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{{short description|General, Wazir and King (1501–1556)}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Infobox royalty
| name = Hemu
| regnal name = Vikramaditya
| title = Maharaja Hemchandra Vikramaditya
| | image = Hemu captured by Akbar's forces in 1556.jpg
| caption = Hemu captured by [[Akbar]]'s forces, painted by Shankar, {{circa|1603–05}}
| reign = 7 October 1556– 5 November 1556
| reign-type = Rule
| coronation = 7 October 1556
| birth_date = 1501
| birth_place = [[Alwar]], Rajasthan
| death_date = 5 November 1556
| death_place = [[Panipat]], Haryana
| place of burial =
| predecessor = [[Adil Shah Suri]]
| successor = [[Akbar]]
| father = Rai Puran Das
| mother =
| religion = [[Hinduism]]
}}

'''Hemu''' ({{IPAc-en|'|h|eː|ˌ|m|uː}}; also known as '''Hemu Vikramaditya''' and '''Hemchandra Vikramaditya'''; died 5 November 1556) was an Indian emperor who previously served as a general and [[Vizier|Wazir]] of [[Muhammad Adil Shah (died 1557)|Adil Shah Suri]] of [[Sur Empire]] during a period in Indian history when [[Mughal Empire|Mughals]] and [[Sur Empire|Afghans]] were vying for power across North India. He fought Afghan rebels across North India from [[Punjab region|Punjab]] to [[Bengal]] and [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] forces of [[Humayun]] and [[Akbar]] in [[Agra]] and [[Delhi]], winning 22 battles for [[Adil Shah Suri]].

Hemu claimed royal status after defeating Akbar's Mughal forces on 7 October 1556 in the [[Battle of Tughlaqabad|Battle of Delhi]] and assumed the title of Vikramaditya that had been adopted by many Indian kings and emperors in the past. A month later, Hemu was wounded by a chance arrow and captured unconscious during the [[Second Battle of Panipat]] and was subsequently beheaded by [[Akbar]], who took the title of [[Ghazi (warrior)|Ghazi]].

[[File:Akbar’s victory over Hemu at the Second Battle of Panipat. Mughal-style at Kishangarh, North India, circa early 18th century.jpg|thumb|Hemu has his hands bound is being crushed by the elephant, which is ridden by Akbar. Mughal style painting, circa 18th century]]

==Early life==

Contemporary accounts of Hemu's early life are fragmentary, due to his humble background, and often biased, because they were written by Mughal historians such as [[`Abd al-Qadir Bada'uni|Bada'uni]] and [[Abu'l-Fazl ibn Mubarak|Abu'l-Fazl]] who served in the court of Akbar. Modern historians differ on his family's ancestral home and caste,{{sfn|Richards|1995|p=13|ps=: Richards states that Hemu was a [[Vaishya]]. Others name him a Gaur Brahmin,{{sfn|Sarkar|1960|p=66}} a Dhūsar Bhargav{{sfn|Majumdar|1984|pp=94, 97}} a Dhusar,{{sfn|Tripathi|1960|p=158}} a "Dhusar or Bhargava, who claim to be Gaur Brahmins",{{sfn|Chandra|2004|p=91}} a Dhusar, a "caste of the Vaish or Baniyas, who now claim to be Bharagava Brahmins",{{sfn|Qanungo|1965|p=448}} etc.}} and the place and year of his birth. What is generally accepted is that he was born in a Hindu family of limited means, and that he spent his childhood in the town of [[Rewari]] south-west of Delhi. Most historians believe that Hemu belonged to the Dhusar (also spelled, Dhansar) section of the Baqqal or [[Vaishya]] caste and Quanungo glosses that while Hemu was born a Dhusar Baniya, the community now regards itself to be [[Bhargava|Bhargava Brahmins]]. His father Puran Das, was spiritually minded, a follower of [[Hith Harivansh Mahaprabhu|Hith Harivansh]], and frequently absent from home while touring to spread Harivansh's teachings . Due to his family's financial condition, Hemu at a young age started working as a tradesman,either as a green-grocer or selling saltpeter .{{sfnm|Tripathi|1960|1p=158|Sarkar|1960|2p=66|Majumdar|1984|3p=94}}<ref name="Smith">{{cite book |last=Smith |first=Vincent Arthur |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=y_BBAAAAIAAJ&pg=FA34& |title=Akbar, the great Mughal 1542-1605 |publisher=Clarendon Press |year=1919 |page=34-35 |authorlink=Vincent Arthur Smith}}</ref><ref name="Erskine">{{cite book |last=Erskine |first=William |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=1bYoAAAAYAAJ&pg=FA490& |title=A History of India Under the Two First Sovereigns of the House of Taimur, Báber and Humáyun, Volume 2 |publisher=Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans |year=1854 |page=490-493 |authorlink=William Erskine (historian)}}</ref><ref name="Sarker">{{cite book |last=Sarker |first=Sunil Kumar |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=H8GH0MBWfcoC&pg=FA36& |title=Himu, the Hindu "Hero" of Medieval India: Against the Background of Afghan-Mughal Conflicts |date=1 January 1994 |publisher=Atlantic Publishers & Dist |isbn=978-81-7156-483-5 |pages=36–56}}</ref>

