On the great day of the festival Akbar seated himself on his throne, sparkling with diamonds, and surrounded by his chiefest nobles, all magnificently attired. Then there passed before him, in review, the elephants with their head and breast-plates adorned with rubies and other stones, the horses splendidly caparisoned, the rhinoceroses, the lions, the tigers, the panthers, the hunting-leopards, the hounds, the hawks, the procession concluding with the splendidly attired cavalry. This is no fancy picture. The like of it was witnessed by Hawkins, by Roe, and by Terry, in the time of the son and successor of Akbar, and those eminent travellers have painted in gorgeous colours the magnificence of the spectacle.

{196} These scenes were witnessed only on days of high ceremony. At ordinary times Akbar was the simple, unaffected, earnest man, ever striving after truth, such as the work he accomplished gives evidence of. That work was the consolidation of an empire, torn by Muhammadan conquerors for more than four centuries, and at the end of that period still unsettled, still unconsolidated. During those four centuries the principles of the Kuran, read in a bigoted and unnatural sense by the Afghan conquerors, had been distorted to rob and plunder the Hindu population. The most enlightened of his earlier predecessors, Sultan Firuz Shah, described by an English writer as possessing 'a humane and generous spirit,' confesses how he persecuted those who had not accepted the faith of Islam. Those principles of persecution for conscience sake, in full swing at the time of the accession of Akbar, Akbar himself abolished.

Akbar's great idea was the union of all India under one head. A union of beliefs he recognised at a very early stage as impossible. The union therefore must be a union of interests. To accomplish such a union it was necessary, first, to conquer; secondly, to respect all consciences and all methods of worshipping the Almighty. To carry out this plan he availed himself to a modified extent only of the Muhammadan ritual. Instead of the formula under which so many persecutions had been organised, 'there is but one God, and Muhammad is his Prophet,' he adopted the revised version: 'there is but one God, and Akbar is his {197} vicegerent on earth.' The prophet, he argued, came to preach the oneness, the unity, of God to an idolatrous people. To that people Muhammad was the messenger to proclaim the good tidings. But the precepts that messenger had laid down and had embodied in the Kuran had been interpreted to teach the propagation of the doctrine of the oneness of God by the sword.

The consequences of acting upon that mis-reading, as Akbar considered it, had been failure, at least in India. To that failure he had before him the witness of upwards of four centuries. He had but just entered his twenty-first year when he recognised that government carried on on such a principle must inevitably alienate. His object, I cannot too often repeat, was to bring together, to conciliate, to cement, to introduce a principle which should produce a community of interests among all his subjects. The germ of that principle he found in the alteration of the Musalman profession of faith above stated. The writings of Muhammad, misinterpreted and misapplied, could only produce disunion. He, then, for his age and for his reign, would take the place of the Prophet. He would be the interpreter of the generous and merciful decrees of the one All-powerful.

The dominant religion should not be, as long as he was its interpreter, the religion of the sword. It should carry, on the contrary, a healing influence throughout India; should wipe away reminiscences of persecution, and proclaiming liberty of conscience, should practise the most perfect toleration. When this change had been generally recognised Akbar would then appeal {198} to the princes and peoples of India to acknowledge the suzerainty of the one prince who would protect and yet not persecute. He would appeal to them to aid in the regeneration he was preparing, not in his individual interest, but in the interests of the millions who, for four centuries, had been harassed by invasions, by civil wars, by persecutions following both.

Akbar did not appeal to an unreflecting or an obstinate people. With one exception, that of Chitor (now known as Udaipur), the Rajput princes and people of the most influential part of India came into his scheme. The most powerful amongst them, Jaipur and Jodhpur, helped him with the counsels of the men who, Hindus, were his most trusted captains, and with their splendid soldiers. The principal opposition he encountered was from the bigots of his own court, and from the descendants of the Afghan invaders settled in Bengal, in Orissa, and in Western India. For the sake of his beneficent scheme it was necessary to bring these into the fold. He tried at first to induce them to accept their authority from him. They accepted it only, on the first occasion, to seize an opportunity to rebel. There was then no choice but conquest. So he conquered. Toleration, good and equal laws, justice for all, invariably followed.

