The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period v4.c3.3

v4.c3.3

Disappointed of his hopes to recover the seat of his ancestors in Central Asia Bābur had already raided India, when he was invited to penetrate farther, and succeeded in founding a new empire there owing to the mutual distrust of each other which characterised the Afghān chiefs in northern India, and to the superiority of his small but trained force. His son Humāyūn, whose character shows alternate energy and sloth, bravery and indecision, conquered areas and lost them during ten years, till he was driven into exile by Sher Shāh, the single Afghān ruler in India who could hold Afghāns together, and who had had practical experience of administration in lower grades. Sher Shāh’s early death and the incompetence of his successors led to Humāyūn’s return, but an accident cut short his life after a few months.