Jalal did not become this "great" or expand empire by just playing nice.
He became tolerant and inclined towards spiritual and humane values later.
Otherwise he was as ruthless as any other ruler when he took over.
He's applied all tricks to get his way and go on with his conquests.
He is said to have gotten villagers also killed and then displayed their heads to provoke and shame local rulers. After siege he'd get remaining defendants in enemy side beheaded and display their heads on pillars/towers.
He is said to have had a thing for beautiful women. There's an instance of him asking a man to leave his wife and hand her over to him, quoting that, husband must divorce any woman that the Emperor desired.
You can check articles, encyclopedia and some books uploaded online.
That said, no account is entirely fair or accurate. Hindu historians have different versions. Muslim historians have different. And Western ones have different take as well.
Never go by just one version.
There are different versions on MP also (including his relationship with father US and brother Shakti).
So it's about keeping mind open to different perspectives and judge for oneself.
Akbar realised later that if he had to expand and maintain position then he couldn't afford to brutalise people and mess relations. He revamped his administration later. Every version has at least this fact in common that he changed later.
(P.S. - I would have posted some links but they'd lead to some other debate altogether. )
Edited by atominis - 11 years ago
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