==Rise to prominence==
Details of Hemu's early career are vague and involve much speculation. Following his start as a seller of saltpetre, he is said to have been a trader or a weighman in the market. After [[Sher Shah Suri]]'s death in 1545, his son [[Islam Shah]] became the ruler of the [[Sur Empire]] and during his rule, Hemu rose to become the superintendent of the market in Delhi with some military experience under his belt.{{sfn|Chandra|2004|p=92}}{{sfn|Qanungo|1965|p=448}} Hemu is subsequently said to have been appointed the Chief of Intelligence and Superintendent of Posts.{{sfn|Qanungo|1965|p=448}} Other sources also place him as a surveyor of the imperial kitchens.{{sfn|Tripathi|1960|p=158}}

Islam Shah, who liked to place Hindus in command alongside Afghan officers so that they could spy on each other, recognised Hemu's soldierly qualities and assigned him responsibilities equivalent to those of a high-ranking officer.{{sfn|Qanungo|1965|loc=p. 448|ps=: Qanungo states that Islam Shah raised Hemu to the position that Brahmjit Gaur held under Sher Shah Suri. Brahmjit Gaur has been described as a "fort general".{{sfn|Myer|1995|p=48}}}} Hemu was then dispatched to monitor the movements of Humayun's half-brother, [[Kamran Mirza]], in the neighbourhood of [[Mankot]].{{sfn|Qanungo|1965|p=448}}

Islam Shah died on 30 October 1553{{sfn|Tripathi|1960|p=170}} and was succeeded by his 12-year-old son, [[Firuz Shah Suri|Firoz Khan]], who was killed within three days of his accession by his uncle, [[Muhammad Adil Shah (died 1557)|Adil Shah Suri]]. The new ruler was however more interested in the pursuit of pleasure than affairs of the state.{{sfn|Sarkar|1960|p=66}} But Hemu threw in his lot with Adil Shah and his military successes led him to being elevated to the position of Chief Minister and the general supervisor of the state.{{sfn|Tripathi|1960|p=158}} According to Abu'l-Fazl, Hemu "undertook all appointments and dismissals, and the distribution of justice" in the Shah's court.{{sfn|Qanungo|1965|p=448}}

== Military career ==

[[File:Fort Gwalior.jpg|thumb|[[Gwalior Fort]], the base for many of Hemu's campaigns.]]

Hemu, besides being a highly capable civil administrator, was also the finest military mind on the Afghan side after the demise of Sher Shah Suri.{{sfn|Sarkar|1960|p=66}} He is reputed to have waged and won as many as 22 battles against the opponents of Adil Shah.{{sfn|Chandra|2004|p=92}} Many of these battles were against Afghans who had rebelled against Adil Shah. One of these was [[Taj Khan Karrani]], a member of Islam Shah's court who, rather than serving Adil Shah, decided to flee with his followers from [[Gwalior]] towards the east. He was overtaken by Hemu at Chibramau and defeated, but somehow managed to escape and plundered and robbed his way to [[Chunar]]. Hemu gave chase again and fought Karrani at Chunar and was victorious once more. However, just as at Chibramau, Karrani gave him the slip again. Hemu asked Adil Shah—who had accompanied him—to remain at Chunar and proceeded to chase Karrani all the way to Bengal.{{sfn|Tripathi|1960|p=159}}

