Akbar: Difference between revisions

{{short description|3rd Mughal Emperor from 1556 to 1605}}

| title = [[Padishah]]<br>[[Ghazi (warrior)|Ghazi]]<ref>{{Cite book|author=Kishori Saran Lal|author-link=K. S. Lal|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HmBuAAAAMAAJ|title=Theory and Practice of Muslim State in India |date=1999|publisher=Aditya Prakashan|page=67|quote=It may be recalled that as an adolescent, Akbar had earned the title of Ghazi by beheading the defenseless infidel Himu. Under Akbar and Jahangir "five or six hundred thousand human beings were killed,"says emperor Jahangir|isbn=978-81-86471-72-2 |language=en}}</ref>

| succession = 3rd [[Mughal Emperor|Emperor]] of the [[Mughal Empire]]

| birth_date = 25 October 1542{{efn|name=birth}}

| religion = [[Sunni Islam]]<ref>{{cite book|last1=Black|first1=Antony|title=The History of Islamic Political Thought: From the Prophet to the Present|date=2011|publisher=Edinburgh University Press|isbn=978-0748688784|page=245|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Hd1vAAAAQBAJ&q=akbar+sunni+muslim|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last= Eraly |first=Abraham |title= Emperors of the Peacock Throne : The Saga of the Great Mughals |year=2000 |publisher= Penguin books |isbn= 978-0-14-100143-2 |page=189 }}</ref> <br> [[Din-e-Illahi]]

'''Abu'l-Fath Jalal-ud-din Muhammad Akbar'''<ref name=Britannica>{{cite web |last1=Ballhatchet |first1=Kenneth A. |title=Akbar |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Akbar |website=Encyclopædia Britannica |access-date=17 July 2017 |language=en}}</ref> (25 October 1542{{efn|name=birth}} – 27 October 1605),<ref name="iranicaonline1">{{cite web |url=http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/akbar-i-mughal-india |title=Akbar I |publisher=[[Encyclopaedia Iranica]] |date=29 July 2011 |access-date=18 January 2014}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{cite web |url=http://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780199546091.001.0001/acref-9780199546091-e-209 |title=Akbar I |publisher=Oxford Reference |date=17 February 2012 |doi=10.1093/acref/9780199546091.001.0001 |isbn=9780199546091}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Fazl |first=Abul |title=The Akbarnama |publisher=ASIATIC SOCIETY OF BENGAL |pages=139–140 |translator-last=Beveridge |translator-first=Henry}}</ref> popularly known as '''Akbar the Great'''<ref>{{cite journal |last=Syed |first=Jawad |title=Akbar's multiculturalism: lessons for diversity management in the 21st century |journal=Canadian Journal of Administrative Sciences |volume=28 |issue=4 |doi=10.1002/CJAS.185 |year=2011 |publisher=John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. |page=404}}</ref> ({{lang-fa|{{nq|اکبر اعظم}}}} {{IPA-fa|akbarɪ azam}}), and also as '''Akbar I''' ({{IPA-fa|akbar}}),<ref name=time/> was the third [[Mughal emperors|Mughal emperor]], who reigned from 1556 to 1605. Akbar succeeded his father, [[Humayun]], under a regent, [[Bairam Khan]], who helped the young emperor expand and consolidate Mughal domains in India.

Mughal India developed a strong and stable economy, leading to commercial expansion and greater patronage of culture. Akbar himself was a patron of art and culture. He was fond of literature, and created a library of over 24,000 volumes written in [[Sanskrit]], [[Urdu]], [[Persian language|Persian]], [[Greek language|Greek]], [[Latin language|Latin]], [[Arabic language|Arabic]], and [[Kashmiri language|Kashmiri]], staffed by many scholars, translators, artists, [[calligraphers]], scribes, bookbinders, and readers. He did much of the cataloging himself through three main groupings.<ref name="Murray, Stuart 2009">Murray, Stuart. 2009. The library: an illustrated history. Chicago, ALA Editions</ref> Akbar also established the library of Fatehpur Sikri exclusively for women,{{sfn|Wiegand|Davis|1994|p=273}} and he decreed that schools for the education of both Muslims and Hindus should be established throughout the realm. He also encouraged bookbinding to become a high art.<ref name="Murray, Stuart 2009" /> Holy men of many faiths, poets, architects, and artisans adorned his court from all over the world for study and discussion. Akbar's courts at [[Delhi]], [[Agra]], and [[Fatehpur Sikri]] became centres of the arts, letters, and learning. [[Timurid Renaissance|Timurid]] and Perso-Islamic culture began to merge and blend with indigenous Indian elements, and a distinct Indo-Persian culture emerged characterized by Mughal style arts, [[Mughal painting|painting]], and [[Mughal architecture|architecture]]. Disillusioned with orthodox Islam and perhaps hoping to bring about religious unity within his empire, Akbar promulgated [[Din-i-Ilahi]], a syncretic creed derived mainly from [[Islam]] and [[Hinduism]] as well as some parts of [[Zoroastrianism]] and [[Christianity]].

Defeated in battles at [[Chausa]] and [[Kannauj]] in 1539 to 1541 by the forces of [[Sher Shah Suri]], Mughal emperor [[Humayun]] fled westward to [[Sindh]].<ref name="Multiple5">{{cite book|author=Banjerji, S.K.|title=Humayun Badshah|url=https://archive.org/details/humayunbadshah035068mbp|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=1938}}</ref> There he met and married the then 14-year-old [[Hamida Banu Begum]], daughter of Shaikh Ali Akbar Jami, a [[Persians|Persian]] teacher of Humayun's younger brother [[Hindal Mirza]]. Jalal ud-din Muhammad Akbar was born the next year on 25 October 1542{{efn|name=birth|Official sources, such as contemporary biographer [[Abu'l-Fazl]], record Akbar's birth name and date as Jalal ud-din Muhammad Akbar and 15 October 1542 . However, based on recollections of Humayun's personal attendant Jauhar, historian [[Vincent Arthur Smith]] holds that Akbar was born on 23 November 1542 (the fourteenth day of [[Sha'aban]], which had a full moon) and was originally named Badr ud-din ("The full moon of religion"). According to Smith, the recorded date of birth was changed at the time of Akbar's circumcision ceremony in March 1546 in order to throw off astrologers and sorcerers, and the name accordingly changed to Jalal ud-din ("Splendour of Religion")<ref>{{harvnb|Smith|1917|pp=18–19}}</ref>}} (the fifth day of [[Rajab]], 949 [[Hijri year|AH]])<ref name=":0" /> at the [[Umarkot Fort|Rajput Fortress]] of [[Amarkot]] in [[Rajputana]] (in modern-day Sindh), where his parents had been given refuge by the local Hindu ruler Rana Prasad.<ref>{{harvnb|Smith|1917|pp=12–19}}</ref>

