Riyaz al-salatin 80: REIGN OF DAUD KHAN, SON OF SULAIMAN KHAN.
The Riyazu-s-salatin (Abdus Salam) 80
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REIGN OF DAUD KHAN, SON OF SULAIMAN KHAN.
80.1
When Daud Khan ascended the throne of Bengal, subduing completely all parts of Bengal, he introduced the Khutba and the coin after his own name. Owing to continual indulgence in wine and association with low and mean people, and because of numerous troops and retinue, and plethora of equipage, and abundance of effects and riches, and greatness of rank and dignity (in that he had 40,000 well-mounted cavalry, and 3,300 elephants, and 140,000 infantry, consisting of musketeers, matchlockmen and rocketeers and archers, and 20,000 pieces of ordnance, most of which were battering guns, and many armed cruisers, and other implements of war, which he had ready and in store) he became haughty, and aiming at conquests caused troubles to the frontiers of the Empire of Emperor Akbar. Although the well-wishers dissuaded him from this policy, and gave him good counsel, he did not listen. And Munim Khan, styled the Khan-i-Khanan, who was Akbar's Governor of Jaunpur, and held a mansab of Panjhazari, under the order of the Emperor, turned towards the destruction and extirpation of Daud Khan, and sent in advance of himself a small body of Mughal officers. Daud Khan, on hearing of this, appointed Lodi Khan Afghan, who was his premier grandee, to oppose the Mughals. At Patna, both the armies encountered each other, and for some time were engaged in skirmishes. At length, both the factions patched up terms, and both the armies withdrew to their respective Provinces.
80.2
But Emperor Akbar, declining to ratify the treaty, appointed Raja Todar Mal (after raising him to the rank of Hazari) to the office of Administrator of Bengal, and sent him in advance of the Khan-i-Khanan, and detached other officers and soldiers under the command of the aforesaid Khan for chastising Daud Khan, and repeated his order to the Khan-i-Khanan in regard to the conquest of Behar. Since at that time, between Daud Khan and Lodi Khan, some estrangement had arisen, Lodi Khan, being displeased, opened with the Khan-i-Khanan communications of conciliation, and avowed towards Emperor Akbar sentiments of submission and loyalty. Another Afghan officer, named Qutlu Khan, who bore a grudge against Lodi Khan, shaking the chain of enmity, denounced Lodi Khan before Daud Khan, stating that Lodi Khan had been in collusion with Akbar's grandees, and that covertly he was of one mind with the latter. Daud Khan, on being apprised of this, writing a soothing letter to Lodi Khan, and bringing him over to his side, had him in his presence, and churlishly slew Lodi Khan, who was renowned for his soundness of views, sagacity, bravery and valour. Daud Khan then himself with a large army marched towards the bank of the river Sone, to encounter Akbar's army. And at the point of the confluence of the rivers Sone, Sro and the Ganges, a great naval engagement took place.
80.3
The young and the old were tired out with the battle, Owing to incessant shower of spears and arrows. The hurtle of daggers rose to the skies, Hearts were pierced, and a torrent of blood set a-flowing in the river. The battle-axe became inlaid on the helmets of the heroes, Like the comb of fighting cocks on the head. At length, the fortune of Akbar triumphed, and the Afghans being routed, took to flight, and retired to Patna. Some of their war-vessels fell into the hands of the Mughals. The Khan-i-Khanan also following up and crossing the river, marched with the greatest expedition to Patna, and investing that fort, where Daud Khan had entrenched himself, prepared to assault it. "When the signal to assault the fort was given, From both sides a hundred guns and muskets roared. From the booming of the thundering guns, and their smoke, Like unto the sable cloud wherein the thundering angel dwells, From the shower of cannon-balls, like the hail, Gushed in amidst those armies a deluge of destruction. When this news reached Muhammad Jallalu-d-din Akbar, he came to realize that without his effort the conquest of the fort of Patna was impossible. Therefore, mustering up Imperial courage, he with all his princes and nobles set out in one thousand flotilla of boats, placing over them covers of variegated colours, in the thick of the rainy season.
80.4
When the Emperor reached the suburbs of Patna, he got news that 'Aesh Khan Neazi, who was one of the faithful officers of Daud Khan, sallying out of the fort, had been killed whilst fighting with the Khan-i-Khanan, and that the garrison of the fort were contemplating flight. The Emperor then detached Khan 'Alim with a corps of 3,000 cavalry for storming the fort of Hajipur ; and the latter arriving there, wrested the fort from Fath Khan, and reduced it to his own possession. Daud Khan, on hearing of the fall of the fort of Hajipur, deputed sagacious envoys to the Emperor Akbar, asking forgiveness for his misconduct. The Emperor replied that on his personal attendance, his crimes would be forgiven ; and in the event of his non-attendance, he might choose one out of the following three alternatives : " (1) either he might engage singly in a combat with me, (2) or he might send one of his grandees to fight singly with one of my grandees, (3) or he might send one of his war-elephants to fight singly with one of my elephants ; whoever is triumphant in either, the country shall be his." Daud Khan, on receiving this message, was frightened, and seeing no advantage in tarrying at Patna, at night-fall slipped out through the iron-gate, and getting into a boat, and leaving behind effects and equipage, fled towards Bengal.
