Babar's Transoxianan Odyssey: Three Times a King, Always a Wanderer

Before the roar of cannons echoed across the plains of Panipat, and before the foundations of the Mughal Empire were laid in India, Zahir-ud-din Muhammad Babar was a prince locked in a desperate, eighteen-year struggle for his ancestral homeland in Transoxiana. The Akbarnama, the chronicle of his grandson Akbar's reign, offers glimpses into this formative, tumultuous period, revealing a young ruler driven by ambition, resilience, and a deep connection to the Timurid legacy.

The Fragile Throne of Ferghana

Babar ascended the throne of Ferghana, a fertile valley in Transoxiana, at the tender age of twelve in 899 AH (1494 CE). His inheritance, however, was far from secure. The region was a chessboard of rivalries among the Timurid princes, each vying for power and control. Amidst this instability, Babar harbored a grand ambition: to reclaim Samarqand, the magnificent capital of his illustrious ancestor, Timur (Amir Sahib Qiran).

The Dance with Samarqand and the Uzbeg Storm

Samarqand was the jewel of Transoxiana, a city steeped in Timurid glory. Babar's desire for it was intense, leading him to capture it not once, but thrice. The Akbarnama records these conquests: first in 903 AH (1497 CE) from Bayasanghar Mirza, then again in 906 AH (1500 CE) from the formidable Shaibani Khan, and finally in 917 AH (1511 CE) after Shaibani's death. Each time, however, his hold was fleeting.

The primary force challenging Babar was the rising power of the Uzbegs, led by the dynamic and relentless Shaibani Khan. The conflict between Babar and the Uzbegs was a defining feature of his Transoxianan years. It was a back-and-forth struggle, marked by battles, sieges, and shifting alliances. Despite his courage and tactical skill, Babar found it increasingly difficult to withstand the Uzbeg pressure, culminating in a decisive defeat at Kul Malik in 918 AH (1512 CE) by Ubaidullah Khan.

A Homeland Lost, a New Path Found

The constant warfare, the unreliability of allies among the Chagatai princes, and the persistent threat from the Uzbegs made establishing a stable kingdom in Transoxiana an increasingly untenable dream. The Akbarnama suggests that a "Divine plan" was unfolding, guiding Babar towards the acquisition of Hindustan. Faced with relentless challenges in his native land, Babar was eventually compelled to turn his gaze eastward, towards Badakhshan and Kabul, around 910 AH (1504 CE).

Though he briefly returned to Transoxiana after Shaibani Khan's death, his efforts to regain a foothold were ultimately unsuccessful. The text highlights that a "secret inspiration" led him to abandon the idea of conquering Transoxiana and instead focus on Hindustan.

The Forge of Resilience

Babar's eighteen years of struggle in Transoxiana were a period of immense hardship and valuable learning. Repeatedly losing and regaining territories, facing betrayal, and battling powerful foes forged his character and honed his military and leadership skills. The perseverance he demonstrated in the face of these early setbacks would prove crucial in his later campaigns.

This era, though marked by loss in his ancestral lands, was not a failure. It was the crucible in which the future founder of one of India's greatest empires was tempered. His dream of a stable kingdom, thwarted in Transoxiana, would eventually find its magnificent realization on the fertile plains south of the Hindu Kush.