Medieval-indian-history / Mughal Empire / Zaheeruddin Mohammad Babur (1526-30AD)
Zaheeruddin Mohammad Babur (1526-30AD)
Zaheeruddin Mohammad Babur (1526-30AD)
Babur, the young ruler, ascended the throne in Farghana (Uzbekistan) in 1494 at the tender age of twelve, following his father's demise. However, Central Asia was in turmoil, and Babur encountered strong opposition from the nobility.
- Despite briefly capturing Samarqand, he faced setbacks due to desertion by some nobles, ultimately losing Farghana to the Uzbegs.
- After years of struggle, he seized Kabul in 1504, nurturing ambitions of moving towards Hindustan.
- In India, conflicts raged between Afghan chiefs and Ibrahim Lodi, notably Daulat Khan Lodi and Rana Sanga of Mewar.
- Both invited Babur to invade, fueling his aspirations.
- Between 1519 and 1524, Babur launched invasions into Bhera, Sialkot, and Lahore.
- The decisive encounter came in 1526 at Panipat, where Babur, with only 12,000 soldiers, faced Ibrahim Lodi's 100,000-strong army.
- Employing innovative tactics inspired by the Rumi (Ottoman) method of warfare and utilizing cannons, Babur emerged victorious in the first battle of Panipat.
use of cannons in first battle of panipat
- Babur, having conquered Delhi and Agra, still faced the need to subdue the Rajputs and Afghans.
- His focus turned to Rana Sanga of Chittor, a powerful figure ruling over Mewar with influence extending over Rajasthan and Malwa.
- The clash between Babur and Rana Sanga occurred at Khanwa near Fatehpur Sikri in 1527, resulting in Rana Sanga's defeat.
- Once more, Babur's superior military strategy prevailed, marking a significant shift in North India (Battle of Khanwa, 1527).
- Despite this setback, Mewar Rajputs remained a concern, while Medini Rai of Malwa posed a threat to Babur's authority.
- Babur swiftly defeated Medini Rai in Chanderi in 1528 (Battle of Chanderi, 1528).
- In 1529, Babur faced Afghans led by Mohammad Lodi, brother of Ibrahim Lodi, triumphing once more in the Battle of Ghagra.
- Babur passed away in 1530AD, leaving behind a legacy as a scholar of Persian and Arabic, and the author of his autobiography, Tuzuk-i-Baburi, initially written in Turki and later translated into Persian and other languages.
