Akbar

In Indian history, there are kings who conquered, and then there are emperors who integrated. Among the latter, Jalaluddin Muhammad Akbar stands tallest — not just as a ruler, but as a builder of an inclusive and expansive empire. He ascended the Mughal throne at the tender age of 13, and over the next five decades, transformed a fragile kingdom into a vast, resilient, and culturally vibrant empire.

🟩 Accession and Early Challenges (1556)

When Humayun died in 1556, he left behind a young heir and a vulnerable empire. The Afghans and Rajputs still held immense power, and the Mughal hold over India was uncertain.

But young Akbar had a formidable guardian — Bairam Khan, a trusted noble of Humayun. He became wakil (regent) of the empire, bearing the title Khan-i-Khanan. It was under his mentorship that Akbar would begin his journey.

🔻 Threat of Hemu and the Second Battle of Panipat (1556)

Meanwhile, the Afghans regrouped under Hemu, the Hindu general of Adil Shah, a successor of Sher Shah Suri.

• Hemu recaptured Gwalior and Agra without much resistance.
• He defeated the Mughal forces near Delhi and occupied the city.
• His forces were on the verge of total victory when fate turned.

In November 1556, the Second Battle of Panipat took place. Just when Hemu seemed destined to win, an arrow pierced his eye. He collapsed unconscious, and his army, without leadership, scattered. The Mughals won — not just the battle, but their second chance at empire.

This victory ensured Akbar’s throne in Delhi and marked the real beginning of the Mughal Empire in India.

🟩 Bairam Khan’s Regency and Exit

For the first five years, Bairam Khan effectively governed on Akbar’s behalf and consolidated control over:

• Kabul to Jaunpur
• Including Gwalior and Ajmer

However, his overbearing attitude created resentment among nobles. Akbar, now maturing, dismissed him through a farman. Though Bairam rebelled briefly, he eventually surrendered.

Akbar, in a gesture of magnanimity, allowed Bairam Khan to either serve the court or retire to Mecca. He chose pilgrimage. Tragically, he was murdered en route by an Afghan holding a personal grudge.

Akbar adopted Bairam’s widow and young son — Abdur Rahim Khan-i-Khanan — raising him like his own. Abdur Rahim would later become one of the Navaratnas (Nine Jewels) in Akbar’s court.

🟩 Akbar’s Court and the Navaratnas

Akbar was known for his intellectual curiosity and cultural inclusivity. He surrounded himself with the finest minds of his era, known as his Navaratnas:

Name	Contribution
Birbal	Wit and administration
Tansen	Music (Dhrupad)
Abdur Rahim Khan-i-Khanan	Poetry and patronage
Abul Fazl	Scholarship; author of Akbarnama
Faizi	Poetry and scholarship
Todarmal	Finance; Revenue system architect
Raja Man Singh	Mansabdar and military commander
Raja Bhagwan Das	Senior noble and Rajput ally
Mulla Do-Piyaza	Known for wit (semi-legendary)

🟩 Territorial Expansion of the Mughal Empire under Akbar

Conquest of Garh-Katanga (1564)

• Located in present-day Madhya Pradesh, ruled by Rani Durgavati of the Gond dynasty.
• Akbar’s forces defeated her and absorbed the region into the empire.
• Rani Durgavati’s martyrdom is remembered as a symbol of valour and sacrifice.

Siege of Chittor (1568)

Akbar understood the symbolic and strategic importance of Chittor, the seat of Mewar.

• After a six-month siege, the fort fell.
• Rajput heroes Jaimal and Patta died defending it.
• In tribute, Akbar had their statues on elephants placed outside Agra fort — a rare gesture of respect for adversaries.

Ranthambhor (1569)

• Known as the strongest fort in Rajasthan, held by Surjan Hada.
• Its fall, along with earlier conquests like Jodhpur, led to the submission of most Rajput states (except Mewar).
• Bikaner and Jaisalmer accepted Mughal suzerainty.

Annexation of Gujarat (1572)

• Akbar took Ahmedabad peacefully.
• Defeated the Mirzas in Surat, Broach, and Baroda.
• At Cambay, Akbar saw the sea for the first time and met Portuguese traders.
• This victory checked Portuguese imperial ambitions in western India.

Bengal and Bihar (1574–1576)

• Dominated by Afghans led by Daud Khan Karrani.
• After internal dissensions, Akbar invaded and defeated Daud in 1576.
• Daud was executed on the battlefield, ending Afghan rule in the region.
• This completed Phase I of Akbar’s expansion.

The Stubbornness of Mewar: Battle of Haldighati (1576)

• Mewar, under Maharana Pratap, refused to submit.
• In the Battle of Haldighati, Akbar’s army, led by Man Singh, defeated him.
• But Maharana Pratap escaped and continued guerrilla resistance.

His story of defiance became a symbol of Rajput pride, fighting for freedom and honour, even in defeat.

Kabul Campaign (1581)

• Akbar’s half-brother Mirza Hakim, ruler of Kabul, supported internal rebellions.
• Akbar defeated him and handed Kabul to his sister, a symbol of his liberal outlook.

