Akbar the Great

Akbar (r. 1556–1605) was the third Mughal emperor and the ruler who transformed the Mughal state from a Central Asian conquest dynasty into a genuinely Indian empire. His combination of military skill, administrative innovation, and religious tolerance made him one of the greatest rulers in Indian — and world — history.

Akbar came to the throne at thirteen and spent his early years fighting to consolidate Mughal power. By the end of his reign, he controlled most of the Indian subcontinent. But his true genius lay in administration. His revenue system — based on careful land measurement, crop assessment, and cash taxation — was among the most efficient in the world. He divided the empire into provinces (subahs) administered by officials appointed and rotated by the center, preventing the accumulation of local power.

Akbar's most remarkable quality was his approach to religion. In a region of extraordinary religious diversity, he pursued a policy of sulh-i kul (universal peace), abolishing the jizya tax on non-Muslims, appointing Hindus to high office, and hosting debates between Muslim, Hindu, Jain, Christian, and Zoroastrian scholars at his Hall of Worship. He even attempted to create a syncretic faith, Din-i Ilahi, drawing on all traditions. While Din-i Ilahi attracted few followers, the principle of religious tolerance it represented was revolutionary.