One of My Favorite King

Samrat Hem Chandra Vikramaditya, Hemu Vikramaditya or simply Hemu (Hindi: सम्राट हेम चंद्र विक्रमादित्य) (1501–1556) was a Hindu Emperor of India during the 16th century, in medieval times. This was one of the crucial periods in Indian history, when the Mughals and Afghans were desperately vying for power.

The son of a food seller, and himself a vendor of saltpetre at Rewari,[1] he rose to become Chief of Army and Prime Minister[2][3] under the command of Adil Shah Suri of the Suri Dynasty. He fought Afghan rebels[4][5] across North India from the Punjab to Bengal[6] and the Mughal forces of Akbar and Humayun in Agra and Delhi,[7] winning 22 battles continuously, without a single setback.[8][9][10][11]
He acceded to the throne of Delhi on October 7, 1556, assuming the title of "Vikramaditya".[12][13] His Rajyabhishek or coronation as Samrat was held at Purana Quila in Delhi.[12] Hemu re-established the Hindu Kingdom (albeit for a short duration) in North India, after over 350 years of foreign rule, on the pattern of a strong Hindu kingdom prevailing in South India for more than three centuries, known as 'Vijaynagar Empire' [13] Hemu struck coins bearing his title.[14]

Early life : Hemu was born at Machheri village of Alwar District in Rajasthan in the year 1501.[15] His father Rai Puran Das, a Brahmin,[16] was engaged in Purohiti,[15] the performing of Hindu religious ceremonies as a profession. However, due to persecution of Hindus, who performed religious ceremonies, by Mughals, Rai Puran Das could not make both ends meet as a Purohit, therefore he gave up Purohiti and moved to Qutabpur village near Rewari. Hemu's father started trading (breaking the caste barrier) in various types of salts in Qutabpur, and Hemu was brought up and educated there.[17]
Apart from learning Sanskrit and Hindi, he was educated in Persian, Arabic and Arithmetic.[18] During his childhood, he was fond of exercise and Kushti (wrestling) and while crushing salt in an Imam Dasta (an iron pot and hammer), he would monitor his strength.[17] He trained in horse-riding at his friend Sehdev's village. His friend Sehdev was a Rajput[17] and he participated in all the battles which Hemu fought later,[17] except the Second Battle of Panipat. Hemu was brought up in a religious environment; his father was a member of Vallabh Sampradai of Vrindavan and visited various Teerth (religious sites)[18] as far as Sindh in present day Pakistan, where he converted the then Governor of Sind, Parmanand in to Vallabh Sampradai.

Family : Hem Chandra was born to saint Purandas, formerly Rai Puranmal and belonged to Dhusar Bhargava community,[19] on Ashwin Shukla Vijaidashmi, 1558 V.S. or 1501 A.D.
Hemu's sister was married in to a clan of Rajpurohits, to Gun Chandra Bhargava. Gun Chandra, and his ancestors had lived at Qutabpur, Rewari, in present day Haryana [20] and his children were: Ram Chandra (known as 'General Rammaiya' in Panipat war), Shyam Chandra, Krishna Chandra, Mohan Chandra, Hanu Chandra and Ravi Chandra - most of whom died in the Second Battle of Panipat in the year 1556 .
Gun Chandra was a descendant of Sri Chandra (grandson of Indra Chandra), who was Rajpurohit (Chief Priest) for Tomara King Kumarpala in 970 A.D.,[21] His descendants continued to be the Rajpurhohits of the state of Indraprastha (Delhi) - Budh Chandra, Mahi Chandra, Arvind Chandra, Dheen Chandra all were Rajpurohits till the times of Prithviraj Chauhan, and the year 1192 A.D.. Because of this influential family, Hemu's family migrated to Qutabpur in Rewari.

