, who considered Babur as a foreign invader, in the Battle of Khanwa. Rajputana became a subjugated ally of the Mughals since then.

7. There is confusion about Babur's ethnicity. Being a descendant of Timur, he considered himself as a Timurid of Turk. However, Uzbek history suggests that Babur was an ethnic Uzbek.

8. Babur claimed to be very strong and physically fit. He also claimed to have swum across every major river he encountered, including twice across the Ganges River. "I swam across the river Ganges for amusement. I counted my strokes, and found that I swam over in thirty-three strokes. I then took breath, and swam back to the other. side. I had crossed by swimming every river I had met, except only the Ganges," he noted, according to Medieval India from the Mohammedan Conquest to the Reign of Akbar the Great , written by Stanley Lane-Poole .

9. Babur was well-known for his oratory and literary skills. Although a religious person, Babur indulged in drinking. He once said, quoting a contemporary poet, "I am drunk, officer. Punish me when I am sober."

10. Till date, he is considered a national hero in Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. He wrote his autobiography, Baburnama , in Chaghatai Turkic. It was translated to Persian during the reign of his grandson Akbar.

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Babur - Founder of Mughal Empire [Medieval History of India NCERT Notes for UPSC]

Babur was the founder of the Mughal Empire and father of the Mughal ruler Humayun. The history of the rule of Mughals is important to be read for the IAS Exam  preparation. This article will provide you details about Babur, his reign, his military conquests and his battle with Rana Sangha.

Babur (UPSC Notes):- Download PDF Here

Who were Mughals and Who was Babur?

Mughals belonged to a branch of the Turks called Chagatai, which is named after the second son of Genghis Khan, the famous Mongol Leader.

The Foundation of the Mughal Empire in India was laid by Babur, who was a Chagatai Turk.

Babur – Zahiruddin Muhammad

• Babur is the founder of the Mughal Empire in India.
• He was a descendant of Timur (on his father’s side) and Genghis Khan (on his Mother’s side).
• His original name was Zahiruddin Muhammad.
• In 1494 at the age of 11, Babur became the ruler of Farghana (at present in Chinese Turkistan) succeeding Umar Shaikh Mirza, his father.
• Daulat Khan,  the most powerful noble of Punjab, who was discontented with Ibrahim Lodhi, invited  Babur  to invade India.
• He undertook four expeditions to India in order to conquer it between the years 1519 and 1523.  

Babur’s Military Conquests

• In 1504, Babur occupied Kabul.
• In 1524, Babur occupied Lahore but had to retreat to Kabul after  Daulat Khan  turned against him.
• In November 1525, Babur attacked and occupied Punjab again.
• On 21 st April 1526, Babur defeated Ibrahim Lodi in the First Battle of Panipat and quickly occupied  Delhi  and  Despite vast and superior troop Ibrahim Lodi lost in the battle due to Babur’s superior strategy and use of artillery.
• The First Battle of Panipat marked the foundation of Mughal dominion in India.
• Babur conquered Delhi and sent his son Humayun to seize Agra.
• Babur announced himself as “Emperor of Hindustan”.  

Rana Sangha & Babur

• Rana Sangha of Mewar was a great Rajput warrior.
• He gave the toughest resistance to Babur’s expansion plans .
• OnMarch 16, 1527, Rana Sangha,  along with rulers of Marwar, Amber, Gwalior, Ajmer and Chanderi and Sultan Mahmood Lodi (whom Rana Sangha had acknowledged as ruler of Delhi) met Babur in a decisive contest at  Kanhwa,  a village near Agra. The aim was to prevent the imposition of another foreign repression on   Babur  succeeded over them by using similar tactics as in the Battle of Panipat. Then, he took on the title of “Ghazi”.
• In the year 1528, Chanderi was captured by Babur from Rajput king Medini Rai.
• On May 6, 1529, Babur met the allied Afghans of Bihar and Bengal on the banks of Gogra,  near Patna and defeated them. With this battle, Babur occupied a considerable portion of northern India .
• On December 26, 1530, Babur  died at Agra aged 40. His body was first laid at  Arambagh  in Agra but was later taken to Kabul, where it was buried.