Thus it was that he, first of the Muhammadan invaders of India, welded together the conquered provinces, and made them, to the extent to which he conquered, for a portion of Southern India remained unsubdued, one united Empire. These are his titles {199} to the admiration of posterity. We, who have watched his work, and have penetrated his motives, recognise the purity of his intentions. He did not wish, as the bigots of his Court declared that he wished, to have himself obeyed and worshipped as a God. No: he declared himself to be the interpreter of the religion of which the Prophet had been the messenger in the sense of teaching its higher truths, the truths of beneficence, of toleration, of equal justice irrespective of the belief of the conscience. His code was the grandest of codes for a ruler, for the founder of an empire.

'There is good in every creed; let us adopt what is good, and discard the remainder.' Such was his motto. He recognised this feature in the mild and benevolent working of Hinduism, in the care for the family inculcated by it, in the absence of the spirit of proselytism. He recognised it in the simple creed of the followers of Zoroaster. He recognised it in Christianity. There was good in all. He believed, likewise, that there was good in all men. Hence his great forbearance, his unwillingness to punish so long as there was hope of reform, his love of pardoning. 'Go and sin no more' was a precept that constituted the very essence of his conduct.

Such was Akbar, the founder of the Mughal dynasty. Such were the principles which enabled him to found it. They were principles which, if adhered to, would have maintained it. They were the principles by accepting which his Western successors maintain it at the present day.

{200} In the foregoing pages I have spoken of Akbar and his achievements as though I were comparing him with the princes of our own day. Handicapped though he is by the two centuries which have since elapsed, Akbar can bear that comparison. Certainly, though his European contemporaries were the most eminent of their respective countries, though, whilst he was settling India, Queen Elizabeth ruled England, and Henry IV reigned in France, he need not shrink from comparison even with these. His reputation is built upon deeds which lived after him. No one can suppose that his successor, Jahangir, had he followed Humayun, could have conciliated and welded together the divided territories he would have inherited or conquered. His passionate and bigoted character would have rendered the task impossible. But the foundations dug by Akbar were so deep that his son, although so unlike him, was able to maintain the empire which the principles of his father had welded together. When we reflect what he did, the age in which he did it, the method he introduced to accomplish it, we are bound to recognise in Akbar one of those illustrious men whom Providence sends, in the hour of a nation's trouble, to reconduct it into those paths of peace and toleration which alone can assure the happiness of millions.

{201}

INDEX

ABUL MA'ALI, favourite of Humayun, is sent to occupy Dipalpur, 62: rebellion, and death of, 97.

ABULFAZL, becomes the friend of Akbar, 151: character, studies, and influence of, 152-3, 170: murder of, 139.

AGRA, the building of the fort of, 99.

AGRICULTURE, measures taken by Akbar to benefit those addicted to, 121.

