When Humayun died, Akbar was just thirteen years old. Akbar was in Kalanaur, Punjab, when his father passed away, so in 1556, Kalanaur hosted his coronation.
It was Bairam Khan, the Mughal emperor’s regent from 1556 to 1560, who was both Humayun’s favorite and most trusted person and his instructor. Akbar was a victorious conqueror over all of North India. The Mughal Empire expanded under Akbar’s regent Bairam Khan during the first four years of his reign, from Kabul to Jaunpur, including Gwalior and Ajmer. The defeat of Hemu and the Afghan forces, who constituted a severe threat to the Mughal Empire, in the second Battle of Panipat in 1556 was one of the principal successes of his reign.
The first major challenge for Akbar was HEMU
Adishahsuri’s prime minister and commander was Hemu. His military prowess earned him notoriety. He prevailed in 22 fights. Another name for him was Vikramaditya. Bairam Khan declared war on Hemu in November of 1556. This is referred to as the Second Panipat Battle. In the Second Battle of Panipat, which took place in 1556 CE, Bairam Khan fought on Akbar’s behalf against the Afghan forces, which were led by Hemu Vikramaditya, the wazir of Adil Shah of Bengal. Hemu was on the verge of victory when an arrow struck his eye, knocking him out. His army withdrew, and the Mughals prospered.
During the regency period of Bairam Khan, Mughal territories were extended from Kabul
up to Jaunpur in the east, and Ajmer in the west. Gwalior was also captured.
Bairam Khan emerged as the most powerful noble and started appointing his supporters
to important positions neglecting the old nobles. This caused resentment among other
nobles who managed to influence Akbar as well.
The issue was further exacerbated by Bairam Khan’s developing conceit. After removing him, Akbar offered him the choice to serve at the court, anywhere outside of it, or go into retirement in Mecca. While traveling to Mecca, Bairam Khan was assassinated in Patan, close to Ahmedabad, by an Afghan. At Agra, Bairam’s spouse and their little kid were presented to Akbar. Following his marriage to his widow, Akbar raised Bairam’s child as his own, raising him to become the renowned Hindi poet and powerful noble Abdur Rahim Khan-i-Khanan.
Akbar had to deal with uprisings from numerous noble factions and people. This included the family members of his foster mother, Maham Anaga, especially her son, Adham Khan. Adham Khan triumphed over Baz Bahadur at Malwa in approximately 1561 CE.
Adham Khan conveyed only a portion of the loot to Akbar after executing the defending army, women, and even children in an almost complete carnage that followed his victory at Malwa. After losing his position as commander, he demanded to be appointed wazir; when this was denied, he stabbed the interim wazir in his office.
He was hurled from the Agra Fort by an infuriated Akbar. In the second invasion of Gondwana, Akbar vanquished Baj Bahadur, capping his first conquest of Malwa. Prior to heading for Malwa, the first mission was ordered to seize Gwalior (around 1559–1560 CE).
Around 1561 CE, Adham Khan, the son of Maham Anaga, Akbar’s foster mother, overthrew Bahadur, the monarch of Malwa. A backlash against the Mughals resulted from the mindless cruelty of Adham Khan and his successor, which allowed Baz Bahadur to retake Malwa.
Following his triumphant suppression of multiple uprisings, Akbar dispatched yet another expedition to Malwa. Baz Bahadur was forced to flee and sought refuge with the Mewar Rana. He later relocated and eventually turned himself in to Akbar’s court, where he was given the title of Mughal mansabdar. Malwa was therefore placed under Mughal rule.
The northern regions of modern-day Madhya Pradesh and the Narmada Valley were a part of the kingdom of Garh-Katanga (Gondwana). Several Gond and Rajput principalities made up the empire. Durgavati, the Mahoba-born Chandella princess and the widow of Dalpat Shah, Sangram Shah’s son, was in charge of it. She exercised formidable boldness and vigor in ruling the realm.
Asaf Khan, the Mughal governor of Allahabad, became lustful when he heard tales of Rani Durgavati’s extraordinary wealth and beauty. He assaulted Gondwana in or about 1564 CE, and although Rani Durgavati battled valiantly, she was defeated. Asaf Khan conquered Gondwana when she killed herself by stabbing. Later, after capturing 10 forts to complete the kingdom of Malwa, Akbar gave Chandra Shah, the younger son of Sangram Shah, back control of the kingdom of Garh-Katanga.
Conquest of Rajasthan
Akbar desired the Rajput kingdoms to be allies in building a vast empire because he understood their significance. Akbar’s Rajput policy was noteworthy. The daughter of Raja Bharamal of Amber, he wed the Rajput princess Jodha Bai.
Many of the Rajputs he recruited into the Mughal army went on to become military generals. Raja Bharamal’s son Bhagwant Das was named joint governor of Lahore, while his son Man Singh was named governor of Bengal and Bihar.
Conquest of Gujrat
Akbar invaded Ahmedabad via Ajmer and easily overthrew the monarch of Gujarat, Muzaffar Shah. The Buland Darwaza at Fatehpur Sikri was constructed by Akbar as a celebration of Gujarat’s victory. Akbar then focused on the Mirzas who were in charge of Surat, Broach, and Baroda. The majority of Gujarat’s principalities were quickly subjugated by the Mughals.