80.5
The forts of Hajipur and Patna were seized by the Imperialists, and the Emperor Akbar pursued the vanquished Afghan army to a distance of 25 kro, and 400 war-elephants of Daud Khan, together with other equipages, fell into the hands of the Mughal heroes. Whoever (amongst the vanquished) fled, saved his life, the rest were put to the sword. The Emperor, leaving Munim Khan to subjugate the outlying provinces and to extirpate Daud Khan, retired from Dariapur. When the Khan-i-Khanan reached Sakrigali, Daud Khan becoming helpless fled to Orissa. And some of the grandees of Akbar, like Rajah Todar Mal and others, who had taken the route to Orissa in pursuit of him, were twice vanquished by Junaid Khan, son of Daud Khan. Munim Khan, hearing of this, himself marched to Orissa. Daud Khan advanced to encounter the latter; when both the forces approached each other, they fell into battle-array. The heroes arrayed themselves on the battle-field, All were armed with daggers, arrows and spears. On two sides the two armies sprang up like mountains, One without terror, the other with terror. All vied with each other, And charged, and themselves were charged with guns, arrows and spears. From the blood of the heroes of both the armies, Flowed a torrent on that battle-field. On the field fell many a slaughtered, On both sides, towered heaps of corpses.
80.6
An Afghan named Gujra, who in heroism and valour was the Rustam of his time, and who commanded the van of Daud Khan's army, made a bold onslaught on the commander of the Khan-i-Khanan's van, named Khan-i-'Alim, discomfited the Imperial vanguard, slew Khan 'Alim, and shook the van. And a number of Imperialists who were between the centre and the van, becoming discomfited by the attack of Daud Khan, reeled back to the centre, and caused confusion. The Khan-i-Khanan, with the small remnant of troops that yet held the ground, advanced in front of Gujra, and by chance, Gujra and the Khan-i-Khanan encountered each other. When the two heroes encountered each other, They unsheathed from both sides dazzling swords. Now one, and then the other, inflicted sword-cuts, Worthy of heroes. The one did not succeed in penetrating the cuirass, The other defended himself with a shield. At length, by the sword of Gujra, The body of the Khan-i-Khanan got wounded. Other adherents came in the midst, And intervened between the two combatants. The Khan-i-Khanan, in that plight fighting, retired from the battle-field and halted, and when the scattered Mughal forces again rallied round him, he again advanced to fight with Gujra.
80.7
When Gujra a second time came to fight, From the aim of destiny, the bow became stretched, When the arrow hit him clean on the forehead, The arrow passed right through the head. Gujra fell on the field like a mountain, By his fall, his army became dispirited. When fortune turned its face from Daud Khan, From every side, misfortune hemmed him in. Daud Khan fled from the battle, As he no longer dreamt of victory. Daud Khan, leaving behind the war-elephants and other armaments, in despair fled from the battle-field. And Rajah Todar Mal and other Imperial grandees marched in pursuit of Daud Khan. When Daud Khan reached the environs of the river Chin, he took refuge in the fort of Katak. Since every avenue of escape was closed, he was obliged to place his family and children inside the Fort, and then himself advanced to fight, putting the coffin on the shoulder, and preparing to die. Rajah Todar Mal communicated to the Khan Khanan the state of affairs. Although wounded, the Khan Khanan on the wings of swiftness proceeded to that place. But Daud Khan negociated terms of peace through the mediation of one of the Omra, and when the basis of the treaty was settled, he went to meet Mun'im Khan.
80.8
The Khan Khanan, showing chivalry and generosity, presented to him a belt, a dagger, and a sword set in jewels, left to him the province of Orissa and Katak Benares, and himself (on behalf of the Emperor) taking possession of other parts of the kingdom, returned with triumph and pomp, entered the city of Tandah, and set himself to administer the country. Since in former days, from the time of Muhammad Bakhtiar Khilji down to the time of Sher Shah, Gaur had formed the Capital of Bengal, (though owing to the climate of the latter place not suiting foreigners, the Afghans had built Khawaspur Tandah for the settlement of the rulers), the Khan Khanan, setting himself to the reconstruction of the city of Gaur, proceeded to the latter place, and built it anew, and made it his head-quarters. Soon after, owing to the badness of its climate, he fell ill, and on the 19th Rajab, 983 A.H. died. Daud Khan, on hearing the news of the Khan Khanan's death, with the assistance of the Afghans, re-occupied Bengal and Behar, and immediately marched to wrest the city of Khawaspur Tandah. The Imperialists, not being able to tarry, evacuated the place. Daud Khan with full independence resumed his former sovereignty.