[[File:Agra 03-2016 16 Agra Fort.jpg|thumb|[[Agra Fort]], captured by Hemu before the Battle of Tughlaqabad.]]
After the victory of Humayun over Adil Shah's brother-in-law, [[Sikandar Shah Suri]], on 23 July 1555, the Mughals finally recovered Delhi and Agra. Hemu was in Bengal when Humayun died on 26 January 1556. His death gave Hemu an ideal opportunity to defeat the Mughals. He started a rapid march from Bengal and drove the Mughals out of Bayana, Etawah, Sambhal, Kalpi, and Narnaul.{{sfn|Chandra|2004|p=91}} In Agra, the governor evacuated the city and fled without a fight upon hearing of Hemu's invasion.{{sfn|Sarkar|1960|p=67}}

Hemu's most notable victory took place shortly thereafter against the Mughals at Tughlaqabad.

=== Battle of Tughlaqabad ===
{{Main article|Battle of Tughlaqabad}}

[[Tardi Beg Khan]], who was Akbar's governor in Delhi, wrote to his masters who were camped at [[Jalandhar]], that Hemu had captured Agra and intended to attack the capital Delhi which could not be defended without reinforcements. While the main army could not be spared due to the belligerent presence of Sikandar Shah Suri, Akbar's regent, Bairam Khan, realising the gravity of the situation, sent his most capable lieutenant, Pir Muhammad Sharwani, to Delhi. Meanwhile, Tardi Beg Khan had also ordered all the Mughal nobles in the vicinity to muster their forces at Delhi. A council of war was convened where it was decided that the Mughals would stand and fight Hemu, and plans were made accordingly.{{sfn|Tripathi|1960|p=174}}

After winning Agra, Hemu, who had set off in pursuit of the city's governor, reached [[Tughlaqabad]], a village just outside Delhi where he ran into Tardi Beg Khan's forces. The Mughals while outnumbered, put up a gallant fight against Hemu's forces which, according to Bada'uni,{{sfn|Chandra|2004|p=91}} included 1000 [[war elephants]], 50,000 cavalry, 51 cannons and 500 [[Falconet (cannon)|falconets]].{{sfn|Sarkar|1960|p=67}} [[Jadunath Sarkar]] describes the battle thus:{{sfn|Sarkar|1960|p=67}}

{{quote|The Mughal army was thus drawn up: Abdullah Uzbeg commanded the Van, Haidar Muhammad the right wing, Iskandar Beg the left, and Tardi Beg himself the centre. The choice Turki cavalry in the van and left wing attacked and drove back the enemy forces before them, and followed far in pursuit. In this assault the victors captured 400 elephants and slew 3,000 men of the Afghan army. Imagining victory already gained, many of Tardi Beg's followers dispersed to plunder the enemy camp, and he was left in the field very thinly guarded. All this time Hemu had been holding 300 choice elephants and a force of select horsemen as a reserve in the centre. He promptly seized the opportunity and made a sudden charge upon Tardi Beg with this reserve. At the impetuous advance of the huge beasts and the dense cavalry behind them, many of the Mughal officers fled away in terror without waiting to offer a defence. At last Tardi Beg himself took the same course.}}

Hemu's push was also bolstered by the timely arrival of fresh reinforcements from Alwar under the command of Haji Khan.{{sfn|Tripathi|1960|p=174}} When the previously victorious Mughal vanguard and left wing returned from their pursuit, they realised that the day was lost and dispersed without offering a fight. Hemu took possession of Delhi after a day's battle on 7 October 1556.{{sfn|Sarkar|1960|p=67}}

=== As Raja Vikramaditya ===

[[File:Maharaja Hemu Bhargava - Victor of Twenty Two Pitched Battles, 1910s.jpg|{{Circa|1910s}} portrayal of Hemu Vikramaditya|thumb]]
After taking control of Delhi, Hemu claimed imperial status{{sfn|Richards|1995}} and assumed the title of [[Vikramaditya]] (or ''Bikramjit''), an appellation used by a number of Hindu kings and emperors in India's ancient past. What this signifies is, however, a subject of speculation among historians.

