On October 27, 1605, Akbar the Great of the Mughal Dynasty of India died. He is considered the true founder and greatest emperor of the Mughal Empire. Stroll through the City of Victory, peruse its planning layout, architectural remains and sculptural style, and you can still feel the kingly style and grandeur of its founder, Akbar the Great.
The City of Victory
Approach Akbar the Great
◎ Writing, photography / Wang Jiahong
△ To commemorate the victory over Gujarat, Akbar the Great ordered the construction of this gate of victory. The high steps make the city gate even more majestic and awe-inspiring.
The vast and profound Indian civilization has created a glorious and unique history and created a rich and diverse culture. 40 kilometres west of the hustle and bustle of Agra, there is an ancient complex built more than 400 years ago, Fatehpur Sikri. The ancient capital, which means the City of Victory, has been transformed into an abandoned royal city after 14 years of use. As you wander through the planning layout, architectural remains and sculptural style, you can still feel the kingly style of its founder, Akbar the Great, and the magnificent image of the royal city.
The invasion of Medieval Islamic civilization had a profound impact on Indian society and people's lives. In the 11th century, the Turks of Central Asia invaded India and established a political power, which was the true islamic conquest of India. Thereafter, it was not until the establishment of the Mughal Dynasty that a great empire in Indian history was achieved. Akbar was the true founder and greatest emperor of the Mughal Empire. During his long reign he conquered all of northern India and expanded the empire's territory to southern India for the first time.
The corridor from the palace to the Jama Mosque is lined with trees and distant buildings pointing directly to the sky.
△ Portrait of Akbar the Great. Akbar was the third-generation ruler of the Mughal dynasty of India, and he is considered the true founder and greatest emperor of the Mughal Empire.
It is said that there is a village of Siri near a rocky mountain 40 km west of Agra, where the Islamic sage Shakikh salim Chisthi preached, and Akbar, eager for a successor, arrived here with his wives to ask for a son. The following year Akbar was born, and as a sign of gratitude and respect for the Sufi saint, in 1569 Akbar built the victorious city near the saint's residence. In 1571, Akbar moved the imperial capital from Agra to this place, and then Akbar went out and conquered Gujarat in 1572, and in order to celebrate this victory, Akbar ordered the construction of the Triumphal Arch, the Gate of Victory, in the new capital.
The imposing Jama Mosque, the roof of the house is covered with small pavilions, delicate and flexible and heavy solemnity.
Strolling through this expansive red sandstone king city, you can't help but marvel at the architectural style of this sedate and ornate building, with elements of ancient Persian, Islamic, Central Asian nomads and Indian styles looming, and how Akbar the Great fused a variety of cultures and religions into this building, so that the cultures of different peoples were respected.
△ The burial place of the Sufi sage sheikh Shalim Chisti of Islam. Because the saint accurately predicted the birth of Akbar the Great's eldest son, there are still many women who seek children to tie a ribbon to the marble screen around the cemetery.
Restoring the glory of his ancestor Timur had always been the dream of Akbar the Great, who used the Persian style in the overall layout of the royal city; as a nomadic people from Afghanistan, he designed single buildings in the form of Arab and Central Asian tents; he built mosques in the palace complex, using many Islamic elements to meet the needs of Islam; to cater to the majority of the population of Hinduism, he absorbed a large amount of Indian style in detail carving and polishing, even taking into account the less influential Buddhism and Jainism.
△ The exquisite pool on the south side of the Bashi Courtyard, typical of the Persian Paradise Garden style, has a platform in the center of the pool and four bridges leading to the surroundings.
Believers in the Jama Mosque. After the royal city was abandoned, the mosque in the city has been in use to this day.
The open layout of the royal city and the consideration of details are the crystallization of the wisdom of Akbar the Great, and the one room and one pavilion, brick and stone all reflect his political strategy, reflect his determination to devote himself to religious reform and national integration, and reflect his good intentions and brilliant achievements.
Unfortunately, due to the drought and lack of water in the region, the local water source was not enough to support the huge court and the city population, and only 14 years later, the royal city was abandoned, but the mosque in the city is still in use today. Although the City of Victory was only an imperial capital for 14 years, because every detail of it truly recorded and reflected the enlightened policies of Akbar as an emperor for religion and the state, advocating the integration of different ethnic styles, especially the combination of Islamic and Indian styles, which had a profound impact on the development of art and architecture in later generations.
△ There is a small pavilion on the platform at the top of the private parlor, on which Akbar the Great debates with people of different religious beliefs and cultural backgrounds.
The interior of the private parlor, with intricately carved stone columns in the center, is a very unique style.
Stepping out of the royal city, looking up at the tall victory gate, taking a nap on the steps, the figure of Akbar the Great and his family members suddenly appearing in his mind, and the huge court porter team leaving the royal city in an endless stream What would it be like? What would be the state of mind of Akbar the Great abandoning these exquisite buildings to which he had devoted countless efforts? History did not give him a chance to grieve, and he quickly led a large army to fight in northern Pakistan and recaptured Kabul, the birthplace of the Mughals.
10 km north of Agra is the mausoleum of Akbar the Great. It is also a building designed by himself and has both Islamic and Indian architectural styles. Even after his death, he demonstrated through his mausoleum the importance of ethnic integration and religious tolerance, enabling the policy of multi-ethnic and multi-religious coexistence he pioneered to survive future generations.
△ Victory City at sunset. Although the City of Victory was only the imperial capital for 14 years, its unique architectural style had a profound impact on the development of art and architecture in later generations.
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This article is excerpted from the January 2013 issue of Civilization
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