History of Asia

How did Akbar come to the throne?

Akbar came to the throne at the age of thirteen after the death of his father, Humayun. Humayun had been defeated by the Afghan Sher Shah Suri in 1540 and had fled to Persia. Akbar was born in exile in 1542 and was raised in the care of his uncle, Askari. When Humayun returned to India in 1555, Akbar accompanied him and played an important role in his father's victory over the Afghans. After Humayun's death, Akbar was crowned emperor in 1556.