Okay, you all seem really excited about Mughal history. 😂 So my friends, let me tell you the story of the early years of Babur, the first Mughal Emperor, and how he came to own a golden jeweled drinking cup MADE OUT OF HIS ENEMY’S SKULL.
Follow me to Central Asia in the late 15th/early 16th century, where Babur is born in Ferghana. Through his father Umar Sheikh Mirza he’s descended from Timur/Tamerlane; through his mother, Genghis Khan. So he has SOME LINEAGE right there.
Central Asia is hella unstable (AND HELLA METAL). All male members of the ruling family have equal claim to rule which means it’s FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT 24/7. So it's unfortunate that when Babur’s dad dies in a freak pigeon roost disaster (srsly), Babur is only 11.
LUCKILY, Babur has the protection of his formidable grandmother Aisan Daulat Begum. She was the first wife of the Khan of Moghulistan and by all accounts had Seen Some Shit (tm). Imagine her grizzled, smoking a cigar. Or something more accurate, idk.
Who did the nobility go to when they discovered a plot to overthrow Babur and replace him with his brother Jehangier? Aisan Daulat Begum. Who made sure Babur didn’t die as a wee boy, and taught him to be a badass? Aisan Daulat Begum. 
At age 15, Babur tries to expand his lands. He invades Samarkand - and gains Samarkand! - then loses it… and loses Ferghana too. Whoops. But it’s okay! He takes Samarkand again… and loses it in a 5 month siege to the Khan of the Uzbeks, Muhammad Shaybani.
Shaybani is super good at war and taking over lands and stuff, but is an absolute douchecanoe to women. He forcibly marries Babur’s maternal aunt Mihr Nigar Khanum, and THEN after the siege of Samarkand forces Babur to hand over his sister Khanzada.
He marries Khanzada aaaaand promptly divorces Mihr Nigar. Then when Khanzada falls into disfavour for siding with her bro (like wuh?? Shaybani c’mon) he divorces her and marries her off to one of his men.
Here's your regular reminder that women in history were often powerful and cool, but also being a woman largely sucked meant you were treated like trash. Anyway. Where was I? BACK TO THE TALE OF SKULL CUP.
BABUR IS NOT A FAN OF SHAYBANI. But Babur is landless, glory gone, licking his wounds in Tashkent. What’s a landless prince to do???
Conquer Kabul, I guess.
Conquer Kabul, I guess.
(And conquer Samarkand. And lose it again. This is a theme.)
(I literally can’t keep up with all the battles and wars and betrayals, Game of Thrones has NOTHING on 16th century Central Asia.)
(I literally can’t keep up with all the battles and wars and betrayals, Game of Thrones has NOTHING on 16th century Central Asia.)
Babur’s luck turns when he allies/offers his loyalty to Shah Ismail I. haaiii safavids!
Here’s a picture depicting their relationship. Pretty sure Babur would say he wasn’t that obsequious though.
Here’s a picture depicting their relationship. Pretty sure Babur would say he wasn’t that obsequious though.
While Ismail and Babur are buddying up, Shaybani is happily collecting the nations of the Timurid Empire/Central Asia. But then he’s killed, along with Khanzada’s new hubby, by Ismail I in the Battle of Marv and Khanzada is FINALLY returned to her brother.
BABUR’S LUCK IS FINALLY TURNING HOORAY. And even better, Shah Ismail helps Babur celebrate by sending him a gift....
*drum roll*
.....Shaybani's skull bejewelled and painted in gold, fashioned into a goblet.
*drum roll*
.....Shaybani's skull bejewelled and painted in gold, fashioned into a goblet.
Hey let’s talk about historical accuracy!
Can I find a reference to the wine cup skull in my copy of the Baburnama, Babur's memoirs? No.
Am I sharing this anyway? Hell yes. Also the anecdote is shared in a huge number of scholarly books - so.
Can I find a reference to the wine cup skull in my copy of the Baburnama, Babur's memoirs? No.
Am I sharing this anyway? Hell yes. Also the anecdote is shared in a huge number of scholarly books - so.
Anyway, that's your Mughal History 101 anecdote for the day. What follows next is - of course - the invasion of India, and everyone's favourite Babur story, you know, the one about the tower of skulls. Next time!
