Muntakhab al-tawarikh 59: NASIRU-D-DIN MUHAMMAD HUMAYUN PADSHAH-I-GHAZI.
Muntakhabu-t-tawārīkh (Ranking, Lowe, Haig) 59
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Contents
NASIRU-D-DIN MUHAMMAD HUMAYUN PADSHAH-I-GHAZI.
59.1.1
Marching by forced marches from Sambal in the year 937 H. (1530 A.D.), with the concurrence of Amir Nizamu-d-din who was the agent and prime minister of the Government ascended the throne. The following chronogram was invented to record the date: Verse. Muhammad Humayun of auspicious fortune, Who is the best of kings by virtue of his merit, The year in which he ascended the kingly throne Was distinguished by the words Khairu-l-Mulk. Moreover, inasmuch as at the time of his accession he made present of trays filled with gold another chronogram was invented in the words Kashti-i-Zar (Tray of gold). After disposing of all matters of importance he led an army against the fortress of Kalinjar, and after quelling the insurrection of Sultan 'Alam ibn-i-Sultan Sikandar Lodi who had raised a revolt in Jaunpur, returned to Agra and made a great feast at which entertainment twelve thousand people were distinguished by the bestowal of robes of honour. Verse. A king will have the upper hand of his enemies When his army is happy and contented; But if he withholds their just reward from his soldiery, They in turn will withhold their hands from the sword. In those days Muhammad Zaman Mirza ibn-i-Badi'u-z-Zaman Mirza ibn-i-Sultan Husain Mirza, who had hostile intentions was captured. Sending him to the fortress of Baiana, orders were given for his eyes to be put out.
59.1.2
The pupil of his eye remained uninjured however, and shortly after, he escaped from prison and fled for refuge to Sultan Bahadur of Gujrat. It is said that at the time when Muhammad Zaman Mirza joined Sultan Bahadur, the latter was engaged in besieging Chitor, and the weather was exceedingly hot. Muhammad Zaman was seized with a pain at the heart, for the cure of which the physicians declared gulqand (confection of roses) to be indispensable. Muhammad Zaman Mirza begged Sultan Bahadur to send him a piece of this gulqand. He accordingly summoned his sharbatdar (preparer of beverages), and enquired how much gulqand there had been brought with the camp; he replied that there must be more than twenty cart loads. The whole of this he sent to the camp of Muhammad Zaman Mirza and apologetically explained that this amount had been estimated as the probable requirements of the army, if it were not sufficient he begged to be excused. It eventually transpired that the juice of the gulqand used to be extracted for his use, and that for this reason there were so many carts accompanying him. Muhammad Sultan Mirza, with his two sons Ulugh Mirza and Shah Mirza, proceeded to Qanauj and laid the foundations of revolt, and when the king, now deceased, wrote and despatched to Sultan Bahadur letters summoning Muhammad Zaman Mirza, Sultan Bahadur sent back a discourteous reply; he accordingly determined upon the conquest of Gujrat.
59.1.3
Bahadur, having collected an army to reduce the fortress of Chitor and oppose Rana Sanka, engaged him in battle, and besieged him. Tatar Khan Lodi being despatched by him, came and gained possession of the fortress of Baiana, extending his depredations as far as Agra; and, after a fierce conflict with Mirza Hindal, in which he attacked with three thousand men, was put to the sword with all his following. While Sultan Bahadur was besieging Chitor for the second time, Muhammad Humayun Padshah moved against him from Agra, and in this same year Mirza Kamran, proceeding by forced marches from Lahor to Qandahar, defeated Sam Mirza, the brother of Shah Tahmasp, who was besieging Khwaja Kalan Beg, and the following hemistich gives the date Zada Padshah Kamran Sam ra (King Kamran defeated Sam) Maulana Bekasi also writes the following Verse At that time when the crown and the golden goblet stands in sight, When amid the joy and feasting is seen the form of the dragon and the chasing of the cup, I enquired from wisdom, why hast thou cast down in our midst the gold scattering crown, like a crimson tulip? She answered, the heaven, by way of assigning a date to this encounter, has cast down the golden crown, in consequence of the defeat of the army of Sam.
