After Humayun’s death his eldest son Akbar was barely thirteen years old. Nevertheless, he was a precocious and intrepid youth who, along with his Regent, Bairam Khan was encamped in Punjab, in pursuit of Sikandar Sur who adamantly continued to claim the imperial throne for himself. Consequently, Humayun’s death had to be concealed till effective arrangements could be made to enthrone Akbar. On 14 February, 1556 A.D. Akbar was proclaimed ruler at Kalanaur in Gurdaspur district. The proclamation, however, barely secured Akbar’s candidature within the family. The empire, as yet, seemed a remote possibility since Humayun, in his second tenure too, had proved more of an invader with few creditable conquests. Historically, the Sur successors possessed more legitimate claims to the throne. Besides, Muhammad Shah Adil and Sikandar Sur, Henu, Muhammad’s capable warrior and adviser proved an equally ardent contestant.