[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Dark Ages](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages) › [General histories](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general) › [Muntakhab al-tawārīkh](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.muntakhab-al-tawarikh) › [Muntakhabu-t-tawarikh (Ranking, Lowe, Haig)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.muntakhab-al-tawarikh~en-ranking-lowe-haig) › 78.13 # Muntakhab al-tawarikh 78.13 Muntakhabu-t-tawārīkh (Ranking, Lowe, Haig) 78.13 - **Language:** English ### [78.13.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.muntakhab-al-tawarikh~en-ranking-lowe-haig.78.13.1) The Emperor ordered Sabats and trenches to be constructed, and gradually brought close to the walls of the fortress. The width of the Sabat was such that ten horsemen could easily ride abreast in it, and its height was so great that a man on an elephant with spear in hand could pass under it. Many of the men of our army were killed by musket and cannon balls, and the bodies of the dead were made use of instead of bricks and stones. After a length of time the Sabat and trenches were brought up to the foot of the fortress, and they undermined two towers which were close together, and filled the mines with gunpowder. A party of men of well-known bravery fully armed and accoutred approached the towers, and waited till the towers should fall, and then they would enter the fortress. By accident, though the two mines were fired at one and the same moment, the fuze of one, which was shorter than the other took effect soonest, and the fuze of the latter, which was longer, hung fire, so that one of the two towers was blown up from its foundations and heaved into the air, and a great breach was made in the castle. Then the forlorn hope in their impetuosity forgetting the second mine stormed the breach at once, and soon effected a lodging. While the hand-to-hand struggle was going on, suddenly the second fuze went off and blew the other tower, which was full, both of friends and foes, from its place and lifted it into the air. ### [78.13.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.muntakhab-al-tawarikh~en-ranking-lowe-haig.78.13.2) The soldiers of Islam were buried under stones, some of 100, and some of 200 man in weight, and the stony-hearted infidels in like manner flew about like moths in that flood of fire. Those stones were blown as far as three or four cosses, and a cry of horror arose from the people of Islam and from the infidels:— “This stream flowed to Paradise, that to Hell, Though the blood of Guebre and of an unbeliever both flowed in one place.” And a happy day was it for the vultures and crows (Glory to Him who multiplieth food for his creatures !) Nearly five hundred warriors, most of them personally known to the Emperor, were slain, and drank the draught of martyrdom : and of the Hindus who can say how many! Night by night the infidels mustering in force kept building up the wall of the fortress from the ruins of these towers. ### [78.13.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.muntakhab-al-tawarikh~en-ranking-lowe-haig.78.13.3) After waiting a considerable time, six months more or less, at last on the night of Tuesday 25th of Sha‘ban in the aforesaid year the Imperial troops advancing from all sides, made a breach in the wall of the fortress, and stormed it. The fierce face of Jaimal became visible through the flashing of the fire of the cannon and guns, which was directed against the soldiers of Islam. At this juncture a bullet struck the forehead of Jaimal, who was distinctly recognizable, and he fell dead. It was as though a stone had fallen among a flock of sparrows, for, when the garrison of the fortress saw that their leader was dead, they fled every one to their own houses. Then they collected their families and goods together and burnt them, which is called in the language of Hind jouhar. Most of those that remained became food for the crocodile of the blood-drinking sword, and a few of those who remained, who escaped the sword and the fire, were caught in the noose of tribulation. The whole night long the swords of the combatants desisted not from the slaughter of the base, and returned not to the scabbard, till the time for the afternoon siesta arrived. Eight thousand valorous Rajputs were slain. The following line was found to give the date : — “My heart said : He quickly took Chitór.” ### [78.13.