Jalaluddin Muhammad Akbar
Born	Jalaluddin Muhammad October 15[1][2] Umerkot
Died	October 12, 1605 (aged 62) Agra, India
Cause of death	heart attack
Burial place	Akbar's Tomb
Occupation	Emperor of Mughal Empire
Successor	Jahangir
Religious beliefs	Din-i-Ilahi
Spouse	Ruqayya Sultan Begum Salimah Sultan Begum Jodhabai or Mariam-uz-Zamani Download high resolution version (600x810, 136 KB)Akbar - Project Gutenberg eText 14134 - http://www. ... is the 288th day of the year (289th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Umerkot or Omarkot (Urdu: عمرکوٹ ) a (25. ... is the 285th day of the year (286th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1605 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 10-day slower Julian calendar). ... For other uses, see Agra (disambiguation). ... The approach to the tomb View towards the south gate Inlay panels on the South Gate Inlay detail The Tomb of Akbar the Great is an important architectural masterpiece set in 48 Ha (119 acres) of grounds near Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India. ... An emperorrefers to Nick Herringshaw, a title, empress may only indicate the wife of an emperor (empress consort. ... Capital Delhi / Agra Language(s) Persian (initially also Chagatai, Turkish; later also Urdu) Government Monarchy Emperor  - 1526-1530 Babur  - 1530–1539 and after restoration 1555–1556 Humayun  - 1556–1605 Akbar  - 1605–1627 Jahangir  - 1628–1658 Shah Jahan  - 1659–1707 Aurangzeb History  - Established April 21, 1526  - Ended September 21, 1857 Area... n ... Mariam-uz-Zamani née Hira Kunwari (born October 1, 1542), was a Rajput princess, the eldest daughter of Raja Bharmal, Raja of Amber (city), a princely state in medieval India. ... Mariam-uz-Zamani née Hira Kunwari (born October 1, 1542), was a Rajput princess, the eldest daughter of Raja Bharmal, Raja of Amber (city), a princely state in medieval India. ... Sakinah Banu Begum
Children	Shahzada Nuruddin Muhammad Salim (Jahangir), son Shahzada Shah Murad, son Shahzada Danyal, son Shahzadi Khanim Sultan, daughter Shahzadi Shakr-un-Nisa Begum, daughter Shahzadi Aram Banu Begum, daughter Shahzadi Jahan Begum, daughter Shahzadi Ximini Begum, daughter n ... Shahzadi Khanum, daughter
Relatives	shafiq ullah khan

Jalaluddin Muhammad Akbar (جلال الدین محمد اکبر Jalāl ud-Dīn Muhammad Akbar), also known as Akbar the Great (Akbar-e-Azam) (full title: Al-Sultan al-'Azam wal Khaqan al-Mukarram, Imam-i-'Adil, Sultan ul-Islam Kaffatt ul-Anam, Amir ul-Mu'minin, Khalifat ul-Muta'ali Abu'l-Fath Jalal ud-din Muhammad Akbar I Sahib-i-Zaman, Padshah Ghazi Zillu'llah ['Arsh-Ashyani]) (October 15, 1542 – October 17 or October 27, 1605)^[3][4] was the son of Nasiruddin Humayun whom he succeeded as ruler of the Mughal Empire from 1556 to 1605. He was named Badruddin Mohammed Akbar. Badruddin means full moon because he was born on the night of a full moon. He was named after his maternal grand father Shaikh Ali Akbar Jami. After the capture of Kabul by his father his date of birth and name were changed to throw off evil sorcerers.^[5] Khan (Persian: خان) (sometimes spelled as Xan, Han) is a title with many meanings, originally commander, leader or ruler, in Mongolian and Turkish. ... the Greats The following people normally have the words the Great appended to their names. ... is the 288th day of the year (289th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events War resumes between Francis I of France and Emperor Charles V. This time Henry VIII of England is allied to the Emperor, while James V of Scotland and Sultan Suleiman I are allied to the French. ... is the 290th day of the year (291st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 300th day of the year (301st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1605 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 10-day slower Julian calendar). ... Nasiruddin Humayun (Persian: نصيرالدين همايون) (March 6, 1508 – February 22, 1556), was the second Mughal Emperor and ruled northern parts of India from 1530–1540 and again from 1555–1556. ... Capital Delhi / Agra Language(s) Persian (initially also Chagatai, Turkish; later also Urdu) Government Monarchy Emperor  - 1526-1530 Babur  - 1530–1539 and after restoration 1555–1556 Humayun  - 1556–1605 Akbar  - 1605–1627 Jahangir  - 1628–1658 Shah Jahan  - 1659–1707 Aurangzeb History  - Established April 21, 1526  - Ended September 21, 1857 Area...

Akbar, widely considered the greatest of the Mughal emperors, was only 14 when he became emperor, due to the death of his father Humayun^[6][7] During his reign, he eliminated external military threats from the Afghan descendants of Sher Shah (an Afghan who was able to temporarily oust Humayun from 1540-1555), and at the Second Battle of Panipat defeated the Hindu king Samrat Hem Chandra Vikramaditya, also called Hemu.^[8][9][10] In addition to his military gains, the emperor solidified his rule by repealing the jizya tax on non-Muslims and courting the favour of the powerful Rajput caste, to the extent of marrying Rajput princesses.^[9][11] For the recipient of the Victoria Cross, see Sher Shah (VC). ... The Second Battle of Panipat took place on November 5, 1556. ... This article discusses the adherents of Hinduism. ... Hemuchandra or Hemu was an Indian military leader. ... Hemuchandra or Hemu was an Indian military leader. ... In states ruled by Islamic law, jizya or jizyah (Arabic: جزْية; Ottoman Turkish: cizye) is a per capita tax imposed on able bodied non-Muslim men of military age. ... Rajput constitute one of the major Hindu Kshatriya groups from India. ...

