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Akbar was born the son of Humayun and the grandson of Babur, the founder of the great Mughal Dynasty. He was born in the Rajput Fortress of Umerkot in modern day Pakistan. He was given the name Badruddin at birth because he was born on the night of the full moon.
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Akbar took the throne as the third great Mughal emperor behind Babur and Humayun. He was only thirteen years old at the time. He is commonly known as Akbar “The Great” or Jalaluddin Muhammad Akbar.
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Aided by Bairam Khan, Akbar sent his army into Delhi to reclaim it after it was conquered by the Sher Shah's dynasty led by Hemu. The battle was an easy victory. Akbar gained some 1500 elephants that he used in future battles.
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Since Akbar was so young when he took the throne, his first five years were assisted in his reign. People who assisted him rule were Bahram Khan and later his nurse Maham Anga. In 1562, he freed himself from any outside influence on his reign.
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Akbar first abolishes the jizya (tax to the non-Muslims). He took the policy to be tolerant of all religions. He even respected other religions so much that he ordered all religious festivals to celebrate in the imperial court.
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At the time, Akbar was being considered a military genius. He used many different tactics in war. One such time was at the Chittorgarh Fort where he built a hill to shoot cannons over the walls of the fort, and he placed mines at the base of the heavy stone walls.
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Akbar had taken one of the other great Rajput clans opposed to him, the Hadas of Ranthambore. This made Akbar ruler of almost all of the Rajputana. Many submitted to him, and he was at the top of his game at the time.
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After Akbar is on his great military rampage taking over many cities like Rajputana, Ahmedabad, and Surat, a great rebellion was taking place back at Ahmedabad while he had moved out to Agra. He came back in record time, crossing Rajasthan in just eleven days, a trip that normally took six weeks. With his army of 3000 horsemen, he suppressed the Mirza led rebellions of about 20000.
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After the birth of his first son, he built the city of Fatehpur Sikri containing the second largest mosque in the world called Jami Masjid. Between now and the death of Akbar, he was troubled with the mischief of his sons. His third son, Salim, was bringing rebellion that Akbar was fighting down while he died.
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Akbar has several sons and is betrayed by rebellion from his third son up until his death. His other two sons died in their youth. He continued to expand the Mughol Empire and conquered cities like Kabul, Kashmir, and Kandesh up until his death.
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After being struck with dysentery, Akbar never recovered and died. He was buried at the Mausoleum is Sikandra, Agra. He left a great legacy for the Mughal Empire, leaving behind an empire at its highest point.