59.1.4
Muhammad Humayun Padshah, considering that it would be disgraceful to go up against Sultan Bahadur and engage his attention while he was engaged in the siege of Chitor halted at Sarangpur. Sultan Bahadur meanwhile forcibly reduced the fort of Chitor, after which he engaged in war with Padishah (Humayun) for a space of two months in the neighbourhood of Mandsur, a dependency of Malwa, but owing to the fact that no supplies of grain could reach the camp of Bahadur, man and beast died from starvation, and Bahadur with five of his most trusty Amirs left the royal tent by the rear door and fled towards Mandsur. The following verse commemorates the date of this event: — Humayun Shah-i-Ghazi, who has thousands of slaves in his palace like Jamshid, When he came victorious towards Gujrat, returned in triumph, the glory of the sons of Timur. Since Bahadur fell humbled and abject, The date thereof was “The disgrace of Bahadur.”
59.1.5
Muhammad Humayun Padshah pursued him, and the Mughal soldiers came upon Bahadur one night while he was asleep, and were near taking him prisoner, but he made his escape with five or six horsemen towards Gujrat. Sultan ‘Alam Lodi, however, fell into their hands and they cut off his feet. The army of Humayun Padshah pursued Bahadur by rapid marches and laid waste Ahmadabad. Bahadur leaving Ahmadabad went to Kanbhayat, and from there to the port of Dip, and at that time the fortress of Junpanir was also taken after a little by the Padshah, and treasure beyond computation fell into his hands. The year in which this happened may be learned from the following verse— Wisdom sought for the date of the victory of Shah Humayun and discovered this, “It was the ninth of the month of Safar”. Then Bahadur, in concert with the Zamindars of the country of Sorath, collected a force and proceeded towards Ahmadabad. Mirza 'Askari who, after the return of Humayun Padshah towards the East, remained at Ahmadabad with the intention of having the Khutbah read in his own name, in which project he had the support of Amir Hindu Beg, however, he could not carry out his plan, and after slight opposition left for Junpanir, the governor of which place, Tardi Beg, having entrenched himself, sent letters to the court conveying the tidings of the revolt of Mirza 'Askari.
59.1.6
But at the time when Humayun had left Mandu on his way to Agra Mirza 'Askari met him on the road and gave in his submission, and Bahadur took Junpanir from Tardi Beg without the necessity of fighting. [And in this year Shaikh Jamali Kambawi of Dihli left this transitory world for the kingdom of eternity. A chronogram has been invented to commemorate this in the words Khusru-i-Hind buda (he was the Khusru of Hindostan).] In this year also Shah Tahmasp came up against Qandahar from 'Iraq to take vengeance on Sam Mirza, and Khwaja Kalan Beg leaving the city empty, and leaving the Diwankhana (Hall of audience) locked up just as it was, adorned with its splendid carpets, its magnificent furniture, and all the appurtenances of the audience chamber, came out to invite Shah Tahmasp to alight at that pleasantly prepared resting place, which he did, and gave Khwaja Kalan Beg great praise for his conduct, saying, that is a good servant whom Kamran Mirza possesses. Shah Tahmasp left Qandahar in charge of Badagh Khan, one of his own Amirs, and returned to ‘Iraq. Mirza Kamran at this same juncture, proceeded by forced marches from Lahor, and arriving at Qandahar took possession of it. Muhammad Zaman Mirza, whom Bahadur had despatched after his defeat to inflict injury upon Hindustan, took advantage of the absence of Mirza Kamran to invest Lahor; but, when he heard tidings of the return of Humayun Padshah to Gujrat, retraced his steps.