Social Environment : The social and political environment in India in early sixteenth century was very unstable. In North India, Mughals and Afghans were vying for power, though South India had comparatively a stable Vedic Hindu kingdom known as 'Vijaynagar Empire', ruled by Sri Krishna Devaraya. Babur's barbaric invasion of North India resulted in to destruction, looting and demolition of most important Hindu Temples in North like 'Ram Temple' at Ayodhya, Krishna Temple at Mathura and Kashi Vishwanath Temple at Benaras or Varanasi. Not only these most revered Hindu Temples were destroyed by Mughal invaders, but Mosques were constructed over the ruines of these Temples also. Babri Masjid was constructed at Ayodhya, Jama Masjid at Mathura and Gyanvapi Masjid at Benaras or Varanasi. Observations by Guru Nanak, a contemporary and an eye witness to Babur's invasion in Punjab has given vivid account of Babur's vandalism calling him a 'yamraj' or butcher. Hem Chandra, belonged to a family of 'Purohits' (Temple Priests) and at a young age of 27 then, yearned to revenge and got the first opportunity to rule North India from Delhi after victory over Akbar's forces in 'Battle for Delhi' in October 1556.

Rise to fame : At a very young age, Hemu, who was based at Rewari, an important trading centre in medieval times for traders from Iran and Iraq on way to Delhi, started supplying cereals to Sher Shah Suri's army. Slowly he started other supplies like saltpetre (for gunpowder) to Sher Shah's army.[15] Sher Shah had defeated Humayun in the year 1540 and had forced him to withdraw to Kabul. Hemu also laid the foundation of brass cannons casting and manufacturing industry in Rewari, which remains an important industrial brass, copper sheets and utensils manufacturing centre even today.[22] Hemu obtained the technical-knowhow for Canon making and supplies of Saltpetre from the Portuguese, who were well entranched in Goa by 1510 and were also helping the Hindu Vijaynagar Empire against the Muslim invaders in South India, by supplying Guns, Gun powder and Arabian horses.
After Sher Shah Suri's death in 1545, his son Islam Shah became ruler of North India. Islam Shah recognised the calibre, and administrative skills of Hemu and therefore made him his personal adviser.[18] He consulted Hemu in matters relating not only to trade and commerce, but also pertaining to statesmanship, diplomacy and general politics.[23] Islam Shah initially appointed Hemu as Shahang-i-Bazar, a Persian word meaning 'Market superintendent' who managed the mercantile system throughout the empire.[24] This post gave Hemu an opportunity to interact with the king frequently in order to apprise him of the trade and commercial situation of the kingdom.[25] Abul Fazal says that Islam Shah held Hemu in great esteem.[26] In 1550, Hemu accompanied Islam Shah to the Punjab where he was deputed along with other high officers to receive Mirza Kamran in the fort of Rohtas. Islam Shah consulted Hemu on a variety of matters.[27] After serving as Sahang-i-Bazar,for some time, Hemu rose to become Chief of Intelligence or Daroga-i-Chowki (Superintendent of Post).[28] Islam Shah's health deteriorated in 1552 and he shifted his base from Delhi to Gwalior, which was considered a safe capital. To safeguard Punjab Hemu was sent there as incharge of administration or Governor. Hemu held this position till October 30, 1553, when Islam Shah died.
Islam Shah was succeeded by his 12 year old son Firoz Khan who was killed within 3 days by Adil Shah Suri. The new king Adil was an indolent, pleasure-seeker, drunkard and debauch[5] as well as faced revolts all around.[29] Adil Shah took Hemu as his Chief Advisor and entrusted all his work to him.[18] Hemu now became the prime minister and chief of the Afghan army.[2][3] After some time, Adil Shah became insane and Hemu became the virtual king.[2][5][10][18][29][30][31]
Many Afghan governors rebelled against the weak King Adil Shah and refused to pay the taxes; Hemu went to various states in North India to crush rebellions. Ibrahim Khan, Sultan Muhhamad Khan, Taj Karrani, Rukh Khan Nurani and several other Afghan rebel officers were defeated and killed one by one by Hemu.[15] At the battle of Chhapparghatta in December 1555, Hemu routed the Bengal forces under Muhammad Shah, who was killed in the battle.
At the time Afghans considered themselves to be natives (and were considered to be natives by the Hindus); on the other hand Akbar, writes Vincent Arthur Smith,[31] was considered to be a foreigner. Writer K.K.Bhardwaj in his book "Hemu-Napoleon of medieval India" claimed that Hemu was a native ruler leading a native Afghan army to victory, battle after battle.[8] Thus, Hemu became popular among Hindus as well as Afghans. Another writer K.R.Qanungo writes that, it indicates that the rule which Hemu established, commanding Afghan army was secular and nationalistic.

