Humayun said goodbye to the world at the age of 47. Humayun sat on the throne twice in his life.
There is a dialogue from the movie Baazigar – The one who wins after losing is called a juggler. The meaning is clear that the person who does not break even after losing, and wins again after courage, strategy and determination, is called a juggler. Humayun’s life has also been like this. If the story of the ups and downs of any one personality in Mughal history appears in the most human form, then it is Humayun.
The death anniversary of this Mughal emperor (January 27) inspires us not only to remember the death of an emperor, but also to understand the era when the stability of power depended on the edge of the sword. Humayun’s life is one of those stories of victory, defeat, exile, return and then sudden end in history in which the struggle becomes more prominent than the throne.
Let us know on the death anniversary of Humayun, how many battles did this emperor, who lost and gained the Mughal Sultanate, fight and how many did he win?
inherited challenges
The Sultanate that Humayun inherited after Babar was as big on paper as it looked, but was equally fragile on the ground. The administration and military control of the Mughals had not yet fully taken root. Internal challenges were also no less. The growing power of Afghan warlords, the ambitions of regional kings and, above all, the old tradition of power-sharing within the family. Humayun tried to strike a balance by giving large provinces to his brothers and relatives, but this generosity many times became the reason for weakening the backbone of the empire. Humayun had to struggle a lot in this matter. He is the only Mughal ruler who lost power once and then gathered strength and returned to power.
Babar laid the foundation of the Mughal Sultanate in India.
It can also be said that the foundation of the Mughal rule laid by Babar could last only for four years with great difficulty. After the death of Babar, Humayun ascended the throne but till that time the Mughal rule could not establish itself. Therefore, Humayun’s entire life was spent in struggle. Like his father, Humayun also said goodbye to the world at the age of only 47. During this period, Humayun ascended the throne twice. For the first time, he remained in power for ten years and after his return, he could remain in power for only one year. Yes, it certainly happened that by then the path to Akbar’s rule had been cleared.
Personality conflict: warrior and art lover
Historians often find Humayun’s nature artistic, sensitive and sometimes overly trusting. This Mughal ruler was not just a war machine, his interests extended to learning, culture, astronomy and astrology. This is the reason that many times emotionality along with military strategy used to dominate his decisions. In the initial phase, Humayun conducted many campaigns on different fronts, but soon he had to face a rival who gave new rigor and practicality to contemporary politics. Name was Shershah Suri. Therefore, even after fighting many battles, the accurate account is that after facing defeat from Sher Shah Suri, Humayun lived a life in exile and when Humayun succeeded in overturning the power of the same Sher Shah Suri, he laid such a foundation of Mughal rule that the Mughals continued to rule for about three hundred years.
Humayun’s tomb located in Delhi.
Confrontation with Sher Shah: A major strategic defeat
It would not be enough to call Humayun’s defeat in front of Shershah merely a defeat in the war. It was a test of administrative discipline, logistics management and ability to take decisions at the right time. The Mughal leadership was seen disintegrating in the battles of Chausa and Kannauj, whereas Sher Shah’s strategy was more organized and goal-oriented. As a result, Humayun had to leave India. This exile became the most difficult but decisive chapter of his life. Then came a period in which even after losing power, his resolve to be the king did not break and then he came back with double the strength.
Years of Exile: Struggle and Cultural Bridges
During the years of exile, Humayun’s life was spent in constantly changing locations, searching for new supports and identifying opportunities. This was the time when Humayun made deeper contacts with the Persian-cultural world. Many historians believe that the foundation for the Persian influence, painting and literary tradition that later became stronger in the Mughal court was laid during this period. Humayun’s exile was not just a political event, it was like a bridge between two great cultures.
Resolve of Return: Recovery of the Lost Sultanate
Regaining the Sultanate after losing it was no mean feat. This meant re-establishing the old network, boosting the morale of the army and attacking at the right time by understanding the weaknesses of the opponents. Circumstances also contributed to Humayun’s return and also the strategic support of the Safavid rulers, but the biggest element was Humayun’s patience. One who has lost his throne either breaks down or returns having learned more than before. Humayun belonged to the second category.
Mughal emperor Akbar.
Foundation stone for Akbar: A new beginning
When Humayun again advanced towards Delhi, it was not just the recovery of power, but the second beginning of Mughal rule. This restoration also has historical importance because later on, under the hands of Akbar, the Mughal Empire transformed into a long-term and comprehensive administrative structure. In many ways, Humayun’s return set the stage for Akbar where the value of experience and caution was understood.
An accidental ending: the cruel joke of destiny
The incident of Humayun’s death is as unexpected as the turns of his life. Shortly after regaining power, he met his end not on the battlefield, but by falling down the stairs of his own library. History sometimes boils down even the greatest heroism to a simple incident. The sudden end of an emperor who lost his country and then found it again reminds us that even a person standing at the pinnacle of power is ultimately helpless before time.
Humayun’s legacy, lessons learned from defeat
On the death anniversary of Mughal ruler Humayun, the biggest lesson from his life is that defeat in history is not always final. Governing is not just a game of sword, it is also a test of judgment, discipline and self-control. Humayun made mistakes, paid a heavy price and then returned and showed that lost honor can be regained. This story teaches us to respect the struggles hidden behind the shine of success. Sometimes the greatest leadership lies not in always winning, but in the ability to get up after falling.
When and with whom did Humayun fight?
- Year 15301531: After assuming the throne, there were initial conflicts with Afghan warlords and regional rivals.
- Year 1532: The first major decisive battle is considered to be that of Bilgram/Dauharia. This war took place with Afghan ruler Mahmood Lodi. This war is counted among the initial major successes of Humayun.
- Year 15341535: The Gujarat campaign turned into a war against Sultan Bahadur Shah.
- Year 1535: The capture campaign was launched at Mandu. This war was also fought with the army of Sultan Bahadur Shah’s regime.
- Year 1536: Sher Shah Suri was rising at the same time when the front of Eastern India including Bengal started. Although there were local forces of Bengal in front. At the same time, Sher Shah Suri was strengthening his position in North India.
- Year 1539: The decisive battle with Shershah Suri took place in Chausa. Humayun suffered a major defeat in this war. From here the crisis of Mughal power intensified.
- Year 1540: Kannauj battle was also fought with Sher Shah Suri and Humayun was defeated in this battle and after this he went into exile from India.
- Year 15411545: This was the period of Humayun’s exile. During this time Humayun did not accept defeat. During this period, continuous encounters and conflicts continued in Sindh and Rajasthan regions. There were Rajput rulers in front.
- Year 1545: Humayun regained control of Kabul. This fight was mainly with his own brother, internal rival Kamran Mirza etc. The result was that the Mughal base in Central Asia and Afghanistan became stronger again.
- Year 15541555: The war started once again against the Suri regime. Moving towards Punjab, there was a clash with the Suri regime. He also got success in this attempt to bring back India. After victory in the Sirhind battle, Humayun recaptured Delhi.
Also read: If there is food then it should be like this, from Akbar-Aurangzeb to Salim these foods used to make the mouth water, here is the list