Akbar was a polymath: an architect, artisan, artist, armorer, blacksmith, carpenter, construction worker, emperor, engineer, general, inventor, animal trainer (reputedly keeping thousands of hunting cheetahs during his reign and training many himself), lacemaker, technologist and theologian.^[12] His most lasting contributions were to the arts. He initiated a large collection of literature, including the Akbar-nama and the Ain-i-Akbari, and incorporated art from around the world into the Mughal collections. He also commissioned the building of widely admired buildings, and invented the first prefabricated homes and movable structures.^[12] Having a greatly tolerant attitude toward religion, Akbar preserved Hindu temples. He also began a series of religious debates where Muslim scholars would debate religious matters with Sikhs, Hindus, Cārvāka atheists and even Jesuits from Portugal. He founded his own religious cult, the Din-i-Ilahi or the "Divine Faith"; however, it amounted only to a form of personality cult for Akbar, and quickly dissolved after his death leaving his wife behind.^[13][9] Leonardo da Vinci, a polymath, is seen as the epitome of the related term, Renaissance Man A polymath (Greek polymathÄ“s, πολυμαθής, having learned much)[1][2] is a person with encyclopedic, broad, or varied knowledge or learning. ... For other uses, see Architect (disambiguation). ... An artisan, also called a craftsman,[1] is a skilled manual worker who uses tools and machinery in a particular craft. ... The definition of an artist is wide-ranging and covers a broad spectrum of activities to do with creating art, practicing the arts and/or demonstrating an art. ... An armorer or armourer (see spelling differences) was in former times a smith who specialized in manufacturing and repairing arms and armour. ... For other uses, see Blacksmith (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Carpenter (disambiguation). ... Carpenter at work in Tennessee, June 1942. ... An emperorrefers to Nick Herringshaw, a title, empress may only indicate the wife of an emperor (empress consort. ... Look up engineer in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... For other uses, see Inventor (disambiguation). ... An animal trainer is a person who trains animals to perform specific acts in response to conditions or stimuli. ... For other uses, see Lace (disambiguation). ... In many countries, Technologists are synonymous with applied scientists or engineers. ... Theology is literally rational discourse concerning God (Greek θεος, theos, God, + λογος, logos, rational discourse). By extension, it also refers to the study of other religious topics. ... Akbarnama or Akbar Nameh (Persian: اکبر نامہ), which literally means History of Akbar, is a biographical account of Akbar, the third Mughal emperor. ... The Ain-e-Akbari is a detailed document recording the administration of emperor Akbars empire written by Abul-Fazl ibn Mubarak, it also contains details of Hindu beliefs and practices as well as a history of India. ... Prefabricated homes, often referred to as prefab homes, are dwellings manufactured off-site in advance, usually in standard sections that can be easily shipped and assembled. ... Ulema (Arabic: علماء) is the community of legal scholars of Islam and the Sharia. ... Religions Sikhism Scriptures Guru Granth Sahib Languages English, Punjabi] A Sikh (English: or ; Punjabi: , , IPA: ) is an adherent to Sikhism. ... This article discusses the adherents of Hinduism. ... (or Cārvāka Hindi चारवाक) is a system of Indian philosophy that assumed various forms of philosophical skepticism and religious indifference. ... The Society of Jesus (Latin: Societas Iesu), commonly known as the Jesuits, is a Roman Catholic religious order. ... Din-i-Ilahi (دين إلهي) or Divine Faith, was a syncretic religion propounded by the Mughal emperor Akbar, intended to merge the best elements of the religions of his empire (primarily Hinduism and Islam; elements were also taken from Christianity, Jainism and Zoroastrianism), and thereby reconcile the sectarian differences that divided his... Adolf Hitler built a strong cult of personality, based on the Führerprinzip. ...

Early years

Akbar was born on October 15, 1542, at the Rajput Fortress of Amarkot in Sind where the Mughal Emperor Humayun and his recently wedded wife, Hamida Banu Begum were taking refuge. Soon they were transferred to State of Rewa (in present day Madhya Pradesh) where Akbar grew up in village of Mukundpur. Akbar and prince Ram Singh who later became Maharaja of Rewa grew up together and stayed close friends through life. In 1547, Humayun had been driven into exile, following decisive battles, by the Afghan leader Sher Shah.^[14] Akbar did not go to Persia with his parents, and instead was raised for a time by his uncle Askari and his wife in the rugged country of Afghanistan rather than in the splendor of the Persian court. He spent his youth learning to hunt, run and fight, but he never learned to read or write, the sole exception in Babur's line.^[15] Nonetheless, Akbar matured into a well-informed ruler, with refined tastes in the arts, architecture and music, a love for literature, and a breadth of vision that tolerated other opinions. Events War resumes between Francis I of France and Emperor Charles V. This time Henry VIII of England is allied to the Emperor, while James V of Scotland and Sultan Suleiman I are allied to the French. ... Rajput constitute one of the major Hindu Kshatriya groups from India. ... Le de de Sind de ou de Sindh de (Sindhi: ‎, Urdu: ‎, Hindi: ) peut se rapporter : * Sindh de le Pakistan (de 1970), retitré du ** de province de Sind dedans 1990 * [[provinces de |Sind] de province de Sind (1936-1955)] de lInde britannique (1936-04-01 - 1947-08-13) ** de le... Nasiruddin Humayun (March 6, 1508 – February 22, 1556), second Mughal Emperor, ruled in India from 1530–1540 and 1555–1556. ... An Afghan or an Afghani is the name used to describe a person from the country of Afghanistan. ... For the recipient of the Victoria Cross, see Sher Shah (VC). ... Persia redirects here. ...

