The Great Mogul

The greatest of the Mogul emperors of India was Akbar, born Oct. 14, 1542. He began to reign, when he was twelve years old, over three provinces only; but he extended his empire over nearly the whole of India. He showed such wisdom in ruling, and was so just to all in his decisions, that he was called "the Guardian of Mankind." His court at Agra was very magnificent. Many buildings of his time are still to be seen there, among them the fortress, within the walls of which are the palace of Shah Jehan, and the famous Pearl Mosque, so called on account of its wondrous beauty. Still more noted is the Taj Mahal (q.v.).

The real name of Akbar was Jelal-ed-Deen; but, when he became powerful, he was called Akbar, which in Arabic means very great, or greatest; so in English he became known as the Great Mogul. He is said to have kept five thousand elephants, twelve thousand stable-horses, and one thousand hunting-leopards. Akbar died in 1605, and was buried in a magnificent mausoleum at Sicandra near Agra, and was succeeded by his son.

In 1525 Baber, a descendant of the great Mogul conqueror, Tamerlane, invaded Hindostan, overthrew the Afghan dynasty that had ruled in that country for three centuries, and became the founder of a dynasty of Mogul princes which ruled Hindostan for more than two centuries. The religion of the Moguls was Mohammedan; and their capital was the city of Delhi, in Northern Hindostan.

The English finally conquered the Mogul empire; and in 1858 the last Mogul had his title taken from him because he took part in the great Indian mutiny against the English.