Historians such as [[Satish Chandra]] do not believe that this implies that Hemu had declared himself to be an ''independent'' emperor. He reasons that, for one, none of the Mughal authors of the time explicitly say so in their histories. In the Akbarnama, Abu'l-Fazl writes that after Hemu's victory at Tughlaqabad, "the ambition of sovereignty" was stirring within him. According to Bada'uni, Hemu took on the title of ''Bikramjit'' like a great Raja of Hindustan. Another contemporary historian named [[Nizamuddin Ahmad]] merely states that Hemu took on said title, but refrains from saying anything more. Secondly, it would have been an ill-advised move as Hemu's military force was composed almost entirely of Afghans. According to Bada'uni, there were also some murmurings against Hemu amongst the Afghans who were "sick of his usurpation … prayed for his downfall".{{sfn|Chandra|2004|p=92}}

Other historians describe Hemu's claim to be an attempt to set himself up as an independent ruler,{{sfn|Wink|2012}} throwing off the yoke of Adil Shah's authority.{{sfn|Roy|2004|p=73}} [[Abraham Eraly]] quotes [[Ahmad Yadgar]]{{sfn|Hadi|1994|ps=: Modern critical scholarship however believes Yadgar's book to be of questionable authenticity.}} who states in his history of the Afghans that Hemu "raised the imperial canopy over him, and ordered coin to be struck in his name". This was done in connivance with the Afghans to whom he had liberally distributed the spoils. But Eraly notes that Hemu continued to humour Adil Shah with professions of fealty.{{sfn|Eraly|2000|p=120}}

Whether he had set himself up as an independent emperor or not, Hemu Vikramaditya's reign was to be short-lived as he would again clash with the Mughals only a month later. This time the battlefield would be at [[Panipat]], not far from the site where Akbar's grandfather, [[Babur]], had [[First Battle of Panipat|been victorious]] against the [[Lodi Empire|Lodis]] 30 years earlier.

=== Second Battle of Panipat ===
{{Main article|Second Battle of Panipat}}

[[File:The defeat of Hemu, Akbarnama.jpg|thumb|''The defeat of Hemu'', a {{circa|1590s}} painting by Kankar from the [[Akbarnama]]. Neither Hemu nor Akbar are depicted here suggesting that this might be part of a double-page composition.<ref>{{cite web|title=Mughal Painting Under Akbar: the Melbourne Hamza-nama and Akbar-nama paintings|url=http://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/essay/mughal-painting-under-akbar-the-melbourne-hamza-nama-and-akbar-nama-paintings/|website=www.ngv.vic.gov.au|access-date=18 July 2016}}</ref>]]
On hearing the disastrous news from Tughlaqabad, Akbar immediately set off for Delhi. Ali Quli Khan Shaibani who had been sent ahead with 10,000-strong cavalry force chanced upon Hemu's artillery which was being transported under a weak guard. He was easily able to capture the entire train of artillery. This would prove to be a costly loss for Hemu.{{sfn|Sarkar|1960|p=68}}{{sfn|Tripathi|1960|p=175}}

On 5 November 1556, the Mughal army met Hemu's army at the historic battlefield of Panipat. Akbar and Bairam Khan stayed in the rear, eight miles from the battleground.{{sfn|Sarkar|1960|p=69}} The Mughal army was led by Ali Quli Khan Shaibani in the centre with Sikandar Khan Uzbak on the right and Abdulla Khan Uzbak towards the left and the vanguard led by Husain Quli Beg and Shah Quli Mahram. Hemu led his army himself into battle, atop an elephant named ''Hawai''.{{sfn|Roy|2004|p=76}} His left was led by his sister's son, Ramya, and the right by Shadi Khan Kakkar.{{sfn|Sarkar|1960|p=68}} It was a desperately contested battle but the advantage tilted in favour of Hemu. Both the wings of the Mughal army had been driven back and Hemu moved his contingent of war elephants and cavalry forward to crush their centre. Hemu was on the cusp of victory when he was wounded in the eye by a Mughal arrow and collapsed unconscious. This triggered a panic in his army which broke formation and fled.{{sfn|Tripathi|1960|p=176}}{{sfn|Chandra|2004|p=93}} The battle was lost; 5000 dead lay on the field of battle and many more were killed while fleeing.{{sfn|Sarkar|1960|p=69}}