During the extended period of Humayun's exile, Akbar was brought up in Kabul by the extended family of his paternal uncles, [[Kamran Mirza]] and [[Askari Mirza]], and his aunts, in particular Kamran Mirza's wife. He spent his youth learning to hunt, run, and fight, making him a daring, powerful, and brave warrior, but he never learned to read or write. This, however, did not hinder his search for knowledge as it is always said when he retired in the evening he would have someone read.<ref name="AknamaVolI">{{cite book|author=Fazl, Abul|title=Akbarnama Volume I}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Smith|1917|p=22}}</ref> On 20 November 1551, Humayun's youngest brother, Hindal Mirza, died fighting in a battle against Kamran Mirza's forces. Upon hearing the news of his brother's death, Humayun was overwhelmed with grief.<ref name=Erskine>{{cite book|last=Erskine|first=William|title=A History of India Under the Two First Sovereigns of the House of Taimur, Báber and Humáyun, Volume 2|year=1854|publisher=Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans|isbn=978-1108046206|pages=403, 404}}</ref>

About the time of nine-year-old Akbar's first appointment, as governor of [[Ghazni Province|Ghazni]], he married Hindal's daughter, [[Ruqaiya Sultan Begum]].<ref name="Sterling Publishers Pvt. Ltd">{{cite book |last1=Mehta |first1=Jaswant Lal |year=1984 |orig-year=First published 1981 |title=Advanced Study in the History of Medieval India |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-TsMl0vSc0gC&pg=PG189 |volume=II |edition=2nd |publisher=Sterling Publishers |isbn=978-81-207-1015-3 |oclc=1008395679 |page=189}}</ref> Humayun conferred on the imperial couple all the wealth, army, and adherents of Hindal and Ghazni. One of Hindal's ''[[jagir]]'' was given to his nephew, Akbar, who was appointed as its viceroy and was also given the command of his uncle's army.<ref name="auto">{{cite book |last=Ferishta |first=Mahomed Kasim |title=History of the Rise of the Mahomedan Power in India, Till the Year AD 1612 |year=2013 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-1-108-05555-0 |page=169}}</ref> Akbar's marriage with Ruqaiya was solemnized in [[Jalandhar]], Punjab, when both of them were 14-years-old.<ref name="Eraly 2000 123, 272">{{cite book |last=Eraly |first=Abraham |title=Emperors of the Peacock Throne : the saga of the great Mughals |year=2000 |publisher=Penguin books |isbn=978-0141001432 |pages=123, 272}}</ref> She was his first wife and chief consort.<ref name="Sang-E-Meel Pub">{{cite book |last1=Schimmel |first1=Annemarie |editor-last=Waghmar |editor-first=Burzine K. |translator-last=Attwood |translator-first=Corinne |title=The empire of the Great Mughals : history, art and culture |date=2005 |publisher=Sang-E-Meel Pub. |location=Lahore |isbn=978-1861891853 |page=[https://archive.org/details/empireofgreatmug00anne/page/149 149] |edition=Revised |url=https://archive.org/details/empireofgreatmug00anne/page/149}}</ref><ref name="Thackston1999p437" />

Following the chaos over the succession of Sher Shah Suri's son [[Islam Shah]], Humayun reconquered Delhi in 1555,<ref>{{cite journal |title=Akbar, the Great Mughal |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/150600b0 |access-date=31 January 2021 |journal=Nature |date=21 November 1942 |volume=150 |issue=3812 |pages=600–601 |language=en |doi=10.1038/150600b0|bibcode=1942Natur.150R.600. |s2cid=4084248 }}</ref> leading an army partly provided by his Persian ally [[Tahmasp I]]. A few months later, Humayun died. Akbar's guardian, [[Bairam Khan]] concealed the death in order to prepare for Akbar's succession. Akbar succeeded Humayun on 14 February 1556,<ref name="India Today">{{cite news |title=Remembering Akbar the Great: Facts about the most liberal Mughal emperor |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/gk-current-affairs/story/akbar-the-great-348793-2016-10-27 |access-date=31 January 2021 |work=India Today |date=27 October 2016 |language=en}}</ref> while in the midst of a war against [[Sikandar Shah Suri|Sikandar Shah]] to reclaim the Mughal throne. In [[Kalanaur, Punjab]], the 14-year-old Akbar was enthroned by Bairam Khan on a newly constructed platform, which still stands.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://punjabgovt.nic.in/government/gurdas1.GIF |title=Gurdas |publisher=[[Government of Punjab (India)|Government of Punjab]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080527210721/http://punjabgovt.nic.in/government/gurdas1.GIF |archive-date=27 May 2008 |access-date=30 May 2008}}</ref><ref>[http://gurdaspur.nic.in/html/profile.htm#history History] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050802074716/http://gurdaspur.nic.in/html/profile.htm#history |date=2 August 2005 }} [[Gurdaspur district]] website.</ref> He was proclaimed ''Shahanshah'' ([[Persian language|Persian]] for "King of Kings").<ref name="India Today"/> Bairam Khan ruled on his behalf until he came of age.<ref>{{harvnb|Smith|2002|p=337}}</ref>

[[File:India in 1605.jpg|thumb|Mughal Empire under Akbar's period (yellow)]]

Akbar had a record of unbeaten military campaigns that consolidated Mughal rule in the [[Indian subcontinent]].<ref name="India Today"/><ref name="Lal">{{Cite book |last=Lal |first=Ruby |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=B8NJ41GiXvsC&pg=PA140 |title=Domesticity and Power in the Early Mughal World |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=2005 |isbn=978-0-521-85022-3 |page=140}}</ref> The basis of this military prowess and authority was Akbar's skilful structural and organisational calibration of the [[Mughal army]].<ref name="Kulke">{{Cite book

}}</ref> The [[Mansabdari]] system in particular has been acclaimed for its role in upholding Mughal power in the time of Akbar. The system persisted with few changes down to the end of the Mughal Empire, but was progressively weakened under his successors.<ref name="Kulke"/>

[[File:Young Abdul Rahim Khan-I-Khana being received by Akbar, Akbarnama.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Young [[Abdul Rahim Khan-I-Khana]] son of [[Bairam Khan]] being received by Akbar]]

====Attempt to murder Akbar====

Around 1564 is also when there was an assassination attempt on Akbar documented in a painting. The attempt was made when Akbar was returning from a visit to the dargah of Hazrat Nizamuddin near Delhi, by an assassin shooting an arrow. The arrow pierced his right shoulder. The assassin was apprehended and ordered beheaded by the Emperor. The culprit was a slave of Mirza Sharfuddin, a noble in Akbar's court whose rebellion had recently been curbed.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Irfan |first1=Lubna |title=The Woman Whose Downfall Nearly Killed Akbar |url=https://thewire.in/history/mughal-emperor-akbar-maham-anga-assassination-attempt |publisher=TheWire |access-date=11 May 2020}}</ref>

