Muntakhab al-tawarikh 78.25
Muntakhabu-t-tawārīkh (Ranking, Lowe, Haig) 78.25
- Language
- English
78.25.1
Then Husain Quli Khan set off to oppose the Mirzas. When he arrived at the village of Chamari he received the honour of paying his respects to that paragon of pilgrims, that offspring of renowned saints Khwajah ‘Abd-ush-Shahid, grandson of Khwajah Ahrar (God sanctify his spirit!), who promised him victory, and gave the Khan his own dress as a present. The result of this prayer was, that having arrived by forced marches at Tulambah, he gained the glorious victory which my historical pen has already narrated:— “We are deeply wounded in our hearts, It will not be without its effect, Be sure, on all those For whomsoever we pray in sincerity.” In this year also Sulaiman Kirarani, ruler of Bengal, who gave himself the title of Hazrat-i-A‘la, and had conquered the city of Katak-u-Banaras, that mine of heathenism, and having made the stronghold of Jaganat’h into the home of Islam, held sway from Kamru to Orisá, attained the mercy of God. His son Báyazíd succeeded him; but in the course of five or six months he was slain by the Afgháns, and his brother Dá'úd bin Sulaimán attained the sovereignty.
78.25.2
In this year, or in the year preceding, that remnant of the saints, and essence of the pure, that illuminator of the thoughts of the heart, and examiner into the secrets of sin, that attracted pilgrim, the righteous in his acts, Shaikh Nizám-ud-dín Ambi’thí-wál (God sanctify his spirit!) attained translation from this miserable caravanserai to the eternal habitation. A summary of the events of the life of that possessor of Perfection and Ecstasy will be inserted (if God will) in the account of the Shaikhs of the period. In the year nine hundred and eighty-one (981) the Emperor mounted a dromedary, to go and quench the fire of rebellion in Gujrát and to settle the affairs of those disturbances, and by forced marches went in the course of nine days from Fathpúr to Ahmadábád, and fought a battle with the army which was beseiging A‘zam Khán in the fortress. He came off victorious, and returned to the Seat of the Khalifate. The following is an epitome of those events. When the Emperor came the first time after giving Ahmadábád to Khán-i A‘zam, the rebels raised a general revolt in that place and followed each his own devices. Ikhtiyár-ul-mulk Gujrátí taking all the Abyssinians with him seized Ahmadnagar and that neighbourhood; and Muhammad Husain Mírzá came from the Dak’hin and first of all endeavoured to reduce Súrat; but Qulíj Khán shut himself up in that place and succeeded in keeping him at bay and repulsed him. So he retired on Kambháyet and took possession of that place.
78.25.3
A‘zam Khán marched himself against Ikhtiyár-ul-mulk. Several engagements took place between the two opposed forces between Ahmadnagar and Ídar, and the claim of victory was put to the arbitration of the sword. And he commissioned Nourang Khán, son of Qutb-ud-dín Muhammad Khán together with Sayyid Hámid to go toward Kambháyet against Muhammad Husain Mírzá. Muhammad Husain Mirza in many fierce encounters showed time after time the greatest obstinacy and valour, but at last he suffered defeat and fled and joined Ikhtiyar Khan. (P. 165) The sons of Sher Khan Fuladi, and the son of Jahjar Khan Habshi also helped to swell his numbers and to turn the balance of power in his favour. Their intention was to go by forced marches by a different route, and so reach Ahmadabad. Khan-i A‘zam outstripped them and got there first. Then he sent for Qutb-ud-din Ahmad Khan from Bahronch, and not having full confidence in some of his men he shut himself up in the fortress. Then the Gujratees with a force of nearly 20,000 men, consisting of Moghuls, Gujratees, Afghans, Abyssinians, and Rajpoots came and beseiged him. Skirmishes took place every day, and Fazil Muhammad Khan, son of Rashid Khan-i Kalan was slain in one of those encounters. Khan-i A‘zam kept sending daily dispatches to the Court, and urging the Emperor to come to his assistance.
78.25.4
Accordingly he issued orders to the Divans to supply with necessaries those Amirs who had gone with him on the former expedition, and to pay ready money from the imperial treasury to those soldiers who had served in the last campaign, which had lasted a whole year, and were now without accoutrements. To Husain Quli Khan he gave the title of Khan Jahan, and appointed him, with the Amirs of the Panjab, to that province, and Sa‘id Khan he appointed to Multan, and sent them to their respective destinations. Shuja‘at Khan he sent forward with camp equipage, and set out himself on Sunday the twenty-fourth of Rabi‘us sani mounted on camels fleet of foot and swift as the wind, and passing by way of Basawar and Todah accomplished 100 cosses in two days. On the 26th of that month he arrived at Ajmir, at the blessed shrine of that Bestower of Splendour (may the peace of the mighty God be on its inhabitants!), and attained the honour of paying a visit to that honoured shrine, and afterwards on the same day he continued his march. At the village of Baliyanah he reviewed the army, and settled the distribution of the forces. He gave Mirza Khan son of the late Khan Khanan Bairam Khan, the command of the centre. (He is now the Khan Khanan and has been appointed to subdue the Dak’hin.) And Sayyid Mahmud Khan Barha and Cadiq Muhammad Khan and others he associated with him.