Estimate of Babur

• He was an eminent scholar in Arabic and Persian.
• His mother tongue was Chaghatai Turkic.
• He was said to be a statesman.
• He wrote his memoirs, Tuzuk-i-Baburiin Turki language.

Candidates reading about Babur, are also suggested to read about other Mughal Rulers and also similar articles linked in table below:

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Babur: The Founder of Mughal Dynasty | Indian History

Babur, who laid down the foundation of the rule of a new dynasty in India in 1526 A.D., belonged to the family of Chaghatai Turks. However, in Indian History, his family has been called the Mughul. The Mughul dynasty produced capable rulers, one after another, from Babur to Aurangzeb, provided political unity to a large part of India for quite good time, administered it well, and, thereby, brought peace and prosperity within the empire.

The Mughuls, in no way, accepted Khalifa as their overlord. They ruled as sovereign emperors. They improved means and methods of warfare and introduced gun­powder artillery in India. They patronized literature and fine arts which led to their growth practically in all fields.

Above all, a serious attempt was made to pursue a policy of religious toleration with a view to gain the loyalty and support of the Hindus who constituted the majority in the country. Thus, the Mughuls tried and succeeded in finishing several past traditions which had persisted during the period of the Delhi Sultanate. Therefore, the history of the Mughuls occupies an important or rather a glorious place in Indian history.

Early Career:

Zahir-ud-din Muhammad Babur, the founder of the rule of the Mughul dynasty in India, was born on 14 February 1483 A.D. The blood of two great conquerors flowed in his veins. He was the fifth descendant of Timur from the side of his father and the fourteenth of Chengiz Khan from the side of his mother.

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He inherited the petty kingdom of Farghana from his father, Umar Sheikh Mirza in 1494 A.D. in a precarious position when his kingdom was under attack from two sides by his own relatives. However, Babur succeeded in thwarting their attempts.

The next ten years proved to be the years of trials in the life of Babur. Babur had to face the challenge of his relatives and also that of internal conspiracies during these years. But more than that, his own ambitions were responsible for his troubled career.

Fascinated by the conquests of his ancestor Timur, he longed to capture his capital, Samarqand. But, he was stoutly resisted there mostly by the rising power of the Uzbegs under their leader Shaibani Khan. The first attempt of Babur to conquer Samarqand (1494 A.D.) failed.

He succeeded in capturing it in 1497 A.D. but could keep it under his control only for one hundred days. In 1501 A.D., he again captured it but had to leave it after eight months. These attempts to conquer Samarqand heavily taxed the resources and energy of Babur. During this period, he lost twice even his hereditary kingdom Farghana and had to lead the life of a fugitive.

But then fortune, ultimately, smiled on Babur and he got an opportunity to interfere in the politics of Kabul where, in 1501 A.D., a minor boy Abdur Razzaq was soon displaced from the throne by one of his nobles, Muqim, the Arghun. But Muqim failed to gain the confidence of other nobles and his subjects which created confusion in Afghanistan. Babur attacked Kabul in 1504 A.D. and captured it almost without any opposition.

He soon captured Ghazni as well and, thus, became the master of Afghanistan without much fighting. In 1507 A.D., Babur assumed the title of Padishah (Emperor) and, thus, asserted the headship of the Timurids.

In 1510 A.D. Shaibani Khan Uzbeg was defeated and killed in the battle of Marv by the Persian ruler, Shah Ismail. The removal of Shaibani Khan from the political scene once again inflamed Babur’s desire to conquer Samarqand. He entered into a treaty with Shah Ismail and succeeded in capturing not only Samarqand but Bukhara and Khurasan as well in 1511 A.D. But, Babur could not enjoy his conquests for long.

