He founded the Mughal Empire and reigned as its emperor from 1526 to 1530. The root from which the richest empire in the world emerged and blossomed. From his dynasty erected the most beautiful monuments that the world has ever seen.
Early Life
Born in February 15, 1483 as Zahir al-din Muhammad, Babur
came from the Central Asian country of Fergana. Son of the Emir of Fergana,
Umar Sheikh Mirza, he came from a group of Mongols called Barlas - Mongols who
moved to Central Asia and adopted Turkic culture. He also had the distinction
of being an offspring of 2 of the most feared and notorious Mongol conquerors,
Genghis Khan from his maternal side, and Timur or Tamerlane from his paternal
side.
Babur grew up in an atmosphere of conflict that toughened up
the future founder. His father claimed the wealth and territories that Timur
had forged during his lifetime. The situation then came as a result of absence
of rule of succession in the Mongol culture. When Timur passed away, his
descendants fought with each other for their inheritance. Babur’s father waged
war to capture the prized capital of Timur – Samarkand. In this chaotic
situation, Babur emerged as a soldier and a leader.
 |
| Timur |
Emir of Fergana
In 1494 Umar Sheikh Mirza passed away leaving Babur the new
ruler of Fergana. Though a minor during his father’s passing, he fought with
rivals and stood victorious. To honor his father and cement his position, he
continued the objective of capturing Samarkand. And for a decade, he fought to
capture the city and became regarded as a courageous and charismatic leader.
His followers dubbed him Babur or Tiger, for his bravery in battle.
Despite his bravery, his campaign for Samarkand ended in
failure. He captured the city twice: 1497 and 1501. However, in both situation,
he failed to consolidate his hold over the city. His 1501 attempt suffered a
failure when he met in battle an equally charismatic and valiant commander with
the name of Muhammad Shaybani who led the Uzbeks and another descendant of
Genghis Khan. Shaybani remained as a thorn in Babur’s ambitions for years to
come.
 |
| Mohammad Shaybani |
Babur continued to face humiliation in the hands of
Shaybani. He lost the Battle of Sar-e-pol in 1501. 3 years later, he suffered
worst when his homeland Fergana fell to Shaybani’s horde. Homeless and humiliated,
he fled to Kabul and took it as his new capital. During this time, Babur showed
resilience as a leader, though homeless, he rebuilt himself in his new base and
plotted his revenge.
His rebuilding, however, took him another decade. He gathered
allies, which he acquired in the form of the Saffavid Empire in his west. He
waited for an opportune time, which eventually came in 1511. On that year,
Shaybani, his dreaded opponent, passed away. Seeing the transitions as a sign
of weakness, the Saffavid backed Babur swooped in to retake Fergana and
Samarkand. However, his decision to promote Saffavid Shia belief to the Sunni
dominated populace led to rebellions. Uzbeks eventually regrouped and drove
Babur back to Kabul. The defeat broke Babur’s will to retake his homeland and
Samarkand.
Conquest of India
Still having the nomadic nature within himself, Babur
searched for a greener pasture to settle and raise his heard. That greener
pasture came in form of India. Stories from raids to India showed Babur the
wealth of the subcontinent. Moreover, as a descendant of Timur, stories of the
exploits of the great conqueror came to him during his childhood. Timur once
raided India and ransacked the subcontinent’s richest city – Delhi. The
destruction of the city mortally weakened the ruling Sultanate of Delhi. Moreover,
the Sultanate descended to factionalism and infighting as request to Babur for
assistance creating signs of an easy conquest. With these factors, India seemed
a good place to reestablish his reputation as a military leader.
 |
| Timur defeats the Sultan of Delhi |
In 1519 Babur made incursions to India. He advanced to
Kandahar region and Punjab became the initial victim of his raids. By 1522,
Babur felt confident and advanced to the Sindh region. The easy conquest turned
out to be difficult brought by once again Babur’s ignorance of local politics.
Babur remained a nuisance to the Delhi Sultanate, but never a threat until
1524.
On that year, Babur received request for assistance from 2
prominent figures within the Delhi Sultanate contacted him. Punjab Governor
Dawlat Khan and the Delhi Sultan’s uncle Alam Khan requested his intervention.
The request gave Babur insight on the state of local politics within the
sultanate. Unpopular Delhi Sultan Ibrahim Lodi ruled in the midst of division
between ambitious regions and factions within the realm. The Governor and Uncle
wanted to topple Lodi’s rule and sought Babur’s assistance. Babur obliged and
he marched for Delhi with an army of 12,000.
Battle of Panipat
As Babur moved his forces in 1525 and 1526, he received news
of Lodi’s response. His army of 12,000 men had to face a numerically superior
army standing at around 100,000 accompanied with 100 war elephants. The odds
stacked tremendously against him, yet he proceeded with faith in his secret
weapons.
Babur equipped his men with the best weaponry. The famous
reversed bow gave Babur powerful light cavalry units. He also had in his
disposal gun power weapons. Guns and cannons from the Saffavid and Ottoman
Empires gave his troops deadly range advantage against their counterparts. Most
importantly, Babur believed that the gargantuan host he would face suffered
from low morale and lack of loyalty to Sultan Ibrahim. Indeed, some of Lodi’s
men came from disloyal regions and some men pressed only to fight for the
Sultan.
