Babur Mughal Emperor, Biography, History, Family Tree, and Battles

Babur Mughal Emperor, stands as a prominent figure in Indian history. He is known as the founder of the great Mughal Empire, which ruled India for many years. Babur was a great warrior as well as a man of letters and a lover of nature. He was called Zahir-ud-Din Muhammad Babur, and people remember him in history as the first Mughal ruler in India who established the Mughal age in the country by bringing the harmony of Persian art, Central Asian vigour, and Indian culture.

The Babur Mughal Emperor conquered the Delhi Sultanate and established Mughal rule, which altered the trajectory of Indian history. His entry into the country put Mughal leadership in place for over 300 years. To comprehend the tale of his life, we must consider his biography, early life, battles, and accomplishments.

Babur Mughal Emperor

Babur Mughal Emperor was a courageous ruler, a poet, and the founder of the Mughal Empire in India. Belonging to the Timurid family, he possessed strong leadership qualities. His valor, vision, and conquests have made him one of the most significant emperors in Indian history. The table below highlights the key life events and accomplishments of Babur.

Early Life of Babur 

Babur Mughal Emperor was born in Andijan, a small city of the Fergana valley of the Timurid Empire. The present-day Andijan is a part of Uzbekistan. Babur Mughal Emperor was born on February 14, 1483, to Umar Sheikh Mirza II, the ruler of Fergana, and Qutlugh Nigar Khanum. Babur Mughal Emperor, was a descendant of Timur from his father’s side, while his mother belonged to the royal Mongol family. This made him the descendant of two of the most powerful rulers of all time, i.e., Timur and Genghis Khan.

The young Babur Mughal Emperor was a man of valour and leadership since his early childhood. He acquired Persian and Turkish languages and had a great interest in reading, poetry, and writing. Babur Mughal Emperor, dreamt of being an emperor like his forefathers from his early childhood. He had a difficult start to his life as his father died when he was 11 years old and Babur Mughal Emperor had to ascend the throne of Fergana at a very young age.

Babur Biography and His Ambitions 

Babur Mughal Emperor wanted to restore the power of the Timurid family, which had been lost. His biography named Baburnama (Baburname in Uzbek), which translates to “Book of Babur.” The book was written by Babur himself; it is the story of his adventures, hard life, and victories. Baburnama is one of the first autobiographies in Islamic and world literature.

Babur Mughal Emperor describes in Baburnama all the events of his life – his family, nature, gardens, wars and, what is very important, his feelings. This book is evidence of Babur’s fondness for beauty and truth. The memoirs of Babur Mughal Emperor are not like other kings because Babur himself wrote about his life with all his emotions and thoughts. In this way, Baburnama is a very valuable part of history.

The Babur Family Tree 

The Babur family tree unites two greatest conquerors of all time: Timur and Genghis Khan. Babur’s father was a descendant of the ruler of Central Asia, Timur and his mother from Genghis Khan. Because of this, Babur Mughal Emperor inherited Mongol and Turkic blood in his veins

Here’s how Babur’s family tree looks in simple form:

Timur → Miranshah → Umar Sheikh Mirza II → Babur → Humayun → Akbar → Jahangir → Shah Jahan → Aurangzeb

This family line continued for many years, making the Mughal dynasty one of the strongest and longest-ruling empires in Indian history.

Babur Comes to India 

Babur Mughal Emperor came to India in order to expand his territories, after having lost his ancestral domains in Central Asia. He tried several times before his successful expedition. In 1526, Babur came to India with a well-equipped army, using gunpowder, artillery, and cannons which were not used in the Indian subcontinent until then.

He encountered Ibrahim Lodi, the ruler of the Delhi Sultanate, in the famous Battle of Panipat. Babur’s tactical genius in war, along with the superior strategy of using cannons, helped him win the battle against a much larger army of the Delhi Sultanate. After his victory, Babur became the ruler of Delhi and founded the Mughal Empire in India.

