| Akbar | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Padishah Ghazi[1] Shahenshah-e-Hind (King of Kings of Hindustan) | |||||||||
.jpg) Akbar with a lion and a calf, by Govardhan, c. 1630 | |||||||||
| Emperor of Hindustan | |||||||||
| Reign | 11 February 1556 – 27 October 1605[2][3] | ||||||||
| Coronation | 14 February 1556[2] | ||||||||
| Predecessor | Humayun Hemu (as ruler of Delhi) | ||||||||
| Successor | Jahangir | ||||||||
| Regent | Bairam Khan (1556–1560)[4] | ||||||||
| Born | Jalal-ud-din Muhammad Akbar 15 October 1542[a] Amarkot, Rajputana (modern-day Umerkot, Sindh, Pakistan) | ||||||||
| Died | 27 October 1605 (aged 63) Fatehpur Sikri, Agra Subah, Mughal Empire (modern-day Uttar Pradesh, India) | ||||||||
| Burial | November 1605 Akbar's Tomb, Sikandra, Agra, India | ||||||||
| Consorts | |||||||||
| Wives |
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| Issue Detail | |||||||||
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| House | House of Babur | ||||||||
| Dynasty | Timurid | ||||||||
| Father | Humayun | ||||||||
| Mother | Hamida Banu Begum | ||||||||
| Religion | Sunni Islam[10][11] Din-i-Ilahi | ||||||||
| Seal | .jpg) | ||||||||
Abu'l-Fath Jalal-ud-din Muhammad Akbar[9] (15 October 1542[a] – 27 October 1605),[12][13][14] popularly known as Akbar the Great,[15] and also as Akbar I (Persian pronunciation: [ak.baɾ]),[16] was the third Mughal emperor, who reigned from 1556 to 1605. Akbar succeeded his father, Humayun, under a regent, Bairam Khan, who helped the young emperor expand and consolidate Mughal domains in the Indian subcontinent. He is generally considered one of the greatest emperors in Indian history and led a successful campaign to unify the various kingdoms of Hindūstān or India proper.[17][18]
Akbar gradually enlarged the Mughal Empire to include much of the Indian subcontinent through Mughal military, political, cultural, and economic dominance. To unify the vast Mughal state, Akbar established a centralised system of administration and adopted a policy of conciliating conquered rulers through marriage and diplomacy. To preserve peace and order in a religiously and culturally diverse empire, he adopted policies that won him the support of his non-Muslim subjects, including abolishing the sectarian tax and appointing them to high civil and military posts.
Under Akbar, Mughal India developed a strong and stable economy, which tripled in size and wealth, leading to commercial expansion and greater patronage of an Indo-Persian culture. Akbar's courts at Delhi, Agra, and Fatehpur Sikri attracted holy men of many faiths, poets, architects, and artisans, and became known as centres of the arts, letters, and learning. Timurid and Perso-Islamic culture began to merge and blend with indigenous Indian elements into a distinct style of Mughal arts, including painting and architecture. Disillusioned with orthodox Islam and perhaps hoping to bring about religious unity within his empire, Akbar promulgated Din-i Ilahi, a syncretic creed derived mainly from Islam and Hinduism as well as elements of Zoroastrianism and Christianity.
Akbar was succeeded as emperor by his son, Prince Salim, later known as Jahangir.
- ^ Lal 1999, p. 67: "It may be recalled that as an adolescent, Akbar had earned the title of Ghazi by beheading the defenseless infidel Himu. Under Akbar and Jahangir 'five or six hundred thousand human beings were killed,' says emperor Jahangir"
- ^ a b Eraly 2000, pp. 114, 117
- ^ "Akbar (Mughal emperor)". Encyclopædia Britannica. Archived from the original on 27 January 2013. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
- ^ Chandra 2005, p. 95
- ^ Jahangir 1999, p. 437: "Ruqayya-Sultan Begam, the daughter of Mirza Hindal and wife of His Majesty Arsh-Ashyani [Akbar], had passed away in Akbarabad. She was His Majesty's chief wife. Since she did not have children, when Shahjahan was born His Majesty Arsh-Ashyani entrusted that 'unique pearl of the caliphate' to the begam's care, and she undertook to raise the prince. She departed this life at the age of eighty-four."
- ^ Hindu Shah 1595–1612, p. 223: "Akbur, after this conquest, made pilgrimage to Khwaja Moyin-ood-Deen Chishty at Ajmere and returned to Agra; from whence he proceeded to visit the venerable Sheikh Sulim Chishty, in the village of Seekry. As all the king's children had hitherto died, he solicited the Sheikh's prayers, who consoled him, by assuring him he would soon have a son, who would live to a good old age. Shortly after, his favourite sooltana, being then pregnant, on Wednesday the 17th of Rubbee-ool-Awul, in the year 997 was delivered of a son, who was called Sulim."
- ^ Mehta 1984, p. 222: "Bihari Mal gave rich dowry to his daughter and sent his son Bhagwan Das with a contingent of Rajput soldiers to escort his newly married sister to Agra as per Hindu custom. Akbar was deeply impressed by the highly dignified, sincere and princely conduct of his Rajput relations. He took Man Singh, the youthful son of Bhagwant Das into the royal service. Akbar was fascinated by the charm and accomplishments of his Rajput wife; he developed real love for her and raised her to the status of chief queen. She came to exercise profound impact on socio-cultural environment of the entire royal household and changed the lifestyle of Akbar. Salim (later Jahangir), heir to the throne, was born of this wedlock on 30th August, 1569."
- ^ Ahloowalia 2009, p. 130
- ^ a b Ballhatchet, Kenneth A. (31 March 2023). "Akbar". Encyclopædia Britannica. Archived from the original on 25 May 2023. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
- ^ Black 2011, p. 245
- ^ Eraly 2000, p. 189
- ^ Lehmann, F. (2014). "Akbar I". In Yarshater, Ehsan (ed.). Encyclopædia Iranica, Online Edition. Encyclopædia Iranica Foundation. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
- ^ Beveridge Volume I 1907, pp. 139–140
- ^ "Akbar I". World Encyclopedia (online ed.). Oxford University Press. 2014 [2004]. doi:10.1093/acref/9780199546091.001.0001. ISBN 978-0-19-954609-1. OCLC 150655825. Archived from the original on 22 September 2023. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
- ^ Syed 2011, p. 404
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
timewas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Britanica, Encyclopaedia (2024), Akbar, Encyclopaedia of britanica, p. 2, ISBN 978-0-521-56603-2, retrieved 9 August 2017 Quote: "Akbar, The greatest Mughal emperor of India."
- ^ Early, Abraham (2000). The Saga of the Great Mughals. Sterling Publishers Pvt. ISBN 9781932705546. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
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