Babur, born Zahīr ud-Dīn Muhammad on 14 February 1483 in Andijan, Fergana Valley (modern Uzbekistan), was the founder of the Mughal Empire in the Indian subcontinent. A descendant of Timur and Genghis Khan through his father and mother, respectively, he ascended to the throne of Fergana at 12, facing immediate opposition. After fluctuating fortunes in Central Asia, including the loss and recapture of Samarkand and the eventual loss of his ancestral territories to Muhammad Shaybani Khan, Babur turned his ambitions towards India. With support from the Safavid and Ottoman empires, he defeated Sultan Ibrahim Lodi at the First Battle of Panipat in 1526, laying the foundation for the Mughal Empire.

Babur's early years were marked by struggles for power among his relatives and regional nobles, leading to his eventual conquest of Kabul in 1504. His rule in Kabul was challenged by rebellions and the threat from the Uzbeks, but Babur managed to maintain his hold on the city while eyeing expansion into India. He capitalized on the decline of the Delhi Sultanate and the disarray among the Rajput kingdoms, notably defeating Rana Sanga at the Battle of Khanwa, which was more decisive for Mughal dominance in northern India than Panipat.

Throughout his life, Babur evolved from a staunch Muslim to a more tolerant ruler, allowing religious coexistence within his empire and promoting arts and sciences at his court. His memoirs, the Baburnama, written in Chaghatai Turkic, provide a detailed account of his life and the cultural and military landscape of the time. Babur married multiple times, fathering notable sons such as Humayun, who succeeded him. After his death in 1530 in Agra, Babur's remains were initially buried there but were later moved to Kabul as per his wishes. Today, he is celebrated as a national hero in Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, with his poetry and the Baburnama enduring as significant cultural contributions.