His relations with Shah Ismail were spoiled as he could not enforce Shia sect on his Sunni subjects while his Sunni subjects became dissatisfied with him because they felt that he had become a stooge in the hands of a Shia ruler. The Uzbegs took advantage of it, attacked Samarqand under their new leader Ubaid Ullah Khan and occupied it in 1512 A.D. Thus Babur lost Samarqand for the third time and returned to Kabul.

The Conquest of Northern India :

A. Contest against Ibrahim Lodi :

1. The Causes of the First Battle of Panipat:

Babur was an ambitious ruler. He desired to create an extensive empire. He attempted to create one in Central Asia and conquered Samarqand. But the Uzbegs foiled his plans in Central Asia. Therefore, he decided to move towards India. The story of the attack of Timur on India, which he heard from an old lady, inspired him to try his luck here.

The politics of West Asia also favoured his plan. The Uzbegs and the Persians fought among themselves but failed to subdue each other and thus maintained a balance of power in West Asia. Therefore, none of them was in a position of threatening the position of Babur in Kabul and he could freely engage himself in the task of conquering India.

Babur was a capable man. He had a long experience of fighting against the Turks, the Mongols, the Uzbegs, the Persians and the Afghans. He improved his fighting tactics and arms. He learned the Tulghuma tactic of warfare from the Uzbegs, that of ambuscade from the Mongols, from the Afghans the use of fire-arms, from the Persians the use of artillery and the effective use of mobile cavalry from the Turks.

Babur built up a strong artillery with the help of his two Turkish officers, Ustad Ali and Mustafa. Besides, Babur possessed virtues like endurance, patience, courage, contempt of death, hopefulness and faith in his destiny which made him a leader of men. Thus, his enhanced power and personal qualities also aspired him to take his chances in India.

Babur was not a greedy man. But the wealth of India was definitely alluring to him and his followers which also was one of the causes of his attack on India.

The weak political condition of India, certainly, tempted Babur to attack India. Ibrahim Lodi, the Afghan ruler of Delhi, was facing revolts from his own kinsmen and nobles. He was opposed by his nobles in Bihar, his uncle Alam Khan Lodi claimed the throne of Delhi and the Governor of Punjab, Daulat Khan Lodi was behaving as an independent ruler.

Besides, the Afghan rulers of Bengal, Malwa and Gujarat were also his opponents. Thus, the Afghans were divided among themselves and were in no position to unite themselves against a foreign enemy.

Lane-Poole wrote:

“In the beginning of the 16th century, India was simply a congregation of states and, therefore, could easily be conquered by an aggressor. In absence of a sovereign power, petty rulers swayed over the land and the writ of the Sultan had no meaning.”

There were independent kingdoms in Sindh, Kashmir and Orissa but none of them was powerful. The most powerful state of northern India was Mewar. Its ruler Sangram Singh alias Rana Sanga had united all Rajput rulers of Rajputana under him either by wars or by diplomacy. He was trying to weaken not only the neighbouring kingdoms of Malwa and Gujarat but was desirous to capture Agra and Delhi from Ibrahim Lodi. But he was not yet completely free from internal dissensions.

The most powerful state of south India was Vijayanagara which was ruled by its most illustrious ruler, Krishnadeva Rai. Besides, there were the kingdoms of the Berar, the Ahmadnagar, the Bijapur, the Golkunda and the Bidar which had sprung up after the division of the Bahmani kingdom. These states fought among themselves as well as against Vijayanagara. Thus, the states of southern India had neither interest nor the capacity to look after the politics of northern India.

Thus, India lacked political unity and stability at that time. The different rulers were fighting against each other yet, none of them succeeded in creating a powerful empire which could face the challenge of a foreign invader. Instead, some among them encouraged Babur to attack India. Alam Khan Lodi invited Babur to attack India so that he could capture Delhi with his help. Daulat Khan Lodi invited Babur so that he could keep Punjab for himself.