Having established Mughal rule over northern India, Akbar turned his attention to the conquest of [[Rajputana]]. No imperial power in India based on the Indo-Gangetic plains could be secure if a rival centre of power existed on its flank in Rajputana.<ref name="Chandra"/> The Mughals had already established domination over parts of northern Rajputana in [[Mewar|Mewat]], [[Ajmer]], and Nagor.<ref name="Richards2"/><ref name="Eraly2"/> Now, Akbar was determined to drive into the heartlands of the [[Rajput]] kings that had rarely previously submitted to the Muslim rulers of the [[Delhi Sultanate]]. Beginning in 1561, the Mughals actively engaged the Rajputs in warfare and diplomacy.<ref name="Richards4"/> Most Rajput states accepted Akbar's suzerainty; the rulers of Mewar and Marwar, [[Udai Singh II|Udai Singh]], and [[Chandrasen Rathore]], however, remained outside the imperial fold.<ref name="Eraly2"/> Rana Udai Singh was descended from the Sisodia ruler, [[Rana Sanga]], who had fought Babur at the [[Battle of Khanwa]] in 1527.<ref name="Eraly2"/> As the head of the Sisodia clan, he possessed the highest ritual status of all the Rajput kings and chieftains in India.{{Citation needed|date=April 2022}} Unless Udai Singh was reduced to submission, the imperial authority of the Mughals would be lessened in Rajput eyes.<ref name="Eraly2"/> Furthermore, Akbar, at this early period, was still enthusiastically devoted to the cause of Islam and sought to impress the superiority of his faith over the most prestigious warriors in Brahminical Hinduism.<ref name="Eraly2"/>

In 1567, Akbar moved to reduce the [[Chittor Fort]] in Mewar. The fortress-capital of Mewar was of great strategic importance as it lay on the shortest route from Agra to [[Gujarat Sultanate|Gujarat]] and was also considered a key to holding the interior parts of Rajputana. Udai Singh retired to the hills of Mewar, leaving two Rajput warriors, [[Jaimal Rathore|Jaimal]] and [[Patta Sisodia|Patta]], in charge of the defence of his capital.<ref name="earlyconquest">{{harvnb|Chandra|2007|p=231}}</ref> Chittorgarh fell in February 1568 after a [[Siege of Chittorgarh (1567–1568)|siege of four months]]. Akbar had the surviving defenders and 30,000 non-combatants massacred and their heads displayed upon towers erected throughout the region, in order to demonstrate his authority.<ref name="chittor">{{harvnb|Smith|2002|p=342}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Chandra |first=Satish|title=Medieval India: From Sultanat to the Mughals Part I |publisher=Har-Anand Publications|isbn=81-241-0522-7|page=107|year=2001}}</ref> The booty that fell into the hands of the Mughals was distributed throughout the empire.<ref>{{cite book|author=Payne, Tod|year=1994|publisher=[[Asian Educational Services]] |isbn=81-206-0350-8|title=Tod's Annals of Rajasthan: The Annals of Mewar|page=71}}</ref> He remained in Chittorgarh for three days, then returned to Agra, where to commemorate the victory, he set up, at the gates of his fort, statues of Jaimal and Patta mounted on elephants.<ref name="Eraly3">{{Cite book

[[File:Court of Akbar from Akbarnama.jpg|thumb|upright|The court of young Akbar, age 13, showing his first imperial act: the arrest of an unruly courtier, who was once a favourite of Akbar's father. Illustration from a manuscript of the Akbarnama]]

{{see also|Akbar's conquest of Gujarat}}

Akbar was a follower of [[Salim Chishti]], a [[Asceticism|holy man]] who lived in the region of Sikri near Agra. Believing the area to be a lucky one for himself, he had a mosque constructed there for the use of the priest. Subsequently, he celebrated the victories over Chittor and Ranthambore by laying the foundations of a new walled capital, {{convert|23|mi|km}} west of Agra in 1569, which was named Fatehpur ("''town of victory''") after the conquest of Gujarat in 1573 and subsequently came to be known as [[Fatehpur Sikri]] in order to distinguish it from other similarly named towns.<ref name="earlyconquest"/> [[Jodha Bai Mahal|Palace for Akbar's favorite queen]], a huge artificial lake, and sumptuous water-filled courtyards were built there. However, the city was soon abandoned and the capital was moved to [[Lahore]] in 1585. The reason may have been that the water supply in Fatehpur Sikri was insufficient or of poor quality. Or, as some historians believe, Akbar had to attend to the northwest areas of his empire and therefore moved his capital northwest. Other sources indicate Akbar simply lost interest in the city<ref>Petersen, A. (1996). ''Dictionary of Islamic Architecture''. New York: Routledge.</ref> or realised it was not militarily defensible. In 1599, Akbar shifted his capital back to Agra from where he reigned until his death.

Akbar was a great innovator as far as coinage is concerned. The coins of Akbar set a new chapter in India's numismatic history.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.indian-coins.com/joomla/index.php/coins-catalogue/akbar-coins |title=Mughal Coins - Akbar |website=indian-coins.com |access-date=20 July 2020}}</ref> The coins of Akbar's grandfather, Babur, and father, Humayun, are basic and devoid of any innovation as the former was busy establishing the foundations of the Mughal rule in India while the latter was ousted by the Afghan, Sher Shah Suri, and returned to the throne only to die a year later. While the reign of both Babur and Humayun represented turmoil, Akbar's relative long reign of 50 years allowed him to experiment with coinage.

Akbar introduced coins with decorative floral motifs, dotted borders, quatrefoil, and other types. His coins were both round and square in shape with a unique 'mehrab' (lozenge) shape coin highlighting numismatic calligraphy at its best.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mintageworld.com/blog/coins-of-akbar/|title=Coins of Akbar &#124; Mintage World|date=29 July 2016|access-date=20 July 2020}}</ref> Akbar's portrait type gold coin (Mohur) is generally attributed to his son, Prince Salim (later Emperor Jahangir), who had rebelled and then sought reconciliation thereafter by minting and presenting his father with gold Mohurs bearing Akbar's portrait. The tolerant view of Akbar is represented by the 'Ram-Sita' silver coin type while during the latter part of Akbar's reign, we see coins portraying the concept of Akbar's newly promoted religion 'Din-e-ilahi' with the Ilahi type and Jalla Jalal-Hu type coins.

The coins,{{citation needed|date=October 2020}} left, represent examples of these innovative concepts introduced by Akbar that set the precedent for Mughal coins which was refined and perfected by his son, Jahangir, and later by his grandson, Shah Jahan.

[[File:Birth of jahangir.jpg|thumb|Portrait of [[Mariam-uz-Zamani|Empress Mariam-uz-Zamani]], commonly known as Jodha Bai, giving birth to Prince Salim, the future emperor Jahangir.]]

