Akbar #1: Chingizid and Mughals

Timur (the Lame) was the most famous ancestor of the group that would come to be known as the Mughals. He was not a descendant of Genghis Khan himself, but had married women from Genghis’ line so he could claim Chingizid heritage.

 

When still in Central Asia, Babur was kicked out of his kingdom by the Uzbeks, who claimed Chingizid blood, writes Ira Mukhoty in her biography of the Mughal emperor, Akbar. No surprise that Babur hated the Chingizid. Obviously, he did not want to be called a Chingizid. Instead, he preferred to be known as a Timurid (descendant of Timur). It is ironic that when they came to rule India, Babur’s line came to be known as the Mughals, the Persian word for Mongols (Chingizid), not as the Timurids! Even the victors don’t get to decide what they are called.

 

Being kingdom-less also explains why Babur came to India to settle, not just loot and return the way Timur and so many other Central Asians had in the past. It also explains Babur’s tolerance for the locals. While he may have won the initial battles to get a foothold, he could see he was outnumbered. Pragmatically, he incorporated many Afghans and Hindustanis as noblemen under his reign. Such arrangements sowed the seeds for Akbar’s later day religious tolerance…

 

The Timurids did not follow the convention of the eldest son of the emperor inheriting the throne. Instead, all the sons and top Timurid noblemen were eligible to be the successor. Thus, when Babur died, the oldest son, Humayun found himself at war not just with enemies like Sher Shah Sur but also his brother, Kamran. Humayun fled to Persia, seeking asylum, and left behind his children. Following the practice of the time, Kamran took Akbar and his sister captive as a way to “contain” Humayun’s ambition.

 

Here, the term “captive” didn’t necessarily mean thrown into prison; it is closer to a hostage who cannot leave the palace. Akbar proved too “unruly and self-willed” to educate, and thus grew up illiterate. Humayun would return with an army years later, and his children reunited with him. Humayun died soon after that, and the 13 yo Akbar became the new Padshah of the Mughal dynasty. A trusted aide of Humayun, Bairam Khan became the acting regent until Akbar would come of age.

 

Courtiers who were unhappy with Bairam’s rise sided and the women of the harem began to fill Akbar’s ears. As Akbar grew older, a clash with Bairam was almost inevitable. The acting ruler v/s the rightful ruler. When Akbar put some constraints on Bairam’s power, an irritated Bairam acted erratically, thereby fuelling more suspicion in Akbar. A vicious cycle had been set off. Akbar outmanoeuvred Bairam and took over control. He was now truly the Padshah.