400 years ago Akbar – full name Abu-Ul-Fateh Jalal-Ud-Din Muhammd Akbar – died in Agra on October 27, 1605. Born at Umarkot in Sindh province of present day Pakistan on October 15, 1542, Akbar was a descendent of Turks, Mongols and Iranians. His ancestors included Timur or Tamerlane and Genghis Khan.

Akbar succeeded his father, Humāyūn, who died suddenly, as the ruler of an unstable and weak Mughal empire in 1556. He inherited a very small kingdom but expanded it in all direction eventually leaving an empire that included major parts of Malwa, Gujarat, Bengal, Kabul, Kashmir, Rajasthan and Khandesh in Deccan or Southern India. An illiterate, Akbar was a very able ruler and instituted many long lasting reforms that helped his administration and subjects. He was a strong patron of arts and literature and promoted tolerance of all religions. During the end of his reign, Akbar faced rebellion from his son Prince Salim, who eventually succeeded Akbar as Emperor Jahănǵr.

Source: Encyclopedia Britannica