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Babur, founder of Mughal Empire died on December 26, 485 years ago: 10 facts you must know about Babur

Babur, founder of Mughal Empire died on December 26, 485 years ago: 10 facts you must know about Babur

Babur, the founder of the largest dynasty India has ever seen, passed away on December 26 in 1530. Considered as one of the finest Mughal emperors, Babur succeeded in securing the dynasty’s position in Delhi after a series of Sultanates failed to consolidate their seats.

On his 485th death anniversary, we bring to you 10 facts about Mughal emperor Babur:

1. His actual name was Zahir-ud-din Muhammad Babur. His name is derived from the Persian word ‘Babr’, which means lion.

2. He was the eldest son of Umar Sheikh Mirza, a direct descendant of Turk-Mongol conqueror Timur, also known as Tamurlane. His mother was a direct descendant of Asia’s conqueror Genghis Khan.

3. He ascended the throne of Fergana (now in Uzbekistan) in 1495, at the age of 12. In 1504, he conquered Kabul, which was an important citadel in Central Asia.

4. Babur was invited by Daulat Khan Lodi, a rebel of the Lodi dynasty, in 1524 to invade North India and fight the dynasty and their enemies in Rajputana. Rajputana was ruled by a Hindu Rajput confederacy, led by Mewar king Rana Sanga.

5. In 1526, Babur won the Battle of Panipat against Ibrahim Lodi, the Lodi king. He captured Delhi and founded the greatest dynasty of North India – the Mughal Empire.

6. He also defeated Rana Sanga, who considered Babur as a foreign invader, in the Battle of Khanwa. Rajputana became a subjugated ally of the Mughals since then.

7. There is confusion about Babur’s ethnicity. Being a descendant of Timur, he considered himself as a Timurid of Turk. However, Uzbek history suggests that Babur was an ethnic Uzbek.

8. Babur claimed to be very strong and physically fit. He also claimed to have swum across every major river he encountered, including twice across the Ganges River.

9. Babur was well-known for his oratory and literary skills. Although being a religious person, Babur indulged in drinking. He once said, quoting a contemporary poet, “I am drunk, officer. Punish me when I am sober”.

10. Till date, he is considered a national hero in Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. He wrote his autobiography, Baburnama, in Chaghatai Turkic. It was translated to Persian during the reign of his grandson Akbar.

( credits- indiatoday.in)