Mughal Empire's Arrival (Part 3): The Battle of Ghaghra and the Final Days of Babur

Even after his victories at Panipat and Khanwa, Babur’s grip on India was far from secure. Although the Afghans had lost the throne of Delhi, they were actively looking for an opportunity to reclaim their power in eastern India. The rulers of Bihar and Bengal, in particular, had joined forces, turning into a massive headache for Babur. The final chapter of this intense political rivalry and struggle for ultimate power was written on the banks of the Ghaghra River.

The Battle of Ghaghra (1529 AD): Babur’s Final Great Battlefield

Background and the Formation of the Alliance

After crushing the Rajput resistance at the Battle of Khanwa, Babur noticed that the Afghans were regrouping in the east. Mahmud Lodi, the brother of the late Sultan Ibrahim Lodi, declared himself the legitimate heir to the Delhi throne and united the Afghan forces in Bihar. Behind the scenes, this Afghan coalition was receiving direct support from Nusrat Shah, the Sultan of Bengal. Babur knew very well that without securing India's eastern borders, the foundation of the Mughal Empire would never be stable. Consequently, in early 1529, he personally led a massive army and marched toward the east.

A Unique Warfare: Fighting by Land and Water

On May 6, 1529, the two armies clashed near the confluence of the Ganges and its tributary, the Ghaghra River, close to modern-day Saran district in Bihar. This battle holds a unique place in the military history of the Indian subcontinent, as it was the first conflict fought simultaneously on both land and water.

The Afghan and Bengali forces held a strong position on the river with their fleet of boats. However, Babur used a brilliant strategy that combined his trademark military foresight with modern tactics. He split his army into different divisions:

One group of soldiers was sent across the river to ambush and attack the enemy from behind.

Babur himself took charge of the heavy artillery and cannons on the riverbank.

Faced with the devastating firepower of the Mughal cannons and guns mounted on boats, the Afghan defense crumbled like a house of cards.

Aftermath and Expansion of the Mughal Empire

After a few hours of intense fighting, Babur secured a decisive victory. Mahmud Lodi fled the battlefield, and the collective power of the Afghans was permanently shattered. Realising that the tide had turned, the Sultan of Bengal, Nusrat Shah, signed a peace treaty with Babur. Under this agreement, Nusrat Shah promised never to give shelter to Babur’s enemies in his kingdom. The victory at Ghaghra firmly established Mughal dominance beyond North India, stretching all the way into Bihar. This marked the final major military campaign of Babur’s life.

Babur’s Final Days and Mysterious Death

While the Battle of Ghaghra gave Babur a stable empire, he did not have the time or the health to enjoy it. Years of relentless campaigning, harsh weather conditions, and heavy drinking had taken a severe toll on his body. By mid-1530, he returned to Agra, physically exhausted.

A Father’s Ultimate Sacrifice: A Miraculous Story

In the autumn of 1530, Babur’s eldest and most beloved son, Humayun, fell dangerously ill. When Delhi's finest physicians and healers gave up all hope, an incredibly emotional event unfolded. According to various historians and accounts in the Humayun-nama, Babur walked around his son’s bed and prayed fervently to God: "O Allah, if a life must be taken, take mine instead of Humayun's, but please grant him recovery."

Local folklore and contemporary writings suggest that shortly after this prayer, Humayun began to recover miraculously, while Babur's health rapidly deteriorated.

The Final Farewell and Last Wishes

On December 26, 1530, Zahir-ud-din Muhammad Babur took his last breath at his palace in Agra at the age of just 47. Before passing away, he declared Humayun as his successor and strictly advised him to treat his brothers with kindness.

Initially, Babur was buried at 'Aram Bagh' in Agra. However, his heart had always belonged to the mountainous valleys and fruit orchards of Kabul. In his autobiography, the Baburnama, he had explicitly wished to be buried in Kabul. Years later, during the reign of Sher Shah Suri, his final wish was fulfilled. His remains were moved from Agra and reburied at 'Bagh-e-Babur' in Kabul, where he rests in peace today.

The founder of the Mughal Empire, Babur, may have ruled India for only four years. However, the strong military foundation he laid down from Panipat to the Ghaghra River allowed his descendants to rule over the subcontinent for nearly 300 years.