Probably, Rana Sanga also assured Babur of his help against Ibrahim Lodi once he entered Punjab. All these circumstances encouraged Babur to attack India.

Babur invaded India five times. But the first four invasions were more or less exploratory raids. In his first invasion (1519 A.D.) he simply conquered Bajaur and Bhera and returned. Both the places were lost by him as soon as he was back. He again came back to India the same year but turned back from Peshawar.

During the course of his third invasion in 1520 A.D., he entered Punjab and conquered Sialkot and Sayyidpur. He attacked for the fourth time in 1524 A.D. and captured territory as far as Lahore and Dipalpur.

But he left Punjab under the care of Alam Khan Lodi and Dilawar Khan Lodi, son of Daulat Khan Lodi and returned to Kabul. After his departure, however, Punjab was again captured by Daulat Khan Lodi. It was in 1525 A.D. that Babur attacked India for the fifth time with a view to conquer it.

2. The First Battle of Panipat (21 April 1526 A.D.):

Daulat Khan was soon forced to surrender by Babur. He was imprisoned and sent to Bhera but he died on the way. Punjab, thus, being occupied, Babur proceeded towards Delhi. He was then challenged by Ibrahim Lodi on the field of Panipat. Babur wrote in his Memoirs that he defeated Ibrahim Lodi with twelve thousand soldiers while Rushbrooke Williams described that his army consisted of only eight thousand soldiers.

Probably, Babur started from Kabul with twelve thousand soldiers. But the strength of his army increased after his conquest of Punjab. Dr A.L. Srivastava has described that the strength of the army was nearly twenty-five thousand soldiers. The number of Ibrahim’s army has been exaggerated by certain historians.

It has been said that there were nearly one thousand elephants and one lakh soldiers in his army. But the fact seems to be that he had an effective strength of nearly forty thousand soldiers only. For about a week, both the armies faced each other and engaged in skirmishes. The real battle started on the morning of 21 April 1526 A.D. and by noon it was over. Ibrahim Lodi lay dead on the field and his army was destroyed.

The results:

The battle of Panipat sealed the fate of Lodi dynasty in India. It was wiped out of Indian politics. The power of the Afghans was weakened in India though not completely destroyed. Babur soon occupied Delhi and Agra and, thus, laid down the foundation of the rule of the Mughul dynasty in India though he had yet to fight more battles to safeguard his claim over his Indian possessions.

3. The causes of the success of Babur:

The artillery, the Tulghuma method of warfare and superior generalship of Babur, on the one hand, and weaknesses, of Ibrahim Lodi, on the other, were responsible for the success of Babur in this battle.

Babur was an experienced and more capable commander than Ibrahim whom he described in his Memoirs as “as inexperienced young man, careless in his movements who marched without order, halted or retired without method, and engaged without foresight.”

Babur had a fine artillery, a more effective mobile cavalry and he used better war-tactics while Ibrahim had no artillery and fought in a traditional way depending on his war-elephants which having no experience of facing fire-arms destroyed their own army in panic.

Ibrahim’s army was not well-organised. He had lost the sympathy of the Afghan nobility as well as the loyalty of his subjects. Mostly his army consisted of hastily collected mercenary soldiers. Therefore, though the Afghans fought bravely, they proved no match to the well-trained army of Babur.

B. After the Battle of Panipat :

Babur had to face many difficulties after the battle of Panipat. The Afghan nobles declared their independence at several places after the defeat of Ibrahim. Mahmud Lodi, the younger brother of Ibrahim Lodi, who had fled away from the battle of Panipat, tried to organise the Afghans to settle his score against Babur.

The Afghan rulers at Bengal and Gujarat could support him or could try to capture Delhi themselves. Rana Sanga of Mewar was another powerful challenger to the position of Babur in northern India. The people of India, fearing Babur as a foreign invader, vacated their villages and prepared themselves to safeguard their property and honour.

