Struggle Between Ibrahim Lodi and Babur
Medieval History › Mughal Period · Topic 6.1
Babur, a Timurid prince driven from Samarqand by the Uzbeks, took Kabul in 1504 and turned to India for wealth, a base against the Uzbeks and old Timurid claims in the Punjab. Ibrahim Lodi's quarrels with the Afghan chiefs and Daulat Khan Lodi's invitation let Babur become master of the Punjab by 1525 and prepared the clash at Panipat.
5 min read · UPSC Prelims · History · Mughal Period
At a Glance
- Babur Timurid prince, ruler of Farghana at twelve, 1494
- Kabul taken 1504
- Indian opponent Ibrahim Lodi, who succeeded Sikandar in 1517
- Local ally Daulat Khan Lodi, governor of the Punjab
- Punjab won 1525
- Exam link UPSC Prelims, Medieval History: Mughal Period
Where Does It Fit?
This is the first topic of the category on the Mughal period. The previous category covered the Bhakti and Sufi movements that shaped Akbar’s outlook, and this one begins the Mughal story with the conquest of north India. The next topic covers the First Battle of Panipat. Previous topic: Impact of the Bhakti and Sufi Movements on Medieval Indian Society and Religious Syncretism.
What Was Babur’s Central Asian Background?
In short: Babur came to India as a Timurid prince who had lost his homeland to the Uzbeks and who needed a new base and new revenue.
In the fifteenth century Timur united Iran and Turan, and his grandson Shahrukh Mirza kept much of the empire intact; Samarqand and Herat became cultural centres. Timurid power declined in the second half of the century because of the custom of dividing the empire among princes. Two new elements rose: the Uzbeks, a Turko-Mongol Sunni tribe from the north, and the Safavids, a Shia dynasty in Iran. The Ottoman power also grew to the west. These three mighty empires were set for conflict in Asia in the sixteenth century.
Babur succeeded to Farghana in 1494 at twelve. He twice won Samarqand from his uncle and twice lost it. The Uzbek chief Shaibani Khan, called in by one side, defeated Babur and conquered Samarqand, then the rest of the Timurid lands. Babur moved towards Kabul and conquered it in 1504. For fourteen years he waited to retake his homeland. In 1510 Shah Ismail of Iran defeated and killed Shaibani Khan near Merv. Babur took Samarqand with Iranian help but resented Iranian control, and the Uzbeks ousted him again. Shah Ismail was defeated by the Ottomans in 1514, leaving the Uzbeks masters of Trans-Oxiana, and Babur looked to India.
Why Did Babur Turn to India?
| Reason | Detail |
|---|---|
| Wealth | India was the land of gold and riches; Babur wrote that he had never ceased to think of the conquest of Hindustan from the time he got Kabul |
| Timurid claim | Timur had carried away treasure and artisans and annexed areas of the Punjab, which Babur felt he had a right to |
| Poor income | Abul Fazl says Badakhshan, Qandhar and Kabul did not yield enough for the army |
| Safety | India could be a refuge and a base against the Uzbeks |
He had been held back at times by his begs’ fears and by quarrels among his brothers.
What Was the Political Situation in North India?
Sikandar Lodi died in 1517 and Ibrahim Lodi succeeded. Ibrahim’s efforts to create a strong, centralised empire alarmed the Afghan chiefs and the Rajputs. One of the most powerful chiefs, Daulat Khan Lodi, the governor of the Punjab, was almost independent. He sent his son to Ibrahim’s court to pay homage while trying to annex the frontier tracts of Bhira. In 1518 to 1519 Babur took the strong fort of Bhira and sent letters and messages asking for the areas that had belonged to the Turks. Daulat Khan held Babur’s envoy at Lahore, and after Babur went back, he retook Bhira and expelled Babur’s agents.
How Did Babur Become Master of the Punjab?
