Akbar
Akbar -The Great (1556-1605)
AKBAR (1556-1605)
- Akbar’s position was in dangerous when he succeeded his father Humayun as Delhi was seized by the Afghans.
- In 1556, in the second battle of Panipat, Akabar defeated Hemu and the army of Hemu fled which made the victory of Mughal decisive.
- During the first 5 years of Akbar’s reign, Bairam Khan acted as his regent.
- Later, Akbar removed Bairam Khan and sent him to Mecca but Bairam Khan was killed by an Afghan on his way.
- The military conquests of Akbar were extensive.
Akbar’s Relation with Rajputs
- Akbar married the Rajput Princess, the daughter of Raja Bharmal.
- For four-generation, the Rajputs served the Mughals and many served in the positions of military generals as well.
- Akbar appointed Raja Man Singh and Raja Bhagawan Das in the senior position of the Mughal Administration.
- Though the majority of the Rajput states surrendered to Akbar, the Ranas of Mewar continued to confront even though they were defeated several times.
- In 1576, the Mughal Army defeated Rana Pratap Singh in the battle of Haldighati, following the defeat of Mewar, other leading Rajput leaders surrendered to Akbar and accepted his suzeranity
- Akbar’s policy towards Rajput was combined with broad religious toleration.
- He abolished the pilgrim tax and later the jiziya.
Akbar’s Religious Policy
- It’s Akbar’s religious policy that made way to his name in the history pages.
- In 1562, he abolished jiziya.
- He allowed his Hindu wives to worship their own gods.
- In 1575, Akbar built Ibadat Khana (House of worship) at his new capital Fatepur Sikri and invited scholars from all religions like Christianity, Hinduism, Jainism, and Zoroastrianism.
- He did not like the intrusion of the Muslim Ulemas in political matters.
- In 1579, he delivered the “Infallibility Decree” and proclaimed his religious powers.
- In 1582, he propagated a new religion called Din Ilahi or Divine Faith.
About Din Ilahi
- The new religion believed in one God.
- It had all the good points of every religion.
- Its foundation was balanced.
- It didn’t endorse any philosophy.
- It aimed at bridging the gap that separated different religions.
- The new religion had only 15 followers including Birbal.
- Akbar did not compel anyone to join his new religion.
- However, the new religion proved to be a failure, after Akbar’s death.
Land Revenue Administration
- With the help of Raja Todar Mal, Akbar experimented on the land revenue administration, which was completed in 1580.
- The land revenue system was called Zabti or Bandobast system or Dahsala System.
- The revenue was fixed on the average yield of land measured on the basis of previous ten years.
- The land was divided into four categories
- Polaj (cultivated every year)
- Parauti (once in two years)
- Chachar (once in three or four years)
- Banjar (once in five or more years)
- Payment of revenue was made generally in cash.
Mansabdari System
- Akbar introduced the Mansabdari system in his administration
- Under this system, every officer was assigned a rank (Mansab)
- The lowest rank was 10 and the highest was 5000 for the nobles.
- Princes of royal blood received even higher ranks.
- The ranks were divided into two – Zat and Sawar.
- Zat means personal and it fixed the personal status of a person.
- Sawar rank indicated the number of cavalrymen of a person who was required to maintain.
- Every sawar had to maintain at least two horses.
- All appointments, promotions and dismissals were directly made by the emperor.
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