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.muntakhab-al-tawarikh~en-ranking-lowe-haig.78.13.4) After midday the Emperor ordered the sacking to cease, and returned to the camp. He remained there three days, and wrote letters announcing the victory, and despatched them in all directions. Then, having appointed Aṣaf Khan to the command of that district, on the morning of Tuesday 25th of the aforesaid month the victorious standards moved towards A'grah. And by way of performing a vow the Emperor walked the whole way on foot, and on Sunday 7th of the month Ramzan he arrived at Ajmir. There he paid a visit to the holy mausoleum of the blessed bestower of blessings the Saint Khwajah Mu'in-ud-din Chishti (God sanctify his tomb !), and having occupied himself in alms, and good and pious works, after ten days he rode off towards the capital. And Mir ‘Ala'uddaulah, author of the “ Biography of the Poets ”, made this mnemosynon:— “ The Shah cherishing the Faith, enthroned like Jamshid, The Khusrou of his age, Muhammad Akbar, Made, without doubt, for the conquest of Chitor A mortar brazen-bodied, dragon-faced. For the date there came from the unseen world \[the voice\] : \* It was altogether a Chitor taking mortar ’ ” ### [78.13.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.muntakhab-al-tawarikh~en-ranking-lowe-haig.78.13.5) When the Emperor arrived in the neighbourhood of Alwar he took to lion-hunting. And ‘A'dil Muhammad Khan, son of Shah Muhammad Khan Qandahari, who was himself as brave as a lion, went to face the animal \[which was rushing upon the Emperor\], and both he and the beast were killed. Then the Emperor separated himself from the camp, and went to Narnoul. There he visited Shaikh Nizam Narnouli (who was one of the greatest Shaikhs), and in the fulness of his faith granted him a subsidy, and then continued his journey to the capital. In this year the second marriage of the Author took place at Badāūn, and in accordance with : “ And verily the latter is better for thee than the former” it turned out most happily, thanks to God!, and I composed the following mnemosynon:— “When to me, through the eternal bounty, There was union with a moon-faced one, My intellect uttered the date of the marriage, The Moon is in conjunction with the sun!” And in this year that model of men of thought, and beau ideal of the Shaikhs who practice perfection, Shaikh ‘Abdul-‘aziz of Dihli (God sanctify his spirit!) departed to the other world, and the following mnemosynon was recited:— “The glorious one of the world Shaikh ‘Abdul-‘aziz, Whom all the world calls the Pole-star of Dihli, Turned his cheek towards the plain of eternity, And from this narrow defile mounted the steed of his ambition. I enquired of my heart, what was the day, It replied, The Pole-star of Religion is no more!” ### [78.13.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.muntakhab-al-tawarikh~en-ranking-lowe-haig.78.13.6) And since the Shaikh used constantly to sign himself “The worthless atom ‘Abdul-‘aziz”, a clever fellow discovered the mnemosynon: Worthless atom. In the year nine hundred and seventy-six (976) the Emperor sent for the whole Atgah clan and Kamal Khan G’hakkar from the Panjab, and gave their jagirs to Husain Quli Khan and his brother Isma‘il Quli Khan, and appointed them to that district. Then Husain Quli Khan and his brother, having come from Nagor, after the taking of Rintambhor obtained permission to go to the Panjab; and the district of Sambhal and Bareli was confirmed to Khani Kalan. In this year the Mirzas, the sons of Muhammad Sultan Mirza, who had gone to Gujrat, and taken refuge with Chingiz Khan, having behaved badly and laid hands of spoliation on the jagirs, fled from Chingiz Khan, and came to Malwah, and beseiged Muhammad Murad Khan and Mirza ‘Aziz-ullah of Mashhad in the fort of Ujjain. Then Ashraf Khan, Mir Munshi and Çadiq Muhammad Khan, who with a considerable number of the Imperial army had been appointed to act against Rintambhor, when they heard this news, represented the matter at Court, and received orders to turn aside to Ujjain and undertake the repression of the revolt in conjunction with Qulij Khan, who had been sent after them to join in the reduction of Rintambhor. And at Saronj Shahab-ud-din Ahmad Khan, and at Sarangpur Shah Bidagh Khan formed a junction with the aforesaid Amirs, and so a very considerable force was gathered together. ### [78.13.7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.muntakhab-al-tawarikh~en-ranking-lowe-haig.78.13.7) Then the Mirzas on hearing this news raised the seige of Ujjain, and went to Mandu, and the great Amirs pursued them. When the Mirzas had crossed the river Narbaddah, they received news that Jhajar Khan the Abyssinian had surprised Chingiz Khan when off his guard at the open space by the gate of Ahmadabad, and had slain him, so that Gujrat was now free to them. So the Mirzas hastened to Gujrat, and took the fort of Champanir at the first assault. And laying seige to the fort of Bhroj, after some time they managed by a ruse to capture Rustam Khan Rumi, who was shut up in that fortress, and put him to death, and also took possession of the fortress. Qulij Khan, and Çadiq Muhammad Khan, and the other great Amirs, returned from the banks of the Narbaddah and came to Court; but the jagir-holders of Mandu remained where they were. --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.muntakhab-al-tawarikh~en-ranking-lowe-haig.78.13](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.muntakhab-al-tawarikh~en-ranking-lowe-haig.78.13) · Pramāṇa