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Mughal Emperors- Babur and Humayun

In this article we will study about important rulers of Mughal Empire- Babur and Humayun, Chengiz Khan, Tuzuk-I-Baburi, Charbagh, Battle of Chausa, etc.

The Mughals were descendants of two great lineages of rulers, from their mother’s side they were descendants of Genghis Khan and from their father’s side they were the successors of Timur. 

Babur (AD 1526- 1530)

  • After defeating Daulat Khan Lodi, he conquered Lahore
  • The First Battle of Panipat was fought between his army and that of Ibrahim Lodi’s where the latter was defeated and killed on April 21, 1526 CE
  • After the success of the First Battle of Panipat, Babur declared himself as “Emperor of Hindustan”
  • In the Battle of Khanwa in 1527 CE, he defeated the Rajput king of Mewar, Rana Sangha
  • For capturing Chanderi, Babur overthrew  Raja Medini Rai in 1528
  • When Muhmmad Lodi tried to take Delhi back, he fought and became victorious in the Battle of Ghagra, 1529. At that time, the Mughal troops were led by Babur 
  • In 1530, he took his last breath
  • It is said that he was a wonderful scholar who valued both Arabic and Persian works even though Turki was his maternal language
  • Tuzuk-i-Baburi was written by him only in his mother tongue
  • Being a nature lover, he was fond of Indian biodiversity
  • He loved gardens and he introduced Charbagh

Humayun (AD 1530-1540)

  • Humuyun was the eldest son of Babur
  • Humayun was the second Mughal ruler and his name means Fortune. But he wasn’t very fortunate to rule and carry forward his father’s legacy
  • In the Battle of Chausa and Battle of Kanauj that took place in 1539 and 1540 respectively, Sher Shah defeated him 
  • After losing his kingdom and throne, he fled to Kabul for fifteen years
  • In 1952, while he was in the deserts of Sindh, Humayun married Hamida Banu Begum, daughter of Sheikh Ali Amber Jaini
  • Humayun’s wife gave birth to Akbar on November 23, 1542
  • With Persian help, in 1945, Humayun captured Kandahar and Kabul
  • Humayun defeated the Afghans in 1555 and sat on the Mughal throne
  • In 1555, Humayun gained control over the Delhi throne and reclaimed his position
  • However, after six months he died due to his fall from the staircase in his fort
  • Humayun was a kind and generous ruler, though he could not mark himself as a great warrior
  • He loved painting and also used to write poetry in the Persian language

Conclusion

The Mughals did not believe in the rule of primogeniture, where the eldest son inherited his father’s estate. Instead they followed the Mughal and Timurid custom of coparcenary inheritance, or a division of the inheritance amongst all the sons. Both Babur and Humayun reigned for a short period of span but they put the marking stone of the Mughal empire.