Following the chaos over the succession of Islam Shah (Sher Shah's son), Humayun reconquered Delhi in 1555, leading an army partly provided by his Persian ally Shah Tahmasp. Months later, Humayun died from an accident falling down the stairs of his library (probably Feb 9, one of the ascension dates for Akbar; Gregorian date Feb 19). Bairam Khan cleverly concealed the report of Humayun's death in order to prepare for Akbar's accession to the throne. Akbar succeeded his father on February 14, 1556 Gregorian Feb 24, while in the midst of a war against Sikandar Shah for the reclamation of the Mughal throne. Here, in Kalanaur (Gurdaspur, Punjab) the 13 year old Akbar donned a golden robe and Dark Tiara and sat on a newly constructed platform, which still stands,^[16] and was proclaimed Shahanshah (Persian for "King of Kings"). The mosque built at the time of Akbar can still be seen and the place where he prayed can be visited. Islam Shah Suri was the second ruler of Sur dynasty. ... Tahmasp I (1514-1576) was an influential Shah of Persia of the Safavid Dynasty. ... Bairam Khan (Persian: بيرام خان) (d. ... is the 45th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events January 16 - Abdication of Emperor Charles V. His son, Philip II becomes King of Spain, while his brother Ferdinand becomes Holy Roman Emperor January 23 - The Shaanxi earthquake, the deadliest earthquake in history, occurs with its epicenter in Shaanxi province, China. ... , Gurdaspur is a city in the province of East Punjab, situated in the northwest part of the Republic of India. ... Look up Punjab in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Farsi redirects here. ... The Masjid al-Haram in Mecca as it exists today A mosque is a place of worship for followers of the Islamic faith. ...

Early conquests

Mughal empire under Akbar.

Akbar decided early in his reign that he should eliminate the threat of Sher Shah's dynasty, and decided to lead an army against the strongest of the three, Sikandar Shah Suri, in the Punjab. He left Delhi under the regency of Tardi Baig Khan. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... For the recipient of the Victoria Cross, see Sher Shah (VC). ... Sikandar Shah Suri was the sixth ruler of Sur dynasty. ... This article is about the geographical region. ...

Sikandar Shah Suri presented no major concern for Akbar, and often withdrew from territory as Akbar approached; However, back in Delhi Hemu, a Hindu warrior, also known as Hemu Vikramaditya, captured Agra and then Delhi on 6th October, 1556 and declared himself as Emperor of India. Tardi Beg Khan promptly fled the city. Hemu Vikramaditya, who during three years from Oct.1553 to Oct 1556, had won 22 successive battles appointed himself not only ruler, or Raja Vikramaditya, but re-established Hindu Kingdom and Vikramaditya Dynasty in Delhi. Sikandar Shah Suri was the sixth ruler of Sur dynasty. ... Hemuchandra or Hemu was an Indian military leader. ... Tardi Beg was a Military commander who served under the Mughal Emperors Humayun and Akbar. ...

News of the capitulation of Delhi spread quickly to Akbar, and he was advised to withdraw to Kabul, which was relatively secure. But urged by Bairam Khan, Akbar marched on Delhi to reclaim it. To bolster troop morale, he ordered that someone should "prepare fireworks as a treat for the soldiers" and "make an image of Hemu, fill it with gunpowder, and set it on fire". Tardi Beg and his retreating troops joined the march, and also urged Akbar to retreat to Kabul, but he refused again. Later, Bairam Khan had the former regent executed for cowardice, though Abul Fazl and Jahangir both record that they believed that Bairam Khan was merely using the retreat from Delhi as an excuse to eliminate a rival. For other places with the same name, see Kabul (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Fireworks (disambiguation). ... Abu al-Fazl ibn Mubarak (Persian:ابو الفضل) also known as Abul-Fazl, Abul Fadl and Abul-Fadl Allami: the vizier of the great Mughal emperor Akbar, and author of the Akbarnama, the official history of Akbars reign. ... n ...

