Bābur racing with two companions during the flight from Samarqand India, between 1590 and 1592. Babur (Persian: بابر‎, romanized: Bābur, lit. 'tiger';[3][4] 14 February 1483 – 26 December 1530), born Zahīr ud-Dīn Muhammad, was the founder of the Mughal Empire and first Emperor of the Mughal dynasty (r. 1526–1530) in the Indian subcontinent. He was a descendant of Timur and Genghis Khan through his father and mother respectively.[5][6][7] Of Chagatai Turkic origin,[8] Babur was born in Andijan in the Fergana Valley (in present-day Uzbekistan): the eldest son of Umar Sheikh Mirza (1456–1494, governor of Fergana from 1469 to 1494) and a great-great grandson of Timur (1336–1405). Babur ascended the throne of Fergana in its capital Akhsikent in 1494 at the age of twelve and faced rebellion. He conquered Samarkand two years later, only to lose Fergana soon after. In his attempt to reconquer Fergana, he lost control of Samarkand. In 1501 his attempt to recapture both the regions failed when Muhammad Shaybani Khan defeated him. In 1504 he conquered Kabul, which was under the putative rule of Abdur Razaq Mirza, the infant heir of Ulugh Beg II. Babur formed a partnership with the Safavid ruler Ismail I and reconquered parts of Turkistan, including Samarkand, only to again lose it and the other newly conquered lands to the Sheybanids. After losing Samarkand for the third time, Babur turned his attention to India. At that time, the Indo-Gangetic Plain of the Indian subcontinent was ruled by Ibrahim Lodi of the Afghan Lodi dynasty, whereas Rajputana was ruled by a Hindu Rajput Confederacy, led by Rana Sanga of Mewar. Babur defeated Ibrahim Lodi at the First Battle of Panipat in 1526 CE and founded the Mughal empire. He faced opposition from Rana Sanga, who at first promised to help Babur defeat Ibrahim Lodi; however he later backed out upon realising that Babur had plans to stay in India. The Rana prepared an army of Rajputs and Afghans to force Babur out of India, however the Rana was defeated in the Battle of Khanwa (1527) after which he was fatally poisoned (1528) by his own men.[9] Babur married several times. Notable among his sons are Humayun, Kamran Mirza and Hindal Mirza. Babur died in 1530 in Agra and Humayun succeeded him. Babur was first buried in Agra but, as per his wishes, his remains were moved to Kabul and reburied.[10] He ranks as a national hero in Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. Many of his poems have become popular folk songs. He wrote the Baburnama in Chaghatai Turkic; it was translated into Persian during the reign (1556–1605) of his grandson, the Emperor Akbar. Credit: Purchased by J. Pierpont Morgan (1837-1913) in 1911. Genres: Miniatures (Illuminations)--16th century. Paper (fiber product) Cardboard. Single leaves. Notes: Ms. Mughal miniature; illuminated ca. 1590-1592. Artist: Parasa. An illustrated fol. from the Bāburnāmah of Babur, Emperor of Hindustan. Ninety-six fol. of this manuscript are held in the British Library, Oriental and India Office Collections; one fol. (M.458.18) also is held in the Pierpont Morgan Library). Miniature measures 292 x 157 mm. MICROFILM holding is on record for MS M.458.1r. Provenance: Miwa (seal on lower right corner of mount); purchased by J. Pierpont Morgan (1837-1913) from Charles Hercules Read in 1911; J.P. Morgan (1867-1943). Associated Names: Babur, Emperor of Hindustan, 1483-1530. Bāburnāmah. Parasa, 16th cent., illuminator. Read, Charles Hercules, Sir, 1857-1929, former owner. Morgan, J. Pierpont (John Pierpont), 1837-1913, former owner. Morgan, J. P. (John Pierpont), 1867-1943, former owner. British Library. Oriental and India Office Collections. Cite as: Pierpont Morgan Library. MS M.458.10. Publications on: Islamic and Indian manuscripts and paintings in the Pierpont Morgan Library / Barbara Schmitz. New York : The Library, 1997, no. 50, p. 154-155; plate 34. Subjects: Babur, Emperor of Hindustan, 1483-1530. 1590-1592. Dept./Collection: Pierpont Morgan Library Dept. of Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts