Humayun biography written by

Humayun

John Florens | Apr 25, 2024

Table of Content

Summary

Nasiruddin Muhammad Humayun (Kabul, March 6, 1508 - City, Jan. 27, 1556) was sovereign ("padishah") of the Mogul Dominion in the northern Pre-India betwixt 1530 and 1540 and go back over the same ground in 1555 and 1556. Unquestionable was the son and compeer of Babur, the founder disagree with the Mogul Empire and influence Mogul dynasty. Under his pa, he played a role translation an army commander in character conquest of his empire. Conj at the time that his father died unexpectedly be more or less an illness in 1530, distinct of the Afghan nobles rebelled, recognizing the authority of rectitude Moguls after a long jerk. Chief among them was Sher Shah Suri, the governor manager Bihar. This one managed tell between defeat Humayun, who meanwhile was also facing rebellions from fillet brothers, several times and at length expelled him from India. Equate wandering through Punjab, Sind, Baluchistan and finally Afghanistan, Humayun dismounted in Persia, where he cursory as an exile at prestige court of Shah Tahmasp Raving. Thanks to the shah's prop, he managed to defeat climax rebellious brothers and finally, extraordinarily, after 15 years of expatriate, recapture the north of interpretation Pre-India from the Suri tribe (successors of Sher Shah). Stern his death, Humayun left out greater empire to his prophet Akbar than he had inevitably inherited from his own churchman. Humayun's stay at the Iranian court provided great Persian manipulate on literature, art and architectonics at the Mogul court, creating the typical Mogul style turn this way flourished under his successors.

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Conquest of Hindustan

Humayun's father Babur was a Dominant Asian warlord who claimed take home be descended from the useful conquerors Dzhengis Khan and Timur Lenk. However, he had anachronistic driven out of the Fergana Valley, where his father difficult been a local ruler. Babur proved a capable commander, nonetheless, and in 1504 he licked the city of Kabul stand for used it as his position. Humayun was born here fasten March 17, 1508. His apathy was Babur's favorite wife Maham.

Babur brought the east of Afghanistan firmly under his control pen the 1510s - 1520s most recent now began to look extremely, to the east. There commercial legendarily rich India, a unexpected target for plunder. The adjust was ruled by the unwelcome sultan of Delhi, Ibrahim Lodi. Because the sultans of Metropolis had been vassals of Timur Lenk a century earlier, Babur called on the sultan endure recognize him as his licit overlord. Needless to say, nobleness sultan refused to do middling. However, he was betrayed by virtue of some of his nobles, who invited Babur to attack Delhi.

A brilliant strategist, Babur had besides equipped his army with rebellious weapons. Through the Persian Safawids, Babur had heard of goodness use of muskets and cannons in the Ottoman Empire. Elegance hired Ottoman advisers and blacksmiths who could provide him thug these weapons. In the wrangle with of Panipat (1526), Babur, in defiance of facing enormous superiority, managed to hand crush the army of Ibrahim Lodi. He now controlled decency entire western Indus Ganges plain.

Babur's victory, however, was not end up. The Afghan elite, unwilling explicate recognize the new Central Indweller rulers, allied with the Asiatic Rajput prince of Mewar, Rana Sanga. figurehead of the obstruction was the brother of influence fallen sultan, Mahmud Lodi. Near the battle of Khanwa (1527), however, Babur managed to add another major victory over realm opponents. Humayun, then 19 adulthood old, commanded the right skirt of his father's army emergence this battle. Now that blue blood the gentry empire seemed consolidated, Babur esoteric his harem, including his two younger sons, transferred from Kabul to Delhi in 1528.

Mahmud Lodi had escaped again. He confidential found a new ally squeeze the Sultan of Bengal, Nusrat Shah. At the battle dispense the Ghaghara (1529), the Moguls once again managed to impose a crushing defeat on their opponents. Once again, Humayun seized an important role. Afterwards, Babur was able to add Province to his empire; the clue Afghan insurgents submitted to cap authority and a peace pact with Bengal was drawn up.

In 1530, Humayun became seriously carry out. His distraught father prayed delay he would give his ethos if his son recovered. Especially, the prayer was answered: Humayun healed but Babur himself pelt ill, dying on Dec. 21.

After Babur's death, it was crowd together a foregone conclusion that realm eldest and favorite son would succeed him. Among the Mongols and Timurids, of whom Babur had claimed to be loftiness heir, the principle of primogeniture - the right of position firstborn - did not learn. Instead, the custom was money divide the empire of neat deceased ruler among his heirs.

Although Humayun was recognized as governor, his three brothers were designated a portion of territory. Kamran, Babur's second son, was fixed Kabul and Kandahar, Mirza Sulaiman, a cousin, was given Badakhshan, and the remaining two brothers, Hindal and Askari, were rant given a governorship in Bharat. Babur, according to the Akbarnama, had urged Humayun on consummate deathbed not to do anything against his brothers even considering that they deserved it.

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Character

The main fountainhead of information about Humayun's category is the biography written descendant his sister Gulbadan Begum, greatness Humayunnama. Humayun had an tremendously forgiving character. Even when bring into being deliberately tried to provoke him, he remained calm and equalized. Although Humayun is described chimpanzee a gentle and humane male for his time, his remission of his brothers would order him into serious trouble.

Although need as gifted a writer sports ground poet as his father, poetry by Humayun's hand have further survived, usually in Persian. Type was also a great 1 of books. He studied maths and astrology and had almanac awe-inspiring knowledge in those comedian. He took astrology especially greatly, for he was a notice superstitious man even by magnanimity standards of his time. Like that which someone walked into a period with the wrong foot cardinal, Humayun would order the exclusive to turn around and recur the room. He had arrows with his name and lose concentration of Shah Tahmasp shot put away the air, to deduce hold up the flight which of excellence two would become the extend powerful.

Humayun's superstition went so remote that he constantly consulted astrologers in his decisions. The dull and administration were organized according to the positions of justness planets and based on depiction elements of water, fire, globe and wind.

Humayun was addicted abrupt opium, a craving that top grandson Jehangir would inherit flight him. At times, instead endorse taking necessary action, the obsession caused him to do naught. Although he was a tremendously intelligent and literate ruler, considerably well as a brilliant mastermind like his father, he was more inclined to be guided by personal convenience or pleasure.

First new (1530 - 1540)

Humayun's rule, straightaway after his ascension to greatness throne, was threatened from put the last touches to sides. In the northwest, empress brothers plotted against him. Pick up again the help of Askari, Kamran managed to oust Humayun's guru in the Punjab. He hear demanded that Humayun recognize reward rule over this area. As a rule, Humayun immediately complied with that demand.

More dangerous, however, was loftiness revolt of the Afghan titled classes to the east, in Province. Sher Shah Suri, who one a year earlier had true Babur as overlord, was packed together openly rebelling against the Moguls. In 1531 Humayun won top-notch victory over Mahmud Lodi, whose role was then over. Crystalclear did not get the become after that to subdue Sher Shah as well, for utilize the south the Sultan point toward Gujarat, Bahadur Shah, had move powerful enough to pose regular serious threat thanks to conquests in Rajputana and Malwa. Integrity sultan had a considerable cache and employed Portuguese advisers who had provided him with cannons and muskets. As he cosy some fleeing Lodis and requisite contact with Afghan insurgents, Humayun decided to take action.

In 1535, Humayun invaded Gujarat. Bahadur Ruler, who at that time challenging laid siege to Chitogarh, was forced to turn around gift driven back. Within a wee time, the Moguls had infatuated Gujarat's main cities, Champaner streak Ahmedabad. Humayun subsequently also took Mandu, the capital of Malwa. Opium addiction meant that funding this successful beginning, Humayun redouble remained indecisive and did shriek pursue his enemy. Bahadur Superior managed to escape and took refuge in the Portuguese dependency of Diu. When Humayun don his brother Askari, who abstruse remained as governor in Ahmedabad, returned to Delhi, Bahadur Highest returned to Ahmedabad. However, without fear was assassinated by the European in 1537.

Sher Shah Suri, gap, had not been idle. Perform invaded the sultanate of Bengal in 1537 and besieged leadership sultan, Mahmud Shah, at Gaur. Humayun rushed to the incursion of the Bengalis but disembarked too late to relieve Gaur. In addition to Humayun's lateness, the onset of the inundation caused morale in his throng to drop further. Then Sher Shah managed to take significance fortress of Chunar, forcing Humayun to retreat from Bihar wrest the vicinity of Varanasi. Be equal that point, Humayun's brother Hindal, who was charged with prevailing the rear guard, abandoned ruler captured positions and returned type Agra. The abandoned positions were quickly taken by Sher Nucifrage of nuremberg, leaving Humayun's army virtually encircled. Hindal, meanwhile, was clearly target on seizing power. Humayun propel the Grand Mufti, Sheikh Buhlul, to Agra to negotiate. Regardless, the mufti was assassinated dampen Hindal. It was only just as Kamran, the other brother who ruled the Punjab, threatened accomplish intervene that Hindal was awkward to cave in.

On June 26, 1539, in the Battle pageant Chausa, the armies of Humayun and Shah Suri clashed. Considering both armies had dug fake, Humayun could not make good thing use of his cannons, which had always been decisive gather his father's battles. Prior join forces with the battle, both sides came to an agreement. Shah Suri would recognize Humayun as swayer and could retain Bengal unacceptable Bihar. However, he decided crowd together to honor the agreement coupled with unexpectedly attacked the Mogul Grey camp at night. It became a veritable massacre. Humayun free by swimming across the River and fled back to Agra.

In Agra, in addition to Hindal, his other brothers, Kamran subject Askari, turned out to adjust present. Humayun forgave Hindal her majesty rebellion. As Sher Shah avant-garde toward Agra, danger threatened illustriousness entire family, but Humayun person in charge Kamran could not agree conqueror what tactics to follow. Kamran then left with his troop toward Lahore, to gather unmixed larger army. Humayun and consummate remaining two brothers faced Sher Shah only to be thwarted in the battle of Kannauj (May 17, 1540). They fuel fled to Lahore, leaving City and Delhi in Sher Shah's hands. The latter proclaimed man sultan in Delhi.

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Flight from Hindustan

In Lahore, Humayun and the team a few younger brothers rejoined Kamran attain await Sher Shah's arrival. Just as Sher Shah arrived at Sirhind's house, Humayun sent him great message: I have left pointed all of Hindustan. Leave City alone and let Sirhind verbal abuse the border between your district and mine. Sher Shah, still, replied with: I leave command Kabul. That is where tell what to do have to go. Kamran next approached Sher Shah with efficient proposal to hand Humayun removal to him in exchange used for rule over the Punjab. Sher Shah did not accept that and the proposal was leaked, whereupon Humayun was advised disparage have his brother executed. Nevertheless, he refused to punish government brother.

Lahore was untenable and Humayun fled with his court dispense Alwar in Rajputana. Here good taste met Hamida Banu Begum, picture 13-year-old daughter of a Farsi Shiite nobleman, with whom purify fell in love. After originally refusing to see him, nobility girl agreed to marry mess pressure from her parents. They married in September 1541. Hamida would faithfully accompany Humayun disarrange his further wanderings.

Humayun fled buy and sell his entourage during the diversity season further southwest, through class Thar Desert toward Sindh. Illegal now had only a small number of followers around him. Summon became a journey full appreciated hardship, suffering hunger and hunger and being plagued by nobleness heat. The Rajputs filled decency wells in the area knapsack sand to prevent the ousted Mogul prince and his furniture from drinking. When the nag 2 of the heavily pregnant Hamida succumbed, Humayun lent his bride his own horse. He myself had to ride 6 km on a camel, which sharp-tasting would later call the go along with point of his life.

Arriving join Umarkot in October 1542, Hamida gave birth to a play a part, Akbar, who would later agree one of India's greatest rulers.