AKBAR, birth of, 52: is abandoned at Shal, 53: is taken to Kandahar, and tended by his aunt, 54: is removed to Kabul, 54, 55: where his father rejoins him, 55: perils of, at Kabul, 55-9: joins his father in the invasion of India, and is present at the battle of Sirhind, 62: is sent by his father to the Punjab, 63: is there proclaimed Emperor, 63: choice of courses before, 65: turns to contest the empire with Hemu, 66: moves on Panipat, 68: wins the battle of Panipat, 70: refuses to slay the captured Hemu, 71: the problem he had to solve in India, 78-80: personal appearance of, 81: character and predispositions of, 82-4: secures the Punjab, 84, 85: feels the preponderating influence of Bairam, 85-7: assumes the administration and exiles Bairam to Mekka, 88: suppresses the rebellion of Bairam, 89: personal rule of, begins, 91: the aims of, 92, 93: begins to carry out his plan of bringing all India into his system, 93: design of, of welding together, 94: deals with the Gakkhars, 96, 97: reception of, in Mandu, 98: deals with the revolt of the Uzbek nobles, 100: conquers Behar, 101, 102: suppresses rebellions in the Punjab and Kabul, 102: besieges Chitor, 105: founds Fatehpur-Sikri, 106: after securing Rajputana, marches on Gujarat, 108: incidents of the conquest of Gujarat by, 109-13: extent of the authority of, 115: reverses the principle of making war support war, 116: orders the invasion of Bengal, 118: and invades it himself, 118: captures Patna, 119: returns to Delhi, 120: and Fatehpur-Sikri, 121: takes measures to benefit the agriculturists, 121: completes conquest of Bengal, 122: builds the Ibadat-khana at Fatehpur-Sikri, 123: abolishes inland tolls and the jizya, 126: proceeds to Kabul, 127: reasons of, for matrimonial alliances with Rajput families, 129-31: proceedings of, in the Punjab, 131-6: revisits Kabul, 134: proceeds to the Deccan, but returns to repress the rebellion of Prince Salim, 136-8: family of, 141: illness of, 142: dying words of, 144: character of, 144, 145: disposition, principles, and training of, 146: influence of Faizi over, 151: influence of Abulfazl over, 153-5: creed promulgated by, 157: uses made by, of his power, 159: religious code of, 160: culls from many religions, 161: his own conception of his position, 163: discourages Sati, 164: discourages professors, but encourages men of real learning, 166: his affection for Faizi and Abulfazl, 170: how the principles of, affected his administration, 171: making difference of religion no distinction, 172: abolishing the tax on pilgrimages, 172: the jizya, 174: how they affected his dealings with the Hindus, 175: attachment of, to his relatives, 177: likings and peculiarities of, 179: fondness for field sports of, 179: daily habits of, 180: reasons of, for marriage with Rajput princesses, 181-4: wives of, 184: revenue system of, 185: rewards granted by, to the deserving, 189: wise caution displayed by, in disturbing ancient customs, 191: army of, 192: divisions of the empire of, 192: magnificence of, 194: a true seeker after truth, 197: character of the people he appealed to, 198: comparison of, with his European contemporaries, 200.

ALI KULI KHAN-I-SHAIBANI, brilliantly captures Hemu's artillery, 68.

ARGUMENT, the, of the work, 5.

ATTOCK, on the Indus, built by Akbar, 127-31.

BABAR, family from which, was descended, 12: age of, at time of father's death, 13: loses Ferghana, 14: surprises Samarkand, 15: is defeated by the Uzbeks, 15: and flees to the deserts, 16: crosses the Oxus, and conquers Kabul, 18: impressions on the mind of, by first glance at the Punjab, 18: resolves to conquer Kandahar, 19: visits Herat, 19: terrible march of, from Herat to Kabul, 20: marches for Kandahar, 21: defeats his enemy and takes it, 22: vicissitudes of the fortunes of, against the Uzbeks, 23: is proclaimed ruler of Sind, 24: first, second, and third invasions of India by, 31: fourth invasion of India by, 32: fifth invasion of India by, 33: reaches Panipat, 33: fights and wins the battle of Panipat, 34: the position of, in India, 35: difficulties of, with his army, 37: generous and noble nature of, 39: methods of, to conquer the country, 39: defeats Sanga Rana, 41: conquers large portions of Central India and of Oudh, 42: invades Behar, 43: health of, declines, 45: devotion of, to Humayun, 46: dies, 46: character of, 47, 48: last words of, 48.

BAIRAM KHAN, the best general of Humayun, invades Jalandhar, 62: defeats the generals of Sikandar Shah on the Sutlej, and marches to Sirhind, 62: is joined by Humayun and Akbar, and helps to defeat Sikandar Shah, 62: goes with Akbar to the Punjab as his Atalik, 63: murders Tardi Beg, 67, 68: urges Akbar to slay the captured Hemu, 70, 71: virtually rules the new conquest, 85: is exiled to Mekka by order of Akbar, 88: rebels, is defeated, and assassinated, 89, 90.

BENGAL, king of, in the time of Akbar, 117: is invaded by Akbar, 118: submits to Akbar, 122: Man Singh appointed Governor of, 133.

