Akbar (1556-1605)
- Akbar was only thirteen years old when Humayun died. When Akbar’s father died, he was at Kalanaur, Punjab, therefore his coronation took place there in 1556.
- Bairam Khan, his instructor, and Humayun’s favorite and confidant acted as the Mughal emperor’s regent from 1556 until 1560.
- As a conqueror, Akbar triumphed over North India. During Akbar’s first four years of leadership, the Mughal empire expanded from Kabul to Jaunpur, encompassing Gwalior and Ajmer, led by his regent Bairam Khan.
- Military Conquest:
- Second Battle of Panipat 1556 – Defeated Hemu and the Afghan forces in the battle who were posing a serious threat to the Mughal Empire.
- Battle of Haldighati 1576 – Akbar defeated Maharana Pratap in the battle after which the majority of Rajput princes acknowledged Akbar’s suzerainty.
- Akbar defeated Gujarat’s ruler Muzaffar Shah. To commemorate this triumph, Shah erected the Buland Darwaza at Fatehpur Sikri.
- Akbar eventually expanded the Mughal Empire to cover most of the Indian subcontinent.
- Religious Policy:
- Jizya, pilgrimage, and the forced conversion of prisoners of war have been abolished.
- He established an Ibadat khana (House of Worship) at Fatehpur Sikri for religious discussions.
- Akbar believed that religious fanatics overemphasize ceremony and doctrine.
- Thus, he championed the concept of sulh-i kul, or “universal peace,” as a form of tolerance that did not discriminate against individuals of other religions.
- Abul Fazl assisted Akbar in developing a vision for government based on the concept of sulh-i kul. Jahangir and Shah Jahan adhered to the same governing paradigm.
- He proposed “Din-e-Ilahi,” or Divine Faith, as a brand-new religion.
- It acknowledges the existence of just one God. It included the positive aspects of every religion. Birbal was one of just fifteen followers.
- Akbar created Jharoka Darshan to increase the general public’s acceptance of imperial authority as a component of popular religion.
- Art and Culture:
- Introduced ashrafi (mohurs), or gold coins.
- In addition, he started dating his coins using the new “Illahi era”, which superseded the previous Hijri era.
- The custom of engraving Persian poetry endorsing the emperor on coins was brought forward by Akbar.
- Navaratnas of Akbar:
- Abdul Fazl – The chronologist. Wrote “AkbarNama” and “Ain-i-Akbari”.
- Faizi – Translated Lilavati into Persian & under his supervision Mahabharata was translated into Persian language.
- Abdul Rahim Khan-I-Khana- Translated Baburnama into Turki
- Birbal– Army’s chief commander (Mukhya Senapati) and a Hindu advisor to the palace. He was given the title “Raja Birbal” by Akbar.
- Fakir Aziao Din – Chief advisor of Akbar
- Raja Todar Mal – Finance Minister. Akbar bestowed on him the title of Diwan-i-Ashraf.
- Raja Man Singh – Mansabdar and as an Army Consultant
- Tansen – Musician. Akbar gave him the title Mian.
- Mulla Do-Piyaza (depicted as Birbal’s Muslim counterpart)