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1518 to 1519 | Babur captures Bhira; Daulat Khan retakes it |
| 1520 to 1521 | Babur takes Bhira and Sialkot, the twin gateways to Hindustan, and Lahore surrenders; a revolt at Qandhar calls him back and the siege takes a year and a half |
| After Qandhar | An embassy from Daulat Khan under his son Dilawar Khan invites Babur and urges him to remove the tyrant Ibrahim; a messenger from Rana Sanga probably came too |
| 1525 | Daulat Khan changes sides, raises an army of 30,000 to 40,000, takes Sialkot and marches on Lahore; the army melts away at Babur’s approach and Daulat Khan submits and is pardoned |
Within three weeks of crossing the Indus in 1525, Babur became master of the Punjab. A conflict with Ibrahim Lodi, ruler of Delhi, was now inevitable. As an analytical point, Babur’s advantage lay in the divisions among Indian rulers and nobles, and the invitations he received show how weak Ibrahim’s hold was.
Why Is This Topic Important?
- Origin of the Mughal Empire Basic background to every Mughal question
- Causes Why Babur chose India is a standard Mains point
- Link Leads to Panipat
What Came Next?
The next topic describes the First Battle of Panipat of 1526. Next topic: First Battle of Panipat (1526) – Babur’s Victory Over Ibrahim Lodi.
Key People and Terms
- Babur Founder of the Mughal empire
- Shaibani Khan Uzbek chief who ousted Babur
- Daulat Khan Lodi Governor of the Punjab
- Bhira Frontier fort
- Uzbeks Sunni Turko-Mongol tribe
- Safavids Shia dynasty of Iran
Exam Corner
Points to Remember
- Babur took Kabul in 1504.
- Ibrahim Lodi succeeded in 1517.
- Babur took Bhira in 1518 to 1519.
- Daulat Khan’s son Dilawar Khan invited Babur.
- Punjab won in 1525.
Do Not Confuse With
- Uzbeks and Safavids Sunni northern tribe versus Shia Iranian dynasty
- Daulat Khan Lodi and Ibrahim Lodi Rebel governor of the Punjab versus the sultan
- Kabul and Samarqand Babur’s base versus his lost homeland
Memory Hook
Samarqand lost, Kabul won, Bhira taken, Daulat Khan calls, the Punjab falls.
Mains Angle
Questions on this phase ask why Babur invaded India. These points add depth.
- Push Loss of Samarqand and Uzbek threat
- Pull Wealth, claims and Lodi weakness
- Opportunity Invitations from Daulat Khan and Sanga
A Question You May Face
An original practice question, not a past paper question.
“Why did Babur invade India, and how did the situation in north India help him?”
How to Answer
- Background Lost homeland and Kabul.
- Reasons Wealth, claims, refuge.
- India Ibrahim and Afghan chiefs.
- Progress Bhira to the Punjab, 1525.
GS Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Babur come to India?
Babur came because the Uzbeks had taken his homeland, Kabul's income was meagre, India was rich, and he claimed the Punjab as an old Timurid possession. India also offered a refuge and a base against the Uzbeks.
Who was Daulat Khan Lodi?
Daulat Khan Lodi was the Afghan governor of the Punjab and almost an independent ruler. His son Dilawar Khan led an embassy inviting Babur to depose Ibrahim Lodi, though Daulat Khan changed sides more than once before submitting in 1525.
When did Babur capture Kabul?
Babur conquered Kabul in 1504 after being ousted from Samarqand by the Uzbek chief Shaibani Khan. He then waited fourteen years to retake his homeland, while the Uzbeks overran the rest of Trans-Oxiana, before finally looking towards India.
What was Ibrahim Lodi's weakness?
Ibrahim's attempt to build a strong centralised empire alarmed the Afghan chiefs and the Rajputs, so he enjoyed little support from his nobles. The governor of the Punjab, Daulat Khan, was almost independent and invited Babur.
How did Babur become master of the Punjab?
Babur captured Bhira and Sialkot in 1520 to 1521, and in 1525 Daulat Khan's army melted away at his approach, so Daulat Khan submitted. Babur thus became master of the Punjab within three weeks of crossing the Indus.
PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis
1 Babur conquered Kabul in 1504.
After losing Samarqand to the Uzbeks.
2 Daulat Khan Lodi was the governor of the Punjab.
He was almost independent.
3 Ibrahim Lodi succeeded Sikandar Lodi in 1526.
He succeeded in 1517.
4 Babur inherited Farghana at age twelve.
That was in 1494.
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