Return of Humayun

The return of Humayun to the Mughal throne in 1555 CE stands as one of the most remarkable episodes in the history of the Mughal Empire. After being driven into exile by the Afghan ruler Sher Shah Suri in 1540, Humayun spent nearly fifteen years in hardship and wandering before successfully reclaiming his empire. His restoration symbolised not only the resilience of the Mughal dynasty but also the revival of its fortunes, paving the way for the glorious reign of his son, Akbar the Great.

Background: Humayun’s Early Reign and Defeat

Nasir-ud-Din Muhammad Humayun, the eldest son of Babur, ascended the Mughal throne in 1530 CE, inheriting a vast but politically unstable empire. The Mughal territories extended over parts of northern India, including Delhi, Agra, and the Punjab, but were surrounded by ambitious rivals — notably the Afghan nobles, the Rajputs, and the Gujarat Sultanate.
Humayun’s early years as emperor were marked by both promise and misjudgement:

• He faced challenges from his brothers, particularly Kamran Mirza, Askari Mirza, and Hindal Mirza, whose repeated rebellions undermined imperial unity.
• He also had to confront the rising power of Sher Khan (later Sher Shah Suri), an Afghan chieftain of Bihar, who proved to be a formidable military strategist.

After initial successes, Humayun suffered major defeats in two critical battles:

• Battle of Chausa (1539): Sher Shah inflicted a crushing defeat, forcing Humayun to flee.
• Battle of Kannauj (1540): The decisive battle that led to the loss of the Mughal Empire in India.

Following these defeats, Sher Shah established the Suri Empire, and Humayun was forced to flee Delhi, marking the beginning of his long exile.

Exile and Wanderings

Humayun’s exile (1540–1555) was a period of extraordinary struggle, perseverance, and political negotiation.

• Flight from India: After the fall of Agra and Delhi, Humayun, accompanied by a few loyal followers and his pregnant wife Hamida Banu Begum, wandered through the deserts of Rajasthan and Sindh. The hardships of this period were immense; legend recounts that the emperor once had to exchange a jewel for a loaf of bread.
• Sindh and the Humayun Nama: His stay in Sindh is vividly described by his half-sister Gulbadan Begum in her memoir, Humayun Nama. Here, Humayun attempted to regroup his followers but faced resistance from local rulers such as the Arghuns of Thatta.
• Temporary refuge in Persia: Eventually, Humayun sought asylum at the court of the Safavid ruler Shah Tahmasp I of Persia. Though humbling for a Mughal emperor, this diplomatic alliance would prove decisive for his restoration.

The Persian Alliance

Shah Tahmasp received Humayun honourably but set certain conditions for his support:

• Humayun was required to adopt the Shia creed and acknowledge the Shah’s suzerainty.
• In return, the Shah promised military and financial assistance for Humayun’s campaign to regain his lost dominions.

Humayun accepted these terms pragmatically, recognising that Persian aid was his only means of restoration. In 1545, with Persian military support, he captured Kandahar and Kabul from his brother Kamran, who had established himself there after Humayun’s defeat in India.

Reorganisation and Preparations for Return

Once Humayun regained control over Kabul and Kandahar, he used these as bases to rebuild Mughal strength. Despite internal conflicts with his brothers, particularly Kamran, Humayun gradually consolidated his hold over Afghanistan.

• Kabul as the Power Centre: Humayun reorganised his administration, strengthened his army, and established a stable revenue base.
• Family Developments: During this period, his son Jalal-ud-Din Muhammad Akbar was born in 1542 CE at Umerkot in Sindh, symbolising hope for the Mughal dynasty’s future.

By the early 1550s, Humayun’s position in Afghanistan was secure enough to contemplate a return to India.

Disintegration of the Suri Empire

The death of Sher Shah Suri in 1545 CE marked the beginning of the end for the Suri dynasty. His capable administration could not survive the factional rivalries that followed.

• His son Islam Shah (1545–1553) ruled efficiently but without his father’s military prowess.
• After Islam Shah’s death, a civil war erupted among rival claimants — including Sikandar Suri, Adil Shah Suri, and Muhammad Shah — leading to the fragmentation of the Suri Empire.

This political turmoil provided Humayun with the ideal opportunity to reclaim his lost territories.

The Return and Reconquest

In 1554 CE, Humayun set out from Kabul with a well-trained army and strategic support from loyal commanders such as Bairam Khan, a key figure in the Mughal restoration.

• Campaign in the Punjab: The Mughal forces advanced methodically, capturing Peshawar and Lahore with minimal resistance.The governor of Lahore, loyal to the declining Sur dynasty, was defeated, enabling Humayun to re-establish Mughal control over the Punjab.
• Battle of Sirhind (1555): The decisive confrontation took place at Sirhind, where Sikandar Suri was defeated by the Mughal army led by Bairam Khan.Following this victory, Humayun triumphantly entered Delhi and Agra in July 1555, reclaiming the Mughal throne after fifteen years in exile.

This restoration marked the formal end of the Suri dynasty and the revival of the Mughal Empire in northern India.

Restoration and Challenges

Humayun’s second reign (1555–1556) was brief but symbolically vital. Though he regained his throne, he inherited a weakened state that required consolidation:

• The empire’s finances were depleted, and many provinces remained unstable.
• Several Afghan factions still resisted Mughal authority.
• Administrative reorganisation had barely begun when tragedy struck.

Death of Humayun

In January 1556, scarcely six months after his restoration, Humayun died in an accident at his library in Purana Qila (Old Fort), Delhi. According to contemporary accounts, he slipped while descending the steps of his library after hearing the call to prayer and suffered a fatal injury.
He was initially buried at Purana Qila, but his remains were later moved to a magnificent mausoleum in Delhi, built by his widow Hamida Banu Begum, known as Humayun’s Tomb — a masterpiece of early Mughal architecture that later inspired the design of the Taj Mahal.

Significance of Humayun’s Return

Humayun’s return holds immense historical significance for several reasons:

1. Restoration of Mughal Power: His successful reconquest restored the Mughal dynasty’s legitimacy and continuity after a long interregnum.
2. Foundation for Akbar’s Empire: By securing Kabul, Kandahar, Delhi, and Agra, Humayun laid the territorial and administrative foundation for Akbar’s later expansion.
3. Cultural Exchange with Persia: His exile introduced strong Persian cultural and administrative influences into the Mughal court — reflected in language, art, and architecture.
4. Resilience and Legacy: Humayun’s perseverance despite repeated failures transformed him from a defeated monarch into a symbol of endurance and dynastic revival.