{{quote box|width=25%|quote=''An Emperor shall be ever Intent on Conquest, Otherwise, His enemies shall rise in arms against him.''|source='''Jalal-ud-Din Muhammad Akbar'''

Akbar accepted the offer of diplomacy, but the Portuguese continually asserted their authority and power in the Indian Ocean; Akbar was highly concerned when he had to request a permit from the Portuguese before any ships from the Mughal Empire were to depart for the [[Hajj]] pilgrimage to [[Mecca]] and [[Medina]].<ref>{{cite web|author=Frances Pritchett |url=http://www.columbia.edu/itc/mealac/pritchett/00islamlinks/ikram/part2_19.html |title=XIX. A Century of Political Decline: 1707–1803|publisher=Columbia.edu |access-date=18 January 2014}}</ref> In 1573, he issued a ''[[firman]]'' directing Mughal administrative officials in Gujarat not to provoke the Portuguese in the territory they held in [[Daman District, India|Daman]]. The Portuguese, in turn, issued passes for the members of Akbar's family to go on Hajj to Mecca. The Portuguese made mention of the extraordinary status of the vessel and the special status to be accorded to its occupants.<ref>{{Harvnb|Habib|1997|p=260}}</ref> Furthermore, he established a trade business for his favourite consort, [[Mariam-uz-Zamani]] who ran an extensive trade of indigo, spices, and cotton to the Gulf nations through merchant's vessels. The cost of her largest ship named 'Rahimi', built on the orders of Akbar, is estimated to be around 300000 pounds (Rs 3 crores approximately).<ref name=DirkCollier/>

In September 1579 [[Society of Jesus|Jesuits]] from [[Goa]] were invited to visit the court of Akbar.<ref>Akbar's letter of invitation in John Correia-Afonso, ''Letters from the Mughal Court'', Bombay, 1980.</ref> The emperor had his scribes translate the [[New Testament]] and granted the Jesuits the freedom to preach the Gospel.<ref name=org>{{cite book|last=Gomez|first=Oscar R|title= Tantrism in the Society of Jesus – from Tibet to the Vaticcan today |url=https://www.academia.edu/19202701 |year=2013|publisher=Editorial MenteClara|isbn=978-987-24510-3-5 |page=58}}</ref> One of his sons, [[Sultan Murad Mirza]], was entrusted to [[Antoni de Montserrat]] for his education.<ref>{{cite book |last=du Jarric |first=Pierre |translator-last=Payne |translator-first=C. H. |date=1926 |title=Akbar and the Jesuits |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.75704 |series=Broadway Travellers |location=London |publisher=Harper & Brothers}}</ref><ref name="Durant2011">{{cite book |last=Durant |first=Will |title=Our Oriental Heritage: The Story of Civilization|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ru4LPyMAxxkC&pg=PT738 |date=7 June 2011|publisher=Simon and Schuster|isbn=978-1-4516-4668-9|pages=738– |access-date=27 August 2012}}</ref> While debating at court, the Jesuits did not confine themselves to the exposition of their own beliefs but also reviled Islam and Muhammad. Their comments enraged the [[Imam]]s and [[Ulama]], who objected to the remarks, but Akbar ordered their comments to be recorded and observed the Jesuits and their behavior. This event was followed by a rebellion of Muslim clerics in 1581 led by Mullah Muhammad Yazdi and Muiz-ul-Mulk, the chief [[Qadi]] of [[Bengal]]; the rebels wanted to overthrow Akbar and insert his brother Mirza Muhammad Hakim, ruler of Kabul, on the Mughal throne. Akbar successfully defeated the rebels, but he had grown more cautious about his guests and his proclamations, which he later checked with his advisers carefully.<ref>{{cite web|author=Frances Pritchett |url=http://www.columbia.edu/itc/mealac/pritchett/00islamlinks/ikram/part2_12.html |title=XII. Religion at Akbar's Court |publisher=Columbia.edu |access-date=18 January 2014}}</ref>

In 1555, while Akbar was still a child, the [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] Admiral [[Seydi Ali Reis]] visited the [[Mughal Emperor]] [[Humayun]]. In 1569, during the early years of Akbar's rule, another Ottoman Admiral [[Kurtoğlu Hızır Reis]] arrived on the shores of the Mughal Empire. These Ottoman admirals sought to end the growing threats of the Portuguese Empire during their [[Ottoman naval expeditions in the Indian Ocean|Indian Ocean campaigns]]. During his reign Akbar himself is known to have sent six documents addressing the Ottoman [[Sultan]] [[Suleiman the Magnificent]].<ref>{{cite journal |author=N. R. Farooqi |year=1996 |title=Six Ottoman Documents on Mughal-Ottoman Relations During The Reign of Akbar |url=http://jis.oxfordjournals.org/content/7/1/32.extract |journal=Journal of Islamic Studies |volume=7 |issue=1 |page=32 |doi=10.1093/jis/7.1.32 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120302190606/http://jis.oxfordjournals.org/content/7/1/32.extract |archive-date=2 March 2012 |access-date=18 January 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |author=Sanjay Subrahmanyam |date=1 June 1994 |title=Book Reviews: Naimur Rahman Farooqi, Mughal-Ottoman Relations: A Study of the Political and Diplomatic Relations between Mughal India and the Ottoman Empire, 1556–1748, Delhi |url=http://ier.sagepub.com/content/31/2/249.extract |journal=The Indian Economic & Social History Review |volume=31 |issue=2 |page=249 |doi=10.1177/001946469403100210 |s2cid=143346476 |access-date=18 January 2014}}</ref>

In 1576, Akbar sent a very large contingent of pilgrims led by Khwaja Sultan Naqshbandi, [[Yahya Saleh]], with 600,000 gold and silver coins and 12,000 [[Kaftan]]s of honour and large consignments of rice.<ref>{{cite book |last=Farooqi |first=Naimur Rahman |date=1989 |title=Mughal-Ottoman relations: a study of political & diplomatic relations between Mughal India and the Ottoman Empire, 1556–1748 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uB1uAAAAMAAJ&q=akbar |location=Delhi |publisher=Idarah-i Adabiyat-i Delli |oclc=20894584}}</ref>{{page needed|date=August 2016}} In October 1576, Akbar sent a delegation including members of his family, including his aunt Gulbadan Begum and his consort Salima, on Hajj by two ships from [[Surat]] including an Ottoman vessel, which reached the port of [[Jeddah]] in 1577 and then proceeded towards [[Mecca]] and [[Medina]].<ref>{{Harvnb|Moosvi|2008|p=246}}</ref> Four more caravans were sent from 1577 to 1580, with exquisite gifts for the authorities of Mecca and Medina.<ref>{{cite book|author=Ottoman court chroniclers |title=Muhimme Defterleri, Vol. 32 f 292 firman 740, Shaban 986 |year=1578}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=Khan, Iqtidar Alam|title=Akbar and his age|publisher=Northern Book Centre|year=1999|isbn=978-81-7211-108-3|page=218}}</ref>