==Death==

The elephant carrying the wounded Hemu was captured and led to the Mughal camp. Bairam Khan asked the 13-year-old Akbar to behead Hemu. According to Akbar's later courtier [[Abu'l-Fazl ibn Mubarak]], he refused to take the sword to a dead man. However, this is not attested by contemporary chronicler Muhammad Arif Qandhari who composed the "Tarikh-i-Akbari" states that Akbar followed Bairam Khan's advice and himself beheaded Hemu and took the title of [[Ghazi (warrior)|Ghazi]].<ref>{{Cite book |author=Ashirbadi Lal Srivastava|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/837892 |title=Akbar the Great. |date=1962 |publisher=Shiva Lal Agarwala|page=10|quote=Bairam Khan asked his royal ward to earn the title of ghazi by slaying the infidel Hemu, with his own hands. We are told by a contemporary writer, Muhammad Arif Qandh that he complied with the request and severed Hemu’s head from his body. Abul Fazl’s statement that he refused to kill a dying man is obviously wrong|language=English |oclc=837892}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|author=Kishori Saran Lal|author-link=K. S. Lal|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HmBuAAAAMAAJ|title=Theory and Practice of Muslim State in India |date=1999|publisher=Aditya Prakashan|page=67|quote=It may be recalled that as an adolescent, Akbar had earned the title of Ghazi by beheading the defenseless infidel Himu|isbn=978-81-86471-72-2 |language=en}}</ref>{{sfn|Chandra|2004|p=93}} The account of Akbar's refusal to behead Hemu is probably a later invention of his courtiers.<ref>{{Cite book|author=S. Roy|chapter=AKBAR|editor=R.C. Majumdar|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kHpDAAAAYAAJ |title=The History and Culture of the Indian People: The Mughal empire |date=1974 |publisher=Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan|page=106|quote=Bairam Khan begged him to slay Himu with his own hands in order to gain the reward of Jihad (crusade against infidels) and the title of Ghazi (hero combating infiedels). Akbar accordingly struck Himu with his sword. The story of Akbar's magnanimity and refusal to kill a fallen foe seems to be a later courtly invention|language=en}}</ref> Hemu's head was sent to [[Kabul]] while his body was [[gibbet]]ed on a gate in Delhi.{{sfn|Tripathi|1960|p=176}} A minaret was subsequently constructed of the heads of the other dead.{{sfn|Chandra|2004|p=93}}

===Aftermath===
[[File:Mughal miniature painting from an Akbarnama manuscript depicting a tower of skulls being built with the remains of Hemu's soldiers and supporters, circa 1590.webp|thumb|Mughal miniature painting from an Akbarnama manuscript depicting a tower of skulls being built with the remains of Hemu's soldiers and supporters, circa 1590]]
Hemu's family who lived in Machari (near [[Alwar]]) was captured by Pir Muhammad, a Mughal officer who had fought at Panipat. Pir Muhammad offered to spare the life of Hemu's elderly father if he converted to Islam. When the old man refused, he was executed.{{sfn|Tripathi|1960|loc=p. 177|ps=: Tripathi quotes from the [[Akbarnama]]:<ref>{{cite book|author1=Abu'l-Fazl|author-link1=Abu'l-Fazl ibn Mubarak|title=Akbarnama|url=http://persian.packhum.org/persian/main?url=pf%3Ffile%3D00701022%26ct%3D18|access-date=8 July 2016|chapter=Vol II, Chapter XI|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160815184219/http://persian.packhum.org/persian/main?url=pf%3Ffile%3D00701022%26ct%3D18|archive-date=15 August 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>
{{quote|The place was strong and there was much fighting, and the father of Hemū was captured and brought alive before the Nāṣir-al-mulk. The latter called upon him to change his religion. The old man answered, "for eighty years I've worshipped my God, according to this religion. Why should I change it at this time, and why should I, merely from fear of my life, and without understanding it come into your way of worship."