Battles Fought by Babur in Chronological Order

Here is a detailed account of the major battles fought by Babur in chronological order:

1. First Battle of Panipat (April 21, 1526) 

Fought between Babur and Ibrahim Lodi, Sultan of Delhi near the village of Panipat in Haryana.

Babur, with a smaller army, faced the larger force of Ibrahim Lodi.

Innovative tactics and technology: Babur used cannons (15-20 pieces) and matchlock muskets, unfamiliar in Indian warfare.

• Defensive preparations: Babur’s troops created a defensive fortification using wagons (araba) tied together and trenches. He also stationed mounted archers to protect the flanks.

• Psychological impact: The heavy artillery caused panic among Lodi’s elephant corps, leading to disorder and Babur’s victory.

• Outcome: Ibrahim Lodi was killed in battle, and Babur’s victory led to the establishment of the Mughal Empire in India.

• Babur also used a tactic of dividing his army into units known as Tughlama (corps) which would encircle the enemy on all sides through multiple well-coordinated attacks.

2. Battle of Khanwa (March 16, 1527) 

Fought between Babur and Rana Sanga, the powerful Rajput ruler of Mewar, near Agra.

• Objective: Rana Sanga aimed to drive Babur out of India and expand his own kingdom.

• Support for Rana Sanga: He was backed by Afghan chiefs dissatisfied with Babur’s rule.

• Techniques: Babur utilized superior tactics, including the use of cannons and muskets.

• Outcome: Babur defeated Rana Sanga’s confederacy, solidifying Mughal control in northern India.

• Significance: The victory curbed Rajput power and led to Babur’s capture of key forts like Gwalior and Dholpur.

3. Battle of Chanderi (January 20, 1528) 

Fought between Babur and Medini Rai, the ruler of Malwa, near Chanderi.

• Context: After the Battle of Khanwa, Babur aimed to eliminate Medini Rai, an ally of Rana Sanga, to weaken Rana’s position.

• Attempted peace offer: Babur offered Medini Rai the town of Shamsabad in lieu of Chanderi fort, which was rejected.

• Night attack and rapid victory: Babur’s forces captured the outer fortress at night; the upper fort fell swiftly the next morning.

• Women’s sacrifice: Facing certain defeat, Medini Rai and many women committed jauhar (ritual self-immolation), a Rajput practice to avoid dishonor.

• Significance: This victory extended Mughal influence in central India.

4. Battle of Ghaghra (1529) 

Fought between Babur and a confederacy of Afghan chiefs led by Mahmud Lodi (brother of Ibrahim Lodi) and Sultan Nusrat Shah of Bengal.

• Location: The battle took place along the Ghaghra River in eastern India.

• Outcome: Babur’s forces decisively defeated the Afghan confederacy. 

• Significance: The victory ended major resistance to Babur’s rule in northern and eastern India, consolidating Mughal control over these regions, including Bihar.

Babur Makbara and His Death 

Babur Mughal Emperor died in the year 1530 at the age of 47 years. Therefore, the answer to the question, “In which year Babur died?” would be the year 1530. His body was buried in Agra but was later shifted to Kabul, Afghanistan in keeping with his wish. His tomb, also called Babur Makbara is in Kabul and it lies in the midst of green gardens.

The Babur Makbara is there as a tranquil testimony to his passion for nature. It is visited by people to pay homage to the man who united art, power, and culture and established the Mughal Empire.

Legacy of Babur Mughal Emperor 

The legacy of Babur Mughal Emperor is quite strong to date. He had laid the foundation of what would become one of the greatest empires in the history of the world. His heirs—Humayun, Akbar, Jahangir, Shah Jahan, and Aurangzeb—realized his vision and ruled India for many generations to come.

Babur also brought about a change in warfare of the Indian subcontinent with the introduction of gunpowder and artillery. His writings in Baburnama are a testimony to his brilliant intellect and sincere heart.