Second Battle of Panipat

As soon as he ascended the throne. Akbar had to face a major threat from Afghan. The Afghan emperor,Adil Shah,was preparing to attack Delhi under the command of his general,Hemu. Bairam Khan ,Akbar’s trusted guardian ,led the Mughal forces against the Afghan attack.

A fierce battle followed in Panipat in AD 1556. It seemed as if the Mughals would be crushed at the Second battle of Panipat , when an arrow pierced Hemu’s eye. His troops fell into confusion and Akbar too the opportunity to the defeat Hemu and his men.

With this defeat, the Afghan practically disappered from the Indian political cene. Agra,Delhi ,Ajmer and Gwalior fell into the hands of the Mughals.

For four year, Akbar amused himself in sports like polo and hunting, while Bairam Khan served as his regent.(A regent is the one who rules during the absence of country’s ruler or when the ruler or when the ruler is too young.) However,Adham Khan , his step brother and his mother turned Akbar against Bairam Khan. When Akbar was 18,he did away with his services of Bairam Khan who went on to pilgrimage to Mecca. He was murdered on route, Akbar assumed all the authority to himself . He was very kind to Bairam Khan’s son Rahim,who went to be a famous Hindi poet in Akbar’s court.

Akbar was one of the greatest kings in Indian history.He proved himself an able conqueror and an equally great administrator.

References- Std 7th ICSE textbook