Victories against Mughals : After the victory of the Mughal ruler Humayun over Adil Shah's brother Sikander Suri, Mughals regained Punjab, Delhi and Agra after a gap of 15 years on July 23, 1555. Hemu was in Bengal when Humayun died on January 26, 1556. Humayun's death gave Hemu an ideal opportunity to defeat the Mughals. He started a winning march from Bengal through present day Bihar, Eastern UP and Madhya Pradesh. The Mughal fauzdars evacuated their positions and fled in panic. In Agra, an important Mughal stronghold, the commander of Mughal forces Iskander Khan Uzbeg ran away from Agra hearing about Hemu's invasion without a fight. Etawah, Kalpi, Bayana, in the present day central and western UP, all came under Hemu's dominion.
In the words of K.K.Bhardwaj in Hemu the Napoleon of Medieval India, if Vincent A Smith describes Samudragupta as Indian Napoleon[32] we can certainly call Hemu "the Napoleon of Medieval India" as the victor of 22 battles before dying fighting at Panipat due to sheer bad luck. His triumphant march from Bihar to Dilli (Delhi) can be equated to the Italian campaign of Napoleon: "He came, he saw, he conquered".[33] Hemu never saw the defeat in a battle and romped from victory to victory throughout his life (he died in the only battle he lost). If Napoleon promised his soldiers a glorious future they fought bravely in his Italian campaign and instilled in them a new vigour and enthusiasm by an excellent address[34] leading to glorious victories, Hemu practiced[12] it by his lavish distribution of the spoils of war among his soldiers.
After winning Agra, Hemu moved towards final assault on Delhi. Tardi Beg Khan who was Governor of Delhi, representing Akbar, sent a despatch to Akbar and Bairam Khan that Hemu had captured Agra and was intending to attack the capital Delhi which could not be defended without adequate reinforcements.[8] Bairam Khan who visualised the gravity of the situation, sent his ablest lieutenant Pir Muhammad Sharwani with other brave commanders to Tardi Beg to hearten him advising to do his utmost for the time being. Tardi Beg Khan summoned all the Mughal commanders of the neighbourhood to the rescue of Delhi and a war council was held. It was decided to fight Hemu and plans were made accordingly.
Sir Jadunath Sarkar writes in detail about the "Battle for Delhi" at Tughlaqabad:
"The Mughal army was thus drawn up. Abdullah Uzbeg commanded the Van, Haider Muhammad the right wing, Iskander Beg the left and Tardi Beg himself the centre. The choice Turki Cavalry in the Van and left wing attacked and drove back the enemy forces before them and followed far in pursuit. In this assault the Victors captured 400 elephants and slew 3000 men of the Afghan army. Imagining victory already gained, many of Tardi Beg followers dispersed to plunder the enemy camp and he was left in the field thinly guarded. All this time Hemu had been holding 300 choice elephants and a force of select horsemen as a reserve in the centre. He promptly seized the opportunity and made a sudden charge upon Tardi Beg with this reserve."
The result was confusion and defeat for the Mughals. Hemu was helped by reinforcements from Alwar with a contingent commanded by Hazi Khan and desertions of various Mughal Commanders along with Pir Muhhammad Khan who fled away from the battle field to the utmost chagrin and surprise of Tardi Beg who followed suit.
Hemu won Delhi after a day's battle on October 6, 1556. Some 3000 soldiers died in this battle. However, Mughal forces lead by Tardi Beg Khan vacated Delhi after a day's fight and Hemu entered Delhi victorious under a royal canopy.

