AKBAR, Eitican, SULTAN, one of the Mogul em perors, was born in 15.12, and succeeded to the throne of father in 1556. After quelling several insurrections, which marked the beginning or his reign, lie completed the castle of Agra, at the expense of 2,000,500 rupees, expended one million and a half on the palace and walls of Fettipur, and began to erect the sumptuous sepul chres of his family at Sehandar. Ambitious views now began to agitate his mind ; the conquest of Bengal be came a favourite object, which he soon effected alter re ducing the city of Patan. The countries of Kabul, Kan dahar, Kashmir, and Sindi, were next addled to his empire ; and, after a vigorous resistance, several provin ces of the kingdom of Dekan submitted to his sway. When engaged in the Dekan war, a succession of do mestic misfoetunes interrupted his ambitious career. Two of his sons were cut oil by intemperance ; and his son Selim, taking advantage of his absence, seized the treasures of Agra, and marched with a numerous army to seat himself upon his father's throne. When the emperor received intelligence of this unnatural attempt of his son, he hastened to his capital, and, with all the tender remonstrances of an affectionate parent, laboured to soften the heart of the young rebel. Alter many un
successful attempts, he at last effected a reconciliation, which, however, he was not destined long to survive. Being enraged at Mirza, a governor of one of his pro vinces, he resolved to poison him ; and fur this purpose, procured two pills of opium ; one of which containing poison, was intended for the governor. This poisoned pill, however, was by mistake reserved for himself; and brought hint to the grave in the year 1605, at the age of 63.
Akbar, with the assistance of his enlightened minister Abul Fazl, made the deepest inquiries into the religion, laws, and institutions, of the Hindoos, who formed the great body of his subjects. By the most assiduous re search, they were ellainCd to lavour the world with a compendium of Ilitido,jurisprudence,in the Ayeen A lc berry. See Fraser's Juist. Mod, Unit], es. _Hist. vol. v. p. 363. (a)