A benevolent and wise ruler, a man of novel ideas, a sound judge of character, and tolerant to the core—these are some among many adjectives used to describe the Greatest of the Mughal emperors.
Born on October 15, 1542 to Humayun and Hamida Banu Begum who were in exile, Jalaluddin Muhammad Akbar spent his early childhood away from the splendour of the court. He spent his youth learning to hunt, run and fight, but he never learnt to read or write. Bat his fortunes were about to change soon.
Following the chaos over the succession of Islam Shah (Sher Shah's son), Humayun reconquered Delhi in 1555. Only a few months later, Humayun died in an accident. Akbar succeeded his father on Feb 14, 1556, while in. the midst of a war against Sikandar Shah for the reclamation of the throne. Here, in Kalanaur, the 13 year old Akbar donned a
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