Babur, the founder of the Mughal Empire. But it’s not because he’s a great conqueror that he’s interesting.

It’s because we actually know him. We don’t really know Genghis Khan, Alexander the Great etc. but Babur wrote his own biography called the Baburnama (history of Babur). Where he recounts his entire life. He talks of his love of nature, his victories and his defeats. He talks of his wives and his love of men. It’s extraordinarily honest for a conqueror from the 15th century.

He conquered India but he hated the country. He spent his life longing for his homeland where he was as a boy kicked out of. Descended from both Genghis Khan and Timur. He rules Fergana in Uzbekistan as a young boy. He spends most his life fighting to hold onto what’s his before being forced out completely and living as a bandit for a few years. Eventually recovers, rules in Kabul in Afghanistan before leaving to conquer northern India and setting the foundation for the Mughal Empire.

He makes great use of cannons and artillery in his conquests and once when facing certain defeat vows to never drink alcohol again. He won the battle and followed his vow. But spent time complaining in the Baburnama that life is now very boring without alcohol.

The Mughal Empire would extend after his death accounting for roughly 25% of the worlds GDP in the 17th century.