59.1.7
At the expiry of one year from the accession of Humayun Padshah in Agra, Shir Khan Afghan Sur, in the absence of Humayun, collected a large force, and took possession of the country of Gour, Bihar, and Jaunpur, and also the fortress of Chinar. Humayun Padshah encamped before the fort of Chinar, with the intention of opposing Shir Khan, on the fourteenth of the month of Safar in the year 943 H., and besieged Jalal Khan, son of Shir Khan, who eventually obtained the title of Islam Shah. In a short time by the exertions of Rumi Khan the Artillerist, (on whose name Sultan Bahadur had written and despatched the following enigma:— It were a pity to take the name of that dog on one’s lips Place a stake (mikh) in his life (jan) and read his name). The climate of Bangala proved so extremely suitable to Humayun, that he changed the name of Gaur to Jannatabad (The realm of Paradise), and having halted there for (two or) three months returned. In the meanwhile Shir Khan’s affair was assuming large proportions, and his following was increasing. He wrote a letter to Humayun, saying, ‘all these Afghans are the servants and retainers of His Majesty the King, and beg to be granted jaegirs, if the king will think about a jaegir for them, then it will be well, but if not, hunger will drive them to open revolt. Up to the present time I have kept them in check, but now they no longer obey me, and the proverb is well-known. The hungry man will throw himself upon the sword.
59.1.8
For the rest whatever the king says is law.’ Humayun, when he grasped the contents of the letter, saw clearly what its object was, and seeing that the opportunity had passed by, and considering the bareness of equipment and inefficiency of his army, which had recently been doubled, many horses and camels having died, while the remainder were so jaded and emaciated that they were of no use whatever, he set about devising some remedial measures. Mirza Hindal, who had accompanied the king as far as Mongir, was despatched to Agra to put down the rebellion of Muhammad Sultan Mirza, Ulugh Mirza, and Shah Mirza, who had fled and had done great mischief in the Dihli country, and were now returning. Muhammad Zaman Mirza, after that Sultan Bahadur was drowned in the sea owing to the treachery of the Firangis, could not accomplish anything, and again sought refuge with Humayun.
59.2.1
And in the year 945 H. Mīrzā Hindāl, at the instigation of certain turbulent innovators, put to death Shaikh Bahlūl, the elder brother of Shaikh Muḥammad Ghaus of Gwāliār, who was one of the chief exponents of the art of invocation and incantation, and who enjoyed the full confidence and friendship of Humāyūn. The year in which this event occurred was commemorated by the chronogram Faqad māta Shahīdan. Verily he died a martyr’s death! Mīrzā Hindāl in this year read the Khutbah in his own name in Āgra. Humāyūn despatched five thousand picked men to reinforce Jahāngīr Bēg the Mughal, and making over the rule of that country to him, with permission to read the Khutbah should occasion arise, set out for Āgra, and, all unprepared as he was, reached Jausa, which is a village on the bank of the Ganges. The Amīrs of Jaunpūr and Chunār came in and offered to tender their services. Shīr Khān seized the head of the road, and being aware of the distress of the army, placed between it and his own army a canal, which joined the Ganges, and, owing to the rains, was quite full of water, and for three months encamped over against the King. It is said that during this period when they were confronting each other, Humayun one day sent Mulla Muhammad ‘Aziz, who was an old friend of Shir Khan, as an ambassador. Shir Khan was at that moment with his sleeves rolled up, and with a spade in his hand, in spite of the heat, was busy preparing the fort and entrenchments.
59.2.2
When Mulla Muhammad came near he washed his hands, and having ordered a shamiana to be pitched, sat on the ground unceremoniously, and after hearing the King’s message said, “Take this one message from me to the King and say; ‘You yourself desire war, but your army does not, I on the other hand, do not desire war, but my army does : for the rest the decision is the King’s.’” Then he sent Shaikh Khalil, one of the descendants of the venerable Shaikh Farid Ganj-i-Shakkar, may God sanctify his soul, who was the spiritual guide of Shir Khan, to Humayun, and made overtures of peace to him, representing that he was willing to give up to Humayun’s representatives the whole country with the exception of Bangala, and would have the Khutbah and sikka established in Humayun’s name. This agreement was ratified between them by an oath on the Divine Word, and Humayun’s mind was at peace with regard to Shir Khan. A bridge was ordered to be thrown across : but Shir Khan was plotting treachery and deceit. Verse. Make the camel leap from the room of the deceit of the world, because out of craft, In that room where they speak of peace the camel is clad in armour. I flee from the camel of the heavens and the room of the earth, Because there are maddened camels surrounding that room.
