Maarg Manthan · Topic 6.6

Humayun’s Reign and Conflict with the Afghans

Medieval History › Mughal Period · Topic 6.6

Humayun succeeded Babur in December 1530 at 23 with an unconsolidated administration, precarious finances, unsubdued Afghans and the Timurid habit of dividing the realm among brothers. He gave the Punjab and Multan to Kamran, defeated the Afghans at Dadrah in 1532, lost to Sher Khan at Chausa (1539) and Kanauj (1540), regained Kabul in 1545 and Delhi in 1555 and died soon after.

5 min read · UPSC Prelims · History · Mughal Period

At a Glance

Accession December 1530, aged 23
Brothers Kamran, Askari and Hindal
Early win Dadrah, 1532
Defeats Chausa 1539, Kanauj 1540
Recovery Kabul and Qandhar 1545; Delhi 1555
Exam link UPSC Prelims, Medieval History: Mughal Period

Where Does It Fit?

This is the sixth topic of the category on the Mughal period. The previous topic assessed Babur, and this topic gives an overview of Humayun. The next two topics describe his Gujarat and Bengal campaigns in detail. Previous topic: Babur’s Contribution and the Significance of His Advent into India.

What Problems Did Humayun Inherit?

In short: Humayun inherited an unfinished empire with thin finances, defiant Afghans and brothers who expected shares.

Problem	Detail
Administration	Not yet consolidated
Finances	Precarious
Afghans	Not subdued, hoping to expel the Mughals
Timurid legacy	Partition of the empire among all brothers; Babur counselled kindness to the brothers but did not favour partition
Frontier	Kabul and Qandhar under Kamran; loose control over Badakhshan beyond the Hindukush

How Did He Deal with His Brothers?

Kabul and Qandhar were naturally left with Kamran, but he was dissatisfied with these poor areas and marched on Lahore and Multan and occupied them. Humayun was busy elsewhere and did not want a civil war, so he agreed. Kamran accepted Humayun’s suzerainty and promised help. This created the apprehension that the other brothers might follow, but by formally granting the Punjab and Multan to Kamran Humayun had the immediate advantage of being free to attend to the east without worrying about the west. The younger brothers Askari and Hindal held commands too. In the beginning Humayun was, on the whole, loyally served by his brothers, and real differences arose only after Sher Khan’s victories.

What Was the Course of His Reign?

Date	Event
December 1530	Humayun succeeds Babur
1532	Defeats the Afghan forces at Dadrah, which had conquered Bihar and overrun Jaunpur; besieges Chunar
After the Chunar siege	Spends about a year and a half building the city of Dinpanah at Delhi
February 1535 to February 1537	Malwa and Gujarat campaign
March 1539	Defeat at Chausa
May 1540	Defeat at Kanauj
1540 to 1545	Wanders in Sindh; takes shelter with the Iranian king
1545	Recovers Qandhar and Kabul with Iranian help
1555	Recovers Delhi after the break-up of the Sur empire

Details of the Gujarat and Bengal campaigns are in Humayun’s Gujarat Campaign Against Bahadur Shah and Humayun’s Bengal Campaign and Struggle with Sher Khan (Sher Shah Suri).

What About Dinpanah and the Charge of Opium?

Humayun spent about a year and a half building Dinpanah at Delhi, held grand feasts and festivities, and has been blamed for wasting time while Sher Khan grew stronger. It has also been said that his inactivity was due to opium. Neither charge is fully true: Babur continued to use opium after giving up wine, and Humayun took it occasionally in place of or along with wine, as did many nobles, but neither was an addict. Dinpanah was meant to impress friends and foes and could serve as a second capital if Agra was threatened by Bahadur Shah.

Why Did Humayun Fail Against the Afghans?