On November 5,1556 Akbar's army defeated the more numerous forces of Hemu Vikramaditya at the Second Battle of Panipat, 50 miles north of Delhi, thanks to a chance arrow into Hemu's eye. Hemu was brought to Akbar unconscious, and was beheaded. Some sources say that it was Bairam Khan who killed Hemu, but Akbar certainly used the term Ghazi, warrior for the faith, a term used by both Babur, his grandfather, and Timur when fighting Hindus in India. Hemu's head was sent to Kabul and hung outside Delhi Darwaza, while his torso was hung outside Purana Qila, opposite present day Pragati Maidan in Delhi. Acting out as a Ghazi ("victor") Akbar constructed a victory pillar made from the heads of the dead rebellious soldiers, just like Babur did. Pictures of such towers are displayed in National Museum, New Delhi and Panipat Museum in Haryana. The Second Battle of Panipat took place on November 5, 1556. ... This article is about the history and concept of ghazw and ghāzī. For other meanings of gazi, see Gazi (disambiguation). ... Zāhir ud-Dīn Mohammad, commonly known as Bābur (February 14, 1483 – December 26, 1530) (Chaghatay/Persian: ; also spelled ), was a Muslim Emperor from Central Asia who founded the Mughal dynasty of India. ... For the similar-sounding word Timor, see Timor (disambiguation). ... This article is about the Hindu religion; for other meanings of the word, see Hindu (disambiguation). ... For other places with the same name, see Kabul (disambiguation). ... The human torso Torso is an anatomical term for the greater part of the human body without the head and limbs. ... Exterior of Purana Qila in Delhi, by Paul La Porte Literally translated, Purana Qila means Old Fort. Recent archaeological excavations have exposed evidences such as pottery which throws a new light on the existence of the city of Indraprastha at this place in Delhi, as mentioned in the great epic... Categories: Possible copyright violations ... A national museum is a museum maintained by a nation. ... This article is about the capital city of India. ...

The victory also left Akbar with over 1,500 war elephants which he used to re-engage Sikandar Shah at the siege of Mankot. Sikandar surrendered and so was spared death, and lived the last remaining two years of his life on a large estate granted to him by Akbar. In 1557 the only other threat to Akbar's rule, Adil Shah, brother of Sikandar, died during a battle in Bengal. Thus, by the time Akbar was 15 his rule over Hindustan was secured^{[citation needed]}. The elephants thick hide protects it from injury. ... For other uses, see Bengal (disambiguation). ...

Bairam Khan

Akbar hunting with cheetahs, c. 1602

Akbar was only 13 years old when he became emperor, and so his general ruled on his behalf until he came of age. The regency belonged to Bairam Khan, a Shia Afghan noble born in Badakhshan who successfully dealt with pretenders to the throne and improved the discipline of the Mughal armies. He ensured power was centralised and was able to expand the empires boundaries with orders from the capital. These moves helped to consolidate Mughal power in the newly recovered empire. This article is about the animal. ... Bairam Khan (Persian: بيرام خان) (d. ... This article is about pretender as applied to a monarchy. ...

Respect for Bairam's regency was not, however, universal. There were many people plotting his demise in order to assume the apparent absolute rule they saw in him. Much was written, critically, of his religion. The majority of the early court were Sunni Muslims, and Bairam's Shia'ism was disliked. Bairam knew about this, and perhaps even to spite that, appointed a Shia Sheikh, Gadai to become the Administrator General, one of the more important roles in the empire. Further Bairam lived a rather opulent lifestyle, which appeared to be even more excessive than that of Akbar. Kamboj or Kambohs (Urdu: کمبوہ ) is an ancient tribe settled in South Asia. ...

The most serious of those opposed to Bairam was Maham Anga, Akbar's aunt, chief nurse and mother of his foster brother, Adham Khan. Maham was both shrewd and manipulative and hoped to rule herself by proxy through her son. In March 1560 the pair of them urged Akbar to visit them in Delhi, leaving Bairam in the capital, Agra. While in Delhi Akbar was bombarded by people who told him he was now ready to take full control of the empire and to dismiss Bairam. He was persuaded to fund an excursion for Bairam to go on Hajj to Mecca, which was to act, essentially, as a form of ostracism. Bairam was shocked at the news from Delhi, but was loyal to Akbar, and despite Akbar's refusal to even meet with the General, refused the suggestions by some of his commanders to march on Delhi and "rescue" Akbar. We dont have an article called MAHAM ANGA Start this article Search for MAHAM ANGA in. ... Adham Khan was the cruel general of Akbar. ... For other uses, see Agra (disambiguation). ... A supplicating pilgrim at Masjid Al Haram, the mosque which was built around the Kaaba (the cubical building at center). ... This article is about the city in Saudi Arabia. ...

Bairam left for Mecca, but was quickly met by an army sent by Adham Khan, approved by Akbar, which was sent to "escort" him from the Mughal territories. Bairam saw this as the last straw, and led an attack on the army, but was captured and sent as a rebel back to Akbar to be sentenced. Bairam Khan, whose military genius had seen the Mughals regain their lands in India, who had served both Humayun and Akbar loyally, and laid the foundation for a strong empire, was now before the emperor as a prisoner. Maham Anga urged Akbar to execute Bairam, but Akbar refused. Instead, in defiance of Anga, he laid down full honours to the General, and gave him robes of honour, and agreed to fund him a proper Hajj excursion. However, shortly after Bairam Khan's Hajj journey got underway, just before he reached the port city of Khambhat he was killed by an Afghan assassin whose father had been killed five years ago in a battle led by Bairam. Bairam died on January 31, 1561. We dont have an article called MAHAM ANGA Start this article Search for MAHAM ANGA in. ... Khambhat, formerly known as Cambay, is a town in Gujarat state, India. ...

Adham Khan and Maham Anga

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With the demise of Bairam Khan, Maham Anga tried to wrest the control that Bairam had, for herself and her son Adham. Her attempts had something to do with Akbar's harem. When Akbar learned about this, Maham Anga threatened the women, fearing they might reveal her plans. For other uses, see Harem (disambiguation). ...

