Babur – Founder of Mughal Empire ( History, Early Life, & Achievements)

Babur Biography – The Founder of the Mughal Empire: Babur, the founder of the Mughal Empire and father of the Mughal emperor Humayun, was born on February 14, 1483. Recognized as one of the important Mughal rulers, he achieved remarkable victories for solidifying the dynasty’s presence in Delhi, surpassing the unsuccessful attempts of various sultanates to establish a stable rule. Under his leadership, the Mughal Empire exerted its dominance over India for almost three centuries.

Read below this article to learn about Babur Biography – The Founder of the Mughal Empire, his reign, his military conquests, and his battle with Rana Sangha.

Babur- Founder of Mughal Empire

Who were Mughals and Who was Babur?

Mughals belonged to the powerful branch of Turks, who were called Chagatai, named after second son of Genghis Khan, very eminent Mongol leader. The foundation of Mughal empire in India was laid by Babur, who belonged to Chagatai Turk.

Overview on Babur

Aspect	Details
Name	Zahir-ud-Din Muhammad Babur
Birth	February 14, 1483
Death	December 26, 1530
Birthplace	Andijan, Timurid Empire (present-day Uzbekistan)
Reign	April 30, 1526 – December 26, 1530
Title	Founder of the Mughal Empire
Dynasty	Timurid
Achievements	– Established the Mughal Empire in the Indian subcontinent
	– Won the Battle of Panipat against Ibrahim Lodi in 1526
	– Introduced Persian culture and art to India
	– Authored the Baburnama, an autobiography
Legacy	– Laid the foundation for the Mughal Empire in India
	– Introduced gunpowder and artillery in Indian warfare
	– Cultivated gardens and promoted arts and literature
	– Babur’s descendants ruled over India for generations
Notable Battles	– Battle of Panipat (1526)
	– Battle of Khanwa (1527)
	– Battle of Ghaghra (1529)

Early Life of Babur – The Founder of the Mughal Empire

Zahir-ud-din Muhammad, also known by the names “Babur” or “Lion,” came into the world on February 14, 1483, as a member of the Timurid royal dynasty in Andijan, which is situated in present-day Uzbekistan.

1. Babur’s father, Umar Sheikh Mirza, was the Emir of Ferghana, and his mother, Qutlaq Nigar Khanum, was the daughter of Moghuli King Yunus Khan.
2. By the time Babur was born, the last Mongol ancestors had married into Turkic and Persian communities, blending into the local culture. Influenced significantly by Persia, they had embraced Islam, with the majority adopting the mystical Sufi-infused variant of Sunni Islam.
3. In 1494, the Emir of Ferghana passed away unexpectedly, leading to 11-year-old Babur taking the throne. However, his rule faced threats, as several uncles and relatives conspired to overthrow him.
4. Driven by the belief that a strong offense is the best defense, the young emir embarked on a quest for expansion. By 1497, his ambition had landed him at the gates of the storied Silk Road city of Samarkand, which he promptly conquered. However, his bold move left him exposed to internal threats. In his absence, his uncles and the lords of Andijan seized the opportunity to rise in revolt.

Babur and the Mughal Empire

At a young age, barely in his teens, Babur ascended the throne of Fergana in 1494 CE. However, his reign was short-lived. In the face of competing claims to the throne, fueled by the belief in divine rights in Genghis Khan’s lineage, Babur was ousted by his cousins.

Forced to flee his homeland of Fergana, Babur, a descendant of the legendary conqueror Timur, sought refuge in Afghanistan. Though exiled, his ambition remained undimmed. He dreamed not only of reclaiming his father’s kingdom but also of restoring and expanding the vast empire once under Timur’s dominion.

1. Babar’s growing power attracted many of Lodi’s discontented subjects, including family members, military personnel, and government officials. Armed with gunpowder and the support of these allies, Babur faced Ibrahim Lodi’s vastly superior army at the First Battle of Panipat in 1526. Despite the odds, Babur’s strategic use of artillery and innovative tactics secured a decisive victory, marking a turning point in his pursuit of empire.
2. With Agra as his new capital, Babur set his sights on expanding his dominion over northern India. However, his ambition met with fierce resistance from the Hindu Rajput princes, who refused to acknowledge his rule. The ensuing conflicts cast a shadow over his efforts to solidify his nascent kingdom.
3. In 1527 CE, Babur achieved a pivotal victory against the Rajput princes, led by Rana Sanga, at the Battle of Khanwa. Though this triumph did not bring immediate peace, it marked a significant milestone in consolidating his burgeoning empire and weakening Rajput resistance.

