# Akbar

> the third and greatest Mughal emperor from 1556 to 1605

**Wikidata**: [Q8597](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q8597)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akbar)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/akbar

## Summary

Akbar (born October 15, 1542; died October 15 or 27, 1605), also known as Jalal-ud-Din Muhammad Akbar, Akbar the Great, or Abu'l-Fath Jalal-ud-din Muhammad Akbar, was the third and greatest Mughal emperor who ruled from 1556 to 1605. He is renowned for establishing a syncretic religion called Din-e Ilahi in 1582, expanding the Mughal Empire to its greatest territorial extent, and promoting religious tolerance and cultural synthesis across his diverse empire.

## Biography

- **Born:** October 15, 1542
- **Died:** October 15 or 27, 1605
- **Nationality:** Mughal Empire (India)
- **Education:** Traditional Mughal royal education
- **Known for:** Founding the Din-e Ilahi syncretic religion; expanding Mughal Empire to its greatest territorial extent; promoting religious tolerance; administrative and military reforms
- **Employer(s):** Mughal Empire (self-ruling emperor)
- **Field(s):** Monarchy, Imperial Administration, Military Leadership, Religious Policy
- **Preceded by:** Hemu (16th century Hindu king who was a general and Chief Minister of Adil Shah Suri of the Suri dynasty)
- **Aliases:** Jalal-ud-Din Muhammad Akbar, Akbar the Great, Akbar Mahan, Abu'l-Fath Jalal-ud-din Muhammad Akbar, Akbar I

## Contributions

- **Founding of Din-e Ilahi (1582):** Established this syncretic religion that attempted to synthesize elements of various religions, particularly Islam, Hinduism, Christianity, and Zoroastrianism. The religion promoted principles of tolerance, unity, and moral conduct among followers.
- **Expansion of Mughal Empire:** Extended Mughal territories to their greatest historical extent, consolidating power across the Indian subcontinent.
- **Administrative Reforms:** Implemented policies that promoted religious tolerance and cultural integration within his multi-religious empire.
- **Cultural Patronage:** Supported arts, architecture, and literature, contributing to the flourishing of Mughal culture.

## FAQs

**What was Akbar's full name and titles?**
Akbar's full name was Jalal-ud-Din Muhammad Akbar, and he held titles including Sultan-ul-Islam, Khafi Khan, and Emperor of Hindustan.

**What is Din-e Ilahi and when was it founded?**
Din-e Ilahi was a syncretic religion propounded by Akbar in 1582 (with inception around 1580), aiming to create a unified religious framework that drew from multiple faiths.

**Who did Akbar succeed as Mughal emperor?**
Akbar succeeded Hemu, who was a 16th century Hindu king and former general and Chief Minister of Adil Shah Suri of the Suri dynasty.

**What was Akbar's legacy?**
Akbar is remembered as the greatest Mughal emperor, known for his religious tolerance, administrative innovations, and expansion of the empire to its largest territorial extent.

## Why They Matter

Akbar's significance in history cannot be overstated. As the third Mughal emperor who ruled from 1556 to 1605, he transformed the Mughal Empire from a regional power into the dominant force on the Indian subcontinent. His establishment of Din-e Ilahi represented a groundbreaking attempt at religious synthesis in an era of sectarian conflict, demonstrating his commitment to unity among his diverse subjects. His policies of religious tolerance set a precedent for Mughal governance and influenced subsequent generations of rulers. Without Akbar's administrative innovations and military conquests, the Mughal Empire might not have achieved the territorial consolidation and cultural flourishing that defined its golden age. His reign established templates for governance, religious policy, and cultural patronage that endured for centuries.

## Notable For

- Third Mughal emperor (1556–1605)
- Considered the greatest Mughal emperor
- Founder of the Din-e Ilahi syncretic religion (1582)
- Extended Mughal Empire to its greatest territorial extent
- Promoted religious tolerance across his multi-religious empire
- Known by multiple titles including Jalal-ud-Din Muhammad Akbar, Akbar the Great, Akbar Mahan, and Abu'l-Fath Jalal-ud-din Muhammad Akbar
- Preceded Hemu (the Hindu king and former Suri dynasty general)
- Sitelink count of 165 across Wikimedia projects

## Body

### Early Life and Accession

Akbar was born on October 15, 1542, into the Mughal imperial family during a period of political turmoil in the Indian subcontinent. He ascended to the throne at the age of 13 in 1556, following the death of his father Humayun. His early reign faced significant challenges, including the threat posed by Hemu, a Hindu king who had served as a general and Chief Minister of Adil Shah Suri of the Suri dynasty. Akbar's victory over Hemu established Mughal dominance over northern India and set the stage for decades of expansion.

### Reign and Conquests

From 1556 to 1605, Akbar ruled as the third Mughal emperor, overseeing the most extensive expansion of the empire in its history. His military campaigns extended Mughal control across the Indian subcontinent, creating a unified and prosperous empire. Unlike his predecessors, Akbar focused not merely on conquest but on effective administration and integration of diverse populations into his empire's framework.

### Religious Policy and Din-e Ilahi

One of Akbar's most distinctive contributions was his religious policy, characterized by remarkable tolerance in an era of religious conflict. In approximately 1580, Akbar began propounding Din-e Ilahi, a syncretic religion that synthesized elements of Islam, Hinduism, Christianity, and Zoroastrianism. The religion was formally established in 1582 and aimed to promote unity, moral conduct, and tolerance among his subjects. While Din-e Ilahi attracted relatively few followers, it demonstrated Akbar's commitment to religious harmony and his belief in the unity of all faiths.

### Administrative Innovations

Akbar implemented numerous administrative reforms that strengthened Mughal governance. He established a efficient bureaucratic system, reformed land revenue collection, and created a diverse administrative apparatus that drew talent from various religious and ethnic backgrounds. His policies encouraged the participation of Hindus in government, breaking from the exclusively Muslim administration of earlier Muslim rulers in India.

### Cultural and Artistic Patronage

Under Akbar's reign, Mughal art, architecture, and literature flourished. He established workshops that produced exquisite miniature paintings and commissioned monumental architectural projects. His court became a center of intellectual discourse, attracting scholars, artists, and philosophers from across the known world.

### Death and Legacy

Akbar died on October 15 or 27, 1605, after a reign of nearly 50 years. His death marked the end of an era in Mughal history, but his legacy endured through his administrative policies, religious tolerance, and territorial achievements. He was succeeded by his son Jahangir, who continued many of his father's policies. Akbar's reign is widely regarded as the golden age of the Mughal Empire, and he remains one of the most celebrated rulers in Indian history for his progressive policies and transformative leadership.

## References

1. International Standard Name Identifier
2. BnF authorities
3. Virtual International Authority File
4. CiNii Research
5. [Source](https://lingualibre.org/wiki//Q400736)
6. Integrated Authority File
7. [Brockhaus Enzyklopädie](https://brockhaus.de/ecs/julex/article/akbar)
8. [تاريخ مغول القبيلة الذهبيَّة والهند](https://archive.org/details/tar.mghoul.al.qbila/page/n261)
9. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
10. BBC Things
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14. [Source](https://islamansiklopedisi.org.tr/ekber-sah)
15. FactGrid
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17. Digital Scriptorium Catalog
18. Catalogo of the National Library of India