78.25.5
The command of the right wing he gave to Mir Muhammad Khan-i Kalan, that of the left wing to Wazir Khan, and that of the vanguard to Muhammad Quli Khan and Tarkhan Diwanah. He kept under his own command 100 horse, all veterans and picked men out of thousands. His whole force did not consist of more than 3,000 horse. On Tuesday the 3rd of Jamada’l-avval they arrived at the village of Kari, 20 cosses from Ahmadabad. A detachment of the enemy issued from the fortress, and drew themselves up across the line of march of the imperial force. A battle took place, and in the twinkling of an eye the enemy became food for the sword and were annihilated. Since the Emperor had given no orders for the taking of the fortress, they pressed on 5 cosses further, and when the imperial cavalcade came up, they halted there to rest. Then the Emperor distributed arms to the men from his private armoury, so that all might be fully armed. A’saf Khan was sent in advance to open up communications with Khan-i A‘zam. At this time the enemy were steeped in the sleep of negligence. When they heard the sound of the trumpets, they rushed in confusion to mount their horses, and Muhammad Husain Mirza with two or three horsemen rode to the banks of the river to find out what it meant. It happened that Turk Subhan Quli had also gone down to the river from our side with two or three men. Muhammad Husain Mirza asked him: “My lord, what army is that?” “The imperial army” he replied.
78.25.6
The Mirza said, “My scouts informed me to-day that they had left him fourteen days’ march off at Fathpur. If this be the imperial army, where are the elephants which always accompany it?” The other replied, “How could elephants travel a distance of 100 cosses by forced marches in nine days!” Then Muhammad Husain Mirza commenced the attack with the army in battle array, after sending Ikhtiyar-ul-mulk with 500 horse against Khan-i A‘zam to prevent his making a sally from the fortress. The imperial army crossed the river, but Muhammad Husain Mirza anticipated them, and with 1,500 Moghuls belonging to Fiil&i (who had already attained the title of Khan, and was on the look out for further promotion and jágírs and was a man of great determination) charged the vanguard, where Muhammad Qulí Khan and Tarkhan Díwanah were stationed, and swept them before him. The Abyssinians and Afghans together charged the left wing, which was under Wazir Khan, and the warriors on both sides having come into contest a hundred lives were worth but a barley-corn:— “Down to the fish and up to the moon went The foot of the standard and the knob of the tent. The air became blue, and the ground black; The river boiled at the sound of the drums. With his finger he directed the army to the plain, An army that knew no bounds. The royal bow came to the string, One said Take, and the other said Give.” The battle raged so furiously that the event will be remembered for revolutions of generations and ages.
78.25.7
Now, when the Emperor saw that his vanguard was giving way, he raised the cry “Yá Mu‘ín!” which at that period, and on that day, was his battle-cry, and making a desperate charge broke the ranks of the enemy, and dispersed them in the direst confusion: and many heads were scattered to the wind. Saif Khan Kokah at this juncture charged the ranks of the enemy, and plunged into that whirlpool from which he never rose again. Muhammad Husain Mirza did all that mortal endurance is capable of in that valley of strife and gallantry, and was not even wounded. But at last his spirit exhausted itself, and his horse being wounded he fled from the field. His path happened to be intercepted by a hedge of thorns, which he endeavoured to make his horse leap, when suddenly inexorable Fate seized his reins, and dragging him from the saddle threw him to the ground. One Gadai ‘Alí by name, a Turan who had been hotly pursuing him, immediately sprung upon him and took him prisoner and brought him to the Emperor. He with his usual kindness and good nature contented himself with reprimanding him, and delivered him over to the charge of Rai Singh. Meanwhile Wazir Khan was contending manfully with the Abyssinians and Gujratees, and in this hand-to-hand contest displayed his hereditary valour.
78.25.8
When the enemy heard of the defeat of Muhammad Husain Mirza and Shah Mirza, they turned their backs on the field of battle, and valuing dear life more than the chance of conquering kingdoms saved their lives by fleetness of foot. At the same time Khan-i Kalan performed his part in the action by utterly defeating the sons of Sher Khan Fuladi. And so the field was cleared of all trace of the enemy : —