Babur

This article is about the founder of the Mughal Empire. For the Pakistani cruise missile, see Babur missile

Babur

Birth name:	Zahir-ud-din Mohammad Babur
Family name:	Timur House
Title:	Emperor of Mughal Empire
Birth:	February 14, 1483
Place of birth:	Andijan, Uzbekistan
Death:	December 26, 1530
Succeeded by:	Humayun
Marriage:	Ayisheh Sultan Begum Bibi Mubarika Yusufzay Dildar Begum Gulnar Agacheh Gulrukh Begum Maham Begum Masumeh Begum Nargul Agacheh Sayyida Afaq Zainab Sultan Begum
Children:	Humayun, son Kamran Mirza, son Askari Mirza, son Hindal Mirza, son Gulrukh Begum, daughter

Zahir-ud-din Mohammad Babur , Zahiriddin Muhammad Bobur (February 14, 1483 - December 26, 1530) (also spelled Baber or Babar), emperor (1526–30) and founder of the Mughal dynasty of India, a descendant of the Mongol conqueror Timur (Tamerlane). In 1526 he founded the Mughal Empire and the Mughal dynasty.

Background

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 twelve 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

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 dextrous 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 Moguls 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 oppurtunity 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 including an attack on the Gakhar stronghold of Pharwala, when an opportunity presented itself for a more extended expedition in 1521. Ibrahim Lodi, sultan of the Indian Delhi 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 100 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. Some historians incorrectly state that Rana Sanga of Mewar invited Babur to India. Now Babur was having sleepless nights because of Sanga. Babur sent about 1500 choice cavalry to attack Sanga. These were butchered by Sanga's rajputs. Babur wanted to discuss peace terms. For discussions Sanga sent his general Silhadi (Shiladitya). Babur won this general by promising him independent kingdom. Silhadi came back and reported that babur does not want peace and he wants to fight. Fight started and Babur's army was being knocked out of the field and victory was certain for Sanga. At this juncture Silhadi and his army just left the field and this tilted the war in favor of Babur and he won.

In 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

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.

Further reading

Preceded by: -

Mughal Emperor 1526-1530

Succeeded by:<br.>Humayun