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Historical biography timeline

Akbar biography timeline

Explore a static chronology of 36 World History Database records for Akbar. The page is generated from the same biography records used by the searchable database, making important life events directly crawlable and readable.

36 records 1542–1596 record span 28 event labels 1 country

Life and historical importance

Akbar: life, career and historical significance

Mughal emperor from 1556 to 1605 who greatly expanded the empire across the Indian subcontinent. His administrative reforms, incorporation of diverse elites and comparatively inclusive religious policies made his reign formative for Mughal power and culture.

Editorial overview by World History Database. The chronology below is generated from the site's structured biography records.

Chronology

Akbar: dated events and historical records

Records are ordered by year, month and day where dates are available. The wording below comes from the World History Database biography collection.

1542
15th October

Birth of Akbar

Umarkot · India · House · House of Mogul · Shah Mughal Prince

Is born at Umarkot in Sindh while his father Humayun is displaced from the Mughal throne.

1556
14th February

Accession of Akbar

Delhi · India · Government · Mughal Empire · Emperor

Akbar succeeds Humayun as Mughal emperor while still a teenager.

1560
March

Personal Rule Begins

Agra · India · Government · Mughal Empire · Emperor

Akbar ends Bairam Khan's regency and begins exercising direct personal authority over the Mughal Empire.

1561
29th March

Battle of Sarangpur

Sarangpur · India · Warfare · Mughal Expansion · Emperor

Mughal forces defeat Baz Bahadur and take Malwa.

March

Malwa Campaign

Malwa · India · House · Mughal Empire · Emperor

Akbar sends forces to conquer Malwa from Baz Bahadur

1561

Maham Anga Influence

Agra · India · House · Mughal Empire · Emperor

Akbar's court is influenced by Maham Anga and her faction

1562
February

Marriage to Harka Bai

Sambhar · India · House · Mughal Empire · Emperor

Akbar marries Harka Bai of Amber as part of a Rajput alliance

February

Rajput Alliance

Amber · India · House · Mughal Empire · Emperor

Akbar forms an alliance with Raja Bharmal of Amber

1562

Ban on Enslaving War Captives

Agra · India · Government · Mughal Empire · Emperor

Akbar prohibits the enslavement of prisoners captured during warfare.

1563
1563

Abolition of Pilgrimage Tax

Agra · India · House · Mughal Empire · Emperor Mughal emperor

Akbar abolishes the tax imposed on Hindu pilgrims, advancing a broader policy of reducing religious distinctions within imperial administration.

1563

Pilgrimage Tax Abolished

Agra · India · Government · Mughal Empire · Emperor

Akbar abolishes the pilgrimage tax imposed on Hindu pilgrims.

1563

Religious Conciliation

Agra · India · Government · Mughal Empire · Emperor

Akbar develops a policy of conciliation toward non-Muslim subjects as he consolidates imperial authority.

1564
1564

Abolition of Jizya

Agra · India · House · Mughal Empire · Emperor Mughal emperor

Akbar abolishes the jizya tax on non-Muslims, a major measure in his developing policy of religious accommodation.

1564

Jizya Abolished

Agra · India · Government · Mughal Empire · Emperor

Akbar abolishes the jizya tax on non-Muslim subjects as part of his policy of religious conciliation.

1567
October

Siege of Chittor

Chittor · India · Warfare · Mughal Expansion · Emperor

Akbar begins the siege of Chittor, targeting a major fortress of Mewar during Mughal expansion into Rajputana.

1568
23rd February

Capture of Chittor

Chittor · India · Warfare · Mughal Expansion · Emperor

Akbar's forces storm Chittor after a prolonged siege, bringing the fortress under Mughal control.

February

Capture of Chittor

Chittor · India · Government · Mughal Empire · Emperor

Akbar's forces capture the fortress of Chittor after a major siege in Rajasthan.

1568

Capture of Chittor

Chittor · India · House · Mughal Empire · Emperor Mughal emperor

Akbar captures the fortified Rajput stronghold of Chittor after a prolonged siege, extending Mughal power in Rajasthan.