The 2 sides finally met in battle on the faithful day of April
21, 1526, the battle that made or broke Babur’s dream of a new realm. Babur
lured Lodi to a narrow area and trapped his forces where their numerical
superiority disabled. The kill zone which Babur set up led to the slaughter of
many of Lodi’s men. The elephants went on stampede killing more of their allies
than enemies. In the end, Lodi fell in battle and Babur stood victorious. After
Panipat, Babur pressed on towards Delhi. His entry to the capital set the sun of
the Delhi Sultanate and dawned the age of the new Timurid Empire, or Mughal, as
called by the west.
Consolidation of
Power
The saga of Babur from a failed Central Asian ruler to a
conqueror and founder of a great Indian empire did not end with the victory in
the Battle of Panipat. In fact, Panipat only began a series of campaign to
stamp out rivals and secure a dynasty. Babur had to fight enemies surrounding
his newly conquered domain.
After the fall of Delhi, Babur advanced westward and
captured Agra. To commemorate his victories, he had a garden built which later
became known as Ram Bagh.
His construction, however, signaled to many Indians a change
of view towards Babur. Many Indian leaders believed Babur, like Timur, only
attacked India for spoil and would leave. The construction of the garden and
Babur settling in Delhi showed his willingness to stay and rule. Immediately,
many turned against Babur, including those who invited him to come.
Babur faced enemies everywhere. Afghan chiefs formerly part
of the Lodi Sultanate of Delhi resisted the newcomers. To the west, highly
militarized and ferocious Rajputs led by Rana Sanga of Mewar threated the
upstart Mughal dynasty. The condition seemed overwhelming, especially for
Babur’s troops.
 |
| Rana Sanga |
Babur’s forces also thought of the intervention in India as
temporary. Many already had a huge amount of booty and despised the hot climate
of Northern India. Worst, they faced hostilities everywhere. Babur shock of the
opposition within his own forces used his charisma to change opinions. He promised,
threatened, and inspired his men. His most remarkable gesture came in form of
abstinence from his well-beloved vice of drinking in hope of having divine
favor for victory. He furthered his commitment by ordering wine jars broken.
His actions made his soldiers to rethink and in the end to fight for Babur
onwards.
Battle of Khanua
With an army devoted to him, Babur then moved on to fight
his enemies. In 1527, he marched against Rana Sanga and deal with the Rajputs.
On March 16, 1527, Babur’s army engaged the Rajput army in a 10 hour bloodbath
for supremacy over Northern India. In the end, Babur’s sophisticated military
won the day and Rana Sanga fled. The ruler of Mewar passed away 2 years later a
broken man, another victim of defeat at the hands of Babur.
While fighting the Rajputs, Babur lose sight of the Afghan
who had advanced against him. He received reports of the fall of Lucknow to the
Afghans. Worst, Afghan chiefs regrouped and rallied towards the brother of
Ibrahim Lodi, Mahmoud Lodi. The situation became dire as Lodi captured Bihar.
Babur had to launch a counterstrike or he would remain in a precarious
situation.
Battle of Ghaghara
After the battle of Khanua, Babur launched a campaign to
push back the Afghans. For 2 years, the war raged and he succeeded driving the
Afghans west of the Ganges towards Bengal. Babur then established his based of
operation in the stronghold of Chanderi.
From Chanderi, Babur advanced until he faced Mahmoud Lodi in
a decisive battle in the field of Ghaghara. Babur exhibited innovation and
adaptability by placing his artillery in river barges. His gunboats maintained
the firepower advantage of the early Mughal army. In Ghaghara, Babur destroyed
Mahmoud Lodi’s forces. With this victory, Babur concluded his military campaign
with confidence his new dynasty secured.
Death of Babur
Babur, however, never enjoyed the fruits of his labor or
take on the task of organizing the administration of his new empire. In 1530,
his son and heir designate Humayun fell gravely ill. According to legend, Babur
offered his life in exchange for his son’s. Indeed, his desire came true.
Humayun recovered and he fell ill. He finally succumbed on December 26, 1530.
He left an empire to his successors and left for the world his life story
contained in the Baburnama or Letters
of Babur.
Summing Up
Babur had a colorful life full of ups and downs. He lose his
homeland, yet rebuild his composure to retake it. When he failed to retake his
homeland, instead of dying in obscurity and a broken man, he relied on his
nomadic heritage, showed flexibility and resilience and searched for a greener
pasture to settle in. When he set his eyes on India, he placed his faith in his
strengths and overcame vast armies. Though surrounded by opponents, he never
backed down and determined his destiny to stay in India. However, Babur never
showed the true extent of his leadership and skills as an organizer as his
death disrupted it. Babur might not have organized the Mughal Empire, but he
was indeed a conqueror, a man who laid the foundations from which a glorious
empire went up.
See also:
No comments:
Post a Comment