59.2.3
The following morning he surprised and attacked the army of Humayun, without giving them time to draw up in line. After a short skirmish Humayun’s army was defeated, and the Afghans ... arrived first at the head of the bridge broke it down, while artillerists and archers seated in boats kept the army under a perfect hail of fire, drowning them in the ocean of destruction. Muhammad Zaman Mirza was overwhelmed by the tempest of death, and Humayun urged his horse into the water and was in dread of drowning, in fact was on the point of drowning, when a water carrier came to his aid and rescued him from that whirlpool of destruction. Then he turned towards Agra. Shir Khan wrote this verse upon that event:— Thou givest sovereignty to Farid the son of Hasan, Thou givest the army of Humayun to the fishes. Although the master (Ustad) has [this second verse]— One thou exaltest and givest him sovereignty, Another thou castest down from his throne to the fishes. This event occurred in the year 946 H. and to commemorate it the following chronogram was written: Salamat az sar-i ab-i Nil raft. And Shir Khan after the victory turned back, and came to Bangala, and after fighting several engagements put to death Jahangir Quli Beg with all his following. In that country he read the khutba in his own name, and assumed the title of Shir Shah, and in the following year proceeded with a vast army intending to capture Agra.
59.2.4
Kamran Mirza, prior to the affair of Jausa, after hearing of the victory of Shir Khan and the rebellion of Mirza Hindal against Humayun, returned from Qandahar to Lahor, and leaving there came to Agra, which he reached in the year 946 H. Mirza Hindal himself, before the arrival of Mirza Kamran, in the absence of Humayun, laid siege to Dihli, in which Mir Fakhr ‘Ali and Mirza Yadgar Nasir had fortified themselves; but not meeting with any success joined hands with Mirza Kamran. Mir Fakhr ‘Ali also came in and had an interview with him, but Mirza Yadgar Nasir would not leave the fort. Eventually Mirza Hindal separating from Mirza Kamran proceeded to Alwar. When Humayun heard these tidings, he became still more despondent, till that eventful defeat took place after the defeat at Jausa, he proceeded by forced marches, accompanied by a few horsemen, and arrived unawares at the tent of Mirza Kamran in Agra. The Mirza also knew nothing of his coming; both brothers upon recognising each other burst into tears. Afterwards Hindal Mirza and Muhammad Sultan Mirza and his sons, who had for a time shewn hostility, came in and offered their submission for certain considerations: Their faults were pardoned and they sat in consultation.
59.2.5
Mirza Kamran ostensibly had this intention, that, inasmuch as the army of the Panjab had gathered fresh force, Humayun should grant him leave to proceed against Shir Khan and endeavour to take vengeance on him, while the King should remain in ease and tranquillity at the Capital. When Humayun declined to accede to this proposal, the Mirza put forward a claim to proceed to the Panjab, and urged an infinity of reasons, giving colour to the suggestion that a refusal would cause him insupportable annoyance. Accordingly Humayun acceded to all his requests, saving only his return; and Khwaja Kalan Beg was exerting his efforts to procure the return of Mirza Kamran to the Panjab: so that this argument was carried on for six months and nothing was settled. In the meantime Mirza Kamran was taken ill with a complication of severe diseases, and when the diagnosis was arrived at that the source of the disease was a poison, which had been poured into his life’s cup by the hand of circumstance, he was led by the whisperings of interested advisers to entertain suspicion against Humayun, and imagined that perhaps it was he who had administered poison to him. Ill as he was he returned to Lahor, and in breach of his former agreement that he would leave the whole of his army at Agra in the service of the king, took the whole of it with him, with the exception of two thousand men whom he left under the command of Sikandar Mirza.
