India: Emperor Akbar controlling an elephant in musth during a hunt (c. early 17th century)

Akbar (Urdu: جلال الدین محمد اکبر , Hindi: जलालुद्दीन मुहम्मद अकबर, Jalāl ud-Dīn Muhammad Akbar), also known as Shahanshah Akbar-e-Azam or Akbar the Great (25 October 1542 - 27 October 1605), was the third Mughal Emperor. At the end of his reign in 1605 the Mughal empire covered most of the northern and central India. At the end of his reign in 1605 the Mughal empire covered most of the northern and central India. Akbar was thirteen years old when he ascended the Mughal throne in Delhi (February 1556), following the death of his father Humayun. During his reign, he eliminated military threats from the powerful Pashtun descendants of Sher Shah Suri, and at the Second Battle of Panipat he decisively defeated the newly It took him nearly two more decades to consolidate his power and bring all the parts of northern and central India into his direct realm. He dominated the whole of the Indian Subcontinent and he ruled the greater part of it as emperor. As an emperor, Akbar solidified his rule by pursuing diplomacy with the powerful Hindu Rajput caste, and by marrying Rajput princesses.<br/><br/><br/>He dominated the whole of the Indian Subcontinent and he ruled the greater part of it as emperor. Akbar's reign significantly influenced art and culture in the country. He was a distinguished patron of art and architecture. Besides encouraging the development of the Mughal school, he also patronised the European style of painting. He was fond of literature, and had several Sanskrit works translated into Persian and Persian scriptures translated in Sanskrit, in In addition to having many Persian works illustrated by painters from his court.<br/><br/><br/>He was fond of literature, and had several Sanskrit works translated into Persian and Persian scriptures translated in Sanskrit, in During the early years of his reign, he showed an intolerant attitude towards Hindus and other religions, but later exercised tolerance towards non- His administration included n