Humayun was the eldest son of Babur, the founder of the Mughal Empire, and succeeded him as the second emperor. His reign was marked by challenges, both from external enemies and internal family struggles. Humayun's reign was turbulent, as he lost and regained his throne during his lifetime. He struggled with administration and faced threats from rivals such as Bahadur Shah of Gujarat and Sher Shah Suri. Humayun’s brothers, particularly Kamran Mirza, rebelled against him, creating further challenges for his rule.
Reigned: (1530-1540, 1555-1556)
Full Name: Nasir-ud-Din Muhammad Humayun
Born: March 6, 1508, in Kabul, Afghanistan
Humayun inherited the Mughal Empire at the age of 22.
Encounter with Sher Shah Suri: Battle of Chausa (1539) and Battle of Kannauj (1540): Humayun was defeated by Sher Shah Suri, the Afghan ruler.
After losing his empire, Humayun spent nearly 15 years (1540-1555) in exile, seeking refuge in Persia.
He formed an alliance with the Persian Shah, Tahmasp I, which helped him regain his empire.
The most famous of Humayun’s wives, she was the mother of Akbar, the future emperor. Humayun met her during his exile.
The Battle of Sirhind (1555): This battle occurred near the town of Sirhind in modern-day Punjab, India, and was crucial for the re-establishment of Mughal authority after it had been disrupted by the Sur Empire under Sher Shah Suri and his successors.
Following Sher Shah's death in 1554, the Sur Empire began to weaken under his successors, creating an opportunity for Humayun to reclaim his empire.
The Mughal forces, led by Humayun and Bairam Khan, advanced towards Sirhind, where the Sur army, under the command of Sikandar Shah Suri, a successor of Sher Shah Suri, awaited them.
The Mughal forces decisively defeated Sikandar Shah Suri's army, forcing him to flee from the battlefield. This victory effectively broke the power of the Sur Empire in northern India.
The victory at Sirhind allowed Humayun to march towards Delhi and recapture his throne later in July 1555, after years of exile.
However, Humayun’s reign ended abruptly when he died on 24 January 1556 after falling down the stairs of his library called Sher Mandal, the Purana Qila in Delhi, his body was initially laid to rest there. But, because of an attack by Hemu on Delhi and the capture of Purana Qila, Humayun's body was transferred to Kalanaur in Punjab where Akbar was crowned.
Later, after Akbar's victory over Hemu at the Second Battle of Panipat in 1556, which secured the Mughal Empire's position in India, arrangements were made to provide Humayun with a more permanent and grand resting place.
In 1571, under the patronage of Hamida Banu Begum, Humayun’s widow, the construction of a magnificent tomb began in Delhi. This mausoleum, known as Humayun's Tomb, is one of the earliest and grandest examples of Mughal architecture in India.
Completed in 1572, the tomb was the first of its kind, featuring a charbagh (four-part garden), water channels, and Persian-inspired architecture.
Humayun-nama is written by Gulbadan Begum, the daughter of the first Mughal Emperor Babur and the sister of the second Emperor, Humayun. The full title is Ahwal Humayun Padshah Jamah Kardom Gulbadan Begum bint Babur Padshah amma Akbar Padshah. It provides a valuable firsthand account of the lives of the Mughal rulers, especially focusing on the reigns of Babur and Humayun.