The conflict came to a head when in 1562 Adham stabbed Atkah Khan, an Afghan appointed by Akbar to be the equivalent of Prime Minister, and tried to storm the harem. The eunuch who guarded the section went in and locked the door from inside. Akbar became aware of the disturbance and entered the room. Adham laid his hand on his foster brother's arm, a sign of apparent disrespect. Akbar responded by punching him in the face, possibly knocking him unconscious. Seeing his Prime Minister stabbed, Akbar ordered that Adham be thrown from a height, over a parapet. When this failed to kill him, Akbar ensured that the second attempt succeed by ordering that he be dropped head first. Akbar later went to Maham Anga and informed her that her son was dead. Thus the 19-year-old Akbar assumed complete control over the Mughal empire. A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. ... European illustration of a Eunuch (1749) Chief Eunuch of Ottoman Sultan Abdul Hamid II at the Imperial Palace, 1912. ... A parapet is a barrier at the edge of a roof or structure to prevent persons or vehicles from falling over the edge. ...

Restoration

Painting of Akbar the Great with Jesuits at his court, by Nar Singh, 1605

While previous Muslim rulers, in particular the Mughal founder Babur, restricted freedom of worship for Hindus and other religious groups under their direct domain, Akbar actively encouraged members of the varying religious groups to enter his government. Once Akbar visited Amber and there he fell in love with Jodhaa Bai, the Princess of Amber. In the most critical instance, he persuaded the Kacchwaha Rajput Raja Barmal of Amber (modern day Jaipur) into a matrimonial alliance, and married Raja Barmal's daughter Jodhaa Bai that proved to be a turning point in the history of the Mughal empire, as this was the first instance of royal matrimony between Hindu and Islamic monarchs in India. Seal of the Society of Jesus. ... Zāhir ud-DÄ«n Mohammad, commonly known as Bābur (February 14, 1483 – December 26, 1530) (Chaghatay/Persian: ; also spelled ), was a Muslim Emperor from Central Asia who founded the Mughal dynasty of India. ... This article discusses the adherents of Hinduism. ... The Kachwaha (also Kachhwaha or Kachhvaha) are a Rajput clan who formerly ruled the kingdom of Jaipur in Rajasthan, India. ... Amber Fort Interior of one of the palaces in Amber Fort Amber is a ruined city of Rajasthan state, India. ... , Jaipur   (Hindi: जयपुर, Rajasthan Capital), also popularly known as the Pink City, historically sometimes rendered as Jeypore, is the capital of Rajasthan state, India. ... Islam (Arabic: ; ( â–¶ (help· info)), the submission to God) is a monotheistic faith, one of the Abrahamic religions and the worlds second-largest religion. ... Louis XIV, king of France and Navarre (Painting by Hyacinthe Rigaud, 1701). ...

Other Rajput kingdoms soon established matrimonial alliances with the Emperor of Delhi. The law of Hindu succession has always been patrimonial, so the Hindu linage was not threatened in marrying their princesses for political gain. Two major Rajput clans remained against him, the Sisodiyas of Mewar and Hadas (Chauhans) of Ranthambore. The Rajputs were of the Hindu warrior caste, the Kshatriyas, who, like the Afghans took opium prior to battle to invoke the god of war and vanquish fear of death.^{[citation needed]} Entering into alliance with these kingdoms enabled Akbar to extend the border of his Empire to far off regions, and the Rajputs became the strongest allies of the Mughals. Rajput soldiers fought for the Mughal empire for the next 130 years till its collapse following the death of Aurangzeb. 1. ... The Sisodia (also known as Sisodya or Sisodhya) are a Rajput clan who ruled the kingdom of Mewar in Rajasthan. ... Mewar is a region of south-central Rajasthan state in western India. ... Hada is the name of a clan of rajputs. ... Chauhan (चौहान - Hindi, چوہان - Urdu, some Chauhans also choose to spell their name Chohan - ﮀﻮﮨﺎﻥ) - are a Arya clan in India. ... Ranthambore is a wildlife sanctuary, about 500 kms from Jaipur, in Rajasthan, India. ... For the Bollywood film of the same name see Kshatriya Kshatriya (Hindi: , from Sanskrit: , ) is one of the four varnas, or castes, in Hinduism. ... This article is about the drug. ... For other uses, see Death (disambiguation). ...

In another turning point of Akbar's reign, Raja Man Singh I of Amber went with Akbar to meet the Hada leader, Surjan Hada, to effect an alliance. Surjan grudgingly accepted an alliance on the condition that Akbar did not marry any of his daughters. Surjan later moved his residence to Banaras. Raja Man Singh was the Kacchwaha rajput raja of Amber, Near Jaipur. ... , Varanasi (Sanskrit: वाराणसी VārāṇasÄ«, IPA:  ), also known as Benares (Hindi: , Urdu: , IPA: ), or Kashi (Hindi: ), is a famous Hindu holy city situated on the banks of the river Ganges (Ganga) in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. ...

However, Maharana Pratap of Mewar declined to accept Akbar's suzerainty and till the end was opposed to Akbar. Maharana Pratap (1540-1597) was a ruler of Mewar, a state in north-western India. ... Mewar is a region of south-central Rajasthan state in western India. ...

Akbar is recorded as saying "A monarch should be ever intent on conquest, lest his neighbours rise in arms against him", and he went on to expand the Mughal empire to include Malwa (1562), Gujarat (1572), Bengal (1574), Kabul (1581), Kashmir (1586), and Kandesh (1601), among others. Akbar installed a governor over each of the conquered provinces, under his authority. Malwa (Malvi:माळवा) is a region in western India occupying a plateau of volcanic origin in the western part of Madhya Pradesh state and the south-eastern part of Rajasthan. ... This article is for the Indian state. ... For other uses, see Bengal (disambiguation). ... For other places with the same name, see Kabul (disambiguation). ... Kashmir (or Cashmere) may refer to: Kashmir region, the northwestern region of the Indian subcontinent India, Kashmir conflict, the territorial dispute between India, Pakistan, and the China over the Kashmir region. ... Kandesh (also Khandesh) is a region of central India, which forms the northwestern portion of Maharashtra state. ...

