Akbar the Great (1542–1605) led the Mughal Empire in India at the peak of its political, military, and cultural might. He has been compared to the Roman emperor Augustus (63 BC–AD 14) for the length of his reign, the size of his empire, and his role in establishing a long-lasting system of government.
Akbar was also a keen believer in religious tolerance and left as another part of his legacy improved relations between Muslims, Hindus, and Christians in India. His wives even included members of different religions—perhaps the most tangible sign of his commitment to tolerance and diversity within his empire.
Akbar was born at a fort in modern-day Pakistan. His grandfather was Babur (1483–1530), the founder of the Mughal Empire, a Muslim dynasty that would control portions of the Indian subcontinent until the mid-nineteenth century. Akbar’s father died when the child was only fourteen, elevating him to the throne in 1556.
Consolidating and expanding Mughal rule and cooling religious tensions within the empire were the dominant themes of Akbar’s reign. He conquered parts of present-day Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh. To keep the peace among his conquests, he is thought to have protected some Hindu temples and repealed a special tax that had been assessed on non-Muslims. He also allowed Christian missionaries to enter his court.
Akbar also greatly supported the arts. Under his sponsorship, Indian artists produced thousands of paintings, published collections of literature, and constructed many of the architectural landmarks in Agra, the Mughal capital.
During the last years of Akbar’s life, a controversy erupted over who would be his successor. Two of his three sons had died as infants; the other, Prince Salim Jahangir (1569–1627), had tried to overthrow his father in 1599. With no other credible successor available, Akbar was forced to name his rebellious son as his heir. Jahangir followed his father as emperor in 1605.
ADDITIONAL FACTS
- Emperor Shah Jahan (1592–1666)—Akbar’s grandson—was the builder of the Taj Mahal, a palace in northern India that he constructed as a monument to his favorite wife.
- Akbar moved his capital city several times, from Agra to Lahore and then back to Agra. That city contains Akbar’s tomb, now a tourist attraction.
- The Mughal Empire continued to control large parts of modern-day India until the eighteenth century, when India was taken over by the British.
