Akbar (mar 1, 1556 – jan 1, 1605)

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Akbar took personal control of the Mughal government after executing Adham Khan who was commander of the Mughal army for suspected treason. He created an extremely centralized administrative structure with ministries regulating the various provinces of the Mughal Empire. He also began to absorb the Southern kingdom of Vijayanagar which opened the door for further Mughal expeditions into Southern India. Next, he encouraged the creation of a syncretic religion known as the Divine Faith which combined aspects of the Hindu and Islamic religions but focused on the emperor as a ruler common to all religious, ethnic, and social groups of India. He promoted freedom of religion, abolished the Jizya tax during his reign, and even sponsored discussions between Hindus, Muslims, Jains, Zoroastrians, and Christians.

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