The Weight of the Crown: Humayun's Early Reign and the Shadow of Disunity

Upon the passing of his illustrious father, Babar, the founder of the Mughal Empire in India, Nasir-ud-din Muhammad Humayun ascended the throne in Agra on December 29, 1530. The Akbarnama, the official chronicle of his son Akbar's reign, portrays Humayun not just as a king, but as a vessel of a divine light, destined for greatness, whose early trials were part of a larger cosmic plan preparing the way for the 'king of kings,' Akbar.

A Generous Beginning: Distributing the Spoils of Conquest

Humayun's accession was marked by immediate acts of immense generosity. Following his father's will, he distributed the vast territories and treasures Babar had won. His brothers received significant portions: Kamran took Kabul and Qandahar, Askari was granted Sambal, and Hindal received Alwar. Mirza Sulaiman, a cousin, was confirmed in Badakhshan. This adherence to Babar's testament, while seemingly equitable, sowed the seeds of future discord, as the brothers' ambitions often clashed with Humayun's authority.

Beyond territorial grants, Humayun's liberality was legendary from the outset. On one early excursion, he famously gave away a boat full of gold, an act the chronicler notes as a "golden foundation of dominion." This munificence extended to relatives, nobles, soldiers, and even the general populace, with gifts and stipends distributed widely. This generosity, while admirable, sometimes strained resources and perhaps fostered a sense of entitlement among those around him.

Testing the Waters: Early Campaigns and Challenges

Humayun's early reign saw him quickly engage in military action to consolidate his hold on the newly conquered territories. He besieged the fort of Kalinjar and later Chunar, held by Sher Khan Sur. The siege of Chunar was notable for the innovative use of a floating battery by Rumi Khan, his master of ordnance. Though Chunar was eventually taken, Humayun's clemency towards the garrison, and particularly his acceptance of Sher Khan's son as a nominal hostage, proved to be a strategic misstep, allowing Sher Khan time and space to grow in power.

Internal challenges also surfaced early. Relatives like Muhammad Zaman Mirza and Muhammad Sultan Mirza, who had previously rebelled against Babar, continued their defiant ways. Humayun, however, repeatedly extended forgiveness, a trait the Akbarnama attributes to his innate goodness and adherence to divine ethics. This clemency, while noble, often meant that seasoned rebels were allowed back into positions where they could again cause trouble.

The Gujrat Campaign: Ambition Meets Disunity

A major undertaking of Humayun's early reign was the campaign against Sultan Bahadur of Gujrat. Provoked by Bahadur's harboring of rebels like Muhammad Zaman Mirza and his aggressive posture, Humayun marched west in 1534. He swiftly conquered Mandu and Champaner, showcasing his military prowess. The capture of the heavily fortified Champaner, involving a daring ascent by Humayun and a small band of soldiers using iron spikes, was a remarkable feat.

However, the administration of the conquered territory proved problematic. Humayun's decision to leave his brother Askari, along with other officers, in charge of Gujrat while he lingered in Mandu enjoying the spoils, proved disastrous. Lack of unity and discipline among the Mughal officers, coupled with Askari's own wavering loyalty and poor leadership, allowed Sultan Bahadur to quickly regain control of much of the province. The Akbarnama highlights the officers' "immoderate living" and "mutual strife" as key factors in this loss.

The Gathering Storm: Brotherly Discord and Sher Khan's Rise

The period following the loss of Gujrat saw the Mughal position in India weaken significantly, exacerbated by the growing disunity among Humayun and his brothers. While Humayun was engaged in the west, Sher Khan was consolidating his power in the east, taking advantage of the Mughals' internal problems.

Reports of Sher Khan's activities and the disloyalty of his own brothers eventually compelled Humayun to march east towards Bengal. This campaign was plagued by difficulties, including the onset of the rainy season and, crucially, the open rebellion of his brother Hindal in Agra. Hindal, instigated by ambitious nobles, had the khutba (Friday sermon, a symbol of sovereignty) read in his own name. This act of blatant usurpation, and the subsequent maneuvering of Kamran, who arrived from Kabul ostensibly to help but primarily to secure his own position in the Panjab and potentially Agra, left Humayun isolated and vulnerable.

The Fatal Blow: Chausa and Kannauj

Humayun's return journey from Bengal was arduous. Sher Khan, now a formidable opponent, blocked his path. Despite the precarious situation and the disarray of his army, Humayun, against the advice of his experienced officers, engaged Sher Khan. The resulting battle at Chausa in 1539 was a devastating defeat. The Mughal army was routed, and Humayun himself narrowly escaped drowning in the Ganges, saved by a water-carrier. This water-carrier, Nizam, was famously granted a day on the throne by Humayun in fulfillment of a promise, an act that further highlighted Humayun's unconventional nature and, according to the Akbarnama, drew criticism from Kamran.

The defeat at Chausa severely damaged Humayun's authority and morale. Despite attempts to regroup and reconcile with his brothers in Lahore, unity remained elusive. Kamran's refusal to commit his forces and his eventual withdrawal to Kabul, coupled with the continued lack of full support from Askari and Hindal, left Humayun facing Sher Khan with a weakened and dispirited army.

The final confrontation came at Kannauj in 1540. The battle was a rout. The Mughal army disintegrated, and Humayun was forced to flee India, beginning a period of exile that would last for fifteen years.

Lessons in Loss: Fate, Character, and the Akbarnama's View

The Akbarnama presents Humayun's early reign and subsequent exile through a lens of divine will and personal character. The author suggests that these trials were necessary steps in the grand design leading to Akbar's glorious rule. Humayun's clemency, while leading to immediate problems with his brothers, is framed as a reflection of his noble, almost saintly, nature – a quality perhaps too refined for the harsh realities of consolidating a new empire. The brothers' disunity, repeatedly highlighted, is portrayed as a fundamental betrayal of Babar's legacy and a direct cause of the empire's temporary collapse.

Humayun's story from accession to exile serves as a powerful historical narrative on the complexities of leadership, the challenges of family dynamics in power, and the often-unforeseen consequences of both virtue and vice. It reminds us that even those destined for greatness may face profound setbacks, and that unity, especially in times of crisis, can be the most fragile, yet vital, foundation of all." "