The imperial Mughal entourage stayed in Mecca and Medina for nearly four years and attended the [[Hajj]] four times.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Farooqi|first=N. R.|s2cid=164261762|date=21 March 2017|title=An Overview of Ottoman Archival Documents and Their Relevance for Medieval Indian History|journal=The Medieval History Journal|volume=20|pages=192–229|language=en|doi=10.1177/0971945816687687}}</ref> During this period Akbar financed the pilgrimages of many poor [[Muslim]]s from the Mughal Empire and also funded the foundations of the [[Qadiriyya]] [[Sufi]] Order's dervish lodge in the Hijaz.<ref name="Faroqhi2006">{{Harvnb|Faroqhi|2006|p=88}}</ref> The Mughals eventually set out for Surat, and their return was assisted by the Ottoman [[Pasha]] in Jeddah.<ref>{{cite book |last=Farooqi |first=Naimur Rahman |date=1989 |title=Mughal-Ottoman relations: a study of political & diplomatic relations between Mughal India and the Ottoman Empire, 1556–1748 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uB1uAAAAMAAJ&q=Jidda |location=Delhi |publisher=Idarah-i Adabiyat-i Delli |oclc=20894584}}</ref> Because of Akbar's attempts to build Mughal presence in Mecca and Medina, the local Sharifs began to have more confidence in the financial support provided by Mughal Empire, lessening their dependency upon Ottoman bounty.<ref name="Faroqhi2006" /> Mughal-Ottoman trade also flourished during this period – in fact, merchants loyal to Akbar are known to have reached [[Aleppo]] after journeying upriver through the port of [[Basra]].<ref>{{Harvnb|Faroqhi|2006|p=138}}</ref>

According to some accounts Akbar expressed a desire to form an alliance with the Portuguese, mainly in order to advance his interests, but whenever the Portuguese attempted to invade the Ottomans, Akbar proved abortive.<ref>{{cite book |last=Farooqi |first=Naimur Rahman |date=1989 |title=Mughal-Ottoman relations: a study of political & diplomatic relations between Mughal India and the Ottoman Empire, 1556–1748 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uB1uAAAAMAAJ&q=forced |location=Delhi |publisher=Idarah-i Adabiyat-i Delli |oclc=20894584}}</ref><ref>{{Harvnb|Majumdar|1984|p=158}}</ref> In 1587, a Portuguese fleet sent to attack Yemen was ferociously routed and defeated by the [[Ottoman Navy]]; thereafter the Mughal-Portuguese alliance immediately collapsed, mainly because of the continuing pressure by the Mughal Empire's prestigious vassals at [[Janjira State|Janjira]].<ref>{{cite book|author=Ottoman court chroniclers |title=Muhimme Defterleri, Vol. 62 f 205 firman 457, Avail Rabiulavval 996|year=1588}}</ref>

The [[Safavid Empire|Safavids]] and the Mughals had a long history of diplomatic relationship, with the Safavid ruler [[Tahmasp I]] having provided refuge to [[Humayun]] when he had to flee the Indian subcontinent following his defeat by Sher Shah Suri. However, the Safavids differed from the Sunni Mughals and Ottomans in following the [[Shiite]] sect of Islam.<ref>{{Harvnb|Ali|2006|p=94}}</ref> One of the longest standing disputes between the Safavids and the Mughals pertained to the control of the city of [[Qandahar]] in the [[Hindukush]] region, forming the border between the two empires.<ref name="Majumdar 153">{{Harvnb|Majumdar|1984|p=153}}</ref> The Hindukush region was militarily very significant owing to its geography, and this was well-recognised by strategists of the times.<ref>{{Harvnb|Ali|2006|pp=327–328}}</ref> Consequently, the city, which was being administered by Bairam Khan at the time of Akbar's accession, was invaded and captured by the Persian ruler Husain Mirza, a [[Ismail I#Offspring|cousin of Tahmasp I]], in 1558.<ref name="Majumdar 153"/> Subsequent to this, Bairam Khan sent an envoy to the court of Tahmasp I in an effort to maintain peaceful relations with the Safavids. This gesture was reciprocated and a cordial relationship continued to prevail between the two empires during the first two decades of Akbar's reign.<ref>{{Harvnb|Majumdar|1984|p=154}}</ref> However, the death of Tahmasp I in 1576 resulted in civil war and instability in the Safavid empire, and diplomatic relations between the two empires ceased for more than a decade. They were restored only in 1587 following the accession of [[Abbas I of Persia|Shah Abbas]] to the Safavid throne.<ref>{{Harvnb|Majumdar|1984|pp=154–155}}</ref> Shortly afterwards, Akbar's army completed its annexation of Kabul, and in order to further secure the north-western boundaries of his empire, it proceeded to Qandahar. The city capitulated without resistance on 18 April 1595, and the ruler Muzaffar Hussain moved into Akbar's court.<ref>{{Harvnb|Majumdar|1984|pp=153–154}}</ref> Qandahar continued to remain in Mughal possession, and the Hindukush the empire's western frontier, for several decades until [[Shah Jahan]]'s expedition into [[Badakhshan]] in 1646.<ref>{{Harvnb|Ali|2006|p=327}}</ref> Diplomatic relations continued to be maintained between the Safavid and Mughal courts until the end of Akbar's reign.<ref>{{Harvnb|Majumdar|1984|p=155}}</ref>

[[File:Portrait of Emperor Akbar Praying.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Portrait of the Mughal Emperor Akbar invocation of a [[Dua]] prayer.]]

[[File:1573-Akbar receiving his sons at Fathpur-Akbarnama.jpg|thumb|upright|The [[Mughal Emperor]] Akbar welcomes his son [[Jahangir|Prince Salim]] at Fatehpur Sikri, ([[Akbarnameh]]).]]

During the early part of his reign, Akbar adopted an attitude of suppression towards Muslim sects that were condemned by the orthodoxy as [[heresy|heretical]].<ref name="religion4">{{harvnb|Habib|1997|p=85}}</ref> In 1567, on the advice of Shaikh Abdu'n Nabi, he ordered the exhumation of Mir Murtaza Sharifi Shirazi – a [[Shia]] buried in Delhi – because of the grave's proximity to that of [[Amir Khusrau]], arguing that a "heretic" could not be buried so close to the grave of a [[Sunni]] saint, reflecting a restrictive attitude towards the Shia, which continued to persist until the early 1570s.<ref name="religion5">{{harvnb|Habib|1997|p=86}}</ref> He suppressed [[Mahdavia|Mahdavism]] in 1573 during his campaign in Gujarat, in the course of which the Mahdavi leader Bandagi Miyan Sheik Mustafa was arrested and brought in chains to the court for debate and released after eighteen months.<ref name="religion5"/> However, as Akbar increasingly came under the influence of pantheistic Sufi mysticism from the early 1570s, it caused a great shift in his outlook and culminated in his shift from orthodox Islam as traditionally professed, in favour of a new concept of Islam transcending the limits of religion.<ref name="religion5"/> Consequently, during the latter half of his reign, he adopted a policy of tolerance towards the Shias and declared a prohibition on Shia-Sunni conflict, and the empire remained neutral in matters of internal sectarian conflict.<ref>{{Harvnb|Ali|2006|pp=165–166}}</ref> In the year 1578, the Mughal Emperor Akbar famously referred to himself as:

[[File:Jesuits at Akbar's court.jpg|thumb|upright|Akbar holds a religious assembly of different faiths in the [[Ibadat Khana]] in Fatehpur Sikri.]]

