The First Mughal Emperor: Babur

The Mughal Empire controlled almost every part of the Indian subcontinent during the period extending from the middle of the 16th century to the 18th century. When talking about the list of the Mughal emperors, the best-known rulers of the Mughal dynasty are Babur- the first emperor and his five lineal descendants- Humayun, Akbar, Jahangir, Shah Jahan, and Aurangzeb. These six Mughal rulers are also collectively referred to as the Great Mughals.

Babur: The First Mughal Emperor

Thinking of who was the first Mughal emperor? Babur Was the first Mughal emperor. 

Babur, also spelt as Baber or Babar, the real name Zahir al-Din Muhammad Babur, was the Mughal emperor to have rules parts of the Ancient Indian subcontinent. He was the fifth-generation descendant of the Turkic conqueror Timur, the empire built in the 14th century covering almost the entire Central Asia and Iran. A military adventurer, great politician, poet, and brave soldier, the magnetic leadership of Babur inspired multiple generations of the Mughal dynasty even after his death.

He was born at the twilight in Uzbekistan in 1483 CE at the twilight of the Turkic conqueror Timur empire. He came from the tribe Barlas which used to influence both Turkish and Mongolian, and his father ruled over Fergana, a small region in Uzbekistan. 

Babur: The historical battles

In the year 1494 CE, Babur, at the age of eleven or twelve, became the ruler of Fergana but soon, in late adolescence, lost his position to the competing relatives. He left Fergana and, for some years, resided in Afghanistan. Even after he was exiled from Fergana, his aim was not only to recapture the throne of his father but also to reclaim his ancestor’s land. It was in Afghanistan that he formed his army. After several failed attempts to retake Fergana, in 1504 CE, Babur managed to have a successful campaign in Afghanistan, where he captured the city of Kabul.

Babur then set his sights for Kandhar, located in Afghanistan and the Delhi Sultanate, and northern parts of India. Many members of Lodi’s family, government officials, and military personnel joined him, and it took him five long years to conquer the Delhi Sultanate. After defeating Ibrahim Lodi (emperor of Delhi Sultanate) at the First battle of Panipat in April 1526 CE, a new empire, the Mughal, was established in place of the Delhi Sultanate. 

Babur, the first Mughal emperor, made Agra his capital and set about ruling Northern India but was stiffly opposed by the Hindu Rajput princess. In March 1527 CE, Babur won against the Rajput princes led by Rana Sanga at the Battle of Khanwa.

Contributions of Babur

Babur, who was the first Mughal emperor, majorly contributed to the literature in the form of his memoir. During his rule over northern India, Babur, at some point in time, wrote poetry and all about his life in the book titled Baburnama. 

Later his memoir was translated from Turkish (the original language the memoir was written into) to Persian by Akbar the Great, his grandson. Eventually, Babur’s memoir was translated into English, and Baburnama was named ‘Memoirs of Babur’.

Tomb of Babur

Located on the slopes of Kuh-e Sher Darwaza, Bagh-e Babur is in the southwest of the old city of Kabul, Afghanistan. Also known as the Garden of Babur, Bagh-e Babur is where the tomb of Babur is placed. 

In the year 1526, Babur conquered northern India, and in the year 1530, he died in Agra due to excessive drinking. Throughout his reign in India, he missed his home country and desired to be buried in Kabul after his death. 

Initially, the body of Babur, who was the first Mughal emperor, was kept in Agra, and it was in the year 1544 that Babur’s widow transferred his body to Bagh-e Babur in Kabul. 

Bagh-e Babur, where the tomb of Babur was erected, is known as the tomb garden of the founder of the Mughal dynasty. It became the place of veneration, a symbol, and thus, gained superior importance among other gardens of Babur. 

Conclusion

History lets one know how past societies, cultures, ideologies, governments, and technologies were built. It acts as the foundation of a country. This article discusses Babur – the Mughal emperor, as a part of history. Here, you will learn about Babur, the first Mughal emperor, the battles he fought, and his contribution to literature.