Battle of Akshi (Archiyan) – June 1503

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Battle of Akshi (Archiyan) – June 1503

Babur moved to Tashkent, where he mainly depended on his maternal uncles. His stay in Tashkent was one of the low moments of his life, and in his autobiography, he states,

 "During my stay in Tashkent, I endured much poverty and humiliation. No country or hope of one!"

 Babur tried to regain Ferghana with his uncle’s help, but Tambol, who was controlling Ferghana, sought the help of Shaibani Khan, who was the most powerful man in Uzbekistan. Babur was homeless at that point and was desperately trying to establish his kingdom. Fighting Shaibani Khan wouldn’t be easy. One must amass a larger and more equipped force to counter him. Shaibani Khan commanded fear and respect from just about everyone. Gathering an army means luring people from his army and from others who wouldn’t fear him. Babu realized this was difficult and met with his uncle.

Babur's Maternal Uncle said, "Babur, we've faced poverty and humiliation for too long in Tashkent. We have a historical right to Ferghana. We are homeless now. It's time to regain Ferghana and restore our honor. We need a plan."

 Babur said, "You're right, Uncle. I can't bear this life any longer. Let's gather our strength and resources and prepare to reclaim Ferghana."

 The uncle said, “The situation is getting worse, Babur. Tambol has called upon Shaibani Khan for support. He's the most powerful man in Uzbekistan. Are we prepared for this?"

 Babur said, "Shaibani Khan is a formidable opponent. But that shouldn’t deter us from claiming what is rightfully ours.  We must fight for our land. We'll gather as many loyal warriors as we can. It's do or die."

 Finally, both armies met at Ferghana Valley. Babur’s forces were much smaller, and Shaibani Khan’s forces were professional and better equipped. As the sun rose over the valley on the day of the battlefield, the two armies converged in a maelstrom of dust and chaos. The clash of steel, the thunder of horses, the musket's constant firing, and the frequent thunderous sound of the cannon’s firing filled the air. The cannon balls fell upon people, and body parts were flying all over the valley. The smoke from the burning flesh rose and filled the air, and often, it was difficult to distinguish gun smoke from the smoke from the bodies visually. Seeing the massive death toll, the heavens themselves seemed to weep as the earth shook with the fury of their struggle.

 Amidst the tumultuous battle cries, Shaibani Khan's forces, like a relentless avalanche, closed in on the beleaguered Babur. Shaibani Khan inflicted a massive defeat on Babur and his uncles. Seeing the inevitability of the defeat,

 Babur's Uncle said, "Babur, we suffered a devastating defeat. c is too strong. Our forces are scattered, and I'm about to be imprisoned. You must flee."

 "I won't abandon you, Uncle, but you're right. If I stay here, I'll never regain control. I'll head to Kabul to gather strength and plan for the future.". We can rebuild our forces and make a fresh start." I'll turn this setback into an opportunity. I'll return to Ferghana one day, and Shaibani Khan will regret the day he crossed paths with me."

 These words would not end up being entirely correct. Babur would never see his uncle again.

 Babur was still young and ambitious, with plenty of combat experience. Once he realized there was very little chance of defeating Shaibani Khan, he turned his eyes toward Kabul.