Virtues in Din-i-Ilahi included generosity, forgiveness, abstinence, prudence, wisdom, kindness, and piety.<ref>{{cite book |last=Roychoudhury |first=Makhanlal |year=1941 |title=The Din-i-Ilahi, or, The Religion of Akbar |url=https://archive.org/details/diniilahiorthere031361mbp/page/n340/mode/1up |publisher=University of Calcutta |page=279 |oclc=3312929}}</ref> Celibacy was respected, chastity enforced, the slaughter of animals was forbidden, and there were no sacred scriptures or a priestly hierarchy.<ref>{{Harvnb|Majumdar|1984|p=138}}</ref> However, a leading noble of Akbar's court, Aziz Koka, wrote a letter to him from Mecca in 1594 arguing that the discipleship promoted by Akbar amounted to nothing more than a desire on Akbar's part to portray his superiority regarding religious matters.<ref>{{cite book|author=Koka, Aziz|year=1594|publisher=This letter is preserved in Cambridge University Library|title=King's College Collection, MS 194|page=ff.5b–8b}}</ref> To commemorate Din-e-Ilahi, he changed the name of [[Allahabad|Prayag]] to [[Allahabad]] (pronounced as ''ilahabad'') in 1583.<ref>{{cite book|author=Conder, Josiah|page=[https://archive.org/details/moderntraveller04unkngoog/page/n296 282]|title=The Modern Traveller: a popular description|url=https://archive.org/details/moderntraveller04unkngoog|year=1828|publisher=R.H.Tims}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author1=Deefholts, Margaret |author2=Deefholts, Glenn |author3=Acharya, Quentine |page=87|title=The Way We Were: Anglo-Indian Cronicles|year=2006|publisher=Calcutta Tiljallah Relief Inc|isbn=0-9754639-3-4}}</ref>

The [[Indian Supreme Court]] has cited examples of co-existence of Jain and Mughal architecture, calling Akbar "the architect of modern India" and that "he had great respect" for Jainism. In 1584, 1592, and 1598, Akbar had declared "Amari Ghosana", which prohibited animal slaughter during [[Paryushan]] and [[Mahavir Janma Kalyanak|Mahavira Janma Kalyanak]]. He removed the Jazia tax from Jain pilgrim places like [[Palitana]].<ref name=toi>{{cite news |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/Ahmedabad-turned-Akbar-veggie/articleshow/5259184.cms |title=Ahmedabad turned Akbar veggie |work=The Times of India |date=23 November 2009 |access-date=23 November 2009}}</ref>

Santichandra, disciple of Suri, was sent to the Emperor, who in turn left his disciples Bhanuchandra and Siddhichandra in the court. Akbar again invited Hiravijaya Suri's successor Vijayasena Suri in his court who visited him between 1593 and 1595.{{Citation needed|date=July 2013}}

Akbar's reign was chronicled extensively by his court historian [[Abu'l-Fazl ibn Mubarak|Abul Fazl]] in the books ''[[Akbarnama]]'' and ''Ain-i-akbari''. Other contemporary sources of Akbar's reign include the works of Badayuni, Shaikhzada Rashidi, and Shaikh Ahmed Sirhindi.

Akbar was said to have been a wise emperor and a sound judge of character. His son and heir, Jahangir, wrote effusive praise of Akbar's character in his memoirs, and dozens of anecdotes to illustrate his virtues.<ref name=Jahangir>{{cite book|author=Jahangir|title=Tuzk-e-Jahangiri (Memoirs of Jahangir)|date=1600s|author-link=Jahangir}}</ref> According to Jahangir, Akbar was "of the hue of wheat; his eyes and eyebrows were black, and his complexion rather dark than fair". [[Antoni de Montserrat]], the [[Catalan people|Catalan]] [[Jesuit]] who visited his court described him as follows:

"One could easily recognize even at first glance that he is King. He has broad shoulders, somewhat bandy legs well-suited for horsemanship, and a light brown complexion. He carries his head bent towards the right shoulder. His forehead is broad and open, his eyes so bright and flashing that they seem like a sea shimmering in the sunlight. His eyelashes are very long. His eyebrows are not strongly marked. His nose is straight and small though not insignificant. His nostrils are widely open as though in derision. Between the left nostril and the upper lip there is a mole. He shaves his beard but wears a moustache. He limps in his left leg though he has never received an injury there."<ref name="Portraits of Akbar">{{cite journal |last=Codrington |first=K. de B. |date=March 1943 |title=Portraits of Akbar, the Great Mughal (1542–1605) |journal=[[The Burlington Magazine for Connoisseurs]] |volume=82 |issue=480 |pages=64–67 |jstor=868499}}</ref>

He is said to have been extremely moderate in his diet. ''[[Ain-e-Akbari]]'' mentions that during his travels and also while at home, Akbar drank water from the [[Ganges]] river, which he called 'the water of immortality'. Special people were stationed at Sorun and later [[Haridwar]] to dispatch water, in sealed jars, to wherever he was stationed.<ref>[http://persian.packhum.org/persian/main?url=pf%3Ffile%3D00702015%26ct%3D48%26rqs%3D60 Hardwar] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110920062933/http://persian.packhum.org/persian/main?url=pf%3Ffile%3D00702015%26ct%3D48%26rqs%3D60 |date=20 September 2011 }} [[Ain-e-Akbari]], by Abul Fazl 'Allami, Volume I, A'I'N 22. The A'bda'r Kha'nah. p. 55. Translated from the original Persian, by [[Heinrich Blochmann]] and Colonel Henry Sullivan Jarrett, [[Asiatic Society|Asiatic society of Bengal]]. Calcutta, 1873–1907.</ref>{{Better source needed|date=January 2010}} According to [[Jahangir]]'s memoirs, he was fond of fruits and had little liking for meat, which he stopped eating in his later years.

Akbar also once visited [[Vrindavan]], regarded as the birthplace of [[Krishna]], in the year 1570, and gave permission for four temples to be built by the [[Gaudiya Vaishnavism|Gaudiya Vaishnavas]], which were Madana-mohana, Govindaji, Gopinatha, and Jugal Kisore.

The {{IAST|Akbarnāma}} ({{lang-fa|اکبر نامہ}}), which literally means ''Book of Akbar'', is an official biographical account of Akbar, the third [[Mughal Emperor]] (r. 1542–1605), written in Persian. It includes vivid and detailed descriptions of his life and times.<ref name=art>{{cite web |url=http://www.artic.edu/artaccess/AA_India/pages/India_12.shtml |title=Art Access: Indian, Himalayan, and Southeast Asian |website=artic.edu |publisher=The Art Institute of Chicago |access-date=20 February 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090919035749/http://www.artic.edu/artaccess/AA_India/pages/India_12.shtml |archive-date=19 September 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

 

The work was commissioned by Akbar, and written by [[Abu'l-Fazl ibn Mubarak|Abul Fazl]], one of the ''Nine Jewels'' ([[Hindi]]: [[Navaratnas]]) of Akbar's royal court. It is stated that the book took seven years to be completed and the original manuscripts contained a number of paintings supporting the texts, and all the paintings represented the [[Mughal painting|Mughal school of painting]], and work of masters of the imperial workshop, including [[Basawan]], whose use of portraiture in its illustrations was an innovation in [[Indian art]].<ref name=art/>

