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Rival Brother Kamran Mirza of Humayun: “Rivalry” The Turning Point Of Indian History

Humayun’s Tomb in Delhi-India
One very well known rivalry was between Humayun (1508-1556) and his step-brother, Kamran
Mirza .He always back stabbed Humayun and generous Humayun always used to forgive
him.

Humaun got challenges by
his younger brothers and by Afghan generals, who had served under his father.
His enemies were not Hindus but his own Muslims
.

Humayun defeated his brother Kamran Mirza in Kabul

Mughal custom all royal princes were equally entitled to
inherit power, which led to many rivalries in later years when Mughal princes
fought each other until the most competent, the most ruthless, or simply the
luckiest ascended the throne.”



The throne inherited by
Humayun was not a bed of roses. Babur had practically got no time to consolidate
his position and authority.

(1)-Babur had four children by Maham Begum, of whom only one
survived infancy. This was his eldest son and heir, 
Humayun.
(2)-Gulrukh bore Babur two sons, Kamran and Askari.

(3)-Dildar Begum was the mother of Babur’s youngest
son, 
Hindal.

In accordance with the
wishes of his father Babur, Humaun gave Sambhal to Askari, and Alwar to
Hindal. As regards Kamran, he gave him the provinces of Kabul and Kandahar.

Babur the second Moghul (1508-1556)


Inspite of this, Kamran
was not satisfied. He attacked Punjab nd brought the whole of the Punjab
under his control. Humayun did not fight with Kamran and gave the Province of
the Punjab to him. 

This possession of vital
military importance gave Kamran control over the high road between Delhi and
Punjab.It was a suicide attempt by Humayun.

Humaun was deprived of
the source from which he could have recruited his new army. He was left only
with the empire which was newly conquered and over which his hold was not
secure.
Humaun in  Asylum of
Shah Tahmasp in Persia.

After this, in 1540, Humayun was defeated by Sher Shah Suri
at the Battle of Kannauj and exiled from the country.
The only place where he could seek refuge was at Kabul, which was
ruled by Kamran, but he did not have any intention of giving up Kabul. Finally
he got refuge under Shah Tahmasp in Persia.
Humaun in Court of Shah Tahmasp of Persia

But Kamran here too, tried to bribe Tahmasp that he would
give him Kandahar, if he handed over Humayun to him. But Tahmasp the king of
Persia, helped Humayun, and Humayun defeated Kamran, and established his rule
over Kabul.


After facing defeat, Kamran yet again conspired against his
brother and went to Islam Shah in Delhi, Sher Shah Suri’s son. But Islam Shah
arrested Kamran and handed him over to Humayun.
The End Of Kamran Mirza
This time
too Humayun tried to forgive his traitorous brother, but others advised him
against it, which included their sister, Gulbadan Begum.
Kamran had negotiated
and ordered his blinding instead – a punishment that had been carried out
by piercing Kamran’s eyes with the sharp end of a spear and then pouring salt
and lime into the wound.The merciful
Humayun
refrained from killing his brother. He blinded him and dispatched him to Mecca.
Captured and
blinded as a traitor to the throne, Kamran is believed to have lived out his
remaining days with his young son and wife, Mah-chuchak Begum Arghun. Breathing
his last a year after the death of his brother, Humayun, in 1556.

The
End Of Hindal Mirza,And Askari Mirza 
The other two brothers, Hindal and
Askari, were weak and shifty tools in the hands of Humayun’s opponents. His
cousins also opposed him. Instead of dealing with his enemies firmly one after
another, he divided his forces, weakened them and wasted time in merry making.
Hindal Mirza, the most disloyal of his siblings, died
fighting on behalf of Kamran Mirza.
This killing turned the sentiments
of the royal family against Kamran.
 His brother Askari Mirza was
shackled in chains at the behest of his nobles and aides. He was allowed go
on 
Hajj, and died en route in the desert
outside 
Damascus.

Restoration of  his Throne

Meanwhile Sher Shah Suri died in 1545, and his son and successor
also died within a few years of his father in 1554.
Sensing the opportunity Humaun gathered a large army which he placed under
the leadership of Bairam Khan. He led the army and successfully laid claim to
the throne for the Mughals. Once again Humayun claimed Babur’s throne on 23
July 1555.
But his period of happiness was short lived, just
six months after the ceremonial accession to the throne of Delhi, Humayun met
with an accident in his library and died three days later on 25th February 1556.
Written and posted by Engr
Maqbool Akram, with the help of materials available on Net and Wikipedia,photos
are also from net with thanks

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Engr. Maqbool Akram

I am, Engineer Maqbool Akram (M.Tech. Mechanical Engineer from AMU ), believe that reading and understanding literature and history is important to increase knowledge and improve life. I am a blog writer. I like to write about the lives and stories of literary and historical greats. My goal is to convey the lives and thoughts of those personalities who have had a profound impact on the world in simple language. I research the lives of poets, writers, and historical heroes and highlight their unheard aspects. Be it the poems of John Keats, the Shayari of Mirza Ghalib, or the struggle-filled story of any historical person—I present it simply and interestingly.
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