Akbar (1542-1605), third Mughal emperor of India (1556-1605), generally considered the true founder of the Mughal Empire.

The son of Emperor Humayun and descended from Tamerlane and Genghis Khan, he was born in Umarkot, Sind (now in Pakistan), and succeeded to the throne at the age of 13. He first ruled under a regent, Bairam Khan, who recaptured for the young emperor much of the territory.In 1560, however, Akbar took the government into his own hands.

After estabilishing himself in Delhi and Agra, Akbar occupied Gwalior, Ajmer, Jaunpur and Malwa.

Realizing that Hindu acceptance and cooperation were essential to the successful rule of any Indian empire worthy of that name, he won the allegiance of the Rajputs, the most belligerent Hindus, by a shrewd blend of lerance, generosity, and force. He married a number of Rajput princesses including Joda Bai of Amber.

The Mughal Empire now extended from the Himalyas in the North to Godavari in the South.

Akbar was the supreme had of the administration, but he had a number of ministers to help him in administrative functions

Akbar
Wazir Mir Bakshi Mir Saman Chief Qazi (Incharge of (Incharge of (Incharge of (Chief Revenue) Army) Royal Justice) House hold)

Kingdom

Subas ( Provinces ) ( Administered by Subedars )

Parganas ( Districts )

Villages

Akbar was a great builder. Some of the most Beautiful buildings erected during his reign Prove his artistic talents.

Fatehpur Sikri, capital city founded near Agra, northern India, by the Mughal emperor Akbar in 1570. Deserted since 1585, it is one of the most remarkable sites in India, and a striking monument to Akbar. The main focus of the city is the palace and the mosque. The mosque was founded as a thanks offering for the birth of two sons and a tribute to Akbar's spiritual counsellor, Sahikh Salim, who lived as a recluse at the then desolate spot of Sikri, west of the Mughal capital, Agra. A palace was soon constructed nearby. .

AKBARS MOUSOLEUM

The Mughal emperor Akbar, who founded the city of Agra in 1566, is buried in the great mausoleum at nearby Sikandra. The building unusually contains Hindu, Buddhist, and Christian motifs within the overall Islamic features of the design, such as the four minarets. This view shows the Buland Darwaza (Gate of Magnificence), the southern gate of the mausoleum.

Painting Akbar encouraged the art of painting. He estabilished royal karkhanas or workshops, where painters from parts of India could work. The style of painting that developed a mixture of Indian and persian techniques.

Almost as notable was his promulgation of a new religion, the Dini-Ilahi (Divine Faith), a blend of Islam, Brahmanism, Christianity, and Zoroastrianism. Although this attempt failed, Akbar surrounded himself with learned men of all faiths and, although illiterate himself, made his court a centre of arts and letters.

Akbars achievements have secured for him a very high place among the greatest rulers if the world. A great Empire does not make a great ruler. A rulers chief merit lies in his concern for the people and understanding of their problems. In terms of following a secular and national approach, Akbar excelled all other Mughal rulers.