Akbar did not want to have his court tied too closely to the city of Delhi. He ordered the court moved to Fatehpur Sikri, near Agra, but when this site proved untenable, he set up a roaming camp that let him keep a close eye on what was happening throughout the empire. He developed and encouraged commerce, in part by abolishing religious restrictions on the conduct of business between Muslims and Hindus. , For other uses, see Delhi (disambiguation). ... View across Fatehpur Sikri Fatehpur Sikri (Hindi: ) was the political capital of Indias Mughal Empire under Akbars reign, from 1571 until 1585, when it was abandoned, ostensibly due to lack of water. ... For other uses, see Agra (disambiguation). ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

Akbar's tax reforms were especially noteworthy, and formed the basis of the Mughal Empire's immense wealth in succeeding generations. His officials prepared a detailed and accurate cadaster (land register) noting each land parcel's soil quality, water access, etc., and so assessed their value, taking account of prevailing prices for various crops in each region. This was a distinct improvement on earlier land tax systems, including the Egyptian and Roman ones, which had levied land taxes as an in-kind share of the harvest. By making taxes reflect the value of the land rather than the harvest, this stimulated both investment in improvements and more productive use of the land. Akbar abolished the pilgrimage tax to be paid by hindu pilgrims to bring about equality amongst the subject he ruled. Akbar also abolished the jizyah (tax paid by non-Muslims for their protection against invaders), and gave strict orders to prevent extortion by tax collectors. The economic effect was such that the revered Qing emperor Kang Xi adopted similar measures a century later in China, with similar success. Flag (1890-1912) Anthem Gong Jinou (1911) Qing China at its greatest extent. ...

Personality

The court of Akbar, an illustration from Akbarnama

Akbar is said to be a benevolent and wise ruler, a man of new ideas, and a sound judge of character. His son and heir, Jahangir, in his memoirs, wrote effusive praise of Akbar's character, and dozens of anecdotes to illustrate his virtues.^[17] Image File history File links Download high resolution version (380x640, 81 KB) Source of the image: [1] Credits: The Art Institute of Chicago This work is copyrighted and unlicensed. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (380x640, 81 KB) Source of the image: [1] Credits: The Art Institute of Chicago This work is copyrighted and unlicensed. ...

Abul Fazal, and even the hostile critic Badayuni, described him as having a commanding personality. He was fearless in chase and in the battle field, and, "like Alexander of Macedon, was always ready to risk his life, regardless of political consequences". He often plunged on his horse into the flooded river during the rainy seasons and safely crossed it. He rarely indulged in cruelty and is said to have been affectionate towards his relatives. He pardoned his brother Hakim, who was a repented rebel. But on rare occasions, he dealt cruelly with offenders, such as his maternal uncle Muazzam and his foster-brother Adham Khan. Abu al-Fazl ibn Mubarak (Persian:ابو الفضل) also known as Abul-Fazl, Abul Fadl and Abul-Fadl Allami: the vizier of the great Mughal emperor Akbar, and author of the Akbarnama, the official history of Akbars reign. ... Bust of Alexander the Great in the British Museum. ...

He is said to have been extremely moderate in his diet. According to Jahangir's memoirs, he was fond of fruits and had little liking for meat, which he stopped eating in his later years. He is also considered the most tolerant Mughal emperor, as he repealed the jizya tax levied on Hindus. He was also much more religiously tolerant than many of the Muslim rulers after him. Jahangir wrote: "As in the wide expanse of the Divine compassion there is room for all classes and the followers of all creeds, so. . . in his dominions, . . . there was room for the professors of opposite religions, and for beliefs good and bad, and the road to altercation was closed. Sunnis and Shias met in one mosque, and Franks and Jews in one church, and observed their own forms of worship."^[17] In states ruled by Islamic law, jizya or jizyah (Arabic: جزْية; Ottoman Turkish: cizye) is a per capita tax imposed on able bodied non-Muslim men of military age. ... “Taxes” redirects here. ...

To defend his stance that speech arose from hearing, he carried out a Language deprivation experiment, and had children raised in isolation, not allowed to be spoken to, and pointed out that as they grew older, they remained mute.^[18] Hypothetical and actual experiments which involve isolating individuals - usually young children - from the normal use of language have been recurrent throughout history as a purported means of discovering the fundamental character of human nature or the origins of language. ...

Akbar, the third generation Moghal emperor who lived from 1542-1605 A.D, has been extolled as the greatest of all Moghals, righteous in deed and noble in character. He is praised to be the only and truly secular Emperor of the times, very caring and protective of his subjects.

