Babur
🧬 Babur’s Lineage: Born to Rule
Let us begin this story from a point that shaped Babur’s entire destiny—his ancestry.
Babur, whose full name was Zahiruddin Muhammad Babur, was no ordinary prince. He carried within his bloodline the legacy of two of the most formidable conquerors in Asian history:
- On his father’s side, he was a descendant of Timur—the legendary ruler who had once united vast stretches of Iran and Central Asia.
- On his mother’s side, he traced lineage to Genghis Khan—the feared Mongol warlord whose name still evokes awe.
With such a pedigree, Babur was both a Timurid and a Mongol—making him a natural claimant to thrones across Central Asia and beyond.
🌍 Central Asia: Babur’s Early World
To understand Babur’s journey to India, we must first understand the Central Asian chessboard of power during his time.
After the mighty Mongol Empire disintegrated in the 14th century, Timur rose to unify Iran and Turan (which includes modern-day Uzbekistan and surrounding regions). His empire stretched from:
- Volga to Indus,
- Asia Minor (Turkey) to Punjab,
- and included great cultural centers like Samarqand and Herat.
But after Timur’s death in 1405, his successors could not maintain unity. The Timurid practice of dividing the empire among sons and grandsons led to internal feuds. Into this fragmented world stepped three rising powers:
- Uzbeks – Sunni Muslims, Turkic in origin, rising in Trans-Oxiana.
- Safavids – Shia Muslims, ruling Iran, patronising Persian art and mysticism.
- Ottomans – Turkish rulers expanding into West Asia and Europe, also Sunni.
This triangular struggle would shape Babur’s early life.
👑 Babur’s Early Struggles: From Farghana to Kabul
At just 12 years of age, in 1494, Babur inherited the small principality of Farghana. But like many young rulers of the time, he had lofty ambitions—especially to recapture Samarqand, the crown jewel of the Timurid empire.
Babur captured it twice, but both times, he lost it to the Uzbeks, especially their powerful chief Shaibani Khan. Finally defeated, Babur turned southwards and captured Kabul in 1504, establishing his new base.
But his heart still longed for his homeland. Even with support from the Shia Safavid ruler Shah Ismail, who had defeated Shaibani Khan in 1510, Babur could not hold Samarqand. By now, Trans-Oxiana was firmly in Uzbek hands.
Having failed in the north, Babur now turned his gaze towards Hindustan.
🇮🇳 Political Conditions in India: The Door Opens
In North India, the situation was ripe for invasion. After the death of Sikandar Lodi in 1517, his son Ibrahim Lodi became Sultan of Delhi. Ibrahim’s attempts to centralise power alienated two key groups:
- Afghan nobility, who wanted autonomy,
- and Rajput rulers, especially Rana Sanga of Mewar, who aspired to expand their influence.
Thus, both Afghans and Rajputs were discontented with Lodi’s rule. This instability opened a window of opportunity for Babur.
⚔️ Babur’s Indian Campaigns: Conquest and Consolidation
📍 Initial Raids and Return to Kabul
In 1518–19, Babur advanced into Punjab, capturing Bhira, but was resisted by Daulat Khan Lodi, the local governor. When Babur returned to Kabul, Daulat Khan reoccupied Bhira.
In 1520–21, Babur returned and decisively captured Bhira, Sialkot, and even Lahore. However, a revolt in Qandhar forced him to turn back briefly.
📨 Invitation from India
Babur soon received two major invitations to invade India:
- From Daulat Khan Lodi, sent through his son Dilawar Khan,
- And likely from Rana Sanga, who saw Babur as a tool to weaken Ibrahim Lodi.
Seeing the fragmented political landscape, Babur advanced. By 1525, Daulat Khan had turned hostile, so Babur defeated him and secured Punjab.
🛡️ First Battle of Panipat (1526): Foundation of an Empire
The real test came soon after. On 21 April 1526, Babur met Ibrahim Lodi at Panipat. Despite being numerically inferior, Babur’s army:
- Used strategic positioning,
- Made effective use of artillery (gunpowder cannons),
- Employed Tulughma tactics (flanking attacks using horsemen).
The result? Ibrahim Lodi was killed, and the Delhi Sultanate collapsed. Babur now controlled Delhi and Agra.
But he knew well—capturing Delhi was not the same as ruling Hindustan. Two major powers still opposed him: the Rajputs and Afghan remnants.
⚔️ Battle of Khanwa (1527): Clash with Rana Sanga
Rana Sanga of Mewar, a towering Rajput figure, now advanced toward Agra. He dreamed of uniting north India under Rajput dominance.
Babur faced a tough challenge:
- Sanga had superior numbers and early successes.
- Babur’s troops were demoralised.
To restore morale, Babur made a religious appeal, declaring this battle a jihad, and after victory, took the title of Ghazi (slayer of infidels).
With superior artillery, Babur defeated Rana Sanga at Khanwa, near Agra. Though Sanga escaped, he was later poisoned by his own nobles, ending Rajput hopes.
Babur’s control now expanded over Delhi-Agra, Malwa, Gwalior, and Dholpur.
🏰 Battle of Chanderi (1528): Suppressing Rajput Resistance
In Chanderi, Babur fought Medini Rai, a Rajput chief. The Rajput defenders fought to death, and their women performed jauhar (ritual mass self-immolation) to avoid dishonour. This marked the end of serious Rajput resistance in Malwa.
🌊 Battle of Ghagra (1529): Final Afghan Challenge
A final threat came from:
- Mahmud Lodi (brother of Ibrahim Lodi),
- and Nusrat Shah of Bengal (Ibrahim’s son-in-law).
Babur confronted them at the river Ghagra in Bihar. Although no decisive victory was achieved, the enemy retreated, and Babur claimed suzerainty over Bihar while leaving it under Afghan chiefs.
A treaty with Bengal was signed.
🪦 Babur’s Final Days and Death
Soon after, illness and concerns in Central Asia weighed on Babur. In 1530, near Lahore, while en route to Kabul, he passed away.
🌟 Significance of Babur’s Advent into India
Let us conclude this section by reflecting on why Babur’s short reign (just 4 years in India!) was historically transformative:
🔐 Strategic Impact
He connected Kabul and Qandhar with North India, creating a strong military base. This ensured that future invasions from the northwest were minimal for nearly 200 years.
🏰 Political Transformation
Babur smashed the balance of power between the Lodis, Rajputs, and Afghan chiefs. This paved the way for a strong centralised empire under the Mughals.
💣 Military Innovation
Although gunpowder existed in India, Babur showed how to use artillery tactically, setting the stage for modern warfare in the subcontinent.
🧭 Personal Leadership
Babur was brave, loyal, and charismatic. He shared hardships with soldiers, earning their affection. Yet, he could be ruthless in battle.
🖋️ Cultural Contributions
A scholar of Persian and Arabic, Babur wrote his famous autobiography Tuzuk-i-Baburi (Baburnama) in Turki, offering rare insights into his life and times.
🏛️ Legacy
Babur laid the foundation for the Mughal Empire—an empire that would blend military strength, cultural refinement, and religious tolerance. His successors would build upon this legacy for centuries.