1569
March

Capture of Ranthambore

Ranthambore · India · Government · Mughal Empire · Emperor

Akbar captures the formidable fortress of Ranthambore and strengthens Mughal control in Rajasthan.

March

Siege of Ranthambore

Ranthambore · India · Warfare · Mughal Expansion · Emperor

Akbar besieges Ranthambore, whose formidable fort submits after sustained Mughal pressure.

1569

Capture of Ranthambore

Ranthambore · India · House · Mughal Empire · Emperor Mughal emperor

Akbar secures Ranthambore Fort, removing another major Rajput stronghold resisting Mughal expansion.

1572
November

Gujarat Campaign

Ahmedabad · India · Warfare · Mughal Expansion · Emperor

Akbar advances into Gujarat and occupies Ahmedabad as Mughal authority expands toward the western coast.

1572

Gujarat Campaign

Gujarat · India · Government · Mughal Empire · Emperor

Akbar launches a campaign that brings Gujarat under Mughal authority.

1572

Gujarat Campaign

Gujarat · India · House · Mughal Empire · Emperor Mughal emperor

Akbar personally campaigns in Gujarat and brings the wealthy western province under Mughal authority.

1573
February

Capture of Surat

Surat · India · Warfare · Mughal Expansion · Emperor

Akbar's Gujarat campaign secures Surat, strengthening Mughal control over an important western trading port.

1573

Capture of Surat

Surat · India · Government · Mughal Empire · Emperor

Mughal forces secure Surat during Akbar's conquest of Gujarat.

1575
3rd March

Battle of Tukaroi

Tukaroi · India · Warfare · Mughal Expansion · Emperor

Akbar's forces defeat the Bengal army at Tukaroi, advancing Mughal authority into eastern India.

1575

Ibadat Khana

Fatehpur Sikri · India · House · Mughal Empire · Emperor Mughal emperor

Akbar establishes the Ibadat Khana at Fatehpur Sikri as a venue for religious and philosophical discussion at court.

1576
1576

Annexation of Bengal

Bengal · India · House · Mughal Empire · Emperor Mughal emperor

Akbar's forces defeat the remaining Afghan resistance in Bengal, consolidating Mughal control over the province.

1579
1579

Mahzar Declaration

Fatehpur Sikri · India · House · Mughal Empire · Emperor Mughal emperor

Akbar issues the Mahzar, strengthening the emperor's authority in disputes involving differing interpretations among Islamic legal scholars.

1585
1585

Court Moves to Lahore

Lahore · India · House · Mughal Empire · Emperor Mughal emperor

Akbar transfers his court to Lahore for several years to supervise northwestern frontier affairs more closely.

1586
1586

Annexation of Kashmir

Kashmir · India · Government · Mughal Empire · Emperor

Akbar incorporates Kashmir into the Mughal Empire after a sustained campaign.

1586

Annexation of Kashmir

Kashmir · India · House · Mughal Empire · Emperor Mughal emperor

Akbar incorporates Kashmir into the Mughal Empire, extending imperial authority into the Himalayan region.

1586

Annexation of Kashmir

Kashmir · India · Warfare · Mughal Expansion · Emperor

Akbar's government incorporates Kashmir into the Mughal Empire after a campaign against its ruling dynasty.

1591
1591

Sind Campaign

Sind · India · Government · Mughal Empire · Emperor

Akbar extends Mughal authority into Sind as the empire expands toward the northwest.

1596
1596

Deccan Expansion

Deccan · India · Government · Mughal Empire · Emperor

Akbar intensifies Mughal expansion into the Deccan and challenges the region's sultanates.

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Editorial provenance

Sources and editorial review

Compiled and edited by World History Database

Biography timelines are compiled from the World History Database and checked against established historical and biographical reference sources.

Last reviewed: September 2026.

Reference points include Encyclopaedia Britannica biographies, The National Archives, Library of Congress, and U.S. National Archives. Individual database records may draw on additional specialist sources appropriate to the person, period or event.

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