Pir Muḥammad treated his words as if he heard them not, and answered him with the tongue of the sword.}}}} However, Hemu's wife did manage to escape.{{sfn|Chandra|2004|p=93}}{{sfn|Tripathi|1960|p=177}}

With the passing of Hemu, Adil Shah's fortunes also took a turn for the worse. He was defeated and killed by [[Ghiyasuddin Bahadur Shah II|Khizr Khan]], son of Muhammad Shah of Bengal, in April 1557.{{sfn|Chandra|2004|p=93}}{{sfn|Tripathi|1960|p=177}}

The spoils from the battle at Panipat included 120 of Hemu's war elephants whose destructive rampages so impressed the Mughals that the animals soon became an integral part of their military strategies.{{sfn|Roy|2013|p=47}}

==Legacy==
[[File:Statue of Hem Chandra Vikramaditya at Panipat.JPG|thumb|A statue of Hemu at Panipat in modern [[Haryana]]]]
Hemu's rise from his humble beginnings in Rewari to the assumption of the imperial title of ''Raja Vikramaditya'' is considered a notable turning point in history. But if not for the stray arrow in a battle where he was in a position of strength, Hemu Vikramaditya could well have brought about a restoration of a "Sanskritic monarchical tradition" to a region which had been subject to Muslim rule for centuries.{{sfn|Richards|1995}} However, Given the Hemu's army and administrative base consisted of ethnic afghans loyal to 'Sur Dynasty', the feasibility of him retaining the royal status is questioned. it would have been an ill-advised move as Hemu's military force was composed almost entirely of Afghans. According to Bada'uni, there were also some murmurings against Hemu amongst the Afghans who were "sick of his usurpation … prayed for his downfall".{{sfn|Chandra|2004|p=92}}

Even Hemu's enemies were in grudging admiration of him. Abu'l-Fazl praises his lofty spirit, courage, and enterprise, wishing that young Akbar or perhaps a wise member of his court had deigned to keep Hemu prisoner rather than executing him, in the hope that he could have been persuaded to join imperial Mughal service where he would surely have distinguished himself.{{sfn|Chandra|2004|p=93}}

Hemu's supporters erected a memorial for him at Panipat now known as [[Hemu's Samadhi Sthal]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Hemu's Samadhi Sthal|url=http://haryanatourism.gov.in/showpage.aspx?contentid=5380|website=Haryana Tourism|access-date=13 July 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Places Of Interest / Hemu's Samadhi Sthal|url=http://panipat.gov.in/tourism.html|website=panipat.gov.in|access-date=13 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160628025108/http://panipat.gov.in/tourism.html|archive-date=28 June 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Chunar Fort]]
* [[Third Battle of Panipat]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|2}}