Threat from the Uzbeks (1580s)

• Abdullah Khan Uzbek in Central Asia overran Badakhshan.
• Akbar secured the northwest through:
  • Conquest of Kashmir (1586) and Sindh (1591)
  • Marriage alliance with Baltistan
  • Clearing the Khyber Pass, though Raja Birbal died in one such expedition

He stayed in Lahore until 1598, consolidating control in this sensitive frontier zone.

🟩 Akbar and the Deccan (Late Phase)

By the end of the 16th century, Akbar turned southward:

• Khandesh was occupied in 1591.
• In 1596, Berar was annexed from Chand Bibi, a heroic woman regent who valiantly resisted.
• By 1600, major parts of Ahmednagar were under Mughal control.

The Deccan campaigns would intensify under Jahangir and Shah Jahan, but Akbar laid the foundation.

✅ The Empire Consolidated

Akbar’s reign marked the coming-of-age of the Mughal Empire. From a vulnerable teenager in 1556 to a world emperor by 1600, his journey was one of:

• Military brilliance
• Administrative foresight
• Cultural inclusiveness
• Strategic alliances, especially with Rajputs
• And above all, a vision to unite India, not just by conquest, but by co-existence.

He was not merely a ruler of territories but a ruler of minds and hearts — the kind of emperor whose institutional legacy would define India for centuries to come.

🔱 Akbar’s Religious Policy: A Progressive Vision in a Medieval Age

Akbar is celebrated not merely for his conquests but for the transformative nature of his statecraft, particularly his religious policy. At a time when sectarian divisions were deep and often violent, Akbar laid the foundation for Sulh-i-kul, or universal peace—a concept far ahead of its time.

Foundations of Akbar’s Religious Outlook

Several influences shaped Akbar’s liberal religious worldview:

• Early interactions with Sufi saints (especially of the Chishti order).
• His Rajput matrimonial alliances, which exposed him to Hindu traditions.
• A pragmatic understanding that religious tolerance was key to political integration of a vast, multi-religious empire.

Key Measures Reflecting Akbar’s Religious Policy

Measure	Description
Abolition of Pilgrim Tax & Jizya	These discriminatory taxes against Hindus were abolished, signalling a break from orthodox Islamic traditions.
Religious Freedom for Wives	Akbar allowed his Hindu queens to worship freely, showcasing personal tolerance.
Ibadat Khana (1575)	Built at Fatehpur Sikri, this “House of Worship” was meant for inter-religious debates. Akbar invited scholars of Hinduism, Jainism, Christianity, Islam, and Zoroastrianism.
Din-i-Ilahi (1582)	A syncretic religion introduced by Akbar, combining elements of various faiths, focused on monotheism, ethics, and rationality. Importantly, it was not imposed and had very few followers.
Abolition of Sati	Akbar took active steps to discourage the practice of sati among Hindus.
Title: ‘Akbar the Great’	This was not just due to military achievements but because of his inclusive vision for India.

🕊️ Sulh-i Kul: The Philosophy of Universal Peace

Akbar’s realisation, through years of interaction with bigoted scholars, was that dogmatic religion often caused societal discord. This gave rise to the principle of Sulh-i-kul, or “peace with all”.

📌 Sulh-i Kul was not just religious tolerance; it was political wisdom rooted in ethical governance.

• It allowed freedom of worship for all communities.
• Served as the ideological basis of Mughal administration.
• Systematised by Abul Fazl, who helped Akbar frame his governance philosophy around this ideal.

🤝 Rajput Policy: From Conflict to Integration

Unlike his predecessors, Akbar adopted a conciliatory and inclusive approach toward the Rajputs—a warrior class crucial for regional stability.

Matrimonial Alliances

Alliance	Significance
Marriage to Harkha Bai (Jodha Bai)	Daughter of Raja Bhar Mal of Amber. Cemented Mughal-Rajput ties.
Marriage alliances with Bikaner & Jaisalmer	Strengthened regional alliances.
Salim’s marriage	Married daughter of Raja Bhagwan Das, strengthening bonds.

🔔 Akbar maintained close emotional and political ties with the in-law families, unlike many earlier rulers.

Rajputs in Administration

• Raja Man Singh: Trusted general, led many Mughal campaigns.
• Todar Mal: Finance wizard; became Akbar’s Diwan and systematised land revenue.
• Birbal: Akbar’s close confidant and part of the Navratnas.

🧭 Through his Rajput policy, Akbar achieved more than submission—he won loyalty and collaboration from powerful regional chieftains.

🏯 Resistance from Mewar and Marwar

While most Rajput states accepted Akbar’s suzerainty, two held out:

1. Mewar (Rana Pratap Singh)

• Refused to acknowledge Mughal overlordship.
• Fought the Battle of Haldighati (1576) against Man Singh I.
• Though defeated, Pratap escaped and continued resistance till his death (1597).
• His story is remembered as one of unyielding Rajput valor and sacrifice.

2. Marwar (Jodhpur)

• Ruled by Chandra Sen, son of Maldeo Rathore.
• Fought till his death in 1581, even as his own brothers joined the Mughals.