The major cause of Humayun’s failure against Sher Khan was his inability to understand the nature of Afghan power. Because large numbers of Afghan tribes were scattered over north India, the Afghans could always reunite under a capable leader. Without winning over local rulers and zamindars, the Mughals were bound to remain numerically inferior. Some historians have unduly exaggerated Humayun’s early differences with his brothers and his alleged faults of character. Though not as vigorous as Babur, he showed himself a competent general and politician until his ill-conceived Bengal campaign, and in both battles with Sher Khan the latter was the superior general.

As an analytical point, Humayun’s reign shows that Babur’s conquest rested on military skill more than on firm roots. His later life, from riches to rags and back, ended soon after the recovery of Delhi, when he died from a fall from the first floor of the library building in his fort. His favourite wife built a magnificent mausoleum near the fort, marking a new phase of north Indian architecture with its marble dome.

Why Is This Topic Important?

Interruption Explains the gap between Babur and Akbar
Brothers Kamran, Askari and Hindal are often asked
Link Leads to Sher Shah

What Came Next?

The next topic describes Humayun’s Gujarat campaign. Next topic: Humayun’s Gujarat Campaign Against Bahadur Shah.

Key People and Terms

Kamran Humayun’s brother, ruler of Kabul and Qandhar
Askari Humayun’s brother
Hindal Humayun’s brother
Dinpanah City built by Humayun at Delhi
Dadrah 1532 victory over the Afghans
Timurid legacy Division among brothers

Exam Corner

Points to Remember

Succeeded in December 1530 at 23.
Dadrah: 1532.
Chausa: 1539; Kanauj: 1540.
Regained Kabul in 1545; Delhi in 1555.
Died from a fall in his library building at Delhi.

Do Not Confuse With

Dinpanah and Agra Second capital at Delhi versus the main capital
Chausa and Kanauj First defeat near Buxar versus the final defeat of 1540
Kamran and Hindal Ruler of Kabul and Qandhar versus brother who tried to assume the Crown at Agra

Memory Hook

Brothers divide, Dadrah wins, Dinpanah rises, Chausa and Kanauj fall, Iran helps, Delhi returns.

Mains Angle

Questions on Humayun ask about his difficulties and failure. These points add depth.

Inheritance Weak administration and brothers
Opponent Sher Khan as superior general
Revival Exile, Iranian help and 1555

A Question You May Face

An original practice question, not a past paper question.

“Examine the causes of Humayun’s failure against Sher Khan.”

How to Answer

Inheritance Problems left by Babur.
Brothers Kamran and others.
Afghans Their reunion under Sher Khan.
Verdict Bad Bengal campaign; recovery in 1555.

GS Relevance

Prelims: Humayun's reign and the Afghan challenge. GS Paper 1: early Mughal setbacks and the Timurid legacy.

Frequently Asked Questions

What problems did Humayun inherit from Babur?

Humayun inherited an unconsolidated administration, precarious finances, Afghans hoping to expel the Mughals, and the Timurid legacy of dividing the empire among brothers. His brother Kamran also held Kabul and Qandhar from the start, which complicated matters.

Who were Humayun's brothers?

Humayun's younger brothers were Kamran, Askari and Hindal. Kamran held Kabul and Qandhar and later the Punjab and Multan, Askari was placed in charge of Gujarat, and Hindal tried to assume the Crown at Agra.

Why did Humayun lose to Sher Khan?

Humayun failed to understand Afghan power, launched an ill-conceived Bengal campaign, chose bad ground at Chausa, and received no help from Kamran. Sher Khan proved a superior general in both battles, at Chausa and Kanauj.

How did Humayun recover his empire?

Humayun took shelter with the Iranian king and with his help recaptured Qandhar and Kabul in 1545. After the Sur empire broke up he recovered Delhi in 1555, but he died soon after, leaving a young heir.

How did Humayun die?

Humayun died from a fall from the first floor of the library building in his fort at Delhi, not long after recovering Delhi in 1555. His favourite wife built a magnificent mausoleum for him near the fort, topped by a marble dome.

PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis

1 Humayun defeated the Afghans at Dadrah in 1532.

True

He then besieged Chunar.

2 Humayun recovered Delhi in 1555.