Babur himself wrote that ‘the citizens hated the Mughuls; neither cereals were available for the soldiers nor fodder for the horses; every city was fortified except Agra and Delhi, and nobody was prepared to obey the orders.’ Besides, nobles and soldiers of Babur were desirous to go back to Kabul as they could not tolerate the heat of the plains of India.

Babur, however, decided to stay in India. That finished the hesitancy of his nobles and soldiers because they knew that they had to stay with their king. The confidence of the people was restored and they began to settle down because they knew that Babur had not come to plunder but to settle down in India.

Many Afghan nobles also decided to surrender to him and were gracefully forgiven by Babur. Babur then tried to restore order within the territory which he had captured in India. He divided the plains of northern India among his nobles and gave them the responsibility to conquer it.

The policy succeeded and very soon a larger part of the plains of north India was captured by Babur. But before he could firmly establish himself here, he faced a serious challenge to his power from Rana Sanga of Mewar.

C. The Battle of Khanua (17 March 1527 A.D.):

The primary cause of the battle of Khanua was the decision of Babur to remain in India as the king of Delhi. Rana Sanga had agreed to support Babur against Ibrahim Lodi. He thought that Babur would leave India after plundering it as was done by some previous invaders. In that case, he could capture Delhi for himself. But the decision of Babur to remain in India foiled his plans and therefore, he preferred to support the Afghans against the foreigners, the Mughuls.

He gave shelter to fugitive Alam Khan Lodi, accepted Mahmud Lodi as the ruler of Delhi and sought the support of Hasan Khan Mewati and other Afghan nobles against Babur. Therefore, the battle between the Rajputs and the Mughuls became inevitable. Rest of the causes of the battle were simply pretexts for it. Babur blamed Rana Sanga for not helping him against Ibrahim while Rana Sanga challenged the capture of Bayana, Dholpur and Kalpi by Babur.

The Rajput army took the offensive and proceeded ahead with a view to capture Bayana and Agra. Mahmud Lodi and Hasan Khan Mewati joined their ranks. The two advanced parties of Babur were defeated by the Rajputs. Babur realised that he had to face a more serious challenge from the Rajputs than what he had faced at Panipat from the Afghans.

The Rajput valour was praiseworthy and their leader Rana Sanga was an experienced general who had fought nearly one hundred battles in life. An astrologer at Kabul declared that the ensuing battle would go against the Mughuls. All this demoralised the soldiers of Babur. But then, Babur proved himself a judge of human character, a leader of a group of people and the commander of an army.

He dramatically renounced drinking of wine before a gathering of his troops, appealed to them to fight till death for the safety of their honour and religion, abolished tamgha (stamp duty) from all Muslims and declared Jihad (holy war) against the ‘infidels’ (Hindus). It brought about the desired effect and the Mughul soldiers and nobles swore before him to fight till death.

The two armies met at Khanua, a place ten miles ahead of Fatehpur Sikri. Babur described the number of the Rajput army as two lakhs and Rushbrooke Williams described that the Rajputs outnumbered the Mughuls by 7 or 8 to 1. But, there is no justification for these facts. Dr A.L. Srivastava is nearer the truth when he describes that the odds were 2:1.

While the Rajput army consisted of nearly eighty thousand soldiers the Mughuls numbered nearly forty thousand. The battle started at nearly 9 a.m. on 17 March 1527 A.D. and continued for ten hours. Rana Sanga was badly wounded and taken away from the battlefield and the Rajput army was routed. The victory went to the Mughuls.

Once again, the Mughuls succeeded in the battle because of their superior tactics, commandership and artillery. The Rana was wounded during the course of the battle and failed to provide leadership to his soldiers at the critical moment. It also demoralised his soldiers. However this can be counted only as a subsidiary cause of the defeat of the Rajputs.

