Akbar was born on 15 October 1542 in Umarkot Fort. The third Mughal emperor, Akbar came to the throne at thirteen, after the death of his father Humayun, with a regent guiding him until he took control. Over his long reign he expanded the empire across northern and central India, defeating rivals in Rajasthan, Gujarat and Bengal. He built a centralised administration, including the mansabdari system of ranked officials, and followed a policy of tolerance toward other faiths, abolishing the tax on non-Muslims and welcoming scholars of different religions to his court. He founded a new capital at Fatehpur Sikri and was a patron of painting, music and literature.
Before and after
- from 20 October 1541 to 1 November 1541Algiers expedition
- 1542New Laws
- from 1542 to 1801Kingdom of Ireland
- 14 February 1542Founding of Guadalajara
- 15 October 1542Birth of Akbar
- 8 December 1542Birth of Mary, Queen of Scots
- from 1543 to 1687Scientific Revolution
- 1543De revolutionibus orbium coelestium
- 1543Copernicus publishes On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres
More in Wars, politics & history
- 25 September 1555Peace of Augsburg
- 1 July 1569Union of Lublin
- from 1683 to 1699Great Turkish War
- 26 January 1699Treaty of Karlowitz
- 1713Pragmatic Sanction of 1713
- 22 February 1732Birth of George Washington
The era
This moment belongs to the Early modern world (1500 CE to 1760 CE), voyages, printing and new ideas. You can also browse everything in the 16th century.