Hemu's Rajyabhishek (Coronation) : Sir Wolsey Haig[14] writes, "Hemu was so elated by the capture of Delhi as to believe that he had already reached the goal of his ambition."
Vincent A. Smith who puts Hemu as the third claimant to the sovereignty of Hindustan at the time, the other two being the Suris and Akbar, affirms that Hemu after his occupation[35] of Delhi came to the conclusion that he had a better claim to the throne for himself rather than on behalf of Adil Shah and ventured to assume the royal state under the style of Raja Vikramaditya or Vikramaditya, a title borne by several renowned Hindu Kings in ancient times. Hemu assumed the royal robes and declared himself the Emperor of India under the title of Vikramaditya.
His Afghan officers were reconciled to the ascendancy of an infidel by a liberal distribution of plunder,[8][29] and probably also by the fact that Hemu had proved to be a successful general.
Hemu had his formal Rajyabhishek or coronation following all Hindu religious ceremonies in Delhi and became the ruler under the title 'Raja Vikramaditya'. Hemu was crowned at Purana Qila, on 7 October 1556, in the presence of all Afghan Sardars and Hindu Senapatis (military commanders). The picture above shows a painting of the occasion of Hemu's coronation, where he is flanked by his Afghan and Hindu military commanders. K.K.Bhardwaj writes,[8] thousands of guests would have been invited, along with various Rajput chiefs and Afghan governors along with various scholars and Pandits and the festivities continued for three or four days. "Essential parts of a Hindu King's coronation are" writes, Sir Jadunath Sarkar,[36] "washing him (abbhishake) and holding the royal umbrella over his head (Chhatra-Dharam)" and Hemu must have followed these ancient traditions, accompanied by costly gifts and robes to priests. He made various[37] appointments on the occasion, appointing his brother Jujharu Rai as governor of Ajmer and his nephew Rammayya as a general in his army. He also appointed his various supporters as Chhaudhuris and Muqqudams based on their merit so that they continued to maintain their respective positions in the reign of Akbar.
Thus Hemu was the last Hindu Emperor (albeit for a short duration) in North India, after over three centuries of rule by various Islamic invaders and rulers. According to Abul Fazl, in Akbarnama, Hemu after winning Delhi planned to attack and win Kabul. He made several changes in his Army. He recurited many Hindus in his Army without removing any Afghan.

Administration under Hemu : Hemu revitalised the administrative set-up which had lagged after the demise of Sher Shah Suri. With his thorough knowledge of trade and commerce, which he achieved as Shangha-i-Bazar, injected fresh blood into the arteries of the mercantile system throughout the length and breadth of the country. He spared none indulging in black-marketing, hoarding, overcharging and less-weighing.[29] After his victory over Agra and Delhi, he dismissed all the corrupt officers and replaced them.[38] He also introduced coins bearing his pictures.

Second Battle of Panipat : Main article: Battle of Panipat (1556)
On hearing about Hemu's continuous victories and fall of large territories like Agra and Delhi from Akbar's control, the Mughal army at Kalanaur lost heart and many commanders refused to fight Hemu.[5] Most of the commanders advised Akbar to retreat to Kabul as he would be safer there. However, Bairam Khan, the guardian of Akbar and chief strategist for army matters, insisted on fighting Hemu in an effort to gain control of Delhi.
On November 5, 1556, the Mughal army met Hemu's army at the historic battle field of Panipat. Bairam Khan motivated his army by a religious speech and ordered them to move for battle; Akbar and Bairam Khan stayed back eight miles from the battle ground. However, Hemu led his large army himself, sitting atop an elephant. He was poised to achieve victory, when he was wounded in the eye by an arrow, and collapsed unconscious. This led to extreme confusion in the soldiers, as no commander was able to make coordinated decisions. Thus a sure victory was converted by a stroke of chance into defeat.
Unconscious, the almost dead Hemu was captured by Shah Qulin Khan and carried to the camp of Akbar and Bairam Khan to be executed. He was smitten first by Akbar himself, so that Akbar could earn the title of "Ghazi" (holy warrior). He was then beheaded by Bairam Khan.[39] His head was sent to Kabul, where it was hanged outside Delhi Darwaza, while his body was placed in a gibbet outside Purana Quila in Delhi.
After Hemu's death, a massacre was ordered by Bairam Khan of the followers of Hemu. Thousands of persons were killed to create terror among Hindus and minarets were built of the skulls of the dead. At least one painting of such minaretts is displayed in "Panipat Wars Museum" at Panipat in Haryana. Such minarets were still in existence about 60 years later as described by Petre Mundy, a British traveler who visited India during the time of Jahangir.[40]