The battle of Khanua proved to be a more decisive battle as compared to the battle of Panipat. It proved the superiority of the arms and military tactics of the Mughuls against the natives. It weakened the Rajput power.

Rana Sanga died in 1528 A.D. and that finished the dream of the Rajputs to conquer Delhi forever. It also reduced the power of resistance of the Afghans against the Mughuls. The position of Babur was now secure in India.

Of course, he had to fight more battles in India but none of them was for the safety of the Mughuls in India but for the consolidation of their power. Babur, now, was firmly established in India and his centre of power shifted from Kabul to Delhi.

D. The Conquest of Chanderi (1528 A.D.) :

Chanderi was situated on the border of Malwa and Bundelkhand and therefore, was important both politically and economically. Its occupation could help in the conquest of Malwa and provide safety to trade route towards western India. Besides, it was now in the hands of a Rajput chief, Medini Rai who had freed himself from the sovereignty of the ruler of Malwa, subordinated himself to Rana Sanga and fought against Babur in the battle of Khanua.

Babur decided to destroy his power and therefore, demanded Chanderi in exchange of Shamsabad. It was refused and Babur attacked Chanderi on 29 January 1528 A.D. Medini Rai was killed in the battle and the tort of Chanderi was captured by Babur. However, it was handed over to Ahmad Shah, a descendant of the ruling dynasty of Malwa.

E. The Battle of Ghaghara (6 May 1529 A.D.) :

The Afghans attempted once more to recapture Delhi. They had assembled in Bihar, were led by Mahmud Lodi and, probably, were supported by Nusrat Shah, the Afghan ruler of Bengal. They moved as far as Kannauj.

Babur proceeded towards the east to subdue them. The Afghans began to withdraw when they received the news of the approach of Babur and many of them surrendered. But, Babur was determined to finish their menace for once and all.

He pardoned all those who asked for it but went on proceeding towards Bihar. However, as he did not desire to engage Nusrat Shah of Bengal in the battle, he assured him of his non-interference in Bengal on the condition that the fugitive and revolting Afghans would not get support from Bengal.

The Afghans under Mahmud Lodi were forced to fight at the banks of Ghaghara on 6 May 1529 A.D. and completely defeated. Mahmud Lodi fled away to Bengal and many Afghan rebels surrendered to Babur. Nusrat Shah agreed for peace with the Mughuls on condition of mutual respect for each other’s border. Babur kept a part of Bihar to himself. The rest was restored to the Afghans on condition of acceptance of his suzerainty.

F. Last Days and Death of Babur :

The battle of Ghaghara was the last battle of Babur in India. He had succeeded in establishing the Mughul empire in India and there was nobody to challenge his power in northern India. But, now he was near his death. It has been expressed by several historians that Humayun, the eldest son of Babur fell ill and when showed no sign of improvement Babur offered his own life to God in return of his son.

Then Humayun recovered and Babur fell ill which, ultimately, took his life. But Dr S.R. Sharma has contradicted this story. He has written that the illness of Babur had no relation with the illness of Humayun who had recovered from illness six months earlier to Babur’s illness. The majority of historians have now accepted the view of Dr S.R. Sharma.

Babur died due to his own illness. Dr R.P. Tripathi has also expressed that extremely tiresome life of Babur, his indulgence in liquor and opium and the hot climate of India were responsible for his illness and death.

Babur nominated his son Humayun as his successor and died on 26 December 1530 A.D. He was buried at Aram Bagh in Agra but later on was removed and buried in Kabul at the place chosen by himself during his lifetime.

Related Articles:

• Ibrahim Lodi: 5 Main Events of his Reign – Explained!
• Babur’s Rule in India (1526-30)
• Battle of Khanwa: Causes, Events and Consequences
• Biography of Zahiruddin Muhammad Babur

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The Babur-nama in English (Memoirs of Babur)

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