Beyond Panipat: Babar's Final Years and the Foundations of an Empire

The name Babar often conjures images of the victorious general at the First Battle of Panipat in 1526, the founder of the Mughal Empire in India. But the conquest of Delhi was just the beginning. The years that followed were a relentless period of consolidation, marked by fierce battles, strategic brilliance, and the forging of a new political order. Drawing from historical accounts like the Akbarnama, we can glimpse the challenges Babar faced and the qualities that defined his final, crucial campaigns.

Securing the Realm: More Than Just Delhi

After defeating Sultan Ibrahim Lodi, Babar didn't inherit a unified kingdom. India was a patchwork of regional powers, many of whom were unwilling to submit to the new ruler. The text highlights that even after taking Agra and Delhi, "opponents held the country. Many of the neighbouring forts were held by rebels." Figures like Qasim Sanbali, Nizam Khan, Hasan Khan Mewati, and a host of others in various strongholds across the land, from Sanbal to Gwalior and beyond the Ganges, raised the banner of opposition.

Babar's response was swift and strategic. He understood that securing his position required continuous campaigning. His army, though victorious at Panipat, was relatively small and faced the daunting task of subduing a vast and diverse territory. The text notes the "defect of similitude (qillat-i-mujanasat) which worked a want of intimacy ('illat-i-'adam-i-muwanasat) with the people of India." This cultural and social distance added another layer of complexity to his military challenges.

The Great Contests: Khanwa and Chanderi

Two major confrontations defined this period. The first was against Rana Sanga of Mewar, a powerful Rajput confederacy. The text describes Rana Sanga as acting "presumptuously" and drawing near "with the stride of boldness." Babar, despite facing an army estimated to be vastly superior in numbers (potentially over 200,000 cavalry according to the text's calculation based on revenue), met the challenge head-on at Khanwa in 1527. The account emphasizes Babar's reliance on "the favour of God" and his refusal to give in to dismay, even when faced with the "pusillanimity of the camp" and desertions.

The description of the Battle of Khanwa details Babar's tactical arrangements, including the use of wheeled carriages and gabions for protection, a technique learned from the Ottomans. The victory, attributed to "heavenly aids" and "Divine aid," was decisive, breaking the back of the Rajput confederacy and solidifying Babar's control over a significant portion of northern India.

Following Khanwa, Babar turned his attention to other pockets of resistance. The campaign against Medini Rai at Chanderi in 1528 is mentioned, resulting in another "splendid victory." These campaigns were not just about military dominance; they were about establishing authority and demonstrating the power of the new regime.

Character and Governance

Beyond the battlefield, the text portrays Babar as a ruler deeply engaged in the administration of his new territories. Despite the constant need for military action, he is shown making efforts to compose the "distractions of the country" through "strength of counsel and courage and abundant liberality and justice." The account notes how many local chiefs and officers gradually entered his service, drawn by his approach.

The text also offers insights into Babar's personal character. He is described as possessing "high fortune," "great designs," "conquering power," and "administrative capacity," coupled with a "civilizing faculty" and "devotion to the welfare of God's servants." His intellectual pursuits are highlighted; he was renowned as a poet and prose-writer, particularly in Turki, and his autobiography, the Waqi'at-i-Babari (Babarnama), is praised as an "Institute for all earthly sovereigns." His skill in mathematics is also noted.

The Ultimate Sacrifice

Perhaps the most poignant account from this period is the story of Babar's sacrifice for his beloved son and heir, Humayun. When Humayun fell gravely ill, physicians were at a loss. The text recounts how a saint suggested sacrificing the most valuable thing one possessed. Babar declared, "I am the most valuable thing that Humayun possesses... I shall make myself a sacrifice for him." Despite the pleas of his courtiers, he performed a ritual, walking around Humayun's bed, praying to take on his son's illness. The text describes a miraculous transfer: Humayun began to recover, while Babar's health rapidly declined.

This act, whether viewed literally or symbolically, underscores the depth of Babar's paternal love and perhaps his profound sense of destiny and sacrifice for the future of his lineage and the empire he was building. It is a powerful moment that transcends military and political narratives.

A Lasting Legacy

Before his death in 1530, Babar formally appointed Humayun as his successor, extracting a promise from his nobles and, crucially, from Humayun himself: "Do naught against your brothers even though they may deserve it." This testament, born perhaps from his own experiences with fraternal discord, would shape the early years of the Mughal Empire under Humayun.

Babar's final years were a testament to his resilience, military acumen, and vision. He didn't just conquer; he began the arduous process of building an empire from disparate elements. His character, a blend of fierce determination, intellectual curiosity, and profound personal affection, as depicted in historical accounts, cemented his place not just as a conqueror, but as a foundational figure whose legacy extended far beyond the battlefields of his time.

His efforts to bring order, justice, and a degree of cultural synthesis, coupled with the administrative framework he began to establish, laid the essential groundwork upon which his successors, particularly Akbar, would build one of the world's great empires. Babar's story in these final years is a compelling narrative of leadership under pressure, a man striving to secure a future for his family and his vision in a challenging new land.