Babur

Lore & Background

Babur's early life was marked by ambition and loss. In 1494, at age eleven, he became Timurid ruler of Fergana after his father died 'while tending pigeons in an ill-constructed dovecote that toppled into the ravine below the palace.' He conquered Samarkand in 1497 after a seven-month siege, holding it for 100 days before losing both Samarkand and Fergana. In 1500–1501 he briefly recaptured Samarkand but was besieged by Muhammad Shaybani, Khan of the Uzbeks, and forced to give his sister Khanzada in marriage to secure safe departure. By 1502 he had lost everything and wandered in exile, writing, 'During my stay in Tashkent, I endured much poverty and humiliation. No country, or hope of one!' In October 1504 he crossed the snowy Hindu Kush and captured Kabul from the Arghun chieftains, re-establishing his fortunes. He then turned to India, writing, 'My desire for Hindustan had been constant.' At the First Battle of Panipat in 1526 he defeated Ibrahim Lodi, Sultan of Delhi, and founded the Mughal Empire. He then faced Rana Sanga of Mewar at the Battle of Khanwa, achieving a decisive victory due to skillful troop positioning and use of gunpowder. Babur died in 1530 in Agra and was first buried there, then moved to Kabul as per his wishes.

In Their Own Story

The dust of the Panipat plain settled as Babur surveyed the carnage. His cannons, a novelty in Indian warfare, had shattered the enemy lines. He dismounted, his boots crunching on shattered war elephants and broken standards. 'This land,' he murmured, 'will be my home, not a graveyard of ambition.' Behind him, his loyal followers—a mix of Turco-Mongol warriors and Persian advisors—began to pitch tents. The Mughal Empire was born not in a palace, but on a battlefield, under a sky thick with smoke and the cries of victory.

Reader's Guide

In *Europa Universalis IV*, Babur appears as a historical ruler or general, reflecting his real-life role as founder of the Mughal Empire. He was born in 1483 in Andijan, Fergana Valley, and became ruler of Fergana in 1494 at age twelve. His early campaigns include the seven-month siege of Samarkand in 1497, which he held for 100 days, and his capture of Kabul in October 1504 after crossing the Hindu Kush. His defining military achievement was the First Battle of Panipat in 1526, where he defeated Ibrahim Lodi, Sultan of Delhi, using gunpowder weapons. He followed this with the Battle of Khanwa against Rana Sanga, achieving victory through troop positioning and gunpowder. Players can use Babur to lead armies in the conquest of northern India, leveraging his military skills. His event chain may include decisions to adopt gunpowder tactics or consolidate power in Delhi. To maximize his impact, focus on aggressive expansion in India, using Babur's military prowess to defeat larger but less advanced armies. His reign represents the transition from a Central Asian exile to the founder of a settled empire.

Did You Know?

• Babur's name is generally taken from the Persian word 'babur' (ببر), meaning 'tiger' or 'panther', which appears in Ferdowsi's Shahnameh.
• He wrote the Baburnama in Chaghatai Turkic, which was later translated into Persian during the reign of his grandson Akbar.
• Babur was first buried in Agra after his death in 1530, but his remains were later moved to Kabul and reburied as per his wishes.
• He is regarded as a national hero in Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan.
• Babur is credited with introducing the formal charbagh garden to the plains of northern India.