Hindu Temples Destroyed

Contrary to popular belief Akbar, continued the policy of Babur and Humayun in the destruction of Hindu temples. It is recorded by Bayazid Biyat, personal attendant of Humayun, that Akbar gave two villages for the upkeep of a mosque and a Madrasa which was setup by destroying a Hindu temple ^[19]. Akbar's army was responsible for demolition of rich Hindu temples which had gold idols in the Doab region between Ganga and Yamuna ^[19]. Historian Abd al-Qadir Badauni records that during Akbar's reign at Nagarkot, near Kangra, 200 cows were slaughtered, numerous Hindus killed and a temple was demolished ^[19]. Zāhir ud-Dīn Mohammad, commonly known as Bābur (February 14, 1483 – December 26, 1530) (Chaghatay/Persian: ; also spelled ), was a Muslim Emperor from Central Asia who founded the Mughal dynasty of India. ... Nasiruddin Humayun (March 6, 1508 – February 22, 1556), second Mughal Emperor, ruled in India from 1530–1540 and 1555–1556. ... This article discusses the adherents of Hinduism. ... Nasiruddin Humayun (March 6, 1508 – February 22, 1556), second Mughal Emperor, ruled in India from 1530–1540 and 1555–1556. ... Madrassa in the Gambia The word madrassa in the Arabic language (and other languages of the Islamic nations such as Persian, Turkish, Indonesian etc. ... Ganga may refer to: Ganges River, a river in India Ganga, the Hindu goddess that personifies the Ganges River The Gangas, an ancient southern Indian dynasty Ganga (music), a type of rural folk singing from Croatia and Herzegovina Daren Ganga, a West Indian cricketer Ganga, an alternate spelling of ganja... Not to be confused with the nearby Jamuna River a tributary of the Meghna River, which is sometimes confused both in older historical literature, and by translations of the local dialects. ... Kangra is a town in Kangra District of Himachal Pradesh state in northern India, and lends its name to the district of the same name. ...

On the 1st Rajab 990 [AD 1582] Akbar's forces encamped by a field of maize near Nagarkot. The fortress (hissãr) of Bhîm, which has an idol temple of Mahãmãî, and in which none but her servants dwelt, was taken by the valour of the assailants at the first assault. A party of Rajpûts, who had resolved to die, fought most desperately till they were all cut down. A number of Brãhmans who for many years had served the temple, never gave one thought to flight, and were killed. Nearly 200 black cows belonging to Hindûs had, during the struggle, crowded together for shelter in the temple. Some savage Turks, while the arrows and bullets were falling like rain, killed those cows. They then took off their boots and filled them with the blood and cast it upon the roof and walls of the temple ^[20].

Akbar waged a holy war (Jihad) against Rana Pratap. Abd al-Qadir Badauni who was then one of Akbar's court chaplains or imams, states that he sought an interview with the emperor when the royal troops were marching against Rana Pratap in 1576, begging leave of absence for "the privilege of joining the campaign to soak his Islamic beard in Hindu infidel blood". Akbar was so pleased at the expression of allegiance to his person and to the Islamic idea of Jihad that he bestowed a handful of gold coins on Badaoni as a token of his pleasure.^[21] For other uses, see Jihad (disambiguation). ...

At first the Emperor said: “Why he has just been appointed one of the Court-Imáms, how can he go?” Naqíb Khán represented that I had a very strong desire to take part in a holy war. So the Emperor sent for me, and asked me: “Are you in earnest?” I answered: “Yes.” Then he said, “For what reason?” I humbly replied: “I have the presumption to desire to dye these black mustachios and beard in infidel blood through loyalty to your Majesty's person:— .....And when I put out my hand towards the couch in order to kiss his foot, he withdrew it; but, just as I was going out of the audience chamber, he called me back, and filling both his hands he presented me with a sum of 56 ashrafí, and bid me farewell.

During the siege of Chittor, 8000 rajputs had remained inside the fort to defend various temples after the cavalry sallied out to meet Akbar's army in the plain below. These 8000 died fighting to the last man in defence of Hindu temples when Akbar's army stormed the fort and attacked the temples. In addition their were 30,000 Hindu peasants inside the fort who were unarmed and massacred in cold blood by Akbar's forces ^[22]. Historians have succesfully argued that victorious Islamic armies usually gave a choice of conversion to the defeated and on refusal to convert such massacres occured. Chittorgarh (also Chittor, Chittaur, or Chittaurgarh) is an ancient city in Rajasthan state of western India. ... Rajput constitute one of the major Hindu Kshatriya groups from India. ...

The shrine of Moinuddin Chisti in Ajmer was presented brass candlesticks by Akbar which were taken after the destruction of Kalika temple by Akbar during the third siege of Chittor ^[23]. samadhi his wife in aurangabad , Ajmer   (Hindi: अजमेर ) is a city in Ajmer District in Indias Rajasthan state. ...

In media

• In 2008, director Ashutosh Gowariker released a film telling the story of Akbar and his wife Hira Kunwari (known more popularly as Jodha Bai), titled Jodhaa Akbar. Akbar was played by Hrithik Roshan and Jodhaa was played by Aishwarya Rai.
• Akbar was portrayed in the award-winning 1960 Hindi movie Mughal-e-Azam (The great Mughal), in which his character was played by Prithviraj Kapoor.
• Akbar and Birbal were portrayed in the Hindi series Akbar-Birbal aired on Zee TV in late 1990s where Akbar's role was essayed by Vikram Gokhale. Currently, Akbar-Birbal airs on Zee Gujarati, but dubbed in Gujarati.
• A television series, called Akbar the Great, directed by Sanjay Khan was aired on DD National in the 1990s.
• A fictionalized Akbar plays an important supporting role in Kim Stanley Robinson's 2002 novel, The Years of Rice and Salt.
• Amartya Sen uses Akbar as a prime example in his books The Argumentative Indian and Violence and Identity.
• Bertrice Small is known for incorporating historical figures as primary characters in her romance novels, and Akbar is no exception. He is a prominent figure in two of her novels, and mentioned several times in a third, which takes place after his death. In This Heart of Mine the heroine becomes Akbar's fortieth "wife" for a time, while Wild Jasmine and Darling Jasmine centre around the life of his half-British daughter. His end was an unfortunate luck to both Persian and Indian.
• Akbar is also the AI Personality of India in the renowned game Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties. Unfortunately, the game developers didn't do their research - the taunts he uses indicate he is Hindu, not Muslim.

