BABUR

Zahir-ud-Din Mohammad surnamed Babur founded the Moghul dynasty (Moghul - an adaptation of mughul, the Persian word for Mongol) in India which lasted more than two centuries.  Babur was the fruit of two greatest conquerors of Central Asia (connected to the family of Timur and Jenghiz Khan).  Babur became the king of Farghana at the age of eleven, as soon as his father died.  Soon after ascending the throne of Farghana, Babur annexed Samarkand, but fell ill the same year.  His ministers gave up hope of Babur's recovery, and  put his brother Jahangir on the throne of Farghana.  But Babur miraculously recovered to see Jahangir on the throne.  Jahangir had firmly established by then, and on the other side, Samarkand was occupied  by his cousin Ali.  Babur thus became wanderer for almost one year, without kingship.

A year later, Babur captured the capital of Farghana and Samarkand but lost in the same year to Uzbegs.  Babur was thus left with nothing, and aimed for his luck there onwards.   Meanwhile, the political situation in Kabul gave him a opportunity to set his foot in Kabul and managed to rule Kabul from 1504 AD till 1520 AD.  It is during the his reign he regained Samarkand and Bukhara but utterly failed in retaining it.  This disappointment led him to eye on India than on the lost land.

In the year of 1526 AD, Babur set foot in India with elaborate preparation, to defeat Ibrahim Lodi.  He dealt with Daulat Khan first and then Ibrahim Lodi at Panipat.  Babur killed Ibrahim Lodi in the battle field of Panipat and shattered the Lodi dynasty to pieces and conquered India for the first time.  But the victory of Panipat did not favour him to be the ruler, as on one side his followers were wanting to go back due to intolerant hot climate and on  the other side he had to deal with the hostile Rajputs.  Within a year, Babur battled with Rana Sangha of Mewar and won a victory.  In 1528, he captured the fort of Chanderi by finishing Rajputs.  Although still only forty-five, Babur was remarkably often ill. Brother Jahangir and several of his descendants had died of excessive drink.  Due to the frequent sickness, Babur rushed from Badakhan to Agra to be with  his father, who soon fell graviously ill rather than his father.  Babur who knew the right of sacrifice, apparently walked three times round the patient's bed with the offer.  In few months, Humayun recovered miraculously from the illness, but Babur fell ill, from which he could not recover. When emperor died on December 26, 1530,  Humayun ascended the throne to inherit Babur's empire.
 

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