59.2.6
Haidar the Mughal and Dustat Kashmiri also remained at Agra, and were kindly treated. Shir Khan waxed bold at the success of these hypocrisies, and towards the close of the year aforesaid reached the bank of the Ganges, and despatching a force under his son Qutb Khan, sent him across [the Ganges] against Kalpi and Itawa. Qasim Husain Sultan Usbeg, in concert with Yadgar Nasir Mirza and Iskandar Sultan, after a fight in the vicinity of Kalpi put to death the son of Shir Khan with a large number of his following, sending their heads to Agra. Humayun started to oppose Shir Khan with a large force composed of some hundred thousand cavalry, and crossing the river of Qanauj encamped in face of his enemy for the space of one month. The army of Shir Khan did not comprise in all more than five thousand cavalry. It was under such circumstances that Muhammad Sultan Mirza and his son fled a second time from the king, and the reinforcements of Mirza Kamran also took flight to Lahor, and the Mughals of the King's army were scattered in all directions. The rains now came on, and inasmuch as the camp of Humayun's army was on low-lying ground, he desired to march from there and encamp on the high ground. At this very time Shir Khan drew up his troops, and came out to give battle. This engagement took place on the day of the 'Ashura, the 10th of Muharram 947 H., and a chronogram was found for it in the words Kharabi-i-mulk-i-Dihli.
59.2.7
The greater number of the Mughal soldiers refused to fight and took to their heels, while a small body of them who engaged in fight, strove manfully in battle, but things had gone beyond control, and it was of no avail. The king rode off with the intention of going to the high ground. This action of his in itself afforded an excuse to his men to flee, and a serious defeat ensued. Moreover the king while crossing the river Ganges became separated from his horse, and by the help of Shams u-d-Din Muhammad of Ghazni (who eventually became the foster-father of the prince's most excellent majesty, and was honoured in Hindustan with the title of A'zam Khan) escaped from the water and returned to Agra; but seeing that the enemy's army was coming up in pursuit, he could not remain there, so made his way to the Panjab with all speed. At the commencement of Rabi'u-l-awwal of this year all the Sultans and Amirs of the Chaghatai tribe assembled for conference in Lahor. Hypocrisy was still the order of the day, and Muhammad Sultan and his sons fled from Lahor to Multan, while Mirza Hindal and Mirza Yadgar Nasir thought it advisable to proceed to Bhakkar and Tatta. Mirza Kamran prayed that this conference might speedily be dissolved so that he might go to Kabul. After long consultation Humayun sent Mirza Haidar with a large party who had accepted service in Kashmir, to that district.
59.2.8
It was agreed that Khwaja Kalan Beg should follow Mirza Haidar, and that Humayun himself also should proceed thither after the conquest of Kashmir. When Mirza Haidar arrived at Naushahra which is a well-known place, he entered that country with the concurrence of certain Kashmiris and conquered it, and on the 22nd of Rajab of this same year he gained possession of that country. Khwaja Kalan Beg had gone to Sialkot. When tidings reached the king that Shir Khan had crossed the river at Sultanpur and had arrived within thirty krohs of Lahor, Humayun, on the first of the month of Rajab in the aforesaid year, crossed the river of Lahor, and Mirza Kamran, after breaking his solemn vows, agreed for certain reasons to accompany Humayun as far as the neighbourhood of Bahira, and Khwaja Kalan Beg made forced marches from Sialkot, and joined Humayun's camp. Mirza Kamran together with Mirza 'Askari, separating from the king, proceeded in company with Khwaja Kalan Beg towards Kabul, while Humayun proceeded towards Sind. Mirza Hindal, and Mirza Yadgar Nasir also, after accompanying him for a few stages, left him, and after a few days returned, by the counsel of Amir Abul Baqa.
59.2.9
On the banks of the Indus such great scarcity prevailed in the camp of Humayun, that one sir of the smaller millet could sometimes not be bought even for an The greater part of the army perished owing to this scarcity, while others died from want of water, till at last Humayun with a small number passed on to the districts of Jaisalmir, and the country of Marwar, where strange incidents occurred. After undergoing great hardships and distress, which it is the invariable custom of the Heavens to inflict, he betook himself to ‘Iraq and having obtained reinforcements, Shah Tahmasp gained possession of Qandahar and Kabul, and collecting a great army re-conquered Hindustan. This exploit will be described in its proper place if the Most High God will it so.