Ashutosh Gowariker (Marathi: आशुतोष गोवारीकर) (born February 15, 1968) is an Indian actor, writer, producer and director. ... Jodhaa-Akbar (Hindi: जोधा-अकबर, Urdu: جودھا اکبر) is a film released on February 15, 2008[1]. It is directed and produced by Ashutosh Gowariker, the director of the Academy Award-nominated Lagaan (2001). ... Hrithik Roshan (Hindi: ऋतिक रोशन, pronunciation: / born 10 January 1974) is a prominent award-winning Bollywood actor. ... Aishwarya Rai (Kannada: ಐಶ್ವರ್ಯಾ ರೈ, IPA: ; born November 1, 1973) is an Indian actress. ... Mughal-e-Azam (Urdu: مغلِ اعظم, Hindi: मुग़ल-ए आज़म) is an Indian romance film, a product of the Bollywood movie industry. ... Prithviraj Kapoor (Hindi: पृथ्वीराज कपूर, Hindko: پرتھویراج کپُور, Pṛthvīrāj Kapūr, 3 November 1906 - 29 May 1972) was a noted pioneer of Indian theatre and of the Hindi film industry. ... Zee TV is an India-based satellite television channel in the Zee Network umbrella, which carries broadcasts in Hindi, Urdu, and other regional languages of India. ... (Sometimes credited as Vikram Gokhle) A well known theatre and Marathi and Hindi film actor. ... Abbas Khan better known as Sanjay Khan (born January 3, 1941) is an actor, producer and director in the Indian film Industry, Bollywood. ... DD National or DD 1 is Doordarshans flagship channel and the most widely available terrestrial television channel in India. ... The Years of Rice and Salt (2002, ISBN 0553580078) is an alternate history novel written by science fiction author Kim Stanley Robinson, a thought experiment about a world without Christianity. ... Amartya Kumar Sen CH (Hon) (Bengali: Ômorto Kumar Shen) (born 3 November 1933), is an Indian economist, philosopher, and a winner of the Bank of Sweden Prize in Economic Sciences (Nobel Prize for Economics) in 1998, for his contributions to welfare economics for his work on famine, human development theory... The Argumentative Indian (ISBN 0713996870) is a book written by the Indian Nobel Prize winning economist Amartya Sen. ... Bertrice Small is an American author of historical and erotic romance novels. ...

See also

• Mughal Emperor
• List of people known as The Great
• The Akbarnama
• Touch Pieces

The following list of Indian monarchs is one of several Wikipedia lists of incumbents. ... This is a list of people whose names in English are commonly appended with the phrase the Great, or who were called that or an equivalent phrase in their own language. ... The Akbarnāma (Persian: اکبر نامہ), which literally means History of Akbar, is a biographical account of Akbar, the third Mughal emperor, written in Persian. ... Touch Pieces are coins and medalets that have attracted superstitious beliefs, such as those with holes in them or those with particular designs. ...

References

Skidmore College is a private, liberal arts college located in Saratoga Springs, New York, United States, and is ranked as the nations 47th best liberal arts college by U.S. News & World Report[2]. The college currently enrolls approximately 2,500 students and offers B.A. and B.S... Screenshot of About. ... n ...

Bibliography

• Abu al-Fazl ibn Mubarak Akbar-namah Edited with commentary by Muhammad Sadiq Ali (Kanpur-Lucknow: Nawal Kishore) 1881-3 Three Vols. (Persian)
• Abu al-Fazl ibn Mubarak Akbarnamah Edited by Maulavi Abd al-Rahim. Bibliotheca Indica Series (Calcutta: Asiatic Society of Bengal) 1877-1887 Three Vols. (Persian)
• Henry Beveridge (Trans.) The Akbarnama of Ab-ul-Fazl Bibliotheca Indica Series (Calcutta: Asiatic Society of Bengal) 1897 Three Vols.
• Haji Muhammad 'Arif Qandahari Tarikh-i-Akbari (Better known as Tarikh-i-Qandahari) edited & Annotated by Haji Mu'in'd-Din Nadwi, Dr. Azhar 'Ali Dihlawi & Imtiyaz 'Ali 'Arshi (Rampur Raza Library) 1962 (Persian)

Farsi redirects here. ... Farsi redirects here. ... The Raza Library, located in Rampur, Uttar Pradesh, India is a repository of Indo-Islamic cultural heritage and a treasure-house of knowledge built up by successive Nawabs of Rampur. ... Farsi redirects here. ...

External links

Wikisource has the text of the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica article Akbar, Jellaladin Mahommed.

• Akbar
• Akbar, Emperor of India, by Richard von Garbe, translated by Lydia G. Robinson', available at Project Gutenberg.
• The Mughals: Akbar
• The Mughal Emperor Akbar : World of Biography
• Photos of Akbar The Great's Final resting place
• Akbar and Birbal Digital Flipbook