India is one of the largest countries in the world with a distinctive culture and interesting history. In particular, to this day, researchers are interested in the question of how the son of Emir Fergana Babur, left without a father at the age of 12, not only did not become a victim of political intrigues and died, but also penetrated into India and created one of the greatest empires in Asia..
Backstory
Before the mighty Mughal Empire was formed on the territory of modern India and some adjacent states, this country was fragmented into many small principalities. They were constantly raided by nomadic neighbors. In particular, in the 5th century, the Huns tribes penetrated the territory of the Gupta state, which occupies the northwestern part of the Hindustan peninsula and the lands adjacent from the north. And although they were expelled by the year 528, after their departure, there were no large state formations left in India. A century later, several small principalities were united under their leadership by a charismatic and far-sighted rulerHarsha, however, after his death, the new empire collapsed, and in the 11th century, Muslims under the leadership of Mahmud Ghaznevi penetrated the territory of Hindustan and founded the Delhi Sultanate. During the 13th century, this state was able to resist the invasion of the Mongols, but by the end of the 14th century, it collapsed as a result of the invasion of the thousands of Timur's hordes. Despite this, the largest principalities of the Delhi Sultanate lasted until 1526. Their conquerors were the Great Moghuls, under the leadership of Babur, a Timurid who came to India with a huge international army. His army at that time was the strongest in the region and the troops of the Indian Rajas could not prevent him from conquering Hindustan.
Babur's biography
The first Great Mogul of India was born in 1483 on the territory of modern Uzbekistan, in the famous trading city of Andijan. His father was the emir of Ferghana, who was the great-great-grandson of Tamerlane, and his mother came from the Genghisides family. When Babnur was only 12 years old, he was left an orphan, but after 2 years he managed to capture Samarkand. In general, as researchers of the biography of the founder of the Mughal empire point out, from early childhood he had an exceptional desire for power, and even then he cherished the dream of becoming the head of a huge state. The triumph after the first victory did not last long, and after 4 months Babur was expelled from Samarkand by Sheibani Khan, who was three times his senior. An experienced politician did not calm down on this and ensured that the young Timurid was forced to flee with an army to the territoryAfghanistan. There, fortune smiled on the young man, and he conquered Kabul. But resentment for the fact that his fiefdom - Samarkand is ruled by an alien Uzbek ruler, did not give him rest, and he repeatedly made attempts to return to this city. All of them ended in failure, and, realizing that there was no way back, Babur decided to conquer India and establish his new state there.
How the Mughal state was founded
In 1519, Babur made a campaign in North-West India, and 7 years later decided to capture Delhi. In addition, he defeated the Rajput prince and founded a state centered in Agra. Thus, by 1529, the empire included the territories of Eastern Afghanistan, Punjab and the Ganges valley up to the borders of Bengal.
Death of Babur
Death overtook the founder of the Mughal Empire in 1530. After Hamayun's accession to the throne, the Mughal Empire in India lasted until 1539, when the Pashtun commander Sher Shah expelled him from the country. However, after 16 years, the Mughals were able to recapture their possessions and return to Delhi. Anticipating his imminent death, the head of state divided the empire between his four sons, appointing Hamayun as chief of them, who was supposed to rule Hindustan. Three other Baburids got Kandahar, Kabul and Punjab, but they were obliged to obey their elder brother.
Akbar the Great
In 1542, Hamayun's son was born. He was named Akbar, and it was this grandson of Babur who was toto make sure that the empire founded by the Great Mughals went down in history as an example of a state where there was no religious and national discrimination. He ascended the throne, almost at the same early age as his grandfather, and spent almost 20 years of his life suppressing rebellions and strengthening centralized power. As a result, by 1574, the formation of a single state with clear systems of local government and tax collection was completed. Being an exceptionally intelligent man, Akbar the Great allocated land and financed the construction of not only mosques, but also Hindu temples, as well as Christian churches, which missionaries were allowed to open in Goa.
Jahangir
The next ruler of the empire was the third son of Akbar the Great - Selim. Having ascended the throne after the death of his father, he ordered to call himself Jahangir, which means "conqueror of the world." This was a short-sighted ruler who first of all abolished the laws concerning religious tolerance, which turned against himself the Hindus and representatives of other nationalities who are not Muslims. Thus, the Mughals ceased to enjoy the support of the population of many areas, and were forced from time to time to suppress uprisings against their henchmen-rajas.
Shah Jahan
The last years of the reign of Jahangir, who became a drug addict towards the end of his life, were a dark time for the empire founded by the Mughals. The fact is that a struggle for power began in the palace, in which the main wife took an active parta padishah named Nur Jahan. During this period, the third son of Jahangir, who was married to his stepmother's niece, decided to take advantage of the situation and made himself proclaimed heir, bypassing his older brothers. After the death of his father, he took the throne and reigned for 31 years. During this time, the capital of the Great Moguls - Agra has become one of the most beautiful cities in Asia. At the same time, it was he who decided in 1648 to make Delhi the capital of his state and built the Red Fort there. Thus, this city became the second capital of the empire, and it was there that in 1858 the last Great Mogul, along with his closest relatives, was captured by the British troops. Thus ended the history of the empire, which left behind a huge cultural heritage.
Mughal Capital
As already mentioned, in 1528 Babur made Agra the main city of his empire. Today it is one of the most famous tourist centers in Asia, as many architectural monuments of the Mughal period have been preserved there. In particular, everyone knows the famous Taj Mahal mausoleum, built by Shah Jahan for his beloved wife. This unique building is rightfully considered one of the wonders of the world and impresses with its perfection and splendor.
The fate of Delhi was completely different. In 1911, it became the residence of the Viceroy of India, and all the main departments of the colonial British government moved there from Calcutta. For the next 36 years, the city developed at a rapid pace, and areas of European development appeared there. ATin particular, in 1931, the opening of his new district of New Delhi, completely designed by the British, took place. In 1947, it was proclaimed the capital of the independent Republic of India and remains so to this day.
The Mughal Empire lasted from the first half of the 16th to 1858 and played a major role in the fate of the peoples inhabiting India.