Babur’s Military Conquests

Some important military conquests of Babur are as follows:

Battle of Panipat

• Prior to his full-fledged invasion, Babur conducted four reconnaissance missions to India, gaining valuable knowledge of the land and its people. This paved the way for his grander ambitions, particularly after receiving invitations from two powerful figures: Maharana Sangram Singh of Mewar and Daulat Khan Lodi, the governor of Punjab, who both sought his aid in overthrowing the ruling Sultan Ibrahim Lodi.
• The Battle of Panipat was fought on April 21, 1526, on the plains of Panipat, north of Delhi. Despite facing an overwhelming force of approximately 100,000 soldiers under Ibrahim Lodi, Babur’s army, with only 12,000 actively engaged warriors, emerged victorious in the First Battle of Panipat.
• This remarkable feat stemmed from Babur’s strategic brilliance and innovative tactics. He skillfully employed the Rumi (Ottoman) strategy of war, then a revolutionary approach, and strategically deployed his limited forces. Notably, Babur’s effective use of cannons, a cutting-edge weapon in the 16th century, proved instrumental in securing his victory.

Battle of Khanwa

• Though initially inviting Babur to aid him against Ibrahim Lodi, Rana Sanga grew wary of Babur’s ambition to remain in India. Recognizing the potential threat, Rana Sanga formed a confederacy of Rajput princes, uniting them against the foreign invader.
• The year 1527 witnessed a clash of titans at the Battle of Khanwa near Fatehpur Sikri, where Babur and the formidable Rana Sanga, a legendary warrior who had lost an arm and an eye in battle, faced off. Despite commanding a larger army, Rana Sanga was ultimately defeated by Babur’s superior weaponry and tactical prowess. This victory, more significant than the Battle of Panipat, cemented the foundation of the Mughal Empire in India.

Battle of Chanderi

• By 1527, Babur had established a foothold in India, shifting his capital from Kabul to Delhi. Chanderi, strategically located on the border of Malwa and Bundelkhand, was a crucial political and economic hub ruled by Rajput king Medini Rai. Despite being Rana Sanga’s close ally and fighting alongside him at Khanwa, Medini Rai evaded capture and escaped Rana Sanga’s control.
• Seeking to expand his empire, Babur offered Medini Rai the Shamsabad fort in exchange for Chanderi. However, the offer was rejected. Determined to conquer the city, Babur engaged in the Battle of Chanderi on January 20, 1528, facing the Rajput forces. Medini Rai remained defiant, but ultimately, Chanderi fell to Babur on January 29, 1528.

Battle of Ghaghra

Following his victory over the Rajputs, Babur decisively defeated the Afghans at the Battle of Ghagra in 1529, solidifying his control over northern India. His vast empire encompassed Kabul, Agra, Awadh, Gwalior, Bihar, and portions of Rajasthan and Punjab. Choosing Delhi as his capital, Babur officially established the Mughal Empire in India.

Rana Sangha and Babur

Rana Sangha of Mewar was one of the greatest Rajput ruler and gave one of the toughest resistance for Babur’ s extension of rule in India. On March 16, 1527, Rana Sangha along with other rulers like Marwar, Amber, Gwalior, Ajmer and Chanderi and also Sultan Mahmood Lodi, met in Kanhwa for decisive battle, aim was preventing for imposition of another foreign repression on Babur and then he took the title of “Ghazi”. On May 6, 1529, Babur met with allied Afghans of Bihar and Bengal and with this battle, Babur occupied important portion of northern India.

Babur’s Succession and End of Life

• In the autumn of 1530, illness struck Babur. Sensing his imminent demise, his brother-in-law conspired with certain nobles within the Mughal court to usurp the throne. Their ambition aimed to bypass Humayun, Babur’s designated heir and eldest son, and seize power for themselves.
• Hearing of his father’s illness, Humayun raced to Agra to claim his rightful place on the throne. Sadly, soon after his arrival, Humayun himself fell gravely ill.
• After Babur’s death at the age of 47 on December 26, 1530, Humayun inherited a shaky empire besieged by internal and external adversaries.

Conclusion: Babur Biography – The Founder of the Mughal Empire

Despite his brief reign of four years, Babur left a lasting legacy in India. His profound love for nature sparked the creation of exquisite gardens, a tradition that became an integral element of Mughal architecture in the years to come. In 1529, Babur decisively defeated the combined forces of Afghans and Mahmud Lodi, effectively crippling resistance and securing the survival of the fledgling Mughal dynasty. His conquests significantly expanded the empire’s boundaries, encompassing a vast region stretching from Kabul in the west to Ghagra in the east and from the Himalayas in the north to Gwalior in the south.

Relates Articles:

• Important Questions on Babur
• Mughal Empire
• Important Questions on the Mughal Dynasty

FAQ’s on Babur Biography

Who is Babur?

Babur was the founder of the Mughal Empire in India, whose original name was Ẓahīr al-Dīn Muḥammad.

Who invited Babur to India?

In 1524, Daulat Khan Lodi, a Lodi dynasty dissident, encouraged Babur to enter North India to attack the dynasty and their rivals in Rajputana.

How did Babur establish the Mughal empire?

Babur defeated Ibrahim Lodi, Sultan of Delhi, at the First Battle of Panipat in 1526 CE and founded the Mughal Empire in India.

The Battle of Khanwa was fought between which two rulers?

The Battle of Khanwa was fought between the Mughal Emperor Babur and Rana Sangha of Mewar in the year 1527.

Who succeeded Babur?

Babur died in 1530 in Agra, and Humayun succeeded him.