After establishing Gujarat as a province and appointing Mirza Aziz Koka as its governor, Akbar left for the capital. But in barely six months, there were uprisings throughout Gujarat. After learning of the news, Akbar marched swiftly out of Agra and arrived in Ahmedabad in ten days. He put an end to the insurrection and vanquished the adversary around 1573 CE. Following this, Akbar’s focus shifted to Bengal.
Akbar‘s Military Conquest
- Baz Bahadur conquered Malwa in 1562.
- Following a bloody conflict with Rani Durgavati, the Gondwana area of central India was annexed (1564).
- Rajput states like Ranthambhore, Kalinjar, Bikaner, Jodhpur, and Jaisalmer surrendered when Chittor was captured.
- Bengal and Bihar were acquired by the Mughal Empire in 1576 following the conquest of Daud Khan, the Afghan emperor.
- With the assistance of Bhagwan Das and Raja Man Singh, Akbar vanquished Mirza Hakim of Kabul.
- His conquests in Sindh (1591) and Kashmir (1586) solidified the empire’s hold on the northwest.
Deccan Policy of Akbar
- Upon capturing Malwa and Gujrat in the 1560s and early 1570s, the Mughals were unable to avoid becoming involved in Deccan politics. He began dispatching them to the state of Mission Deccan. Faizi is sent to Khandesh by him. Ahmednagar to Aminuddin. However, the mission as a whole returns empty-handed. Additionally, Ahmednagar and the Mughals clashed. It was Chand Bibi who guarded the Fort of Ahmednagar.
- Akbar began a diplomatic effort in 1591. Inviting the Decacani nations to embrace Mughal suzerainty, he dispatched diplomats to each one of them.
- The Mughal envoy was treated rudely by Ahmadnagar’s monarch, Burhan Nizam Shah, while the other made merely friendship-related promises.
Akbar relation with Maharana Pratap/ Mughal Mewar relation
- Rana Pratap became the Gaddi in 1572 after Rana Udai Singh.
- In an attempt to coerce Rana Pratap into accepting Mughal suzerainty, Akbar dispatched a number of envoys.
- However, a definitive agreement could not be made since Akbar insisted on personal homage being offered, and the arrogant Rana was unwilling to budge.
- The two sides engaged in a fierce combat near Haldighati.
- Rana Pratap was unfazed by the defeat at Haldighati and continued the fight for independence.
- His nearly single-handed opposition of the powerful Mughal empire, without the support of the other Rajput nations, is a magnificent tale of Rajput bravery and the willingness to make sacrifices for deeply held beliefs.
The Rajput policy of Akbar
Akbar abandoned the jizya regime, which had established Muslims’ dominance in the region. He and the Rajput princess exchanged vows. They were appointed officials and kept an eye on military operations for a number of generations. Raja Man Singh and Raja Bhagwan Das are recognized for their selection based on their contributions to more senior roles.
Most of the states of Rajasthan gave their lands to Akbar as their ruler. The Mewari ranas persisted in their dislike and spearheaded uprisings in spite of their repeated conquests. The Battle of Haldighati resulted in the defeat of Rana Pratap Singh. Akbar extended extremely warm hospitality and kindness to the Rajputs.
Progress of Rajput Policy
We can divide it into three phases.He considers Rajputs as loyal allies. After 1572 he considers Rajput as the Sword arm of the empire. In the third phase equal state holder of the empire. Now in this part, they were part of the nobility.It helps the Mughals to sustain the Mughal Empire for long.
Akbar theory of kingship
Abul Fazal elucidated his notion of kingship. He discussed his monarchy in his Aine-Akbari. Akbar was influenced by the Yasha tradition in Mongolia, which was passed down from Changez Khan. Yasha signifies the rejection of all forms of prejudice based on religion (i.e., the predominance of secular ideals).
The Mughal tradition promoted the idea that kingship was a divine prerogative.
The effects of Alauddin Khalji and Muhammad-Bin-Tughlaq, two of the earlier Sultans of Delhi, who adopted secular policies.
The Bhakti and Sufi movements had an impact on India’s development of composite culture.Even Indian concepts like the idea of a Chakravarti monarch (Universal King) had an impact on Akbar’s philosophy of kingship.
He refers to kingship as Farr-i-Izadi, or heavenly light that falls straight on the ruler from God. It represents the waning influence of middlemen on matters of royalty. Stated differently, it weakened the position of the ulema class. It is not a novel concept in the sense that the position of the Ulema class has previously been diminished by previous rulers such as Balban and Alauddin Khalji. Balban, for instance, proclaimed monarchy to be a gift from God, or Niyamat-i-Khudai.
However, the unique feature of the kingship idea developed by Akbar and elucidated by Abdul Fazl is the integration of both Islamic and Hindu components.
Abul Fazl associates four major societal organs with the elements of nature. For instance, the warrior class is associated with fire, the merchant class with air, the intellectual class with water, and the working or labor class with earth. Intellectual class was ranked third in this chronology of social organs. This event also demonstrates Abul Fazl’s propensity to counterbalance the influence of the extremely conceited and traditional Ulema elite.
Above all, we cannot locate any mention to Dar-ulHarb or Dar-ul-Islam in Abul Fazal’s description. This indicates that these terms have become meaningless in the current context, and that Akbar’s polity was fundamentally founded on Dar-ul-Sulha (peace for all).
“Paternal love towards his subjects” without any diction or sect and cred. And Abul
Fazl said the true ruler must maintain the equilibrium of society, his approach should be
sulah-e-kul. The Akbar policy was equal respect to all. He talks about his theory of
kingship. It was based on an inclusive approach.
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