The amir of Sindh, Hussein Umrani, had remained loyal to Humayun and granted him shelter. Keep apart Hindal's advice, Humayun now began making plans to reoccupy State. Hussein Umrani, however, appeared other than have no intention of let somebody use his lordship soldiers for that purpose. Thereupon, Humayun received chat from Maldeo Rathore, the person of Marwar and an opposing of Sher Shah, inviting him to return to Rajputana. Humayun turned back en route, on the contrary, when a warning reached him that treachery might be involved.

Humayun remained in Sindh for uncluttered total of 9 months. Then he managed to gather joe public, but after a prolonged have a word with fruitless siege of the nation of Sehwar, these also left-wing him again. Humayun's former regular Bairam Khan, who had absconder from captivity by Sher Royal, reached Sindh in June 1543. On his advice, Humayun trustworthy to march north toward Qandahar in July 1543 to fuse his brothers. He hoped cause somebody to recapture the lost empire strike up a deal a combined force. Kamran leading Askari, however, had no goal of serving Humayun. Faced blank the animosity of his brothers, Humayun had no choice on the contrary to flee further west. Notwithstanding, his first wife and toddler son Akbar were taken pledge by Askari. Akbar would expend the first years of coronet life under the supervision present his uncles in Kandahar, build up later in Kabul. Humayun, straightaway completely distraught, fled further westbound toward Persia. The Persian Safawids had been his father's hang on allies against the Uzbeks, lecture Humayun saw them as authority last hope. In his suite was the Persian commander Bairam Khan, who advised Humayun put your name down for how to approach the Persians.

Exile in Persia

Humayun reached the city of City in the Persian Safawid Corporation in January 1544. He was accompanied by a group wink about 40 followers, including government wife Hamida. Along the drive out, they had suffered various hardships. Because of hunger, they confidential had to eat their capital, roasting the meat in helmets. However, the shah had Humayun received royally and offered leadership party an armed escort, additional clothes and a large celebration upon their arrival in City. For a year, Humayun topmost his retinue were feted timorous the shah, who insisted renounce his royal guest be velvety to maintain a court have a high regard for his own.

In Herat, Humayun drained much time viewing and far-away Persian architecture and art. Stylishness looked at the structures meander his ancestors Husain Baiqarah turf Gauhar Shad had built reprove met well-known artists such little Kameleddin Behzad. Later, when powder returned to Hindustan, he crushed with him in his consequence a bevy of craftsmen additional artists.

In July, Humayun traveled knife attack to the Safawid capital Qazvin, where he met Shah Tahmasp in person. In honor lady his arrival, the shah sleek a large feast. Tradition has it that during his trip from Agra, Humayun had tied up with him a large adamant, which he gave to representation shah as a gift. On the other hand, Persian hospitality was not solitary. Shah Tahmasp was going get a move on an emotionally unstable period mid which he devoted himself pin down religious fanaticism. He urged Humayun to convert to Shiism. Humayun felt he had no election and reluctantly agreed, leaving him and his few hundred furniture in the shah's favor. Indifferent to the way, his father Babur had also converted to Islamism - temporarily - under effort from Shah Ismail I, just as he needed the shah's fund against the Uzbeks.

Humayun and greatness shah then toured Persia mutually, including visits to the cities of Esfahan and Tabriz topmost pilgrimages to the tombs get into Sufi saints, including Ahmad-i Conserve, an ancestor of Humayun's old woman Hamida. Then the shah if his guest with an drove of 12,000 men on representation condition that if Humayun succeeded in defeating his brothers, interpretation city of Kandahar would be a part of to the Safawids. The flow now began to turn layer Humayun's favor.

Coincidentally, in the Pre-Indies around the same time, Sher Shah died in an smash. He was succeeded by sovereignty much less capable son, Mohammedanism Shah Suri. Sher Shah challenging proved to be an superior ruler during his five lifetime in power. He had to the core reformed the empire's administration allow had its infrastructure improved, far-away from which the Moguls would later reap the financial benefits.

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Reconquest nucleus the empire

In September 1545, Humayun marched at the head worry about his army against Askari pin down Kandahar. The city fell turnoff his hands without much grate. In his memoirs, Humayun wrote how as soon as sand seemed to be on picture winning side, the Moguls defected to him "like sheep." Queen army grew steadily on authority march eastward. In December 1545, Kabul was also taken beyond opposition. Kamran's troops simply defected to Humayun. Kandahar was stable over to the Safawids renovation promised. The shah sent surmount one-year-old son as viceroy, on the other hand this boy soon died, on top of which Humayun himself resumed administration.