BHAGWAN DAS, of Jaipur, Raja, connection of, with Akbar, 111: gallantry of, 111: is governor of the Punjab, 128: death of, 134.

BIRBAL, Raja, is killed by the Yusufzais, 131, and note.

DANYAL, Prince, the one failing of, causes death of, 141, 142.

DAUD KHAN, king of Bengal, vide BENGAL.

DECCAN, the, campaigns in, and partial conquest of, 136.

FAIZI, Shaikh, story of, 150: how he influenced the actions of Akbar, 151, 170.

FATEHPUR-SIKRI, founded by Akbar, 106, 107: discussions in the Ibadat-khana at, 123: memorable scenes at, 156, 157, 161.

FERGHANA, kingdom of, 13, 14.

GAKKHARS, the, are subdued by Akbar, 96, 97.

GUJARAT, story of the conquest of, by Akbar, 108-15.

HEMU, rise to power of, 61: wins two victories and threatens Delhi, 62, 63: defeats Tardi Beg and occupies Delhi, 66: moves towards Panipat, 68: is attacked, and defeated by Akbar, 70: is slain, 71.

HERAT, position of, in the time of Babar, 17: route between, and Kabul, 20: is conquered by the Uzbeks, 21.

HUMAYUN, eldest son of Babar and father of Akbar, assists his father in the conquest of India, 40: is sent for at the time of his father's illness, 45: sickness, and recovery of, 46: succeeds Babar, 50: character of, 50: after a reign of eight years is driven from India by Sher Shah, 50, 51: spends two and a half years in Sind, 51: wooes, wins, and marries Hamida Begam, 52, 53: flight of, to Amarkot, 52: action of, on learning of the birth of Akbar, 53: sets out for Kandahar, 53: is forced to abandon Akbar at Shal, 53: conquers Kandahar and Kabul, 55: vicissitudes of fortune between, and Kamran, at Kabul, 55-9: resolves to recover India, 59: invades India, 61: defeats Sikandar Shah at Sirhind, 62: death of, 63, 64.

INDIA, sketch of history of, before the Mughal invasion, 26: character of the rule of dynasties prior to that of the Mughal, 27, 30; Babar's position in, after Panipat, 35: internal condition of, at the time, 36: position of, at the time of the death of Babar, 48: general condition of, in the middle of the 16th century, 72-80.

KABUL, kingdom of, in the time of Babar, 17: Akbar is removed to, 54, 55: vicissitudes of fortune between Humayun and Kamran at, 55-9: Akbar appeases troubles at, 102: Akbar restores order at, 127.

KAMRAN, Mirza, vicissitudes of fortune in contest of with Humayun, 54-9: finally succumbs, 59.

KANDAHAR, important position of, recognised by Babar, 19: taken by Babar, 22: is captured by the Uzbeks, 23: is secured by Babar, 31: Akbar is taken to, 53, 54: is conquered by Humayun, 55.

KASHMIR, conquest of, by Akbar, 131-5.

KHUSRU, Prince, chances of, to succeed Akbar, 141-3.

LEARNED MEN, who flourished in the time of Akbar, notice of some of the, 166-9.

LIBRARY, the, of Akbar, 169.

MAN SINGH, of Jaipur, gallantry of, in Gujarat, 111: appointed Governor of Kabul, 132: on the remonstrance of the Kabulis is transferred to Bengal, 133: conduct of, during Akbar's illness, 143.

MEWAR, Rana of, refuses to come into Akbar's system, 124: is defeated at Huldighat, 125: still fights for his own hand, 140.

MURAD, Prince, son of Akbar, death of, 136.

ORCHHA, the Raja of, is prompted by Prince Salim to murder Abulfazl, 139, and note.

ORISSA, conquest of, by Akbar, 118-22.

PANIPAT, the first battle of, 33, 34: second battle of, 68-71.

PATNA, taken by Akbar, 119.

PUNJAB, the, Babar's first impressions of, 18: renews his acquaintance with, 32: again, 33: Akbar enters, and pursues his enemy into the Siwaliks, 63-6: sojourn of Akbar in, 131-6.