Akbar's first wife and one of the chief consorts was his cousin, Princess [[Ruqaiya Sultan Begum]],<ref name="Sang-E-Meel Pub"/><ref name="Thackston1999p437" /> the only daughter of his paternal uncle, Prince [[Hindal Mirza]],{{sfn|Jahangir|Thackston|1999|p=40}} and his wife Sultanam Begum. In 1551, Hindal Mirza died fighting valorously in a battle against Kamran Mirza's forces. Upon hearing the news of his brother's death, Humayun was overwhelmed with grief.<ref name="Erskine"/> Hindal's daughter Ruqaiya married Akbar about the time of his first appointment, at age nine, as governor of [[Ghazni Province]].<ref name="Sterling Publishers Pvt. Ltd"/> Humayun conferred on the imperial couple, all the wealth, army, and adherents of Hindal and Ghazni which one of Hindal's ''[[jagir]]'' was given to his nephew, Akbar, who was appointed as its viceroy and was also given the command of his uncle's army.<ref name="auto"/> Akbar's marriage with Ruqaiya was solemnized near [[Jalandhar]], Punjab, when both of them were 14 years old.<ref name="Eraly 2000 123, 272"/> She was a senior-ranking wife of Akbar. She died childless in January 1626 and was buried next to her father's grave.

Akbar's fourth and favourite wife <ref name="farishta"/><ref>{{cite book|last1=Chaudhary|first1=S.N. Roy|title=Restoration of Split Milk|publisher=Gyan Publishing House|page=77|quote=The mother of Jahangir was a pious Hindu princess, the most favourite queen of Akbar|year=2011|isbn=9788121210461}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Esposito|first1=John L.|title=The Oxford History of Islam|publisher=Oxford University Press, New York|year=1999|isbn=9780195107999|oclc =40838649}}</ref><ref name="indiatoday">{{cite web|title=Jodha Bai's 474th birth anniversary: 17 facts about the Queen Mother|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/gk-current-affairs/story/jodha-bai-344257-2016-10-01}}</ref>{{sfn|Lal|1980|p=322}}<ref name=Qa>{{cite journal |last1=Safdar |first1=Aiysha |last2=Khan |first2=Muhammad Azam |date=January–June 2021 |title=History of Indian Ocean-A South Indian perspective |url=http://pu.edu.pk/images/journal/indianStudies/PDF/12_v7_1_21.pdf |journal=Journal of Indian Studies |volume=7 |issue=1 |page=186 |quote=The most influential queen of the Mughal Emperor Akbar (1542-1605), and mother of Emperor Jahangir, was the beautiful Empress Mariam-uz- Zamani, commonly known as Jodha Bai ... Akbar allowed his favourite and most loved wife to build ships for trade and Haj pilgrims at the Khizri Darwaza on the River Ravi.}}</ref> was the [[Mariam-uz-Zamani]], commonly known by the misnomer Jodha Bai, whom he married in the year 1562. She was the daughter of the ruler of Amer, [[Raja Bharmal]], and was by birth of [[Rajput clans|Rajput caste]]. She was his fourth wife and became one of his chief consorts.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Mehta|first1=J.L.|title=Advance Study in the history of Medieval India|volume=III|publisher=Sterling Publisher Private Limited|year=1981|isbn=8120704320|quote=Bihari Mal gave rich dowry to his daughter and sent his son Bhagwan Das with a contingent of Rajput soldiers to escort his newly married sister to Agra as per Rajput custom. Akbar was deeply impressed by the highly dignified, sincere, and princely conduct of his Rajput relations. He took Man Singh, the youthful son of Bhagwant Das into the royal service. Akbar was fascinated by the charm and accomplishments of his Rajput wife; he developed real love for her and raised her to the status of chief queen. She came to exercise a profound impact on the socio-cultural environment of the entire royal household and changed the lifestyle of Akbar. Salim (later Jahangir), the heir to the throne, was born of this wedlock on 30th August 1569.}}</ref> She gradually became his most influential wife<ref name="Qa" /> and subsequently is the only wife buried close to him. She was bestowed with the name 'Wali Nimat Begum' (Blessings/Gift of God) by Akbar shortly after her marriage. She was a beautiful woman said to possess uncommon beauty.<ref>{{cite book|title=Tarikh-i-Salim Shahi|date=1829|editor-first=Mahor David|editor-last=Price}}</ref> This marriage took place when Akbar was on his way back from [[Ajmer]] after offering prayers to the tomb of [[Moinuddin Chishti]]. Raja Bharmal had conveyed to Akbar that he was being harassed by his brother-in-law Sharif-ud-din Mirza (the Mughal ''[[hakim (title)|hakim]]'' of [[Mewat]]). Akbar insisted that the Raja should submit to him personally; it was also suggested that his daughter should be married to him as a sign of complete submission.{{sfn|Beveridge Volume II|1907|pp=240–243}} Her marriage is considered one of the most important events of the Mughal Empire. She became his first wife to honour the royal mansion with an heir. In the year 1564, she gave birth to twins named Mirza Hassan and Mirza Hussain. In the year 1569, she was honoured with the title of 'Mariam-uz-Zamani' after giving birth to their third son named Prince Salim (the future emperor [[Jahangir]]), the heir to the throne. She was also the foster mother of Akbar's favourite son, [[Daniyal Mirza]].

Another of his wives was Bhakkari Begum, the daughter of Sultan Mahmud of Bhakkar.<ref>{{cite book|first=Mahmudul|last=Hasan Siddiqi|title=History of the Arghuns and Tarkhans of Sindh, 1507–1593: An Annotated Translation of the Relevant Parts of Mir Ma'sums Ta'rikh-i-Sindh, with an Introduction & Appendices |publisher=Institute of Sindhology, University of Sind|year=1972|pages=166}}</ref> On 2 July 1572, Akbar's envoy I'timad Khan reached Mahmud's court to escort his daughter to Akbar. Itimad Khan brought with him for Sultan Mahmud an elegant dress of honor, a bejeweled scimitar belt, a horse with a saddle and reins, and four elephants. Mahmud celebrated the occasion by holding extravagant feasts for fifteen days. On the day of the wedding, the festivities reached their zenith, and the ulema, saints, and nobles were adequately honored with rewards. Mahmud offered 30,000 rupees in cash and kind to Itimad Khan and farewelled his daughter with a grand dowry and an impressive entourage.<ref>{{cite book|first=Aitzaz|last=Ahsan|year=2005|title=The Indus Saga|publisher=Roli Books Private Limited|isbn=978-9-351-94073-9}}</ref> She came to Ajmer and waited upon Akbar. The gifts of Sultan Mahmud, carried by the delegation were presented to the ladies of the imperial harem.<ref>{{cite book|first=Muhammad Saleem|last=Akhtar|title=Sindh under the Mughals: An Introduction to, translation of and commentary on the Mazhar-i Shahjahani of Yusuf Mirak (1044/1634)|year=1983|pages=78, 79, 81}}</ref>