==References==
{{ref begin}}
* {{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qoRDAAAAYAAJ | title=Military History of India | publisher=Orient Longmans | last=Sarkar | first=Jadunath | author-link=Jadunath Sarkar | year=1960 | pages=66–69 | isbn=9780861251551 }}
* {{cite book|last=Tripathi|first=Ram Prasad|title=Rise and Fall of the Mughal Empire|year=1960|edition=2nd|pages=158–77|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uK8qAAAAYAAJ }}
* {{cite book | chapter=Hemu: A forgotten Hindu Hero | title=[[The History and Culture of the Indian People]] | volume=7: The Mughal Empire | publisher=Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan | last=Majumdar | first=Ramesh Chandra | author-link=Ramesh Chandra Majumdar | year=1984 }}
* {{cite book|last=Chandra|first=Satish|author-link=Satish Chandra|title=Medieval India: From Sultanate To The Mughals, Part II: Mughal Empire (1526–1748)|date=2004|edition=Third|publisher=Har-Anand Publications|isbn=9788124110669|pages=91–93|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0Rm9MC4DDrcC|access-date=17 November 2014 }}
* {{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qrY9AAAAIAAJ | title=Sher Shah and his Times | publisher=Orient Longmans | last=Qanungo | first=Kalika Ranjan | year=1965 | pages=448–49 }}
* {{cite book|editor1-last=Myer|editor1-first=Hanna|title=India 2001 : reference encyclopedia.|date=1995|publisher=South Asia Publications|location=Columbia, MO|isbn=9780945921424|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=F_BtAAAAMAAJ|access-date=5 July 2016 }}
* {{cite book|author1=Abu'l-Fazl|author-link1=Abu'l-Fazl ibn Mubarak|title=Akbarnama|url=http://persian.packhum.org/persian/main?url=pf%3Ffile%3D00701022%26ct%3D18|access-date=8 July 2016|chapter=Vol II, Chapter XI|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160815184219/http://persian.packhum.org/persian/main?url=pf%3Ffile%3D00701022%26ct%3D18|archive-date=15 August 2016|url-status=dead}}
* {{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HHyVh29gy4QC | title=The Mughal Empire (The New Cambridge History of India)| publisher=Cambridge University Press | last=Richards | first=John F. | author-link=John F. Richards | year=1995 | page=13 | isbn=9780521566032 }}
* {{cite book|last1=Wink|first1=André|title=Akbar (Makers of the Muslim World)|date=2012|publisher=Oneworld Publications|isbn=9781780742090|page=18|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rZmcAwAAQBAJ|access-date=17 July 2016|language=en }}
* {{cite book|last1=Roy|first1=Kaushik|title=India's historic battles : from Alexander the Great to Kargil|date=2004|publisher=Permanent Black|location=Delhi|isbn=9788178241098|pages=68–79|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jpXijlqeRpIC|access-date=17 July 2016 }}
* {{cite book|last=Eraly|first=Abraham|author-link=Abraham Eraly|title=Last Spring: The Lives and Times of Great Mughals|date=2000|publisher=Penguin UK|isbn=9789351181286|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vyVW0STaGBcC|access-date=17 July 2016|language=en}}
* {{cite book|last1=Hadi|first1=Nabi|title=Dictionary of Indo-Persian literature|date=1994|publisher=Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts|location=Janpath, New Delhi|isbn=9788170173113|page=53|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qjJmzdJFOHwC|access-date=12 July 2016}}
* {{cite book|last1=Roy|first1=Kaushik|editor1-last=Coetzee|editor1-first=Daniel|editor2-last=Eysturlid|editor2-first=Lee W.|title=Philosophers of war : the evolution of history's greatest military thinkers|date=2013|publisher=Praeger|location=Santa Barbara|isbn=978-0-313-07033-4|pages=43–47|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DW2jAQAAQBAJ|access-date=20 July 2016|chapter=Fazl, Abul (1551–1602)}}
{{ref end}}

==External links==
{{Wikiquote}}
{{Commons category|Hemu}}
;Mughal-era historians on Hemu
* [http://persian.packhum.org/persian/main?url=pf%3Ffile%3D00701021%26ct%3D143 Akbarnama] by Abu'l-Fazl
* [http://persian.packhum.org/persian/main?url=pf%3Ffile%3D03601021%26ct%3D124 The Muntakhabu-’rūkh] by Bada'uni
* [https://archive.org/stream/cu31924073036752#page/n253/mode/2up Tabaqat-i-Akbari] by Nizamuddin Ahmad
* [http://persian.packhum.org/persian/main?url=pf%3Ffile%3D80201015%26ct%3D14 Tārikh-i-Salātin-i-Afghāniyah] by Ahmad Yadgar
* [http://persian.packhum.org/persian/main?url=pf%3Ffile%3D80201014%26ct%3D125 Táríkh-i Dáúdí] by Abdullah

{{Mughal Empire|state=collapsed}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hemu}}
[[Category:1556 deaths]]
[[Category:Indian military leaders]]
[[Category:Sur Empire]]
[[Category:People executed by decapitation]]
[[Category:Indian monarchs]]
[[Category:Hindu monarchs]]
[[Category:People from Alwar]]
[[Category:People from Rewari]]
[[Category:Executed Indian people]]
[[Category:People executed by the Mughal Empire]]
[[Category:16th-century Indian monarchs]]

Hemu - Revision history

CynthiaBegg56 at 02:47, 29 March 2026