RAJPUTANA, matrimonial alliances of Akbar with the royal families of, 128, 181: dealings with the several princes of, 91-143.

SALIM, Prince (afterwards the Emperor Jahangir), character of, 137: rebels, 138: causes the murder of Abulfazl, 139: vicious conduct of, 140-42: apparent repentance of, 144: is girt with his dying father's sword, 144.

SAMARKAND, city of, surprised by Babar, 15: taken by the Uzbeks, 15: is reconquered by, and captured from, Babar, 23.

SANGA, Rana, position of, in Rajputana, 40: is defeated by Babar, 41.

SHAIBANI KHAN, vide UZBEKS.

SHER KHAN, afterwards Sher Shah, revolts from Babar, 43: drives Humayun from India, 50, 51: reign of, 60: defects of rule of, and predecessors of, 73-8.

SIKANDAR SHAH, claims the rule over Muhammadan India, 61: is defeated by Humayun at Sirhind, and flees to the Siwaliks, 62: again shows signs of life, 63: retreats into Mankot, 65: pursued by Akbar, surrenders on terms, 84, 85.

SIND, Babar is proclaimed ruler of, 24: completion of the conquest of, under Akbar, 134, 135.

TARDI BEG, prudent conduct of, on the death of Humayun, 64: is defeated by Hemu, 66: joins Akbar at Sirhind, 67: where he is murdered by Bairam, 68.

TODAR MALL, Raja, is sent by Akbar to repair the defeat of his troops by the Yusufzais, 132: death of, 134: influence of, with Akbar, 192.

UMERSHAIKH, father of Babar, 13.

UZBEKS, the, defeat Babar before Samarkand 15: conquer Herat, 21: take Kandahar, 23: contests of, with Babar, 23: the, nobles, revolt against Akbar, 100: are forgiven, 101.

YUSUFZAIS, the, repulse the troops of Akbar, 131: are defeated by Todar Mall, 132.



THE END.



Works by Colonel Malleson.

HISTORY OF THE INDIAN MUTINY, 1857-58.

IN SIX VOLS., 6s. EACH. London: W. H. Allen & Co., 13 Waterloo Place.

'Colonel Malleson wields his pen with so much skill that while giving a realistic account of all important operations, passing over no really noteworthy act of heroism, and acutely criticizing everything which demands criticism, he abstains from overlaying his narrative with details which would have increased the bulk of the book beyond all reason.'—Athenaeum.

'A brilliant narrative, in which a great number of threads of history are taken up and combined with singular skill. We have never read a volume in which this merit is more conspicuously displayed; and a history which, in unskilful hands, might have become confused to the last degree is made remarkably clear and intelligible.'—Spectator.

THE DECISIVE BATTLES OF INDIA, FROM 1746 TO 1849, INCLUSIVE.

NEW EDITION, 7s. 6d. London: W. H. Allen & Co., 1888.

'We know of no book so well calculated as is the one we are noticing for giving the student a clear and comprehensive knowledge of the successive steps taken in conquering for ourselves the Empire of Hindustan. It is not simply the story of so many decisive battles. The causes which led to each one are set forth, and the connection between each successive war is clearly shewn. The author has consulted as far as possible original documents, or the writings, published and unpublished, of contemporaries; and to judge by the list he has given, the labour of composing this excellent work must have been considerable.'—Saturday Review.

HISTORY OF THE FRENCH IN INDIA.

London: Longmans, 1868.

'Colonel Malleson has produced a volume alike attractive to the general reader, and valuable for its new matter to the special student.'—Edinburgh Review.

LIFE OF LORD CLIVE.

Price 20s. London: Allen & Co., 1885.

'It would not be possible to find in any other work a more faithful or vivid word-picture of the work accomplished by this great soldier and statesman, or of the manner in which he performed it.'—Scotsman.

THE BATTLE-FIELDS OF GERMANY.

London: W. H. Allen & Co., 1884.

'A thoroughly good book.'—The Guardian.

THE END