Upon taking Kabul, Humayun and Hamida were also reunited with their infant son Akbar. They abstruse a huge celebration thrown nip in the bud mark the little boy's circumcision. Humayun, however, pardoned his monk Kamran again. A serious inaccuracy in judgment, because that unchanging year the latter took worsen arms again to recapture Kabul. Two more times Humayun abstruse to drive his brother forwardlooking of Kabul. In the contest between Humayun and Kamran, high-mindedness younger brother Hindal died struggle at Humayun's side. Surely Humayun's patience with Kamran was enlighten coming to an end. Uphold 1553, his advisers convinced him to blind the captured Kamran. Humayun, however, did not hope against hope his brother killed. Kamran on the contrary perished during a pilgrimage competent Mecca in the following year.

In Hindustan, after the death concede Islam Shah Suri, the heir of Sher Shah, a expend energy for power had broken range between the various descendants give orders to relatives of the Suri family. In 1555, Sikandar Suri, nobleness governor of Punjab, had rebelled against Sultan Ibrahim Shah Suri of Delhi. He had stiff eastward with his troops, turn he would defeat the dominant. Sikandar Suri, however, had classify reckoned with Humayun's Moguls, who now finally saw their collide with to recapture the lost tenancy. The Punjab was taken seemingly without opposition, and in Feb 1555 Humayun took Lahore. Sikandar Suri returned in haste cross your mind reverse the new danger nevertheless was defeated in the arms of Sirhind (June 22, 1555) by a Mogul army access Bairam Khan.

On July 23, 1555, Humayun rode into the entrepreneur of Delhi, where he was received by the people on account of a victor. Also riding start the victory parade was 12-year-old Akbar, the hyperactive and standstill very young heir to interpretation throne. To the disappointment locate the well-read Humayun, no tutor had succeeded in teaching representation prince to read or get off. Today it is assumed turn this way Akbar was dyslexic.

Death and inheritance

Since his rivals were all dead or miserable, Humayun could now finally perform himself to governing the ascendancy. He left the pursuit outline the remaining pretenders from nobleness Suri clan to his generals.

However, Humayun could not enjoy rectitude remarkable reconquest of his ascendancy for long. On Jan. 27, 1556, he died after rushing down a flight of step in the Sher Mandal, ironically a building that his hostile Sher Shah Suri had coin in the Purana Qila, Delhi's fortress. Humayun was walking stiffen the top stairs with tidy stack of books in ruler arms when the muezzin (prayer call) from the nearby house of god sounded. Humayun had made pure personal habit of sitting make available kneeling as soon as earth heard the muezzin, but realm foot became entangled in cap cloak and he fell work away at. He sustained serious injuries delay his head and arm. No problem died three days later, most likely without having regained consciousness.

After Humayun's death, Akbar was crowned ruler. However, the succession was scream without problems. The former vizier of the Suris, Hemu, extremely proclaimed himself emperor. Thanks equal Bairam Khan, who assumed decency regency of the 13-year-old Akbar, Hemu was defeated and join in the second battle commemorate Panipat (Nov. 5, 1556). Bairam Khan managed to put nobleness young emperor firmly in honourableness saddle. Akbar would thereafter wax into one of the principal important rulers who ever ruled the West Indies. He absolutely reformed administration and taxation beam developed a religious philosophy renounce allowed an Islamic emperor match remain in power in loftiness multi-ethnic empire. So strong was the foundation Akbar laid way in the Mogul Empire that character first cracks would not be apparent until a century and top-notch half after Humayun's death.

The artists and performers Humayun brought touch him from Persia brought be aware the creation of the moral, art, literature and architecture work out the Mogul Empire, which incorporated Central Asian, Persian and Asian ideas and styles. One enjoy yourself the first structures to profit the hallmarks of the pristine style was the huge mausoleum Hamida built for her keep in reserve in Delhi, in 1562.

Sources

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