His ninth wife was Qasima Banu Begum,<ref name="Burke1989" /> the daughter of Arab Shah. The marriage took place in 1575. A great feast was given, and the high officers and other pillars of the state were present.{{sfn|Beveridge Volume III|1907|pp=167–168}} In 1577, the Rawal Askaran of [[Dungarpur State]] petitioned a request that his daughter might be married to Akbar. Akbar had regard for his loyalty and granted his request.{{sfn|Beveridge Volume III|1907|p=278}} Rai Loukaran and Rajah Birbar, servants of the Rajah were sent from Dihalpur to do the honor of conveying his daughter. The two delivered the lady to Akbar's court where the marriage took place on 12 July 1577.{{sfn|Beveridge Volume III|1907|p=295}}

[[File:Gate of the Tomb of Akbar at Sikandra, Agra, India, 1795.jpg|thumb|Gate of [[Tomb of Akbar the Great|Akbar's mausoleum]] at Sikandra, Agra, 1795]]

On 3 October 1605, Akbar fell ill from an attack of [[dysentery]]<ref>{{cite news |title=Remembering Akbar the Great: Facts about the most liberal Mughal emperor |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/gk-current-affairs/story/akbar-the-great-348793-2016-10-27 |access-date=31 January 2021 |work=India Today |date=27 October 2016}}</ref> from which he never recovered. He is believed to have died on 27 October 1605. He was buried at [[Akbar's tomb|his mausoleum]] in Sikandra, Agra, which lies a kilometer next to the [[Mariam's Tomb|tomb of Mariam-uz-Zamani]], his favourite and chief consort.<ref>{{Harvnb|Majumdar|1984|pp=168–169}}</ref><ref name=farishta/><ref name=jlmehta/>

Akbar left a rich legacy both for the Mughal Empire as well as the Indian subcontinent in general. He firmly entrenched the authority of the Mughal Empire in India and beyond, after it had been threatened by the Afghans during his father's reign,<ref>{{Harvnb|Habib|1997|p=79}}</ref> establishing its military and diplomatic superiority.<ref>{{Harvnb|Majumdar|1984|p=170}}</ref> During his reign, the nature of the state changed to a secular and liberal one, with emphasis on cultural integration. He also introduced several far-sighted social reforms, including prohibiting ''[[Sati (practice)|sati]]'', legalizing widow remarriage, and raising the age of marriage.

[[Folklore|Folk tales]] revolving around him and [[Birbal]], one of his ''navratnas'', are popular in India. He and his Hindu wife, [[Mariam-uz-Zamani]], in the popular culture known as '' 'Jodha Bai' '' are widely popular as the latter is believed to have been the prime inspiration and driving force for Akbar's promotion of secularism and universal benevolence (Sulh-i-Qul).

* [[Mariam-uz-Zamani#Birth of Twins|Hassan Mirza]] ( {{Abbr|b.|birth}} 19 October 1564; {{Abbr|d.|death}} 5 November 1564) (twin with Hussain Mirza)—with [[Mariam-uz-Zamani|Mariam-uz-Zamani Begum]]{{sfn|Lal|1980|p=133}}

* [[Mariam-uz-Zamani#Birth of Twins|Hussain Mirza]] ( {{Abbr|b.|birth}} 19 October 1564; {{Abbr|d.|death}} 29 October 1564) (twin with Hassan Mirza)—with Mariam-uz-Zamani Begum{{sfn|Lal|1980|p=133}}

* [[Jahangir|Shahzada Salim]] ( {{Abbr|b.|birth}} 31 August 1569; {{Abbr|d.|death}} 28 October 1627)—with Mariam-uz-Zamani Begum—He succeeded Akbar to the throne.

* [[Murad Mirza (son of Akbar)|Murad Mirza]] ( {{Abbr|b.|birth}} 15 June 1570; {{Abbr|d.|death}} 12 May 1599)—with Mariam-uz-Zamani Begum or a concubine—Fostered by [[Salima Sultan Begum]] for the first few years and then returned to his mother's care before 1575.

* [[Daniyal Mirza]] ( {{Abbr|b.|birth}} 11 September 1572; {{Abbr|d.|death}} 19 March 1605 )— with a concubine — Fostered by Mariam-uz-Zamani Begum.

* Shahzada Khusrao ( {{Abbr|d.|death}} infancy)—with a niece Rai Kalyan Mal of [[Bikaner]] {{Citation needed|date=July 2022}}

Akbar's daughters were:

* Fatima Banu Begum ( {{circa|1562}}; {{Abbr|d.|death}} infancy)<ref>{{Cite book |last=Prasad |first=Beni |title=History of Jahangir |year=1940 |pages=2}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Early |first=Abraham |title=Emperors Of The Peacock Throne: The Saga of the Great Moghuls |quote=His first child was a daughter, Fatima Banu Begum, but she died in infancy, and so did the first sons born to him, twins named Hasan and Husain, born in 1564; they lived only a month.}}</ref>

* [[Shahzada Khanam]] ( {{Abbr|b.|birth}} 21 November 1569)—with Bibi Salima—Fostered by [[Mariam Makani]]—Married to Muzaffar Hussain Mirza, [[Timurid dynasty|Timurid Prince]].

* Mahi Begum ( {{Abbr|d.|death}} 7 April 1577)—with Nathi Bai

* Firoze Khannum ( {{Abbr|b.|birth}} 1575)—with a concubine —Fostered by Mariam-uz-Zamani Begum{{Citation needed|date=July 2022}}

* [[Aram Banu Begum]] ( {{Abbr|b.|birth}} 22 December 1584; {{Abbr|d.|death}} 17 June 1624)—with Bibi Daulat Shad

He had also adopted several children including :

* Kishnavati Bai ( {{Abbr|d.|death}} August 1609)—daughter of Sekhavat Kachvahi Durjan Sal. Akbar took her as his own and had her married to [[Sur Singh|Sawai Raja Sur Singh]] of [[Jodhpur State|Marwar]]. She became the mother of [[Gaj Singh of Marwar|Maharaja Gaj Singh]] of Marwar and Manbhavati Bai, wife of [[Parviz Mirza]].<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Mertiyo Rathors of Merta, Rajasthan; Volume II|pages=51}}</ref>

;Films and television

;Fiction

;Video games

* Akbar is featured in the video game ''[[Sid Meier]]'s [[Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword]]'' as a "great general" available in the game.

* Akbar is also the AI Personality of India in the renowned game ''[[Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties]]''.

{{Reflist|25em}}

* {{cite book |year=1974 |editor-last=Majumdar |editor-first=R. C. |editor-link=R. C. Majumdar |title=History and Culture of the Indian People |url=https://archive.org/details/mughulempire00bhar/page/n6/mode/2up |volume=VII |location=Bombay |publisher=Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan}}

* {{cite book |title=The Mughul Empire |first=R.C. |last=Majumdar |authorlink=R. C. Majumdar |year=1984 |publisher=[[Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan]] |place=Bombay}}

* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110103183456/http://www.india-intro.com/history-of-birbal-story-of-birbal.html History of the friendship between Akbar and Birbal]

* [http://www.wdl.org/en/item/9691 ''The Drama of Akbar''] by [[Muhammad Husain Azad]] from 1922.

[[Category:Child rulers from Asia]]