Why is Jalaluddin Akbar considered the greatest of all the Mughal emperors? Explain with reference to his territorial conquests and administration
I. Akbar : Many people considered Jalaluddin Akbar (1556-1605) the greatest of all the Mughal emperors, for he not only expanded but also consolidated his empire, making it the largest, strongest and richest kingdom of his time.
II. Territorial Conquests of Akbar:
1. Victory over Delhi and Agra : Akbar defeated Hemu, the minister of Adil Shah in the Battle of Panipat in 1556 A. D. On recapturing Delhi and Agra, the foundation stone of the Mughal Empire was laid again since the same had been dug out.
2. Victories over Gwalior, Jaunpur and Ajmer : Akbar merged Gwalior, Jaunpur and Ajmer in his empire during 1556-60 A. D.
3. Victory over Malwa : Akbar defeated Baz Bahadur, the ruler of Malwa in 1562 A. D. Akbar got puffed up when he accepted his suzerainty.
4. Victory over Gondwana : Quern Durgawati was ruling over Gondwana as patron of her minor son. A steady battle took place between the Rajput soldiers and the Mughals. Both the queen and her son got killed in the battle. Hence Gondwana fell in the hands of the Mughals.
5. Victory over Chittor : Udai Singh, the arrogant ruler of Mewar did not accept his suzerainty. Hence, Akbar himself led the army and conquered Chittor, the capital of Mewar.
6. Victory over Ranthambhor and Kalinjar : Akbar captured the fort of Ranthambhor in 1569 A. D. Kalinjar’s ruler too accepted Akbar’s suzerainty. Besides, many other states like Jodhpur, Bikaner, etc. were accepting his vassalage.
7. Victory over Gujarat : Akbar defeated Muzaffar Shah, the ruler of Gujarat in 1572 A. D. Fatehpur Sikri was baptised by Akbar in honour of the said victory.
HI. Good qualities of Akbar as a true nationalist or a good administrator.
(i) Akbar could ove himself the most secular ruler. In the beginning he had a strong faith in Islam and in the divine existence. He did not even hesitate to pick up the shoes of the chief of Islamic religion, Qazi Abdul Nabi Khan. Gradually, Akbar got diverted from his traditional views. He stopped following the guidance of rigid Sunnis. He gave evidences of his tolerant religious policy after 1562. He abolished the pilgrimage tax levied on the Hindus, and the very next year he abolished the jazia as well. He gave high posts to the Hindus and placed resolution on forcible conversion of the war prisoners. Akbar’s attitude towards his Hindus subjects remained very liberal from 1582 to 1605, the last years of his rule.
(ii) Akbar tried to emphasize the concept of sulahkul or peace and harmony among religions in different ways. He revised educational syllabus and laid more emphasis on secular subjects.
(iii) In the field of arts and literature, fairs and festivals, Akbar did his best to integrate different Indian and Central Asia’s or Mughal traits up to a great extent. He patronize the artists of different faiths and regions of the subcontinent.
