[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Dark Ages](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages) › [Conquests (711–1206)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.conquest) › [Tāj al-maʾāthir](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.conquest.taj-al-maathir) › [Taju-l Ma-asir (extracts)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.conquest.taj-al-maathir~en-elliot) › 20 # Taj al-maʾathir 20: The Conquest of Nahrwala, and the Flight of the Rái. Táju-l Ma-ásir (extracts) 20 - **Language:** English ### The Conquest of Nahrwala, and the Flight of the Rái. ### [20.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.conquest.taj-al-maathir~en-elliot.20.1) In the year 591 H. (1195 A.D.), when Kutbu-d din was again at Ajmir, intelligence was brought him that a party of seditious Mhers, "who were always shooting the arrow of deceit from the bow of refractoriness," had sent spies and messengers towards Nahrwála, representing that a detachment of the army of the Turks had arrived at Ajmir, of no great strength and numbers, and that if from that quarter a force could be immediately sent to join them, before the enemy could find the opportunity of putting themselves in a state of preparation, they could make a sudden night attack upon them, and might rid the country of them, and if anyone of the Turkish army were to escape from the talons of the eagle of death, he must necessarily take the road of flight, and with his two horses would make three stages into one, until he reached Dehli in a state of distraction." When this treacherous plan was revealed, Kutbu-d din determined to anticipate it, and during the height of the hot season "before the sun arose, fell upon the advance guard of the black infidels, and like lions attacked them right and left." The action lasted during the whole day, and next morning that immense army of Nahrwala came to the assistance of the vanguard, slew many of the Musulmans, wounded their commander, pursued them to Ajmir, and encamped within one parasang of that place. ### [20.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.conquest.taj-al-maathir~en-elliot.20.2) In this predicament, a confidential messenger was sent to Ghazna "to explain before the sublime throne the position of the army of the infidels, and to ask for orders as to future proceedings." "A royal edict was issued conferring all kinds of honours and kindnesses upon the Khusru, and leaving to his entire discretion the subjection and extirpation of the turbulent." A very large army was despatched to reinforce him, under the command of Jahan Pahlawan, Asadu-d din Arslan Kalij, Nasiru-d din Husain, 'Izzu-d din son of Muwaiyidu-d din Balkh, and Sharfu-d din Muhammad Jarah." These reinforcements arrived at the beginning of the cold season, when "the vanguard of the army of winter began to draw its sword from the scabbard, and the season of collecting armies and the time of making raids had returned." "In the middle of the month of Safar, 593 H. ### [20.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.conquest.taj-al-maathir~en-elliot.20.3) (Jan., 1197), the world-conquering Khusru departed from Ajmir, and with every description of force turned his face towards the annihilation of the Rai of Nahrwala." When he reached the lofty forts of Pali and Nandul, he found them abandoned, and the abode of owls, for the people had fled at the approach of the Musulmáns, and had collected under their leaders Rái Karan and Darábars, in great numbers "at the foot of Mount Ábú, and at the mouth of a pass stood ready for fight and slaughter." The Musulmáns did not dare to attack them in that strong position, especially as in that very place Sultán Muhammad Sám Ghorí had been wounded, and it was considered of bad omen to bring on another action there, lest a similar accident might occur to the commander. The Hindús seeing this hesitation, and misconstruing it into cowardice and alarm, abandoning the pass, "turned their faces towards the field of battle and the plain of honour and renown;" for "they were persuaded that fear had established itself in the hearts of the protectors of the sacred enclosure of religion." "The two armies stood face to face for some time, engaged in preparations for fight, and on the night preceding Sunday, the 13th of Rabí'u-l awwal, in a fortunate moment the army of Islám advanced from its camp, and at morn reached the position of the infidels." A severe action ensued from dawn to mid-day, when "the army of idolatry and damnation turned its back in flight from the line of battle. ### [20.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.conquest.taj-al-maathir~en-elliot.20.4) Most of their leaders were taken prisoners, and nearly fifty thousand infidels were despatched to hell by the sword, and from the heaps of the slain, the hills and the plains became of one level." Rái Karan effected his escape from the field. "More than twenty thousand slaves, and twenty elephants, and cattle and arms beyond all calculation, fell into the hands of the victors." "You would have thought that the treasures of the kings of all the inhabited world had come into their possession." "The city of Nahrwála, which is the most celebrated in that country, full of rivers," and the kingdom of Gujarát, which is "a separate region of the world," came under the dominion of the Musulmáns, "and high and low were treated with royal benignity and justice." "The chief nobles and pillars of the State were favoured with handsome robes of honour, and received abundant proofs of royal kindness," then "the standards of the Khusru, victorious in battle, returned to Ajmir," whence they were moved towards Dehli, where they arrived at an auspicious moment. As an earnest of his regard and respect, Kutbu-d din sent to Ghazna treasures and various rarities, which were received by his majesty with suitable acknowledgments of the value and splendour of his general's services. --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.conquest.taj-al-maathir~en-elliot.20](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.conquest.taj-al-maathir~en-elliot.20) · Pramāṇa